10.

5 cm leFH 18
The 10.5 cm leFH 18 (German: leichte
10.5 cm leFH 18
Feldhaubitze "light field howitzer") is a German light
howitzer used in World War II and the standard
artillery piece of the Wehrmacht, adopted for service
in 1935 and used by all divisions and artillery
battalions. From 1935 to the end of the war, 11,848
were produced, along with 10,265 of the leFH 18/40
variant.

Designed in the late 1920s, it represented a major

advance on its predecessor the 10.5 cm leFH 16. It
was superior in caliber to its early opponents in the
war, with adequate range and firepower, but the
modern split trail gun carriage that provided it with
more stability and traverse also rendered it overly LeFH 18 in camouflage at the Museum of the
heavy for a mobile role in the largely horse-drawn Polish Army in Warsaw
artillery battalions of the German army, particularly Type Howitzer
in the mud and snow of the Eastern Front.
Place of origin Germany
The leFH 18 was further developed as the leFH 18M Service history
and leFH 18/40. Beginning in 1942, self-propelled
In service 1935–45 (Germany)
versions were created by fitting the howitzer on a
1939–82 (Sweden)
Panzer II, H35, Char B1 or 37L chassis. It was also
used to equip German allies and neutral countries in Used by Germany
Europe prior to and during the war. See Operators
Wars World War II
History Slovak–Hungarian
War
Portuguese Colonial
Development War
Syrian Civil War[1]
During the 1920s, the Reichswehr carried out
analyses that indicated the 105mm projectile was Production history
more effective than a 75mm equivalent, without a Designer Rheinmetall
major increase in cost.[4] On 1 June 1927, the Army Designed 1927–30
Ordnance Office (Heereswaffenamt) issued Secret
Command Matter No. 59/27, calling for the Manufacturer Rheinmetall
development of a new light field howitzer. The Krupp
project was assigned Priority Level II, "most Unit cost 16,400 RM (1943)
important work". Rheinmetall-Borsig of Düsseldorf
Produced 1935–45
drew up the blueprints and made the initial
calculations in 1928. Design work was complete in No. built 11,848 (original
1930, with production commencing in the early variant)[2]
1930s.[5] 10,265 (10.5 cm
leFH 18/40)[2]

Production Variants leFH 18M, leFH

18/40
At the outbreak of World War II, the Wehrmacht Specifications
had 4,862 leFH 18 howitzers. Deliveries from
Mass Travel: 3,490 kg
September 1939–February 1945 totaled 6,933 "leFH
(7,690 lb)
18 on wheeled carriages".[6] Rheinmetall and Krupp
were the initial manufacturers, but by 1942 demand Combat: 1,985 kg
was exceeding output so they relocated all (4,376 lb)
production to six firms in Pilsen, Altona, Elbing, Length 6.100 m (20 ft 0.2 in)
Magdeburg, Dortmund and Borsigwalde.[6] In 1943, Barrel length 2.941 m (9 ft 8 in) (28
the howitzer cost on average 16,400 RM, 6 months
calibers)
and 3,200 man hours to make.[7]
Width 1.977 m (6 ft 5.8 in)

Design Height 1.880 m (6 ft 2.0 in)

