Obice da 149/19 modello 37

Obice da 149/19 modello 37
A howitzer covered with snow in the Dolomite Alps
Type	Heavy howitzer
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1939-1951
Used by	Italy
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designed	1930-1939
Manufacturer	Oto, Ansaldo
Produced	1939?-1945
Specifications
Weight	5,500 kilograms (12,100 lb)
Barrel length	L/20.4
Shell	42.55 kilograms (93.8 lb)
Caliber	149.1 mm (5.87 in)
Carriage	split trail
Elevation	+5° to +60°
Traverse	50°
Muzzle velocity	597 m/s (1,959 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	14,250 metres (15,580 yd)

The Obice da 149/19 modello 37 was a heavy howitzer which served with Italy during World War II. It was intended to replace Italy's assortment of World War I-era heavy howitzers, but this was prevented by the prolonged development time and the very slow pace of production. Despite orders totaling 1392 weapons only 147 had been built by September 1942. There were three models, the 37, 41 and 42, differing only in details. The standard tractor was the Trattore SPA TM 40. While an unremarkable design the Germans liked it enough to keep it in production with the designation of 15 cm sFH 404(i) after the Italian surrender in 1943. With the same weight it had superior range compared to the German 15 cm sFH 18. It was used by the Italian army until 1974.

References

• Chamberlain, Peter & Gander, Terry. Heavy Artillery. New York: Arco, 1975 ISBN 0-668-03898-5
• Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945. New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3