Obusier de 370 modèle 1915

Obusier de 370 modèle 1915 à berceau
Obusier de 370 modèle 1915 à berceau
	An obusier de 370 mle 1915 at full elevation
Type	Railway gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1915–1945
Used by	France; Germany
Wars	World War I; World War II
Production history
Designed	1915
Manufacturer	Schneider; Batignolles
Produced	1917
No. built	8 plus 4 spare barrels
Specifications
Mass	127–134 t (125–132 long tons)
Barrel length	9.25 m (30 ft 4 in) L/25
Shell	Separate loading bagged charges and projectiles
Caliber	370 mm (15 in)
Breech	Welin breech block
Recoil	Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage	2 railroad bogies, 4 axles each
Elevation	-6° to +65°
Traverse	12°
Rate of fire	1 round every 6 minutes
Muzzle velocity	475–535 m/s (1,560–1,760 ft/s)
Effective firing range	14.7–16.5 km (9.1–10.3 mi)

The Obusier de 370 modèle 1915 à berceau was a French Railroad Gun that saw action during the First World War and Second World War.

History

Although the majority of combatants had heavy field artillery prior to the outbreak of the First World War, none had adequate numbers of heavy guns in service, nor had they foreseen the growing importance of heavy artillery once the Western Front stagnated and trench warfare set in. Since aircraft of the period were not yet capable of carrying large diameter bombs the burden of delivering heavy firepower fell on the artillery. Two sources of heavy artillery suitable for conversion to field use were surplus coastal defense guns and naval guns.^[1]

However, a paradox faced artillery designers of the time, while large caliber naval guns were common, large caliber land weapons were less common due to their weight, complexity, and lack of mobility. Large caliber field guns often required extensive site preparation because the guns had to be broken down into multiple loads light enough to be towed by a horse team or the few traction engines of the time and then reassembled before use. Building a new gun could address the problem of disassembling, transporting and reassembling a large gun, but it didn't necessarily address how to convert existing heavy weapons to make them more mobile. Rail transport proved to be the most practical solution because the problems of heavy weight, lack of mobility and reduced setup time were addressed.^[1]

Design

The barrels

With the success of the Obusier de 400 Modèle 1915/1916 in mind, the French Army requested more of these guns for service. The mle 1915 was a conversion of an existing naval gun the 340 mm (13 in) L/45 mle 1887 by shortening them to 25 calibers and boring them out to 400 mm, but these gun barrels were in short supply. An alternative was to perform the same kind of conversion to Canon de 305 mm Modèle 1887 gun barrels to create 370 mm (15 in) L/25 guns. It was proposed to convert eight gun barrels to railway artillery with another four spare barrels. The barrels for these guns would come from decommissioned ships of the Charles Martel class of pre-dreadnought battleships and Bouvines class coastal defense ships. The work of building the guns was split between Schneider and Batignolles each producing four guns.^[2]

Like the earlier Obusier de 400 mm mle 1915/1916 the Obusier de 370 mm mle 1915 was considered a howitzer instead of a gun, so range and velocity were not primary considerations. Instead, high angle fire, projectile weight, and explosive yield were the primary considerations. The gun had a Welin breech block and the gun used separate loading bagged charges and projectiles. There were slight differences between the two groups of four guns. For example, a 370 mle 1915 with gun barrels from the battleship Charles Martel weighed 127 tonnes, while the others from the Bouvines class of coastal defense ships weighed 134 tonnes. Whether there were any ballistic differences between the finished pieces is unknown.^[2]

Before and after

Compared to the original naval gun, the mle 1915 barrel is 33% shorter, the projectile weighs 2-3 times as much, the muzzle velocity is only 60% of the original, but the range of the projectile is actually greater due to firing at greater angles of elevation.

Comparison of the 305 mm mle 1887 & 370 mm mle 1915
	Length	Projectile	Velocity	Range
mle 1887	13.9 m (45 ft 7 in) L/45	292–340 kg (644–750 lb)	780–815 m/s (2,560–2,670 ft/s)	12 km (7.5 mi) at 15°^[3]
mle 1915	9.25 m (30 ft 4 in) L/25	641–900 kg (1,413–1,984 lb)	475–535 m/s (1,560–1,760 ft/s)	14.7–16.5 km (9.1–10.3 mi) at 65°

The carriage

Each gun sat on a rectangular steel base which was suspended from two railroad bogies with four axles each. The number of axles was determined by the weight limit for European railways of 17 tonnes per axle and 17x8 = 136 tonnes.^[1] The howitzers had a hydro-pneumatic cradle recoil system where the cradle recoiled up a slightly inclined rear deck which helped return the howitzer to battery after firing. The carriage used a car traversing mount so traverse was limited to a few degrees each side of the howitzers centerline. To load the gun the barrel was lowered to -6° and a loading ramp to the gun's breech could be erected.

