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Canon de 155 C modele 1917 Schneider

1917 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 1 WORLD WAR 2

Canon de 155 C modele 1917 Schneider History

Canon de 155 C modele 1917 Schneider was a French Army standardized heavy field howitzer that received a baptism of firepower in World War I, saw extensive service in World War II, and entered several major World military stockpiles, including the United States and the Russian Empire/Soviet Union. Born out of the earlier M1915 series of guns, the gun was forced to evolve as the needs of the war changed during World War I. Surprisingly, given the widespread use of this weapon, especially after World War I, some modern foreign troops still train with their trusty M1917 guns.

The origin of the M1917 lies in the previous M1915 design. The M1915, officially known as the "Canon de 155 C modele 1915 Schneider", was (as the name suggests) adopted by the French Army in 1915. The M1915 itself was based on an earlier Schneider design, centered on a 152mm projectile.

The M1915 is designed for large projectiles up to 155 mm, the entire system consists of a barrel, a breech with a hydropneumatic recoil mechanism, and a mantlet mounted on a wheeled frame that facilitates the transport of loaded livestock (until needed eight horses). The weapon operates through an interrupted screw breech port that feeds the shell followed by a separate brass case containing the propellant charge.

With an operational range of 2,700 yards, the M1915 is classified as a long-range gun in service with the French Army.

In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip, an event that triggered the start of World War I , the historic coalition comes into play to fight long-standing resentment. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, the Russian Empire was dispatched to defend Serbia, prompting the German Empire to declare war on Russia. Britain declared war on Germany when the Germans crossed over Belgium and Luxembourg to neutralize France.

Italy eventually sided with the Allies, and Austria-Hungary, the German Empire, and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) formed the "Allied Powers". The United States later joined the war in 1917 and played a more prominent role until 1918, the final year of the conflict.

By the end of 1914, the once-flowing fronts had reached a stalemate in the trench net, beginning the bloody affair of "trench warfare" and all the physical and psychological horrors that followed (Trenchfoot, Shellshock, mustard gas, etc...).

As France is now committed to open war with its neighbors, various weapons are used, including the M1915 artillery. Bulk stocks of 155mm ammunition proved expensive as the war went on, and the brass used to make them was a prized commodity elsewhere. This led to a switch to bagged powder in place of the original brass cartridge case.

However, the M1915 was ill-equipped to handle the new ammunition scheme, and Schneider was tasked with modifying the breech system to accept it. The breeches are taken from the existing Canon de 155mm GPF field gun and attached to the existing M1915 series barrel and frame. The artillery was built more slowly than expected, which ensured that the new form of artillery would not enter service in the required numbers until 1917, hence the name "Canon de 155 C modele 1917 Schneider" - or simply "M1917" ".

Between late 1916 and 1918, total production culminated in approximately 3,000 M1917 guns, which followed earlier M1915 versions in form and function, capable of using 155 guns from a proven bolt and barrel combination mm projectile. The gun is still mounted on a multi-spoke cradle with two steel wheels, which allows riflemen to move around the field and transport the loaded beast over long distances. The breech is located behind a thin, curved armor shield designed to protect the crew from frontal small arms fire and shrapnel.

The large recoil mechanism remains under the barrel, allowing the gun to be fired if the recoil of the entire system is out of place, forcing the rifle group to refocus the gun on the target area (a common shortcoming of older field guns). As a field howitzer, the M1917 throws its explosives out of sight with direct and indirect fire from the frontal rear. The barrel is noticeably shorter, which makes the heavy weapon more compact and without any form of muzzle brake.

A charging tray (sometimes removed) was installed in the rear of the breech. When the howitzer is being transported, the towing arms are attached and extend and lower when the gun is detonated. Some later forms came in 1918 with rubber tires and flat shields.

The M1917 weighed 7,300 pounds and had a barrel length of just over 2 meters. Each 155mm shell weighs 100 pounds. The barrel can be raised 0 degrees and 42 degrees with a limited 6-degree traverse before the crew has to spin the gun on wheels.

A well-trained and experienced firing group can fire up to three rounds per minute for continuous fire. This is useful for softening key infantry and machine gun targeting areas before a large attack. Each projectile exits the barrel at 1,500 feet per second and has a maximum range of 12,400 yards.

The M1917 proved to be a more practical weapon, and early M1915 guns were soon equipped with the same improved bolt mechanism as the M1917. This artillery formed the standard heavy field howitzer of many armies during the conflict.

When the Americans arrived in France, they stocked up on French guns, and the national production introduced the "M1918" with its rubber tires and flat shield mentioned above, although these models were adopted too late to see service in Europe. However, they remained in U.S. inventories until the 1930s and 1940s and served in World War II.

Other recipients of French guns in World War I were Belgium, Italy and the Russian Empire. The First World War ended with an armistice in November 1918.

After the war, the M1917 was used in various countries including Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Finland, Greece, Poland, Spain and Yugoslavia. Its range was so great that the weapon was still widely used during World War II. During the French campaign, there were still enough French units equipped to recreate the type captured by the conquering Germans, the German army designated the 15.5 cm sFH 414(f) ("f" was used to denote their French origin). Likewise, after the German offensive onslaught against the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa in 1941, the captured Soviet M1917 artillery was designated the 15.5 cm sFH 449(r) ("r" is used to denote its Russian origin).

After Italy surrendered in September 1943, the Germans returned to the previous Italian system, designated the 15.5 cm sFH 414(i). The Polish example captured after the German-Soviet conquest in 1939 suffered a similar fate to the 15.5 cm sFH 17(p).

Many also found their way to Hitler's famous "Atlantic Wall" defense network, which lay on the coast opposite Britain. U.S. ground forces still had their M1918 series guns and used them until the end of the conflict in 1945.

The M1917 and its featured variants have been known to perform well in two major world conflicts and have proven to be a formidable system in many "minor" conflicts. Both sides of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) used this type, and modern Argentine and Bolivian artillery detachments still train on their M1917s - a testament to their timeless design and reliability.