Rimailho Model 1904TR
Encyclopedia
The 155 mm Rimailho Howitzer Model 1904TR was a medium howitzer
used by France
during World War I
. The name Rimailho comes from the designer of the gun Captain Emile Rimailho a French artillery officer who was also involved in the design and testing of the famous Canon de 75 modèle 1897
. The gun was designed in 1904 and the TR in the name means 'Tir Rapide' or Rapid Fire in English. Captain Rimailho's goal was to produce a medium artillery piece capable of a rate of fire equal to the Mle 1897, which was no small feat for a gun of that size. In service a well-trained gun crew could achieve a rate of 15 rounds per minute, however the 1904TR was mechanically complex and its high rate of fire placed a great deal of stress on the gun.
Theory of operation:
A firing demonstration was held at the French War College at Langres
on September 4, 1906 with the French Minister of War, Eugene Etienne in attendance. The 1904TR tested against existing 155 mm and 270 mm artillery pieces and judged to be superior when firing against hardened concrete fortifications. In 1907 the 1904TR was put into production and eventually five artillery regiments were equipped with the 1904TR. Each 1904TR battery consisted of two guns accompanied by three ammunition wagons for each gun.
At the outbreak of war the 1904TR was one of the few large caliber artillery pieces available to the French Army
. The French had neglected large caliber guns in favor of smaller and lighter artillery such as the Mle 1897. The Mle 1897 fit the French Army's doctrine of offense and maneuver. This doctrine placed a great deal of emphasis on conducting battles in the open with room for cavalry and infantry to maneuver and supported largely with direct fire weapons. When the Western Front stagnated and both sides became entrenched in 1915 the French Army was at a disadvantage due to their lack of long range, large caliber artillery capable of high angle fire. Although the 1904TR had a higher rate of fire than its German competitors such as the 15 cm sFH 02
and 15 cm sFH 13
, the German guns out ranged it and by 1916 the 1904TR no longer had sufficient range. The 1904 TR's carriage was also dated at the time of its introduction being patterned on older siege howitzer's. The 1904TR was supplemented from 1915-1918 by the Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 St. Chamond
and the 1904TR was replaced after 1917 by the Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider
.
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
used by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The name Rimailho comes from the designer of the gun Captain Emile Rimailho a French artillery officer who was also involved in the design and testing of the famous Canon de 75 modèle 1897
Canon de 75 modèle 1897
The French 75mm field gun was a quick-firing field artillery piece adopted in March 1898. Its official French designation was: Matériel de 75mm Mle 1897. It was commonly known as the French 75, simply the 75 and Soixante-Quinze .The French 75 is widely regarded as the first modern artillery piece...
. The gun was designed in 1904 and the TR in the name means 'Tir Rapide' or Rapid Fire in English. Captain Rimailho's goal was to produce a medium artillery piece capable of a rate of fire equal to the Mle 1897, which was no small feat for a gun of that size. In service a well-trained gun crew could achieve a rate of 15 rounds per minute, however the 1904TR was mechanically complex and its high rate of fire placed a great deal of stress on the gun.
Theory of operation:
- After each round is fired the guns breech is opened automatically .
- While the gun runs back into battery the breech is held open.
- The crew places a cartridge and shell onto the loading tray beneath the breach.
- The motion of the gun returning to battery slides the loading tray up into place and the firing lever is cocked.
- The firing lever is pulled and the cartridge and shell are rammed into the breech.
- The breech then closes and the gun fires.
A firing demonstration was held at the French War College at Langres
Langres
Langres is a commune in north-eastern France. It is a subprefecture of the Haute-Marne département in the Champagne-Ardenne region.-History:As the capital of the Romanized Gallic tribe the Lingones, it was called Andematunnum, then Lingones, and now Langres.The town is built on a limestone...
on September 4, 1906 with the French Minister of War, Eugene Etienne in attendance. The 1904TR tested against existing 155 mm and 270 mm artillery pieces and judged to be superior when firing against hardened concrete fortifications. In 1907 the 1904TR was put into production and eventually five artillery regiments were equipped with the 1904TR. Each 1904TR battery consisted of two guns accompanied by three ammunition wagons for each gun.
At the outbreak of war the 1904TR was one of the few large caliber artillery pieces available to the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
. The French had neglected large caliber guns in favor of smaller and lighter artillery such as the Mle 1897. The Mle 1897 fit the French Army's doctrine of offense and maneuver. This doctrine placed a great deal of emphasis on conducting battles in the open with room for cavalry and infantry to maneuver and supported largely with direct fire weapons. When the Western Front stagnated and both sides became entrenched in 1915 the French Army was at a disadvantage due to their lack of long range, large caliber artillery capable of high angle fire. Although the 1904TR had a higher rate of fire than its German competitors such as the 15 cm sFH 02
15 cm sFH 02
The 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 1902 was a German heavy field howitzer introduced in 1903 and served in World War I.-Design and history:It was the first artillery piece to use a modern recoil system in the German Army. Some 416 were in service at the beginning of the war...
and 15 cm sFH 13
15 cm sFH 13
The 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 13 was a heavy field howitzer used by Germany in World War I and World War II.-History:...
, the German guns out ranged it and by 1916 the 1904TR no longer had sufficient range. The 1904 TR's carriage was also dated at the time of its introduction being patterned on older siege howitzer's. The 1904TR was supplemented from 1915-1918 by the Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 St. Chamond
Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 St. Chamond
The Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 St. Chamond was a French howitzer used during World War I. Used only by France during the war it was superseded in service by the Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider, although they remained in service into the beginning of World War II...
and the 1904TR was replaced after 1917 by the Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider
Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider
The Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider, often abbreviated as the C17S, was a French howitzer designed by Schneider et Cie. It was essentially the Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 Schneider fitted with a different breech to use bagged propellant rather than the cartridge cases used by the older howitzer...
.
External Links
- http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/george-henry-allen/the-great-war--volume-5-ell/page-4-the-great-war--volume-5-ell.shtml
- http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/On_les_Aura/On_les_Aura_00.htm
- http://www.wattpad.com/21254?p=40
- http://www.lovettartillery.com/15cm_schwere_Feldhaubitze_1902_15cm_s_F_H_02_1917_date.htm