The guns were mounted on Batignolles style rail mounts which consisted of five steel cross ties with integral spades which were driven between the railroad ties. On top of these steel ties, two heavy girders were laid parallel to the tracks which bolted to the ties. The girders were equipped with 12 sets of flanges that matched the same number on the carriage. When the carriage was over the flanges the carriage was fastened to the girders and the ties. Once the platform was ready, the piece could be anchored in minutes and ready to fire. The ties and girders supported the weight of the carriage and absorbed the gun's recoil, the track did not have to be reinforced.^[1] A pit was also dug under the gun's breech and lined with a steel box to allow the gun to recoil at high angles of elevation, which took about 3 hours. The Batignolles mounts also employed car-traverse which allowed for limited traverse by shifting the carriage on its bogies. When the United States entered the First World War a license to produce Berceau style rail mounts was negotiated with Batignolles and the carriage used by the 12-inch M1895 railway gun was similar.^[1]

Battery organization

French railroad batteries usually consisted of two trains. The first was the firing train, with a locomotive, a workshop wagon, two ammunition carriages, and one or two railway guns. The second was the administrative train, with a locomotive, additional ammunition carriages, a headquarters wagon, three or more berthing carriages, a kitchen wagon, and carriages for construction material and lifting equipment.^[4]

Ammunition

There were four different types of ammunition provided:

Obus D Mle 1915 en acier à amorçage de tête, 641 kg (1,413 lb) range 16.1 km (10 mi)
Obus en acier à double amorcage, 652 kg (1,437 lb) range 16 km (10 mi)
Obus en fonte acierée à amorçage de culot, 890 kg (1,960 lb) range 15.1 km (9.4 mi)
Obus Mle 1915 en acier à amorcage de culot, 900 kg (2,000 lb) range 14.7 km (9 mi)^[2]

World War I

During the German Spring Offensive 1918, four mle 1915 guns were captured by the German army. One of these was destroyed, while the other three were deployed by the Germans and returned to France after the armistice.^[4]

World War II

Ten howitzers were mobilized by the French Army at the beginning of the Second world war. Six were deployed to batteries of the 371° Regiment of the ALVF (Artillery lourde sur voie ferrée) to reinforce the Maginot Line defenses.^[5] After the Fall of France the Germans used eight under the designation 37 cm Haubitze (Eisenbahn) 711(f) and used them throughout the second world war.^[6]^[7]

Photo Gallery

Details of the anchoring for the Batignolles mount.
A mle 1915 with its barrel elevated.
A mle 1915 in traveling position.
A mle 1915 with its supply carriages.
Two mle 1915's captured by the Germans in WWII.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Hogg, Ian (2004). Allied artillery of World War One. Ramsbury: Crowood. pp. 129–134. ISBN 1861267126. OCLC 56655115.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Obusier de 370 mm mle 1915 - WO1Wiki". www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-06-20.
^ Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. S. Yorkshire: Seaforth Pub. p. 210. ISBN 9781848321007. OCLC 751804655.
^ ^a ^b Romanych, Mark (2017-08-24). Railway Guns of World War I. Heuer, Greg, Noon, Steve. London. p. 45. ISBN 9781472816412. OCLC 999616340.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Francios, Guy (2013). Titans d´Acier. ?. p. 13.
^ Zaloga, Steve (2016-02-25). Railway guns of World War II. Dennis, Peter. Oxford. p. 6. ISBN 9781472810700. OCLC 957326136.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Engelmann, Joachim (1976). German railroad guns in action. Warren, Mich.: Squadron/Signal Publications. pp. 42–49. ISBN 0897470486. OCLC 3167850.

[:0-1] Hogg, Ian (2004). Allied artillery of World War One. Ramsbury: Crowood. pp. 129–134. ISBN 1861267126. OCLC 56655115.

[:1-2] "Obusier de 370 mm mle 1915 - WO1Wiki". www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-06-20.

[3] Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. S. Yorkshire: Seaforth Pub. p. 210. ISBN 9781848321007. OCLC 751804655.

[:2-4] Romanych, Mark (2017-08-24). Railway Guns of World War I. Heuer, Greg, Noon, Steve. London. p. 45. ISBN 9781472816412. OCLC 999616340.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[5] Francios, Guy (2013). Titans d´Acier. ?. p. 13.

[6] Zaloga, Steve (2016-02-25). Railway guns of World War II. Dennis, Peter. Oxford. p. 6. ISBN 9781472810700. OCLC 957326136.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[7] Engelmann, Joachim (1976). German railroad guns in action. Warren, Mich.: Squadron/Signal Publications. pp. 42–49. ISBN 0897470486. OCLC 3167850.