Crew 6
The leFH 18 improved in most areas on its
predecessor, the 10.5 cm leFH 16. A completely new Shell cased separate-
three-point split trail gun carriage provided more
loading (6 charges)
stability and increased the traverse to 56 degrees.[8]
105 x 155mm R
The sighting mechanism made it easier to fire at [3]
moving targets.[9] The new gun carriage resulted in a
major weight increase to over two tons. The heavier Shell weight 14.81 kg (32.7 lb)
recoil of the higher muzzle velocity of 470 m/s was (HE)
counteracted by a new pneumatic recuperator above Caliber 105 mm (4.13 in)
the barrel, that provided compressed air and liquid
in 55 °C to return the gun to firing position after Breech horizontal sliding-
firing.[10] A barrel brake containing a water jacket block
and a fluid equalizer in the upper carriage also Recoil hydro-pneumatic
checked the recoil.[11] The gun shield was a Carriage split trail
reinforced, tapered shield with flattened sides that
could be folded down. The barrel was good for Elevation -5° to +42°
10,000 to 12,000 shots.[7] The howitzer could fire 28 Traverse 56°
different shell types.[7] The main high explosive shell Rate of fire 6-8 rpm
was nearly a kilogram lighter and contained a
Muzzle velocity 470 m/s (1,500 ft/s)
heavier explosive charge.[8] The leFH proved an
adaptable design, with a total of 28 different Maximum firing range 10,675 m (11,674 yd)
variants manufactured.[9] Sights Model 34 Sighting
Mechanism
One issue with the design of the gun was that it was
fairly heavy for a weapon of its class. This was Filling TNT
because the weapon was designed to have a solid Filling weight 1.845 kg (4.07 lb)
construction, which increased the weight. This was
not seen as a concern at the time, as it was assumed that there would be an adequate supply of
motor vehicles to tow it.[12]

The pre-production wooden-spoke wheels were replaced beginning in 1936 with more durable
light-metal cast wheel discs and removable tires that made the howitzer easier to tow.[8] The
motorized version was fitted with wider solid-rubber tires. A combination of wooden wheels and
rubber tires was a frequent occurrence.[13] Towards the end of the war, even older wooden wheels
from the leFH 16 were used.[13] The howitzer was designed from the start to be transported either
by horse or motor vehicle. The heavy weight made horse-drawn transport difficult, especially in the
mud and snow of the Eastern Front.[8] The motorized version was attached directly without a
limber to either a Sd.Kfz. 6 or Sd.Kfz. 11 prime mover and could easily achieve a march speed of
40 km/h, equivalent to a day's march by a horse-drawn battery.[14] Although the Sd.Kfz. 6 was
intended as the primary motor transport for the howitzer, the lighter Sd.Kfz. 11 could also achieve
the same task.[15] A motorized leFH 18 battery had a radius of action 10 times greater than a horse-
drawn one and required 49 fewer personnel.[16]

Back of LeFH 18 Left side view of Right side view of

LeFH 18 LeFH 18

Service

Germany

After trials, the field howitzer was officially introduced into

Wehrmacht service on 26 July 1935 and replaced the leFH 16 in
artillery battalions beginning in 1937.[17][9] Important
operational units, like the Panzer Divisions, were given priority
in the reequipping.[18] It became the standard divisional field
howitzer used by the Wehrmacht during the Second World
War. There were a total of 1,023 horse-drawn light field
artillery battalions in the Wehrmacht and 62 motorized light LeFH 18 howitzer in use at
artillery battalions in the Panzer and Panzergrenadier Stalingrad, 1942
divisions, as well as GHQ artillery.[19] The leFH 18 had a
superior caliber compared to its opponents early in the war[6]
and performed well as the supporting arm of the panzer
divisions.[20]

While not ideally suited to it, the howitzer could in the right
circumstances be effective in anti-tank combat, particularly in
the North African Campaign where the motorized batteries of
the 33rd Artillery Regiment of the 15th Panzer Division played
an important role in defeating British armoured units at Sidi
Rezegh on 23 November 1941 during Operation Crusader.[21] LeFH 18 battery in firing position in
On the Eastern Front, the light field howitzers were less North Africa, June 1942
successful in the anti-tank role.[19]

During the Soviet counterattack in the Battle of Moscow, the retreating German horse-drawn
artillery vehicles often had to be abandoned due to heavy snows and exhaustion. The experience of
the first winter led to the use of larger draft horses and more fodder loaded on the limber. The
crews had to walk on foot to spare the easily exhausted heavy horses.[20] The desire to create a
lighter carriage that would not hinder mobility to such a drastic extent led directly to the
development of the leFH 18/40.[4]

