[烛光生存狂]-1939-1940年间的法国炮兵

1. MISSIONS

- Support the infantry and the tanks

- Create depth on the battlefield

1.1 Divisional artillery

In the OFFENSIVE:

• Preparation fire:

--o Destruction of obstacles hampering the movement of the infantry or of the tanks

--o Destruction or neutralization of the enemy infantry's organization

• Immediate support of the infantry regiments (0 – 600 meters range beyond the first friendly positions)

• Protection fire (600 – 1500/2000 meters range)

In the DEFENSIVE:

• Counter-preparation fire

• Stopping fire on pre-planned targets in order to defend the network of outposts and the main line of resistance

OFFENSIVE and DEFENSIVE:

• Destruction of enemy AFVs

1.2 Army Corps artillery

• Counter-battery fire

• Long range fire (interdiction, harassement) beyond the action area of the divisional artillery

• Destruction or neutralization of the enemy observation posts located far away

• Reinforcing the action of the divisional artillery

1.3 Army artillery

• Long range fire against:

--o Communication networks

--o Ammunition dumps

--o Airfields

• Counter-battery fire

• Reinforcing the action of the Army Corps artillery

2. OBSERVATION

The artillery observation has 2 main roles:

• A tactical intelligence role (research and analysis of objectives for itself but also giving the HQ intelligence about the enemy deployment)

• A technical role (preparation and control of the fire missions) according to the mapping, weather, gun type and ballistics conditions

The observation means of the artillery are:

• Ground observation posts

• Setting/adjustment platoons using observation of high air bursts

• Spotting batteries

• Air observation / reconnaissance (balloon, autogyro or plane)

2.1 Ground observation posts

The observation posts are organized at the different command levels by specialized troops of the artillery. There are generally:

• Battery level = 1 observation post

• Group level (3 batteries) = 2 additional observation posts

• Regiment level = 1 additional observation post

• Divisional artillery level (2 regiments) = 1 additional observation post

The ground observation posts have the advantage of enabling a continuous observation if the field of view is not blocked by smoke, dusts or bad weather. The fixed emplacements of these posts enable to deploy quick and sure communication lines and to use fine observation and measuring instruments. The drawback is that the field of view is limited by the configuration of the ground and that the enemy can spot the posts and can blind them or can destroy them.

The aim of these observation posts is to spot potential targets in the enemy deployment and to provide intelligence about the situation, the movements and the activity in the enemy lines. These posts have to follow the movement of the friendly line. They have to look for signals (flares etc.) from the troops to trigger a stopping fire mission etc.

The observation of the fire mission itself has to adjust the fire (generally more than one observation post involved) and to analyze the results and efficiency of the shelling.

2.2 Setting/adjustment platoons using observation of high air bursts

These platoons are part of the artillery regiment HQs (sometimes even in the group HQs of the regiments). They allow setting up fire missions on objectives of known coordinates by day and by night; even if the targets cannot be spotted by the ground observation posts. The adjustment of a fire mission requires about 20 minutes.

2.3 Spotting batteries

These batteries are specialized in the research and the characterization of objectives, especially enemy artillery batteries. Usually attached to the general reserve of the artillery, they are dispatched to the General commanding the artillery units of an Army. He distributes then the batteries, often 1 battery per Army Corps.

One spotting battery is commanded by a Capitaine and consists in:

• SROT (Section de Repérage par Observation Terrestre) = Spotting platoon by ground observation

• SRS (Section de Répérage par le Son) = Spotting platoon using sound locators

• A topographic platoon

The SROT uses spotted flames, lights, smokes or dust to locate enemy artillery positions. They also participate in fine tuning the friendly fire mission by observing the explosions.

One SROT is composed of 6 posts (one every 2-3 km) and 1 central. The posts have specialized observation and measuring instruments. They are located precisely on known coordinates. The observation results of the different posts can then be reported and cross-checked in the central to determine the coordinates of the different objectives.

