COASTAL ARTILLERY WEAPONS

1939 - 1945

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Coastal Gun Designation in Finland

Coastal guns were designated in Finland with calibre (in full millimeters), [back-slash,] barrel length in calibers, shortening indicating gun type and sometimes mount type (usually derived from the designer's or manufacturer's name). Field artillery pieces had their normal designation.
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Coastal Artillery Pieces 1939 - 1945

Finland had quite a strong coastal defence constructed by the Imperial Russian Navy between the end of 19th Century and 1917 belonging to the so called (Czar) Peter the Great's Fortress System which protected the coast of Gulf of Finland as well as the sea routes to St. Petersburg (Leningrad). Most batteries and guns were already ageing by 1917 but fortifications were maintained, strengthened and improved during the 1920's and 30's. Many forts were modernized because new firing methods enabled decentralizing of guns making them less vulnerable to enemy counter-fire. During the war strong coastal artillery repelled all naval actions against Finnish sea coast.

The most numerous Finnish coastal guns were light 75 mm [3"] Canet (75/50 C or O) (range 9.8 - 12.9 km) and heavy 152 mm [6"] Canet (152/45 C) (range about 20 km). Since 1930's a remarkable improvement in range was achieved in "turning" gun barrels enabling more elevation. Other mainly mixed and less effective models were used in less vulnerable areas. Smaller calibre 47 and 57 mm coastal guns were used for passage protection and close defence.

A few new strong super heavy 305 mm [12"] Obuhov single (305/52 O) and twin (305/52 O2) turret batteries (range 36, 40 or 41 km depending on the mount) based on former unfinished modified Russian turrets were constructed by1940 using old Russian barrels. Another important super heavy model was already obsolescent 256 mm [10"] Durlacher (256/45 D) (range 27.5 km).

In addition to fixed coastal guns older and mixed field gun models were also given to Coastal Artillery as moving batteries or for close defence of forts and passages. "Auxiliary guns" were usually used to save ammunition and fast wearing gun barrels of the large calibre fixed guns. There were also modern captured field guns which had limited ammunition supply or were difficult to handle or move but had long range.
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Railway Guns 1939 - 1944

In Finland railway guns belonged to coastal artillery. At the beginning of Winter War there was only one heavy 152/45 CRaut Canet gun on a flat car carriage. Two more were completed on 11.3.1940. Since 31.7.1941 there were four guns..

Four 180 mm super heavy railway guns (180/57 NRaut) (range 37.7 km in the sector of 360 degrees from rails) were repaired in Finland from the partly destroyed Soviet guns captured in the summer 1941 at Säiniö in Karelian Isthmus and in December 1941 in Hanko peninsula. Guns were completed in September 1941, in December 1941, in June 1943 and on 28.10.1943.

In 1939 France donated twelve 12" large calibre barrels of former Russian battleship Imperator Alexander III (so called "Bizerta Guns"). Actually only 8 barrels arrived in Finland because Germans captured four ones in 1940. Using these barrels Finns managed to repair three captured 305 mm [12"] railway guns (305/52 ORaut) (range 52 km). Guns were completed in October 1942, February 1943 and by the end of July 1943. Maximum sector if fired from the rails was only a few degrees but gun could be lowered to a prepared concrete position from where it could fire in sectors of 360 degrees.
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Country of origin is either a country where guns were produced, modified and/or obtained:

Fra = France
Rus = Russia
Fin = Finland
Jap = Japan
SU = Soviet-Union
UK = United Kingdom (Great Britain)
USA = United States of America.

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Gun Models used by the Finnish Coastal Artillery 1941 - 1945
..

Finnish
Designation/
Name:
Range:
[km]
Pcs:
[39/41/
44/(9.44)]
Country
of Origin:
Notes, Original Name:
         
Guns without Recoil System (Jäykkälavettiset kanuunat):
.
87 K/95

90 K/77

107 K/77

107 K/77-piirk.
.

152 K/04-200 p

155 K/77
.
.
.

6,5

9,7

5,3

8,3
.

11,2

12,3

-/40/

-/?/?

50/-/-

-/?/?
.

4/4/4

-/?/?

Rus

Fra

Rus

Rus
.

Rus

Fra

Including 87 K/95-R cavalry version with shorter barrel.

Materiel de 90 de Campagne, Mle 1877 (de Bange).

Made by Krupp and Obuhov. Not used since 1940.

piirk. = siege cannon with longer barrel and
higher carriage.

Made by Obuhov, with heavy barrel.

