10.5cm leFH-16

10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16

Overview

10,5-cm l.F.H. 16

German 10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16 gun displayed on Ridley College campus, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Source: JustSomePics - © CC BY-SA 3.0

Origin

Germany

Type

Towed howitzer

Entered service

1916

Status

Out of service

Development

1916

Developer

Germany - Rheinmetall

Production

1916 - 1919
1933 - 1934

Producer

Germany - Rheinmetall
Germany - Friedrich Krupp AG

Number produced

14.650 during WW1

Designations

10,5cm l.F.H. 16 (WW 1 designation)
10,5-cm leFH 16 (WW2 desgination)
10.5 cm leFH 327(b) (Beutewaffen index for former Belgium guns)

Notable users

Germany
Nazi Germany
Belgium
Romania

Details

Facts leFH-16

General

Origin

Germany

Type

Towed howitzer

Crew

5 or 6

Dimensions - Travel configuration

Weight

2.87 t with limber

Length

5 m

Width

1.65 m

Height

1.65 m

Dimensions - Firing configuration

Weight

1.380 kg in WW1 configuration

1.525 kg after 1930's refit to leFH 16 nA

Ordnance

Type

105mm L/22 howitzer

Ammunition

105x155mmR, cased separate loading ammunition with up to 5 charges

Barrel length

2.31 m

Rifling

32 grooves, progressive right hand twist

Muzzle brake

Muzzle velocity

395 m/s for standard HE

Elevation

-9° to +40°

Traverse

4° left and right

Fire control

Sights

Indirect fire sight

Telescopic direct fire sight

Firepower

Rate of fire

6 to 8 rpm maximum

4 to 5 rpm standard

Range

8.4 km for standard HE shell

9.7 km for long range C-Geschoss and extended charge in 1917

9.225 km for long range C-Geschoss in leFH 16 nA

Carriage

Type

Two wheel split trail carriage

Limber

Gun shield

Yes

Mobility

Towing vehicle

Horse drawn with limber

Motorized vehicles used in WW2

Autonomous mobility

No, too heavy for manhandling

Media

10,5-cm l.F.H. 16

Former German 10,5-cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16 as seen the Plains of Abraham Battlefield Park, Québec City, in 2012.

Source: Skaarup.HA

10,5-cm leFH 16

A German 10,5-cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16 neuer Art seen in 1944 in a coastal defensive position.

Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-299-1825-06A

10,5-cm l.F.H. 16

Freikorps troops seen with a 10,5-cm l.F.H. 16 in 1919.

Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1998-009-15

10,5-cm l.F.H. 16

Former German 10,5-cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16 as seen the Plains of Abraham Battlefield Park, Québec City, in 2013.

Source: Skaarup.HA

10,5-cm l.F.H. 16

Rear view of German 10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16 gun displayed on Ridley College campus, St. Catharines, Ontario.

Source: JustSomePics

10,5-cm l.F.H. 16

Close-up of German 10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16 gun displayed on Ridley College campus, St. Catharines, Ontario.

Source: JustSomePics

< >

Self-propelled models

10,5-cm leFH 16 auf Geschützwagen Mk.VI 736(e)

Conversion of 6 or 12 captured British Light Tank Mark VI with an open rear super structure with leFH 16. Six other vehicles were fitted with 15-cm sFH 13.

10,5-cm leFH 16 auf Geschützwagen FCM 737(f)

Conversion of 12, 24 or 48 pieces (depending on source) captured French FCM 36 tanks with large open roof superstructure with leFH 16.