The SROT needs about 6 hours to be fully operational but fewer posts can be deployed quickly and act initially as simple intelligence gathering posts.

The SRS can locate an enemy battery thanks to the sound of its fire. The SRS consists in 8 posts (one every 2-3 km, at 1-3 km of the first friendly line) and 1 central. They can watch an area of 10-15 km deep in the enemy deployment. The SRS need 12-24 hours to be fully operational.

The SRS has several advantages:

• The posts can be completely hidden to the views of the enemy (the deployment in independent of the ground)

• The location is precise (20 to 50m)

• Location of targets while other means are inefficient e.g. enemy battery in woods, fog etc.

The drawback is that the SRS is frequently hampered by the wind.

The SRS is used to locate enemy batteries firing but also sometimes to adjust the fire of friendly heavy artillery batteries.

2.4 Air observation / reconnaissance

An aviation depending directly from the artillery was under creation in 1939/1940 but at this time the balloon, autogyro or plane used for these missions are from the Air Force (except for several long range artillery regiments depending from the general artillery reserve, which had organic planes with radio sets).

Usually the air observation means are grouped at the Army Corps level (8 planes, 4 autogyros and 1 balloons battalion).

The plane can fly directly over the objectives to be targeted (roughly without blind areas) and can reach the maximum range of the artillery batteries. The crew can come back with photos enabling to analyze the target and/or to analyze to results of the fire mission(s).

The drawback is that the observation is discontinuous and depending from the weather conditions. The enemy fighters or AA guns can hamper or completely prevent the mission to be fulfilled.

One other issue is the radio sets. There is an air to ground radio link (R11 radio sets in the infantry) but the ground to air radio link is often lacking. The troops have to use visual signals to communicate with the plane. The number of planes is also limited (although the observation and reconnaissance planes are numerous in the French Air Force) and the assigned missions have to be carefully selected.

The autogyro can land and operate roughly everywhere and very close to the artillery HQ to which it is providing intelligence. The drawback is that it is unarmed and slow. It cannot be operated for day missions over enemy lines. The autogyro remains therefore over the friendly lines and spots the objectives close to the front. It uses an ER40 radio set for air to ground and ground to air radio liaison. In the future, the attachment of these aircraft directly to the artillery will improve the efficiency by deploying them directly next to artillery batteries. The progresses may enable to direct the fire from the autogyro itself.

The balloon has the advantage of having a direct telephone link to the ground and of having a large field of view, reducing the areas where enemy unit can hide

Characteristics of several guns:

Canon de 75mm (L/34.5) Mle1897

Type : field gun

Crew : 1 NCO + 6 men

Caliber : 75x350R mm

Length : 4.45m

Barrel length : L/34.5 (L/29.7 rifling)

Width : 1.51m

Weight in action : 1140 kg

Weight in travel : 1970 kg

Elevation : -11° to +20°

Traverse : 6°

Ready to fire in 5 minutes

Rate of fire : 15-18 rpm (up to 28 rpm in very intense fire during a short time)

Maximum range : 9500 m (11100 m)

V° : 535-590 m/s (according to various shells)

Ammunition:

• Obus de rupture Mle1910M (6.400kg with 90g explosive) [APHE]

• Obus perforant AL (Allongé Lefèvre) Mle 1916 (7.445kg with 350g explosive) [APHE]

• Obus perforant AL (Allongé Lefèvre) Mle 1918 (7.320kg with 325g explosive) [APHE]

• Obus explosif Mle1900N (5.400kg with 775g explosive) [HE]

• Obus explosif Mle1915 (5.315kg with 740g explosive) [HE]

• Obus explosif Mle1917 (6.125kg with 675g explosive) [HE]

• Obus explosif Mle1918 (6.650kg with 435g explosive) [HE]

• Obus explosif FA Mle1929 AL (6.960kg with 363g explosive) [HE]

• Obus à balles "A" Mle1897 (7.240 kg with 261x12g hardened bullets) [canister]

