10.5cm leFH-18
10,5-cm-leichte Feldhaubitze 18
Overview
10.5-cm leFH-18
German soldiers with 10.5-cm leFH-18 in firing position in Russia in 1942.
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-031-2415-16 -
© CC BY-SA 3.0
1940 - 1944 (leFH-18M)
1943 - 1945 (leFH-18/40)
6.925 leFH-18 and 18M during WW2
10.265 leFH-18/40
105 H 33 (Finnish service)
Haubits m/39 (Swedish service)
Obus K 10,5 cm/28 m/941 (Portuguese service)
Description
Introduction
The leFH-18 is a pre-World War 2 era howitzer of German origin. It was developed in the 1930's and entered service in 1935. It was produced in large number and was the standard German light howitzer during World War 2. Compared to its counterparts it lacked a bit of range and was heavier. Otherwise it was found to be reliable and accurate. Variants of the original leFH-18 saw widespread service during the war, but many of the designs to replace it never left the prototype stage.
Design
The leFH-18 was a conventional split trail design with large wheels and a gun shield. It was produced with wood spoked or pressed steel wheels. A limber was optional for horse drawing, which was often done despite the highly motorized image of the German forces. Compared to the earlier leFH-16 it has a longer barrel and range, at the cost of increased weight. Having a split trail carriage allowed for a wider traverse range.
Firepower
The 105mm ordnance uses separate loading ammunition. Ammunition types include a wide range of high explosive, smoke, anti-tank and illuminating shells. Specialist shells include propaganda and gas. Maximum range was 10.675 m for HE shell in the original leFH-18, increasing to 12.325 m max for HE shells in the leFH-18M with muzzle brake.
Mobility
The leFH-18 can be fitted with a rather extensive limber for towing by horses. This limber includes ammunition stowage and seating for six crewmembers. It nearly doubles the weight, requiring a span of six horses. When towed by a vehicle the limber is not used. The preferable form of transport were half-tracks such as the 1-ton Sd.Kfz. 10.
Users
The main user of the leFH-18 was the German army during World War 2. The leFH-18 was the standard medium howitzer in German service. The leFH-18 is one of the type of German World War 2 era weapons which was sold to several nation before the war, and remained in service with many nations after the war.
Variants
10,5-cm leFH-18
Original production model. This can be identified by not having a muzzle brake. Older models had spoked wheels and later star shaped metal hub wheels were used.
10,5-cm leFH-18M
Updated model with muzzle brake and increased range using new shells and more powerful propellant.
10.5-cm leFH-18/40
Reduced cost and weight model introduced in 1943. This uses a carriage with many components from the PaK-40 anti-tank gun, such as the wheels and trails. This uses the ordnance of the leFH-18M with a larger double baffle muzzle brake. Over 10.000 produced up till the end of the war.
Details
Media
10.5-cm leFH-18
German soldiers with horse drawn leFH-18 with limber in Russia in 1943.
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-700-0297-14
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
Sd.Kfz. 11 with 10.5-cm leFH-18
Rear view of a Sd.Kfz. 11 3-ton halftrack towing a 10.5-cm leFH-18 howitzer in Russia in 1942.
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-290-1116-08
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
Sd.Kfz. 11 with 10.5-cm leFH-18
Forward view of a Sd.Kfz. 11 3-ton halftrack towing a 10.5-cm leFH-18 howitzer in Russia in 1942.
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-290-1116-07
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
10.5-cm leFH-18
German soldiers firing a 10.5-cm leFH-18 in the direct fire role in Stalingrad in 1942.
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-218-0529-07
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
10.5-cm leFH-18
German soldiers firing their 10.5-cm leFH-18 in the deserts of North Africa in 1942
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-785-0275-39
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
10.5-cm leFH-18
German soldiers with horse drawn leFH-18 with limber during the invasion of Poland in 1940.
Source: Wydawnictwo Prasowe Kraków-Warszawa no. 2-441
Copyright: Public domain
10.5-cm leFH-18
German soldiers with horse drawn leFH-18 with limber during the invasion of Norway in 1940.
Source: Henriksen & Steen (Photographers in Oslo, Norway) / National Library of Norway
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
10.5-cm leFH-18/40
German 10.5-cm leFH-18/40 with its larger muzzle brake and small spoked wheels in firing position in the Eastern front in 1944.
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-675-7927-25A
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
10.5-cm leFH-18/40
Former Portuguese service 10.5-cm leFH-18/40 towed howitzer on public display as seen in 2013. Note the less common steel spoked variant of the leFH-18/40 small wheels.
Source: Comunicação Institucional
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
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