Canon de 120mm L mle 1931

The Canon de 12 cm L mle 1931 was a medium field gun made and 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
Typemedium field gun
Place of originBelgium
Service history
In service1934-~ 1950
Used by Belgium
 Nazi Germany
 Norway
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerCockerill
ManufacturerCockerill
No. built48[1]
Specifications
Mass5,450 kilograms (12,020 lb)
Barrel length4.426 metres (14.52 ft) L/37

Shell21.93 kilograms (48.3 lb)
Caliber120 mm (4.72 in)
CarriageSplit trail
Elevation0° to +38° 30'
Traverse60°
Rate of fire1 rpm
Muzzle velocity760 m/s (2,493 ft/s)
Maximum firing range17,500 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

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References

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  1. ^ Roger Lothaire, L’artillerie lourde de campagne belge 1914-1940, Éditions du Patrimoine Militaire, février 2013 (ISBN 978-2-9601058-8-9), p. 93.

  Media related to Canon de 120 L mle 1931 at Wikimedia Commons

  • 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
 
setting of the Belgian FRC 120 mm mle 1931 gun of the 26A regiment of the Belgian army.