Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 St. Chamond
| Industry | Arms manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1911 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Artillery, including Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 Saint-Chamond howitzer |
The Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 Saint-Chamond was a French howitzer employed during both World War I and II, originating from a 1911 prototype initially proposed to Mexico. In 1915, the French authorities commissioned 400 units from Saint-Chamond, with production deliveries commencing in late 1916. Limited quantities were also supplied to Serbian and Romanian forces toward the end of the First World War. After the conflict, this howitzer remained in French inventory and was reactivated for use in the Second World War. Finland obtained 24 pieces during the Winter War, maintaining them in service until the 1960s. German forces repurposed captured guns mainly for coastal defense roles throughout WWII.
Development and Production
The heavy howitzer was developed by FAMH (Compagnie des forges et aciéries de la marine et d'Homécourt), commonly referred to as Saint-Chamond, as a complement to their Mondragon-designed field artillery intended for Mexico. The initial prototype shown in 1911 failed to secure Mexican procurement and did not attract French military interest in 1913, which preferred the Canon de 155 C Mle 1904 TR Rimailho.
Following unsatisfactory artillery outcomes during the Second Battle of Artois in May 1915, French command under General Joseph Joffre requested new heavy howitzers capable of delivering sustained rapid fire with enhanced range to minimize exposure to enemy counter-battery fire. This led to a June 1915 contract for 400 howitzers awarded to Saint-Chamond. Due to manufacturing delays, these weapons entered service only by autumn 1916, with deliveries averaging about 50 units monthly.
After completing this order, Saint-Chamond manufactured the Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider under license until the war’s conclusion. A modified Saint-Chamond design featuring increased range was prototyped in 1917 but was not adopted to avoid disrupting ongoing Schneider production.
Description
The Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 Saint-Chamond incorporated advanced design elements for its time. It utilized a hydro-spring recoil mechanism positioned beneath the barrel and included a compact gun shield. Its box-type carriage was equipped with wooden wheels, restricting towing speeds when moved by vehicles or eight-horse teams. For transport, the barrel was retracted over the trail. The gun featured a semi-automatic vertical sliding block breech that automatically ejected spent cartridge cases post-firing. A loading tray mounted on a pivoting arm was attached to the carriage. The howitzer fired a high-explosive projectile (Obus FA Mle 1915) with an effective range up to . Ammunition was "semi-fixed," consisting of propellant charges in small bags housed within a brass cartridge case, allowing variable charge settings.
Distinctive among French artillery pieces, this model had trunnions placed toward the rear of the barrel, permitting loading at elevated angles since the breech position remained fixed. This configuration necessitated a sturdier elevation mechanism capable of managing increased barrel weight forces, addressed by incorporating a pneumatic equilibrator. Additionally, the elevation system moved the gun shield along with the barrel, enabling use of a smaller shield compared to fixed designs. Horizontal traverse was controlled via a worm gear that shifted the carriage on its axle.
Operational use
Weighing approximately 400 kg less than its Schneider counterpart, the Saint-Chamond howitzer had a shorter maximum range by . It continued in active service through World War II; notably, 88 units were assigned to artillery formations along the Maginot Line and engaged during the Battle of France in May 1940.
In 1917, Romania received fourteen Saint-Chamond howitzers which remained operational through World War II. The reorganized Serbian (later Yugoslav) Army acquired several batteries between 1917 and 1918; these were modernized during the 1920s to align their capabilities with those of the Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider and stayed in service until WWII.
During the Winter War, Finland procured twenty-four howitzers from France in 1939. Delivered in March 1940 and assigned to Heavy Artillery Battery 8, they did not see combat before hostilities ceased. Subsequently, they served within Heavy Artillery Battalions 27 and 29 during the Continuation War and remained part of Finnish arsenals until the mid-1960s.
Captured Saint-Chamond howitzers were employed by German forces primarily for coastal defense under the designation 15.5 cm sFH 415 (f) throughout World War II.
Remaining howitzers
In Finland, four howitzers are still preserved:
- The Vuorenmaa piece located in the forests near Artjärvi in Orimattila
- The howitzer displayed at the Artillery Museum of Finland in Hämeenlinna
- An example exhibited at the Salpa Line museum
- A war monument situated in Juva, Eastern Finland
Additionally, one howitzer is conserved at the Military Historical Museum of Artillery in St Petersburg, Russia.
Notes
References
- Gander, Terry; 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. Doubleday, New York, 1979.
- Hogg, Ian V. Allied Artillery of World War I. Crowood Press, Marlborough, Wiltshire, 1998.
- Stroea, Adrian; Băjenaru, Gheorghe. Artileria românã în date si imagini. Centrului Tehnic-Editorial al Armatei, Bucarest, 2010.
- Vauvillier, François. "Un Oiseaux Rare: le Canon de 155 C Modèle 1915 Saint-Chamond". Histoire de Guerre, Blindés & Matériel, 2006, no. 74.
- Vauvillier, François; Touzin, Pierre. Les Canons de la Victoire 1914-1918 Tome 1 - L'Artillerie de Campagne. Histoire & Collections, Paris, 2006.
- Annexe au Reglement Provisoire de Manoevre de l'Artillerie de Campagne - Du Matériel de 155 Court Modèle 1915 "St-Chamond" - Description et Entretien de Matériel (St-Chamond manual). Imprimerie Nationale, Paris, 1916.