Obice da 75/18 modello 34 - Misplaced Pages

Howitzer

Obice da 75/14 modello 34

Type	Howitzer
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1934–1945
Used by	Italy Portugal
Wars	World War II Portuguese Colonial War
Production history
Designer	Sergio Belese
Manufacturer	Ansaldo
No. built	Approx 600
Specifications
Mass	Mod.34: 1,065 kg (2,348 lb) Travel 780 kg (1,720 lb) Combat Mod.35: 1,832 kg (4,039 lb) Travel 1,050 kg (2,310 lb) Combat
Barrel length	1.557 m (5 ft 1.3 in) L/20.75

Shell	75 x 232.5mmR
Shell weight	6.4 kg (14 lb 2 oz)
Caliber	75 mm (2.95 in)
Carriage	Box trail (Modello 34) Split trail (Modello 35)
Elevation	-10° to +45°
Traverse	50°
Muzzle velocity	425 m/s (1,395 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	9,564 m (10,459 yd)

Obice de 75/18 modello 35 on display at the *Musée des Blindés* in Saumur

The Obice da 75/18 modello 34 was an Italian artillery piece used during World War II.

History

The Italian army has always had an interest in mountain artillery due to the mountainous terrain of its borders. By the 1930s much of this artillery was obsolescent and overdue for replacement.

In 1934, the Italian firm of Ansaldo produced a new mountain howitzer design, the Obice da 75/18 modello 34, designed by Lt. Colonel Sergio Berlese who served in the Italian artillery. The modello 34 could be broken down into eight loads for transport. In the interest of standardization and logistics a version of the 75/18, the modello 35, was also used as the light howitzer component of normal field batteries. The modello 35 did not break down into smaller loads and had a split, rather than box, trail.

The Italians sold the modello 35 abroad in order to obtain foreign currency. In 1940 a sizable batch was sold to Portugal, and more went to South American countries in exchange for raw materials. The gun was also used as the main armament of the Semovente 75/18 self-propelled gun where, due to its "Effetto Pronto" (HEAT) ammunition, it also had a good anti-tank capability.

In 1941 some captured pieces were used against the Germans by the forces of the Commonwealth during the Battle of Crete and were probably present in the defence of Maleme airfield. Two of them are currently displayed next to the Battle of Crete monument in Heraklion.

References

^ 44 from the Arsenal of the Royal Army of Piacenza, 100 from the Arsenal of the Royal Army of Naples, 270 from the OTO, 200 pieces from Ansaldo of Pozzuoli, see F. Cappellano, op. cit. cited in page 68.
Google Books: The Encyclopedia of Weapons

v t e Italian artillery of World War II
Tank guns	Breda Model 35 Cannone da 37/40 Cannone da 47/32 Cannone da 47/40 Cannone da 75/34
Anti-tank guns	Solothurn S-18/1000 Cannone da 47/32 Obice da 75/18 modello 35 Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 Cannone da 90/53 Cannone da 105/25
Infantry and Mountain guns	Cannone da 37/10 modello 15 Cannone da 47/32 Cannone da 65/17 modello 13 Cannone da 70/15 Obice da 75/18 modello 34
Field, Medium and Heavy guns	Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 Cannone da 75/27 modello 12 Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 Obice da 75/18 modello 35 Cannone da 75/32 modello 37 Cannone da 76/17 S modello 12 Obice da 100/17 modello 14 Obice da 105/14 Cannone da 105/28 Cannone da 105/32 Obice da 149/12 Cannone da 149/28 Cannone da 149/35 A Cannone da 149/40 modello 35 Obice da 149/19 modello 37 Cannone da 152/45 Obice da 210/22
Superheavy and Siege artillery	Mortaio da 210/8 D.S. Mortaio da 260/9 Modello 16 Obice da 280 Obice da 305/17
Railroad artillery	Cannone navale da 381/40
Anti-aircraft guns	Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/77 (Scotti) Breda Model 35 Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) Cannone da 75/27 A.V. Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 Cannone da 75/49 Cannone da 90/53

Categories:

History

See also

References