• Obus à balles "M" Mle1897-1911 (7.400kg with 290x12g hardened bullets) [canister]

• Obus à balles "A" Mle1897/1917 (7.400kg with 113g explosive and 228 hardened bullets) [canister]

• Obus à balles Mle1926 (7.240kg) [canister]

• Boîte à mitraille Mle1913 (7.250kg) [shrapnel] - Efficient up to 300m against infantry

• Obus fumigène Mle1915 (5.315kg) [smoke - white phosphorous]

• Obus éclairant Mle1916 (5.315kg) [illuminating] - Time of illumination : 40 seconds

• Obus incendiaire Mle1916 type G à charge mélangée [mixed charge incendiary shell] This shell had an instant fuze and included 6 tarred incendiary charges, black powder and lead bullets. It was therefore a combined explosive, incendiary and anti-personal shell. The lead bullets were probably able to pierce oil, fuel etc. tanks before the incendiary charges ignite fire.

• Obus incendiaire Mle1916 type G à six feux [incendiary shell] This shell included 6 “thermite” incendiary charges burning during about 50 seconds, magnesium powder and black powder.

Mortier de 75mm T Mle1915

Type : trench mortar

Crew : 1 NCO + 4 men

Caliber : 75mm

Barrel length : 770mm

Weight in action : 234 kg

Weight in travel : 304 kg

Elevation : 0° to +80°

Traverse : 40°

Rate of fire : 4 rpm

HE Shell

Maximum range : 1700 m

Projectile weight : 5.3 kg

V° : 130 m/s

Canon de 105mm C (L/17) Mle1935 Bourges

Type : howitzer

Crew : 1 NCO + 6 men

Caliber : 105mm

Barrel length : 1760 mm

Weight in action : 1627 kg

Elevation : -5° to +45°

Traverse : 52°

Ready to fire in 5 minutes

Rate of fire : 15 rpm

HE Shell

Maximum range : 10500 m

Projectile weight : 15.6 kg

V° : 465 m/s

Canon de 105mm C (L/20) Mle1934 Schneider

Type : howitzer

Crew : 1 NCO + 6 men

Caliber : 105mm

Barrel length : 2090 mm

Weight in action : 1722 kg

Elevation : -7° to +38.7°

Traverse : 39.6°

Ready to fire in 5 minutes

Rate of fire : 15 rpm

HE Shell

Maximum range : 10500 m

Projectile weight : 15.6 kg

V° : 465 m/s

Canon de 105mm L (L/27) Mle1913 Schneider

Type : field gun

Crew : 1 NCO + 6 men

Caliber : 105 mm

Barrel length : L/27 (L/22.4 rifling)

Weight in action : 2350 kg

Elevation : -5° to +37°

Traverse : 6°

Ready to fire in 5 minutes

Rate of fire : 6-8 rpm

Ammunition

Maximum range : 11800 m (Mle1914 HE) - 12500 m (Mle1916 canister)

Projectile weight : 15.45kg with 1.85kg explosive (Mle1914 HE) - 16.915 kg with 461x12g hardened lead bullets (Mle1916 canister)

V° : 570 m/s (Mle1914 HE) - 555 m/s (Mle1916 canister)

Canon de 105mm L (L/41.5) Mle1936 Schneider

Type : field gun

Crew : 1 NCO + 6 men

Caliber : 105mm

Barrel length : 4369 mm (3087 mm rifling)

Weight in action : 4110 kg

Elevation : 0° to +43°

Traverse : 49°

Ready to fire in 3-5 minutes

Rate of fire : 5 rpm

HE Shell

Maximum range : 16400 m

Projectile weight : 15.7 kg

V° : 725 m/s

Mortier de 150mm T Mle1917 Fabry

Type : trench mortar

Caliber : 150mm

Length : 2100mm

Barrel length : 1240mm

Weight in action : 615 kg

Elevation : +42° to +72°

Traverse : 30°

Rate of fire : 2 rpm

HE Shell

Maximum range : 2000 m

Projectile weight : 17 kg (5.4 kg explosive)

