Canon de 120mm L mle 1931
The Canon de 12 cm L mle 1931 was a medium field gun used by Belgium in World War II. Captured guns were taken into Wehrmacht service after the surrender of Belgium in May 1940 as the 12 cm K 370(b) where it was generally used on coast defense duties.
| Canon de 12 cm L mle 1931 | |
|---|---|
 In the Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum | |
| Type | medium field gun |
| Place of origin | Belgium |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1934-45 |
| Used by | .svg.png){kind=small} .svg.png){kind=small} |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Cockerill |
| Manufacturer | Cockerill |
| No. built | 24 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5,450 kilograms (12,020 lb) |
| Barrel length | 4.426 metres (14.52 ft) L/37 |
| Shell | 21.93 kilograms (48.3 lb) |
| Caliber | 120 mm (4.72 in) |
| Carriage | Split trail |
| Elevation | 0° to +38° 30' |
| Traverse | 60° |
| Rate of fire | 1 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 760 m/s (2,493 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 17,500 metres (19,100 yd) |
It was rather heavy for its size, but had a good range. The split trail had large spades that had to be pounded into the ground to anchor the weapon in place.
See also
- BL 4.5 inch
- 122 mm gun M1931 (A-19)
References
- 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
- Chamberlain, Peter & Gander, Terry. Heavy Artillery. New York: Arco, 1975 ISBN 0-668-03898-5
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