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I agree. However WWII era Soviet artillery ammunition had serious quality control problems. I suspect that largely negated the value of long range Soviet field artillery.
I actually think that in certain situations, the German K-18 was about the worst piece of artillery that could be wished for. As usual in these sorts of discussions, no account of the vastly different conditions and environments for artillery are being considered.
The K-18 was heavy and relatively immobile. It had resuperators that did not work well, if at all in extreme weather conditions. An in rough terrain, like a jungle or mountain environment, it was basically useless.
There is no ideal long range artillery piece. The question needs to be refined in order to be satisfactorily answered
I agree. German Army divisions had some organic 15cm howitzers from 1915 onward. Perhaps I should have said "division / corps level heavy howitzers".
IMO it's not easy to compare WWII era artillery pieces smaller then 10.5cm in size (i.e. 76mm field gun) as all sorts of different weapons could fill the same infantry direct support role. For instance Germany used a lot of 20mm light flak against ground targets. Germany and the USA employed some recoiless rifles. Britain, Germany and the USA fielded short range anti-tank weapons such as the Panzerfaust that were also effective against other ground targets. I think the Red Army was the only major European army to rely so extensively on 76mm field guns just as they had during WWI.
How common was that? I'm under the impression Soviet 76mm field guns were primarily used as direct fire weapons. Including the variant mounted in the Su-76.Russian 76mm guns could and were used to counter battery fire the 10.5cm howitzers.
Standard division level field howitzers.
1,985 kg combat weight. German 10.5cm leFH18 howitzer.
2,260 kg combat weight. USA M101 105mm howitzer.
2,450 kg combat weight. Soviet M1938 122mm howitzer.
Standard corps level field howitzers.
4,150 kg combat weight. Soviet M1938 152mm howitzer.
5,530 kg combat weight. German 15cm sFH18 howitzer. First FA weapon equipped with rocket assisted ammunition to increase range.
5,600 kg combat weight. USA M114 155mm howitzer.
What makes you think Soviet artillery pieces were more mobile then German artillery pieces?
Hello DaveHow common was that? I'm under the impression Soviet 76mm field guns were primarily used as direct fire weapons. Including the variant mounted in the Su-76.