V° : 156 m/s

Canon de 155mm C (L/15) Mle1917 Schneider

Type : howitzer

Crew : 1 NCO + 7 men

Caliber : 155mm

Barrel length : 2332 mm (1737 mm rifling)

Weight in action : 3300 kg

Elevation : 0° to +42°20'

Traverse : 6°

Ready to fire in 5 minutes

Rate of fire : 4 rpm

Maximum range : 11900 m

V° : 450 m/s

Ammunition:

• Obus FA Mle1915 (43.55kg with 4.8kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus allongé en acier Mle1914 (43kg with 10.2kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus à mitraille Mle1887 (40.80kg with 416x25g bullets and 288 splinters of 43g) [shrapnel]

• Obus à balles Mle1879-1915 (40.59kg with 270x26g hardened bullets) [canister]

It was a good gun, pretty light, firing a 43kg shell at a maximum range of some 11900m - there were five different types of shells for this gun, including HE, shrapnel and smoke shells. The soundness of the design was soon proved by the fact the Americans adapted it, to equip it's Expeditionary Army in Europe - their copies were called M1917 and M1918. It was still in both French and American service at the outset of the Second World War. It was also used by a number of other countries, including Finland (which employed the piece with good effect during the Winter War) and Poland. The last US M1918A3 version like the last French version of 1940 (only several of them in 1940) used a modernized carriage with pneumatics.

Canon de 155 mm C (L/17.8) Mle1915 Saint-Chamond

Type : howitzer

Crew : 1 NCO + 9 men

Caliber : 155mm

Weight in action : 2860 kg

Elevation : 0° to +40°

Traverse : 6°

Ready to fire in 2-5 minutes

Rate of fire : 3 rpm

Maximum range : 9300 m

V° : 370 m/s

Ammunition:

• Obus FA Mle1915 (43.55kg with 4.8kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus allongé en acier Mle1914 (43kg with 10.2kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus à mitraille Mle1887 (40.80kg with 416x25g bullets and 288 splinters of 43g) [shrapnel]

• Obus à balles Mle1879-1915 (40.59kg with 270x26g hardened bullets) [canister]

Canon de 145/155mm (L/48.5) Mle1916 Saint-Chamond

Type : field gun

Caliber : 145mm or 155mm

Weight in action : 12500 kg

Elevation : 0° to +42°30'

Traverse : 6°

Ready to fire in 3 hours

Rate of fire : 1.5 rpm

V° : 800 m/s

Maximum range : 18500 m

Ammunition:

• Obus à mitraille Mle1887 (40.8kg with 416 bullets and 288 splinters) [shrapnel]

• Obus en acier à balles Mle1879-1915 (40.59kg with 270 bullets) [canister]

• Obus en fonte Mle1877 (41kg with 2.41kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus allongé en acier Mle1914 (42.5kg with 10.4kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus FA Mle1915 (43.2kg with 4.65kg explosive) [HE]

Canon de 155mm L (L/29.8) Mle1917 Schneider

Type : field gun

Crew : 10 men

Caliber : 155mm

Weight in action : 8710 kg

Elevation : -5° to +42°

Traverse : 5°

Ready to fire in 20 minutes

Rate of fire : 3 rpm

Maximum range : 15900 m

V° : 665 m/s

Ammunition:

• Obus à mitraille Mle1887 (40.8kg with 416 bullets and 288 splinters) [shrapnel]

• Obus en acier à balles Mle1879-1915 (40.59kg with 270 bullets) [canister]

• Obus en fonte Mle1877 (41kg with 2.41kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus allongé en acier Mle1914 (42.5kg with 10.4kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus FA Mle1915 (43.2kg with 4.65kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus en acier Mle1915 BGP (43.1kg with 7.2kg explosive) [HE]

• Obus FA Mle1917 (44.85kg

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