10.5 cm schwere Kanone 18

Infobox Weapon
name=10.5 cm schwere Kanone 18


caption=
origin=Germany
type=field gun
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=flag|Nazi Germany
flag|Albania
flag|Bulgaria
wars=World War II
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=1934–1943
number=
variants=
weight=5,642 kg (12,438 lbs)
length=
part_length=5.46 m (18 ft) L/52
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=separate-loading, cased charge (3 charges)
caliber=105 mm (4.13 in)
action=
rate=6 rpm
velocity=835 m/s (2,739 ft/s)
range= 19,075 m (20,860 yds)
max_range=
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal sliding block
recoil=
carriage=split trail
elevation=0° to +48°
traverse=64°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
vehicle_range=
speed=The 10.5 cm schwere Kanone 18 (10.5 cm sK 18) was a field gun used by Germany in World War II. It was developed in the late Twenties, but was not fielded until 1933–34. Both Krupp and Rheinmetall competed for the development contract, but the Wehrmacht compromised and selected Krupp's carriage to be mated with Rheinmetall's gun. It was not popular in service as it was regarded as too much gun for too little shell. This caused its production to be terminated in August 1943.

It sometimes equipped the heavy artillery battalion of infantry and panzer divisions, but generally was used by independent artillery battalions and on coast defense duties. After the war it served with the Albanian and Bulgarian armies.

References

* Englemann, Joachim and Scheibert, Horst. "Deutsche Artillerie 1934–1945: Eine Dokumentation in Text, Skizzen und Bildern: Ausrüstung, Gliderung, Ausbildung, Führung, Einsatz". Limburg/Lahn, Germany: C. A. Starke, 1974

* Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. "Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939–1945". New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3

* Hogg, Ian V. "German Artillery of World War Two". 2nd corrected edition. Mechanicsville, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997 ISBN 1-85367-480-X