122 mm howitzer M1909

The 122 mm howitzer M1909 (Russian: 122-мм гаубица обр. 1909 гг.) was a Russian Empire 121.92 mm (4.8 inch) howitzer used throughout World War I.

122 mm howitzer M1909
Soviet 122 mm howitzer Model 1909, at the Hämeenlinna Artillery Museum.
Type	Field howitzer
Place of origin	Russian Empire
Service history
Used by	Russian Empire  Soviet Union  Finland
Wars	World War I Russian Civil War Winter War
Production history
Designer	Krupp
Designed	1909
Specifications
Mass	1,340 kg (2,950 lb)
Barrel length	overall:1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) L/14[1]
Shell	122 x 159mmR Separate loading charge and projectile
Shell weight	22.8 kg (50 lb)[1]
Caliber	121.92 mm (4.8 in)
Breech	Horizontal sliding-block
Recoil	Hydro-spring
Carriage	Box trail
Elevation	-1° to 43°
Traverse	4°
Muzzle velocity	335 m/s (1,100 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	7.6 km (4.7 mi)[1]

Following the defeats of the Russo-Japanese War, Russia sought to modernize some of its equipment, which included the purchase of foreign designed artillery. Seeking new systems from both France and Germany, the 122 mm howitzer M1909 was developed by the German arms manufacturer Krupp.^[2] Russia also bought a very similar system from the French arms manufacturer Schneider et Cie, the 122 mm howitzer M1910.

It was later updated by the Soviet Union as the 122 mm howitzer M1909/37 which saw combat in the German-Soviet War.

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

• 122 mm howitzer M1910 - very similar piece in Russian service designed by Schneider et Cie
• QF 4.5-inch howitzer - British equivalent, in Russian service also
• 10.5 cm Feldhaubitze 98/09 - early German equivalent
• 10.5 cm leFH 16 - later German equivalent
• 10 cm M. 14 Feldhaubitze - Austro-Hungarian equivalent

References

1. "FINNISH ARMY 1918 - 1945: ARTILLERY PART 5". www.jaegerplatoon.net. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
2. 122 mm howitzer M1910 from Landships