Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81 à glissement

Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81 à glissement
Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81 à glissement
	A mle 1870/81 named Cyclone at Aalst, Belgium, 5 September 1917.
Type	Railway gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1916–1945
Used by	France
Wars	World War I
Production history
Designer	Schneider
Designed	1915
Manufacturer	Schneider
Produced	1915
No. built	16
Specifications
Mass	160 t (160 long tons; 180 short tons)
Length	26 m (85 ft)
Barrel length	8.5 m (28 ft) L/26
Shell	Separate loading bagged charges and projectiles
Shell weight	388 kg (855 lb)
Caliber	32 cm (13 in)
Breech	Interrupted screw breech
Recoil	Sliding recoil
Carriage	Two five-axle rail bogies
Elevation	+3° to +40°
Traverse	None
Rate of fire	1 round every four minutes
Muzzle velocity	520 m/s (1,700 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	16.4 km (10 mi)

The Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81 à glissement was a French Railway gun used by the French Army during World War I and World War II.

History

Although the majority of combatants had heavy field artillery prior to the outbreak of the First World War, none had adequate numbers of heavy guns in service, nor had they foreseen the growing importance of heavy artillery once the Western Front stagnated and trench warfare set in. Since aircraft of the period were not yet capable of carrying large diameter bombs the burden of delivering heavy firepower fell on the artillery. Two sources of heavy artillery suitable for conversion to field use were surplus coastal defense guns and naval guns.^[2]

However, a paradox faced artillery designers of the time; while large caliber naval guns were common, large caliber land weapons were not due to their weight, complexity, and lack of mobility. Large caliber field guns often required extensive site preparation because the guns had to be broken down into multiple loads light enough to be towed by a horse team or the few traction engines of the time and then reassembled before use. Building a new gun could address the problem of disassembling, transporting and reassembling a large gun, but it did not necessarily address how to convert existing heavy weapons to make them more mobile. Rail transport proved to be the most practical solution because the problems of heavy weight, lack of mobility and reduced setup time were addressed.^[2]

Design

The Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81 à glissement started life as sixteen Canon de 32C 1870/81 M coastal defense guns which were converted to railway guns. The guns were typical built-up guns of the period with mixed construction consisting of a rifled steel liner and several layers of iron reinforcing hoops. In French service guns of mixed steel/iron construction were designated in centimeters while all steel guns were designated in millimeters. However, reference materials don't always distinguish the difference in construction and use either unit of measurement. The guns used an interrupted screw breech and fired separate loading bagged charges and projectiles. To load the gun barrel was lowered and a shell was brought forward by an elevated hoist on the rear of the carriage.^[3]

The carriages consisted of a large rectangular steel base, which was suspended on two five-axle railroad bogies manufactured by Schneider. The number of axles was determined by the weight limit for European railways of 17 tonnes per axle.^[2] The guns had no traversing mechanism and in order to aim the guns were drawn across a curved section of track. Once in position, a section of rail bed was reinforced with wooden beams then six steel beams under the center of the carriage were lowered onto the tracks and the carriage was jacked up to bear the weight of the gun. The guns used a sliding recoil or Glissement system and when fired the gun slid back a few meters and was then pushed back into position. The friction between the steel beams and the track limited the length of recoil. Due to their low cost and simplicity Schneider carriages were widely used on early railway guns. Although stable and effective this form of carriage was crude and latter guns incorporated improved recoil, elevation and traverse mechanisms.^[1]

Similar guns

There were three models of 32 cm coastal defense guns that were converted by Schneider to railway artillery during the First World War the Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81, Canon de 32 modèle 1870/84, and Canon de 32 modèle 1870/93. The longer barreled guns had better range and the mle 1870/81's were scrapped after the war. The remaining long barelled guns were place in reserve between the wars were redesignated Canon de 320 G modèle 70/30.^[3] Eight were mobilized during the Second world war and after the Fall of France, nine guns captured by the Germans were given the designation 32 cm K(E) 657(f) and used by them during World War II.^[4]


Coastal gun designation	Barrel length	Range	Number converted
Canon de 32C modèle 1870/81 M	8.5 m (28 ft) L/26	16.4 km (10 mi)	16
Canon de 32C modèle 1870/84 M	10.4 m (34 ft) L/32	21.6 km (13 mi)	30
Canon de 32C modèle 1870/93 M^[5]	10.4 m (34 ft) L/32	21.6 km (13 mi)	6^[3]

In addition to the former coastal defense guns mentioned above, there were two other models of 320 mm guns. However, these were converted 305 mm (12 in) naval guns that were rebored once their barrels wore out. They were delivered late in 1918-1919 and given new designations and placed in reserve between the wars.

Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à berceau - Eight barrels were rebored by Batignolles and were redesignated Canon de 320 modèle 1917 à berceau and placed in reserve between the wars. Eight were mobilized by the French Army during the Second World War.^[4] Guns captured by the Germans after the Fall of France were given the designation 32 cm Kanone (Eisenbahn) 652(f).^[6]
Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à glissement - Eight barrels were rebored by Schneider and were redesignated Canon de 320 modèle 1917 à glissement and placed in reserve between the wars. Eight were mobilized by the French Army during the Second World War.^[4] Guns captured by the Germans after the Fall of France were given the designation 32 cm Kanone (Eisenbahn) 651/1(f).^[6]


Naval gun designation	Barrel length	Range	Number converted
Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96	12.2 m (40 ft) L/40	27 km (17 mi)	8
Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96	12.2 m (40 ft) L/40	30 km (19 mi)	8

Identification

Identifying the different models of 32 cm and 320 mm guns can be difficult because of poor quality images, the angle of the photo and the similarity of their carriages. However, there are a few distinguishing marks on the barrels and carriage that aid identification.

The mle 1870/81 had a smooth barrel with a few hoops around the trunnion and breech.
The most common version of mle 1870/84 had three hoops near the muzzle.
There was another mle 1870/84 variant that had only one reinforcing hoop near the muzzle.
The mle 1870/93 had three evenly spaced hoops along the barrel.^[7]
The 305 mle 1893/96 à berceau used cradle recoil and a different anchoring system. The 320 mm conversion did not change its appearance.
The 305 mle 1893/96 à glissement can be identified by its six-axle bogies. The 320 mm conversion did not change its appearance.

Gallery

Two mle 1870/81's.
A mle 1870/81 firing at German positions.
A mle 1870/81 firing at German positions.
The windlass between the first and second axle on the front bogie to pull the gun back into position after firing.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Miller, H. W., LTC, USA (1921). Railway Artillery, vols. I and II. Washington: Government Printing Office. pp. 68–72.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c Hogg, Ian (2004). Allied artillery of World War One. Ramsbury: Crowood. pp. 129–134 & 218. ISBN 1861267126. OCLC 56655115.
^ ^a ^b ^c Romanych, Mark; Heuer, Greg; Noon, Steve (2017). Railway Guns of World War I. New Vanguard. London: Osprey Publishing. pp. 5–15. ISBN 9781472816412. OCLC 999616340.
^ ^a ^b ^c Zaloga, Steve (2016). Railway guns of World War II. Dennis, Peter. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 5–6. ISBN 978-1472810687. OCLC 907965829.
^ "Canons de 32 C modèles 1870 - FortiffSéré". www.fortiffsere.fr. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
^ ^a ^b Gander, Terry (1978). Weapons of the Third Reich:an encyclopedic survey of all small arms, artillery, and special weapons of the German land forces, 1939-1945. Chamberlain, Peter. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. pp. 244–245. ISBN 0385150903. OCLC 5071295.
^ "[Artillerie] photo d'ALVF : 320 mm... modèle 1870/93 ? - Forum PAGES 14-18". forum.pages14-18.com. Retrieved 2019-04-29.

[:3-1] Miller, H. W., LTC, USA (1921). Railway Artillery, vols. I and II. Washington: Government Printing Office. pp. 68–72.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[:1-2] Hogg, Ian (2004). Allied artillery of World War One. Ramsbury: Crowood. pp. 129–134 & 218. ISBN 1861267126. OCLC 56655115.

