The Art Of Tank Warfare - Chris Keeling

GERMAN ARTILLERY
41
The German war machine used many different types of artillery, several of which are available to the German
player as “on-call” indirect fire, using high explosive and smoke ammunition. The following types of artillery
barrages may be available, depending on the scenario:
81mm Mortar: This was the most commonly available artillery for the company-level commander. It was
often used to drive infantry from cover, harass enemy armored vehicles, or provide a smoke screen. Because
it was attached at a lower echelon, the 81mm mortar was also quicker to respond than the conventional
artillery, which was only attached at battalion and higher level. The heavy weapons company of each
infantry battalion had two sections made up of three schwere Grenatwerfer sGW 34 each. This weapon
could fire its 3.5 kg high explosive shell up to 2,400 meters.
75mm Infantry Gun: This common short-barrelled weapon was made in several variations, including the
leichtes Infanteriegeschütz leIG 18 and the Infanteriegeschütz IG 37 and IG 42. Each of these guns weighed
less than half a ton and was ordinarily towed by a horse and cart. They were used primarily to provide
smoke and HE support, although HEAT rounds were sometimes provided for self-defence against armor
attacks. These guns had a maximum range of between 4,000 and 5,000 meters with a 6 kg shell. They were
organised into batteries of various sizes, depending on what unit they were assigned to, with a typical battery
consisting of two sections of four guns each, or one section of six guns. According to pre-war structure, a
third section was to have been added during wartime from the reserves (Ersatzheer), however, these sections
were generally used to bring new units up to strength instead (this actually applies to all of the regular
artillery batteries).
105mm Howitzer/Field Gun: This heading represents several 105mm guns, including the leichte
Feldhaubitze leFH 18, leFH 18/39, leFH 18/40, the schwere Kanone sK 18, and the Kanone K 17. These
were medium towed artillery, usually organised into two or three batteries of three to four guns each or two
batteries of six guns each. Self-propelled models were organised into sections of six vehicles each. The
howitzers had a maximum range of 10,000 to 12,000 meters with a 14 kg shell, while the field guns were
capable of ranges of 16,000 to 19,000 meters with a 15 to 18 kg shell.
150mm Infantry Gun/Howitzer: These weapons were the mainstays of the heavy artillery arm of the
German forces. This heading includes several similar variants, such as the schweres Infanteriegeschütz sIG 33
infantry gun and the schwere Feldhaubitze sFH 18, sFH 36, and sFH 18/40. All of these were towed heavy
artillery, organised into three batteries of three or four guns each, which utilised separate-loading
ammunition. Self-propelled versions were organised into sections of six vehicles each. The range of the
infantry gun was about 5,000 meters with a 38 kg shell, while that of the howitzers varied from 13,000 to
15,000 meters with a 43.5 kg shell.
170mm Field Gun: This is the excellent Kanone K 18 Matterhorn mounted on a heavy mortar carriage.
Because the weapon was so heavy, it was split into two loads for transport. It was capable of firing its 68 kg
high explosive shell out to a 28 km range, or a lighter 63 kg shell out to 30 km. It was organised into
batteries of two sections of two guns each.