Bofors 12 cm M. 14

Bofors 12 cm M. 14
TypeHowitzer
Place of origin Sweden
Service history
Used by
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerBofors
Designed1914
ManufacturerBofors
Produced1914 – 1917
No. built
  • Netherlands: 48
  • Norway: 4
Specifications
Mass
  • In traction:
    2,025 kg (4,464 lb)
  • Action:
    1,370 kg (3,020 lb)
Barrel length
  • Netherlands: 1.44 m (4.7 ft) L/12
  • Norway: 1.725 m (5.66 ft) L/14
Crew7
Shell120×141mmR
Shell weight20.4 kg (45 lb)
Caliber120 mm (4.72 in)
BreechHorizontal Sliding Wedge
RecoilHydropneumatic
CarriageBox trail
Elevation
  • Netherlands: -0° / +45°
  • Norway: -5° / +45°
Traverse
  • Netherlands: 0°
  • Norway: 4°
Rate of fire
  • Netherlands:
    3 rounds/min
  • Norway:
    4 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity317 m/s (1,040 ft/s)
Maximum firing range6,050 m (6,620 yd)
Feed systemSingle-shot
FillingHE
Filling weight16.5 kg (36 lb)
References[1][2]

The Bofors 12 cm M. 14 was a howitzer made for export, created in Sweden.

Service

Netherlands

The howitzer was used by the Netherlands as the Houwitzer Van 12 Lang 14.[1] To supplement their existing 12 cm L/12 Krupp howitzers during WW1 the Netherlands ordered a total of 24 12 cm L/14 howitzers from Bofors in Sweden, the order consisted of 8 complete guns and part kits for another 16 guns to be constructed in the Netherlands. The contract was made in 1915 and the order was delivered in 1917. After the war more pieces of the type were built in the Netherlands at the arsenal in Hembrug. They were still in service in 1940 and saw action during the defense of the Netherlands.[1]

Norway

Norway ordered 4 pieces, entering service in 1915 as the 12 cm felthaubits m/15.[2]

Germany

Howitzers captured after the Battle of the Netherlands were given the designation 12 cm le.FH 373(h), although it is not certain that they were actually used by German forces.

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b c "HOUWITZER VAN 12 LANG 14". quartermastersection.com. Quartermaster Section. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b "FELTHAUBITS m/15". quartermastersection.com. Quartermaster Section. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
Sources
  • Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945. New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3
  • Chamberlain, Peter & Gander, Terry. Heavy Artillery. New York: Arco, 1975 ISBN 0-668-03898-5
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