15 cm Autokanone M. 15/16

Due to their unique ammunition, the Germans did not use them that much, and generally served on coast-defense duties during World War II.

• Name — 15 cm Autokanone M. 15/16 • Origin — Austria-Hungary • Type — Heavy field gun • Is Artillery — yes • Service — 1916−1945 • Used By — Austria-Hungary First Austrian Republic Czechoslovakia Nazi Germany Kingdom of Italy • Wars — World War I World War II • Designer — Skoda • Design Date — 1913−16 • Manufacturer — Skoda • Production Date — 1916−18 • Number — 44 • Variants — 15 cm Autokanone M. 15 • Weight — 11900 kg • Part Length — 6.0 m L/39.5 • Crew — 13 • Cartridge — separate-loading, cased charge • Caliber — 152.4 mm (6 in) • Rate — 1 rpm • Velocity — 692 m/s (2,270 ft/s) • Range — 16000 m (M. 15) • Max Range — 21840 m (M. 15/16) • Carriage — box trail • Elevation — -6° to +45° • Traverse — 6°

The M. 15 was a thoroughly conventional design for its day with a box trail, iron wheels and a curved gunshield. It was notable as being the first Austro-Hungarian gun to be designed for motor transport, towed behind the M 17 'Goliath' artillery tractor, hence the Autokanone designation. For transport the barrel was generally detached from the recoil system and moved on its own trailer. The original M. 15 weapons had a maximum elevation of only 30°, but an elevation of 45° was demanded early in the gun's production run, mainly to engage high-altitude targets in the mountains. 27 M. 15 guns were completed before production switched to the improved M. 15/16 with greater elevation in the first half of 1917. A total of 44 barrels and 43 carriages were completed by the end of the war. It seems likely that surviving M. 15 guns were rebuilt after the war to M. 15/16 standards. During the Twenties, guns in Italian service were relined and given new wheels by Vickers-Terni. In June 1940 Italy had 29 Cannone da 152/37 in service. By the time of the Italian capitulation this number had declined to 17.