10.5 cm leFH 18/40 (light field howitzer)
$135.00

Thomas Gunn Miniatures

Item Number: ACCPACK118

10.5 cm leFH 18/40 (light field howitzer)

The 10.5 cm leFH 18/40 (light field howitzer) was a German light howitzer used in WWII supplementing the 10.5 cm leFH 18 and the 10.5 cm leFH 18M as the standard divisional field howitzer used during the Second World War.  It was designed in an effort to lighten the weight of the 105 mm artillery piece and to make it easier to manufacturer.  Generally it did not equip independent artillery battalions and was not widely introduced until after the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943.
A typical WWII light artillery regiment in the German Army contained consisted of 3 battalions.   Each with thirty-six 10.5 cm leFH 18/40 guns, organized into three batteries, with each battery having twelve guns, which divided into  three four-gun separate batteries.  
Ammunition:  The 10,5 cm leFH 18 fired four types of shell.  Manufactured in the largest quantities were high explosive shells.  Smoke shells were used to cover attacks and withdrawals, and to mark targets for aerial attack.  Armour-piercing shells were filled with high explosive, and had a fuse in the base so that they would not function until after penetration of the target.  Armour-piercing shells were also fitted with a tracer element, so that the gunner could see where they went and could correct his aim if required.  During the war years, hollow-charge armour-piercing shells would be introduced.  Hollow-charges focused the power of the explosion, and could penetrate up to 7.5cm of armour plate.  Gas shells were manufactured in large quantities, but were never used.  The propellant was loaded separately from the shell--it was contained in a stubby brass or steel cartridge case.  This was to make it easy to vary the size of the propelling charge and thus the distance fired.

The Romanian Army acquired a number of leFH 18/40 in 1943, to make up for the losses in artillery suffered during the Battle of Stalingrad.  With exports to Finland, Spain, Portugal, and South America. After WWII, the field gun saw action during the Nigerian-Biafran war when Czechoslovakia gifted Biafra some pieces.

The barrel elevates and depresses and can be traversed left or right on this 1/30 scale metal version in a snazzy 3 tone camouflage pattern.

Note:  Figures are not included.
 

Due to be released in SEPTEMBER 2025.