[:2-3] Romanych, Mark; Heuer, Greg; Noon, Steve (2017). Railway Guns of World War I. New Vanguard. London: Osprey Publishing. pp. 5–15. ISBN 9781472816412. OCLC 999616340.

[:0-4] Zaloga, Steve (2016). Railway guns of World War II. Dennis, Peter. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 5–6. ISBN 978-1472810687. OCLC 907965829.

[5] "Canons de 32 C modèles 1870 - FortiffSéré". www.fortiffsere.fr. Retrieved 2019-04-22.

[:4-6] Gander, Terry (1978). Weapons of the Third Reich:an encyclopedic survey of all small arms, artillery, and special weapons of the German land forces, 1939-1945. Chamberlain, Peter. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. pp. 244–245. ISBN 0385150903. OCLC 5071295.

[7] "[Artillerie] photo d'ALVF : 320 mm... modèle 1870/93 ? - Forum PAGES 14-18". forum.pages14-18.com. Retrieved 2019-04-29.

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v t e French artillery of World War I
Anti-aircraft guns	Canon de 75 antiaérien mle 1913-1917
Coastal artillery	Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1891 Canon de 19 C modèle 1870/93 Canon de 19 C modèle 1875 Canon de 24 C modèle 1870 Canon de 24 C modèle 1876 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Field artillery	Canon de 75 modèle 1897 Canon de 75 modèle 1912 Schneider Canon de 75 modèle 1914 Schneider De Bange 90 mm cannon Obusier de 120 mm C modèle 1890 Obusier de 120 mm mle 15TR
Infantry guns	Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP
Medium and heavy artillery	Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider Canon de 155 court modèle 1904 Rimailho Canon de 120 mm modèle 1878 Canon de 145 L modele 1916 Saint-Chamond Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1881 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1890 Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 St. Chamond Canon de 155 L modèle 1877/14 Schneider Canon de 155 L Modele 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 L modèle 1918 Schneider Canon de 155 mm GPF De Bange 155 mm cannon Canon de 220 L mle 1917 Mortier de 220 modèle 1915/1916 Schneider
Mortars	Cellerier Mortar Mortier de 58 T N°1 Mortier de 58 T N°1 bis Mortier de 58 mm type 2 Mortier de 75 modèle 1915 Schneider Mortier de 150 mm T Mle 1916 Batignolles Mortier de 150 mm T Mle 1917 Fabry Mortier de 240 mm Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1885 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Mountain artillery	Canon de 65 M modele 1906 75 mm Schneider-Danglis 06/09 Canon Court de 105 M modele 1909 Schneider
Railway artillery	Canon de 120 L mle 1878 sur affût-truc Peigné-Canet-Schneider mle 1897 Canon de 140 sur affut-truc mle 1884 Obusier de 155 C mle 1881 sur affût-truc Peigné-Canet-Schneider mle 1897 Materiel de 155 sur affut-truc Schneider Canon de 164 modèle 1893/96 TAZ Canon de 19 C modèle 1875 Canon de 19 modèle 1870/93 TAZ Obusier de 200 "Pérou" sur affût-truck TAZ Schneider 24 cm Canon G modèle 1916 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Canon de 240 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 274 modèle 93/96 Berceau Canon de 274 modèle 87/93 Glissement Canon de 305 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à berceau Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/84 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/93 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1893 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à berceau Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à glissement Obusier de 370 modèle 1915 à berceau Canon de 370 modèle 75/79 Glissement Obusier de 400 Modèle 1915/1916 Obusier de 520 modèle 1916
Siege artillery	Obusier de 120 mm C modèle 1890 Canon de 120 mm modèle 1878 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1881 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1890 Mortier de 220 mm modèle 1880 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Canon de 240 TR Mle 1903 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1885 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889 Mortier de 280 modèle 1914 Schneider Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914 Mortier de 370 modèle 1914 Filloux
Self propelled artillery	Canon de 194 GPF Canon de 220mm L Mle1917 Schneider (FAHM) Mortier 280 mm TR de Schneider sur affût-chenilles St Chamond
Armoured vehicle guns	Puteaux 37 mm SA 18 Canon de 75 modèle 1897