Obice da 305/17
The Obice da 305/17 was an Italian 305mm howitzer that saw action in WWI and WWII.
Specifications and Operation
Less than 45 of these behemoths were built. 10 crew members were needed to operate the gun, sending projectiles weighing 442 kilos at a maximum range of 17.5km.
The maximum rate of fire was 1 round every 5 minutes. The sustained rate of fire was 1 round every 12 minutes.
Mobility and Usage
At almost 34 tons, this wasn’t the most mobile of guns, either! Initially serving as coastal artillery in 1914, the guns were converted to siege guns and used to smash enemy fortifications inland from 1917 onwards.
WWII and Later Service
During WWII, some of those guns were initially used during the French campaign before reverting to the role of coastal artillery in the defense of Sicily and Napoli.
Some of the surviving examples served in the Italian armed forces all the way up until 1959!
-RBM.
