152-mm gun model 1910/30 was a Soviet howitzer, a modernization of World War I era 152 mm siege gun M1910. The gun was briefly used by Red Army in the Eastern Front of World War II.
| 152-mm gun model 1910/30 | |
|---|---|
 Soviet 152-mm gun M1910/30 howitzer, displayed at The Artillery Museum of Finland. | |
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | USSR |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Krasniy Putilovets, Barrikady, Bolshevik |
| No. built | 152 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | combat: 2,580 kg (5,688 lb) travel: 3,230 kg (7,121 lb) |
| Barrel length | 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) L/29 (without muzzle brake) |
| Caliber | 152.4 mm (6.00 in) |
| Breech | interrupted screw |
| Recoil | hydro-pneumatic |
| Carriage | single trail |
| Elevation | -6° to 39° |
| Traverse | 4° |
| Rate of fire | 2-4 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 570–660 m/s (1,900–2,200 ft/s) depending on charge/projectile |
| Effective firing range | 9,850 m (6,12 mi) |
Description
M1910/30 was powerful long range gun with big (40°) maximum elevation. It was equipped with interrupted screw breechblock and recoil system consisting of hydraulic buffer and hydro-pneumatic recuperator. The carriage was of single trail type and had metal wheels with solid tires. The crew was protected by 7 mm shield.
In transportation, the barrel was removed and transported separately. It took some 10–15 minutes to set the gun up for combat and up to 23 minutes to make it ready for transportation.
Development and production history
The gun resulted from a modernization of the 152-mm siege gun M1910, initially developed by Schneider. The upgrading project was prepared by the design bureau of the Main Artillery Directorate, its main purpose was to increase range. The changes included:
- Lengthened chamber
- Mounting of muzzle brake
- Reduced (from 1,000 mm to 950 mm) recoil distance
- The trail was lengthened (to 2 m)
- Trunnion rings were moved 50 mm forward
In 1930 the modernized gun was adopted as 152-mm gun model 1910/30 (Russian: 152-мм пушка образца 1910/30 годов).
The production began in 1930 at Krasniy Putilovets plant. Later Barrikady and Bolshevik plants joined the production effort. In addition to newly built pieces, all existing M1910 guns were converted to the new standard; the conversion was finished by 1 November 1936.
Since the upgrade of 1930 didn't address a problem of limited mobility, in 1934 additional modernization was performed, resulting in 152-mm gun M1910/34. In 1935 the production of M1910/30 was stopped.
Organization and service
According to Red Army organization, 152-mm guns were employed by corps artillery and by the Reserve of the Main Command, typically instead of 152-mm gun-howitzer M1937 (ML-20). Heavy gun regiments of Reserve of the Main Command had 24 pieces each.
At the outbreak of Operation Barbarossa (Nazigermany's invasion of the Soviet Union) in June 1941, the Red Army possessed some 120-150 M1910/30s.[1] They undoubtfully saw combat in the war, though due to their limited number the details of their service are unknown.
One piece was captured by the Finnish Army. That gun is currently on display in Hämeenlinna The Artillery Museum of Finland. The Germans assigned the M1910/30 the designation 15.2cm K 438(r).[2]
Summary
The M1910/30 was a result of limited modernization of World War I era weapon, which didn't address its insufficient mobility (due to lack of suspension and separate transportation of barrel) and limited traverse.
On the other hand, the Red Army liked the ballistic characteristics of the gun. Subsequent modernizations, which concentrated mostly on the gun carriage, resulted in improved M1910/34 and eventually in the famous ML-20.
Ammunition
Ammunition table
| Model (en) | Model (ru) | Type | Weight, shell | Weight, HE-filler | Muzzle velocity | Range | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armor-piercing shells | ||||||||
| mod. M1915/28 | обр. 1915/28 гг. | SAPHE | nav. | 51.07 kg (112.6 lb) | 3.20 kg (7.055 lb) | 573 m/s (1,880 ft/s) | 5,000 m (3.1 mi) | |
| BR-540 | БР-540 | APHE | 48.80 kg (107.6 lb) | 0.66 kg (1.455 lb) | 600 m/s (2,000 ft/s) | 4,000 m (2.5 mi) | ||
| BR-540B | БР-540Б | APHE-BC | – | 46.50 kg (102.5 lb) | 0.48 kg (1.058 lb) | 600 m/s (2,000 ft/s) | 4,000 m (2.5 mi) | BR-540 with ballistic cap, late 1944 |
| BP-540 | БП-540 | HEAT | – | 27.44 kg (60.49 lb) | ? | 680 m/s (2,200 ft/s) | 3,000 m (1.9 mi) | |
| Anti-concrete shells | ||||||||
| G-530 | Г-530 | AC | how. | 40.00 kg (88.18 lb) | 5.10 kg (11.24 lb) | 665 m/s (2,180 ft/s) | 15,600 m (9.7 mi) | |
