SIG 33

SIG 33 is a Canon developped at the point in Germany in the Années 1920, 1930 and 1940. It was brought into service as from 1933 and forsaken after the Second world war.

history

As of the beginning of the year 1920, the state major of the Reichswehr requests the equipment of two types of pieces of artillery in the units of infantry:

a Obusier of 75 mm the IG 18 and one heavy howitzer of 150 mm.
Les first studies of the SIG begin into 1927 with the factories Rheinmetall-Borsig AG from Düsseldorf and it is only into 1933 that the series production starts after official acceptance with the persons in charge of the armament. The collapse of Reich puts an end to its production. Powerful and effective, the SIG 33 suffers from two handicaps: its weight and its obstruction. The technicians will get busy to attenuate these defects while first of all trying to limit its weight.

the model entirely built out of steel is equipped with steel wheels pressed with metal rims allowing the towing Hippomobile.
the model B is equipped with a Affût out of alloy offering a profit of weight, but it will be developed only in minor amount.
the model C, entirely built out of alloy will not exceed the stage of the prototype. The Luftwaffe, as from 1939, having obtained the monopoly of use of light alloys for the construction of its Aircraft S.

Not having succeeded in making it lighter, the technicians will try to make it more handy while installing it on displaced crawler tracks with more or less of success. Initially installed on the Panzer I, it proves quickly that the engine of this one is too weak to propel the SIG 33. Conversions to frame of PzKpfw II, 38 (T) called Bison, Lorraine caterpillar and PzKpfw III will be more effective. Another evolution was the adoption of rims equipped with bindings rubber allowing traction by trucks or half-tracked. Certain rims will be equipped with ray out of wooden, reducing the mounting somewhat. One finds it in equipment in the company of howitzer (13th company) of the battalion of infantry and affected to the 4th group with which the manpower of an officer, five warrant officers and thirty-three artillerists is in charge with the implementation and the displacement of the 2 SIG. Each howitzer is towed by an attachment of six horses directed by three soldiers. The other part of the crew is transferred onto the front-axle unit of the part. The other personnel has the role protection, the transmissions of requests for support and the reception of the orders and the adjustment of the shootings as well as the administrative missions and for support. The quality of the drive often made it possible the unit of infantry to manage information and to effectively transmit them to the higher level. At the summer of 1941, the Wehrmacht is equipped with a park of 867 heavy guns of infantry SIG 33.

After 1918, the majority of the armies give up the concept of the gun specialized in the support of the infantry for the benefit of the mortar. However, the Germans preserve two types of howitzers, light and heavy in the regiment of infantry. What allows, in general with German regimental artillery, to carry out effectively its missions of support fire (the shell of the SIG 33 weighs approximately 38 kg) without calling upon the batteries of the divisional artillery regiments. The SIG 33 is employed in shootings against the infantry, the destruction of fortifications of campaigns and occasionally of armored vehicles. Equipped theoretically with a capacity anti-tank device, the SIG 33 could also draw from the shells with hollow-charge. One realized quickly that this ammunition was not very effective and that a traditional shell of 150 mm breaking came to end from the tanks and the armored vehicles.

However, the weight of the part did not allow him a sufficient mobility in this type of combat. A special ammunition, Stielgranate 42, projectile charged by the mouth and equipped with wings with guidance is used for the destruction of fortifications, casemates and other bunkers. This projectile has a limited range. The rate of shooting of the SIG 33 is limited to 3-4 shots/min because of the manual loading of shell and separate propelling loads. The ammunition, Infanteriegranade 33 or 38, has a load of 8290 kg TNT or amatol. This one, containing high-strength explosive, has an enough powerful capacity deflagrating to cause important damage with the most resistant superstructures. There exist also smoke-producing ammunition being able to be drawn by the SIG 33.

Characteristics

Gauge: 149,1 mm
Weight in action: 1680 kg for horse-drawn and 1800 kg for car
Cross-pieces: 11°
Rise: - 4° with + 75°
Carried: 4700 m
initial Speed: 240 m/s (280 m/s for the hollow-charge)
Rate of shooting: max 3 to 4 blows/minute
Weight of the projectile: 38 kg
Lifespan of the tube: 10 to 15000 blows
Originator: Rheinmetal Borsig AG
Manufacture: AEG-Fabriken, Berlin. Henningsdorf; Böhm Waffenfabrik, Strakonit

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