Landships II

IrishGunner · Lieutenant

"schwere Feldhaubitze 96" ???

Ralph Lovett · General

Rick,

The German 15cm sFH series is:

15cm sFH 1893

15cm sFH 1902

15cm sFH 1913

15cm lg.sFH 1913

15cm lg. sFH 1913/02

Plus the V.H. 1899. This is the Experimental Howitzer of 1899:

http://lovettartillery.com/MAT_15cm_VH_99_Detail.html

But there is no sFH 1896, at least in German service. I will look over my Austro-Hungarian/Swiss/Swedish/Dutch/Ottoman notes to see if I can find a match.

R/

Ralph

IrishGunner · Lieutenant

Ralph, thank you for the reply. Confirms what I already believed, but corroboration from the experts here is always good. I had already referred my colleague to your website and Kosar. Thanks again.

IrishGunner · Lieutenant

Here is the reference from the Ehrenbuch der schwere Artillerie that has raised the discussion. Any clues?

Ralph Lovett · General

That symbol has generally been associated with the 15cm sFH (which implies the model of 1893). I have attached another key for the German howitzer symbols.

R/

Ralph

IrishGunner · Lieutenant

Thanks, Ralph. Any ideas on what the (96) means?

Ralph Lovett · General

Rick

My copy of Ehrenbuch der schwere Artillerie is at another location, so I have not been able to refer to it. I have however, looked back over most other manuals that had some hope of an answer, with no luck.

There is the possibility of a foreign/captured howitzer like the Russian 152mm M1877, but as I remember the symbols in the Ehrenbuch, they have "Russ" or some other indicator of a captured piece. The 15cm V.H. 1899 is another possibility. I do not remember any of these listed with units in the Ehrenbuch. There is photographic evidence that at least a few of these made it to front line service. So, maybe this is an alternate designation, especially if only a few batteries are indicated with this sFH (96) mark. Don't take this as a definitive answer but just a guess/theory.

R/

Ralph