| G-530Sh | Г-530Ш | AC-F | how. | 40.00 kg (88.18 lb) | 4.89 kg (10.78 lb)[3] | 665 m/s (2,180 ft/s) | 15,600 m (9.7 mi) | |
| G-545 | Г-545 | AC | cnn. | 56.00 kg (123.5 lb) | 4.20 kg (9.259 lb) | ? | ? | |
| High-explosive fragmentation shells | ||||||||
| OF-530 | ОФ-530 | HEF (ST) | how. | 40.00 kg (88.18 lb) | 5.47 kg (12.06 lb) min. 5.86 kg (12.92 lb) max. | ? | ? | |
| OF-530A | ОФ-530А | HEF (CS) | how. | 40.00 kg (88.18 lb) | 5.66 kg (12.48 lb) | ? | ? | |
| OF-540 | ОФ-540 | HEF (ST) | cnn. | 43.60 kg (96.12 lb) | 5.90 kg (13.01 lb) min. 6.25 kg (13.78 lb) max. | 650 m/s (2,100 ft/s) | 16,800 m (10.4 mi) | |
| OF-540Zh | ОФ-540Ж | HEF (ST) | cnn. | 43.60 kg (96.12 lb) | 5.90 kg (13.01 lb) min. 6.25 kg (13.78 lb) max. | ? | ? | |
| High-explosive shells | ||||||||
| F-521 | Ф-521 | HE | how. | 41.70 kg (91.93 lb) | 7.70 kg (16.98 lb) | ? | ? | 152 mm mortar M1931 (NM) shell |
| F-531 | Ф-531 | HE (ST) | how. | 44.91 kg (99.01 lb) | 5.70 kg (12.57 lb) | ? | ? | 152 mm Vickers howitzer shell |
| F-533 | Ф-533 | HE | how. | 40.41 kg (89.09 lb) | 8.00 kg (17.64 lb) | ? | ? | |
| F-533K | Ф-533К | HE | how. | 40.68 kg (89.68 lb) | 7.30 kg (16.09 lb) | ? | ? | |
| F-533N | Ф-533Н | HE | how. | 41.00 kg (90.39 lb) | 7.30 kg (16.09 lb) | ? | ? | |
| F-533U | Ф-533У | HE | how. | 40.80 kg (89.95 lb) | 8.80 kg (19.40 lb) | ? | ? | |
| F-534F | Ф-534Ф | HE (CS) | how. | 41.10 kg (90.61 lb) | 3.90 kg (8.598 lb) | ? | ? | |
| F-542 | Ф-542 | HE (OP) | cnn. | 38.10 kg (84.00 lb) | 5.86 kg (12.92 lb) | 660 m/s (2,200 ft/s) | 13,800 m (8.6 mi) | |
| F-542Sh | Ф-542Ш | HE (RP) | cnn. | 40.60 kg (89.51 lb) | 6.06 kg (13.36 lb) | 650 m/s (2,100 ft/s) | 12,800 m (8.0 mi) | |
| F-542G | Ф-542Г | HE (OP) | cnn. | 38.52 kg (84.92 lb) | 5.83 kg (12.85 lb) | ? | ? | |
| F-542ShG | Ф-542ШГ | HE (RP) | cnn. | 41.00 kg (90.39 lb) | 5.93 kg (13.07 lb) | ? | ? | |
| F-542U | Ф-542У | HE (OP) | cnn. | 38.36 kg (84.57 lb) | 5.77 kg (12.72 lb) | ? | ? | |
| F-542ShU | Ф-542ШУ | HE (RP) | cnn. | 40.86 kg (90.08 lb) | 5.96 kg (13.14 lb) | ? | ? | |
| Shrapnel shells | ||||||||
| Sh-501 | Ш-501 | shrapnel | – | 41.16 kg (90.74 lb) min. 41.83 kg (92.22 lb) max. | 0.50 kg (1.102 lb) | ? | ? | 680–690 shots, 45 sec fuze |
| Sh-501T | Ш-501Т | shrapnel | – | 41.16 kg (90.74 lb) | 0.50 kg (1.102 lb) | ? | ? | 680–690 shots, suffix: Т-6 fuze |
| Illumination shells | ||||||||
| S 1 | С 1 | star shell | – | 40.20 kg (88.63 lb) | ? | ? | ? | illumination, 40 sec |
| Chemical shells | ||||||||
| HS-530 | ХС-530 | C | how. | 38.80 kg (85.54 lb) | ? | ? | ? | |
| HN-530 | ХН-530 | C | how. | 39.10 kg (86.20 lb) | ? | ? | ? | |
| OH-540 | ОХ-540 | HE-C | cnn. | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
| ZHZ | ЗХЗ | C | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||
| Main source:[4] | ||||||||
Ammunition abbreviations
Armour penetration table
| Distance | 60° impact angle | 90° impact angle |
|---|---|---|
| APHE shell BR-540 | ||
| 0,500 m (0.31 mi) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| 1,000 m (0.62 mi) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| 1,500 m (0.93 mi) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| 2,000 m (1.2 mi) | 75 mm (3.0 in) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| APHE-BC shell BR-540B | ||
| 0,500 m (0.31 mi) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| 1,000 m (0.62 mi) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| 1,500 m (0.93 mi) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| 2,000 m (1.2 mi) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| SAPHE naval shell mod. M1915/28 | ||
| 0,100 m (0.062 mi) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 136 mm (5.4 in) |
| 0,500 m (0.31 mi) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 128 mm (5.0 in) |
| 1,000 m (0.62 mi) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| 1,500 m (0.93 mi) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| 2,000 m (1.2 mi) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| This data was obtained by Soviet methodics of armour penetration measurement (penetration probability equals 75%). It is not directly comparable with western data of similar type. Main source:[5] | ||
Notes
References
- Shirokorad A. B. - Encyclopedia of the Soviet Artillery - Mn. Harvest, 2000 (Широкорад А. Б. Энциклопедия отечественной артиллерии. — Мн.: Харвест, 2000., ISBN 985-433-703-0)
- Ivanov A. - Artillery of the USSR in Second World War - SPb Neva, 2003 (Иванов А. Артиллерия СССР во Второй Мировой войне. — СПб., Издательский дом Нева, 2003., ISBN 5-7654-2731-6)
- Shunkov V. N. - The Weapons of the Red Army - Mn. Harvest, 1999 (Шунков В. Н. - Оружие Красной Армии. — Мн.: Харвест, 1999., ISBN 985-433-469-4)