German tactical doctrine required that each battalion had artillery support available, and it was appreciated that special light guns would suit this role. The standard weapon in this category was the 7.5cm leichte Infrantriegeschiitz 18 or leIG 18, which entered service in 1932. A panzergrenadier or motorised infantry battalion’s heavy company might have one or two two-gun 7.5cm leIG 18 support sections. The gun proved sturdy and reliable, though it had a limited range due to its short barrel. The leIG 18 was supposed to have an anti-tank capability using hollow charge ammunition, but this was ineffective and was little used.
¦ 7.5cm leIG 18
Calibre: 75mm; Length overall: 0.9m (2.74ft); Weight: 400kg (8821b); Maximum range: 3550m; Projectile Weight: 5.45 or 6kg (HE) (Dor 13.231b)
The panzergrenadier support companies also used heaw weapons such as the 15cm schwere Infantriegeschutz 33 or sIG 33. It was an orthodox if somewhat heavy weapon. Although ideally it could be mounted on a self-propelled carriage and
Above: An infantry section clustered by a Sdfk 210 halftrack armed with a 2cm Flak 30 anti-aircraft gun await orders whilst on training manoeuvres in France. The man standing is armed with an MP40, whilst his colleagues carry Gewehr 98k rifles.
¦ 10.5cm leFh 18/40
Calibre: 105mm; Length: 3.31m (10.08ft); Weight: 1955kg (43111b); ILvnge: 12,325m; Projectile weight: 14.81kg (32.661b)
Thus correspond with Guderian’s ideas of mobile artillery instantly ready to support the tanks, in reality the sIG 33 was very often towed by truck or tractor. In infantry divisions it w'as usually horse-drawn. Typical self-propelled mounts were the Sd Kpf 138/1 or the Pz Kpfw I chassis (the only self-propelled artillery available during the French campaign). In this role it proved a powerful support weapon.
¦ 15cm sIG 33
Calibre: 149.1mm; Length: barrel 1.65m (5.03ft); Weight:
1750kg (38591b); Maximum Range: 4700m; Projectile weight: 38kg (HE) (83.791b)
Germany’s hea7' field howitzer was the 15cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18 (sFH 18). This gun ecjuipped the division’s heavy artillery battalion. It was a reliable and sound piece, although on the Eastern Front the Germans found that it was outranged by the Soviet 152mm equivalent. As the war went on the sFH 18 was placed on a self-propelled carriage known as the Hummel and served as the mobile artillery in a number of panzer and panzergrenadier divisions.
¦ 15cm sFH
Calibre: 149mm; Length: 4.44m (13.4ft); Weight: 5512kg (12,1541b); M/ximum range: 13,325m; Projectile Weight: 43.5kg (95.91b)
World History