Other users

Before 1938 the leFH 18 was exported to Hungary and Spain. 53 were exported to Finland in
February–March 1944, where they were known as 105 H 33. 166 leFH were exported to Bulgaria in
1943 and 1944 (until February 1, 1944)[22] Sweden purchased 142 leFH 18 howitzers from
Germany between 1939 and 1942, designating it Haubits m/39. It was decommissioned from
Swedish service in 1982. Norway, Portugal and Slovakia also purchased the howitzer.[6] Also, 32
were to be exported to Estonia between December 1940 to June 1941, but due to the breakout of
World War II, the orders were not fulfilled.[23] A video shows an alleged Wehrmacht leFH 18M (A
variant of the 10.5 cm leFH 18) firing on Al-Fu'ah, Syria on 30 August 2015, almost 80 years after
the initial entry into Wehrmacht service.[24]

Operators
Bulgaria: 166 delivered 1943–1944.
Finland: 53 delivered in 1944. Known as 105 H 33.
Germany
Hungary
Norway
Portugal: used by the Portuguese Army during the African colonial wars of the 1960s and
1970s. Known as Obus K 10,5 cm/28 m/941.
Republic of China
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden: 142 purchased 1939–1942. Decommissioned in 1982.
Romania
North Korea[25]

See also
15 cm sFH 18 — The German Army's heavy divisional gun.
Weapons employed in the Slovak–Hungarian War

References
1. "Syrian rebels show off Nazi howitzer in video - The Local" (https://www.thelocal.de/20150521/
syrian-rebels-seen-using-nazi-howitzer). 21 May 2015.
2. "Haubitzen und Mörser" (https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/haubitzen-R.htm).
www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
3. "101" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150226010317/http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/ammotable11.h
tml). www.quarryhs.co.uk. Archived from the original (http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/ammotable11.
html) on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
4. Bishop 1998, p. 144.
5. Engelmann 1995, pp. 13–15.
6. Engelmann 1995, p. 21.
 7. Engelmann 1995, p. 24.
8. Engelmann 1995, p. 13.
9. Engelmann 1995, p. 18.
10. Engelmann 1995, pp. 14–15.
11. Engelmann 1995, p. 16.
12. Bishop, Chris. The encyclopedia of weapons of world War II. Sterling Publishing Company,
Inc., 2002, p.144
13. Engelmann 1995, p. 34.
14. Engelmann 1995, pp. 17–18.
15. Engelmann 1995, p. 35.
16. Engelmann 1995, p. 36.
17. Engelmann 1995, p. 7.
18. Engelmann 1995, p. 17.
19. Engelmann 1995, p. 4.
20. Engelmann 1995, p. 27.
21. Engelmann 1995, p. 37.
22. Петров, Людмил. Военната икономика на България 1919-1945, София 1999, с. 126.
(Petrov, Lyudmil. Bulgaria's military economy 1919-1945, Sofia 1999, p. 126.)
23. Salo, Urmas. Riigikaitse Nõukogu protokollid 1933-1939, Tartu 2013, p. 419.
24. YouTube, a Google company (https://web.archive.org/web/20161129045440/https://www.youtu
be.com/watch?v=2D_MmSDlmHk). YouTube. Archived from the original (https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=2D_MmSDlmHk) on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
25. "A Visual Guide To North Korea's Fighting Vehicles" (https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/03/
a-visual-guide-to-north-koreas-fighting.html). Retrieved 9 April 2023.

Sources
Bishop, C. (1998). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Barnes & Noble. ISBN 978-
0760710227.
Engelmann, J. (1995) [1990]. Deutsche leichte Feldhaubitzen 1935-1945 [German Light Field
Artillery in World War II]. Translated by Johnston, D. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-
0887407604.
Engelmann, Joachim and Scheibert, Horst. Deutsche Artillerie 1934-1945: Eine Dokumentation
in Text, Skizzen und Bildern: Ausrüstung, Gliederung, 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

External links
Wicker basket for an artillery shell. Wehrmacht. World War II (http://www.historic-gallery.com/in
dex.php?route=extension/d_blog_module/post&post_id=264) Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20180310010823/http://www.historic-gallery.com/index.php?route=extension%2Fd_blog_
module%2Fpost&post_id=264) 2018-03-10 at the Wayback Machine

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