10.5cm leFH 18M

The 10.5cm leFH 18M was a modified version of the leFH 18 that was given a muzzle brake to reduce the recoil forces.

10.5cm leFH 18M - left side
10.5cm leFH 18M - left side

The leFH 18 was a successful weapon, but there was always a requirement for more range. One solution was to increase the amount of propellant being used, but although this did increase range, the resulting recoil forces were too much for the carriage. The solution was to fit a muzzle brake onto the end of the barrel. The first version of the muzzle brake was a single baffle system, 60cm long. This diverted some of the muzzle gases to the side and rear, reducing the amount of recoil generated when the gun was fired. The muzzle brake also increased the muzzle velocity to 540m/s. Range went up from 10.765m to 12,325m. The new version was designated as the 10.5cm leFH 18M (M for Mundungsbremse or muzzle brake). It was produced in both horse-drawn and tractor-drawn versions.

The first version of the muzzle brake wasn't terribly effective, and it also prevented the use of the discarding sabot rounds that fired an 88mm shell. However a modified design was later introduced which solved this problem.

The 10.5cm leFH 18M only appears to refer to the gun when mounted on the original leFH 18 carriage. All examples of the later leFH 18/40 had a muzzle brake. It isn't clear how many leFH 18Ms were produced, but it must have made up a sizable proportion of the 6,933 leFH 18s with the original carriage, and many that were completed without the muzzle brake were later upgraded.

Name

10.5cm leFH 18

Calibre

105mm/ 4.134in

Barrel Length

3308mm/ 130.23in (with muzzle brake)

Weight for transport

2,535kg/ 5,589lb

Weight in action

1,985kg/ 4,377lb

Elevation

-6 degrees 30 minutes to 40 degrees 30 minutes

Traverse

56 degrees

Shell Weight

14.81kg/ 32.65lb HE

Muzzle Velocity

540m/s/ 1,771ft/ sec

Maximum Range

12,325m/ 13,483 yards

Rate of Fire

 

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (25 October 2017), 10.5cm leFH 18M , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_105_leFH18M.html

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