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v t e French artillery of World War I
Anti-aircraft guns	Canon de 75 antiaérien mle 1913-1917
Coastal artillery	Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1891 Canon de 19 C modèle 1870/93 Canon de 19 C modèle 1875 Canon de 24 C modèle 1876 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Field artillery	Canon de 75 modèle 1897 Canon de 75 modèle 1912 Schneider Canon de 75 modèle 1914 Schneider De Bange 90 mm cannon Obusier de 120 mm C modèle 1890 Obusier de 120 mm mle 15TR
Infantry guns	Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP
Medium and heavy artillery	Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider Canon de 155 court modèle 1904 Rimailho Canon de 120 mm modèle 1878 Canon de 145 L modele 1916 Saint-Chamond Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1881 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1890 Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 St. Chamond Canon de 155 L modèle 1877/14 Schneider Canon de 155 L Modele 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 L modèle 1918 Schneider Canon de 155 mm GPF De Bange 155 mm cannon Canon de 220 L mle 1917 Mortier de 220 modèle 1915/1916 Schneider
Mortars	Cellerier Mortar Mortier de 58 T N°1 Mortier de 58 T N°1 bis Mortier de 58 mm type 2 Mortier de 75 modèle 1915 Schneider Mortier de 150 mm T Mle 1917 Fabry Mortier de 240 mm Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1885 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Mountain artillery	Canon de 65 M modele 1906 75 mm Schneider-Danglis 06/09 Canon Court de 105 M modele 1909 Schneider
Railway artillery	Canon de 120 L mle 1878 sur affût-truc Peigné-Canet-Schneider mle 1897 Canon de 140 sur affut-truc mle 1884 Obusier de 155 C mle 1881 sur affût-truc Peigné-Canet-Schneider mle 1897 Materiel de 155 sur affut-truc Schneider Canon de 164 modèle 1893/96 TAZ Canon de 19 C modèle 1875 Canon de 19 modèle 1870/93 TAZ Obusier de 200 "Pérou" sur affût-truck TAZ Schneider 24 cm Canon G modèle 1916 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Canon de 240 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 274 modèle 93/96 Berceau Canon de 274 modèle 87/93 Glissement Canon de 305 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à berceau Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/84 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/93 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1893 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à berceau Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à glissement Obusier de 370 modèle 1915 à berceau Canon de 370 modèle 75/79 Glissement Obusier de 400 Modèle 1915/1916 Obusier de 520 modèle 1916
Siege artillery	Obusier de 120 mm C modèle 1890 Canon de 120 mm modèle 1878 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1881 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1890 Mortier de 220 mm modèle 1880 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Canon de 240 TR Mle 1903 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1885 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889 Mortier de 280 modèle 1914 Schneider Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914 Mortier de 370 modèle 1914 Filloux
Self propelled artillery	Canon de 194 GPF Canon de 220mm L Mle1917 Schneider (FAHM) Mortier 280 mm TR de Schneider sur affût-chenilles St Chamond
Armoured vehicle guns	Puteaux 37 mm SA 18 Canon de 75 modèle 1897

v t e French artillery of World War II
Anti-aircraft guns	Mitrailleuse de 25 mm CA mle 39 Canon de 75 antiaérien mle 1913-1917 Canon de 75 CA modèle 1940 Schneider
Anti-tank guns	25 mm Hotchkiss anti-tank gun 25 mm APX modèle 1937 AC 37 anti-tank gun AC 47 anti-tank gun 47 mm APX anti-tank gun
Coastal artillery	Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1891 Canon de 19 C modèle 1870/93 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Field artillery	Canon de 75 modèle 1897
Infantry guns	Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP
Medium and Heavy artillery	Canon de 105 court mle 1934 Schneider Canon de 105 court mle 1935 B Canon de 105 L mle 1936 Schneider Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider Canon de 145/155 L modele 1916 Saint-Chamond Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 L modèle 1877/14 Schneider Canon de 155 L Modele 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 L modèle 1918 Schneider Canon de 155mm GPF Canon de 194 GPF Canon de 220 L mle 1917 Mortier de 220 modèle 1915/1916 Schneider Mortier 280 mm TR de Schneider-St Chamond
Mortars	Mortier de 150 mm T Mle 1917 Fabry
Mountain artillery	Canon de 65 M modele 1906 Canon de 75 M modele 1919 Schneider Canon de 75 M modele 1928 Canon Court de 105 M modele 1909 Schneider Canon Court de 105 M modèle 1919 Schneider
Railroad artillery	Canon de 164 modèle 1893/96 TAZ Canon de 19 modèle 1870/93 TAZ Canon de 240 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 305 modèle 1906/10 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/84 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/93 à glissement Canon de 320 modèle 1917 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1893 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à berceau Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à glissement Obusier de 370 modèle 1915 Canon de 370 modèle 75/79 Glissement Obusier de 400 Modèle 1915/1916 Obusier de 520 modèle 1916
Siege artillery	Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Mortier de 280 modèle 1914 Schneider Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914 Mortier de 370 modèle 1914 Filloux
Tank guns	37 mm SA 18 37 mm SA mle 1938 47mm SA mle 1935 75 mm ABS mle 1929