Canon de 155 Long, Mle 1877 (de Bange),
used by Hanko Group, one battery was mounted to
"Mk" [Naval Cannon] mount at Herrö (Åland Islands).

Light Cannons (Kevyet kanuunat):
.
75 K/97
.
.

75 K/01
.

75 K/17
.

76 K/00

76 K/02

76 K/02-30/40
.
.

76 VK/04

76 K/22
.

76 K/23

76 K/37
.
.

7,9
.
.

9,6
.

10,7
.

8,75

10,6

13,5
.
.

5,5

10,6
.

10,6

11,8

-/48/-
.
.

-/-/?
.

-/42/?
.

-/?/?

-/?/?

-/-/12
.
.

-/9/8/(3)

-/4/4
.

-/4/4

-/-/8

Fra
.
.

Nor
.

USA
.

Rus

Rus

Rus/SU
.
.

Rus

Fra
.

Fra

Swe

Materiel de 75, Mle 1897, since 1941 used only in
coastal artillery due to worn-out barrels. Re-built in
Germany as 75 PaK 97-38
in 1942 (46 were returned).

Guns were given to coastal artillery in 1942. The last
two guns were at Herrö and Mariehamn (Åland Islands).

Given also to coastal artillery since 1941. Initially in
field batteries, since 1942 in movable coastal batteries.

A few used by coastal artillery during Continuation War.

Used by coastal artillery during Continuation War.

War booty (1941), modernized K/02 with longer L/40
barrel. Since 1942 used by Lake Ladoga Coastal
Brigade
.

Used as fixed coastal guns during Continuation War.

Bought for trials, since 1941 used by
308. Light Battery / Lake Ladoga Coastal Brigade.

Bought for trials, since 1941 used by coastal artillery.

Rebarreled 75 K/40 A, since 1944 used by coastal
artillery.

Heavy Howitzers and Cannons (Raskaat haupitsit ja kanuunat):
.
105 KH/36
.
.
.
.

122 K/31
.

152 H/37
.
.
.

16
.
.
.
.

20
.

17

-/-/1
.
.
.
.

-/-/25
.

-/-/66

Swe
.
.
.
.

SU
.

SU

Experienced gun-howitzer bought from Sweden in
1939 (arrived on 15.1.1940) with changeable barrel
(105 mm cannon / 152 mm howitzer). During
Winter War at Kaarnajoki fort in 1940, since 1942
at Saunasaari battery (Lake Ladoga Coastal Brigade).

In 1944 4th, 5th and 6th Motorized Heavy Batteries,
four guns were lost in the summer 1944.

In 1944 1st, 2nd and 8th Motorized Heavy Batteries,
two guns were lost in the summer 1944. Also field
artillery used these guns.

Light Coastal Guns (Kevyet rannikkotykit):
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37/20 O

37/30 Ma

37/40 Po (or LP)

40/40 V15
40/40 V34

45/47 N

47/30 Ja (or H)
 

47/40 H (or HL)

47/40 O

57/26 K (or Cap)

57/40 H

57/48 No

57/45 Br
57/50 De

57/58 H

75/50 C
75/50 O

75/50 OH

76/30 P (or IP)

76/49 OH
.
.

4,4

4,4

5,0

6,5
.

4,0

5,5
.

5,5

5,5

4,0

?

9,0

9,0
.

9,7

9,8+
10
12,9

9,0

?

7/7/7

?/?/16

5/5/5

?/?/6
8/8/8

-/-/11

4/4/4
.

16/16/19

54/49/56

17/?/?

-/-/2

40/?/26

3/3/3
2/2/2

17/?/8

74/?/66
.
.

-/2/2

-/8/8

Rus

Rus/Fin

USA/Rus

UK/Rus
UK

SU

Jap/Fra
/Rus/Fin

Fra/Rus

Rus

Rus

UK/Rus

Rus

USA
/Rus/Fin

Fra/Rus

Fra/Rus
Rus
Rus

Rus

Rus/Fin

Obuhov-made Hotchkiss gun.

Maxim 1 Pdr AA Gun "Pom Pom" made by Obuhov.

McLean Poole.

Vickers 2 Pdr AA Gun "Pom Pom".
New version used at first on armoured ships.

Captured Soviet naval version 21-K of 45 mm AT gun.

Hotchkiss and Yamanouchi guns, reworked in Finland
to
use normal 47 mm ammo instead of short one.

Hotchkiss, two used by Navy as AA guns.

Obuhov version of 47/40 H gun, also used by Navy.

Kapioner.

Hotchkiss guns made by Armstrong.

Nordenfelt guns made under licence.

Bridgeport; Nordenfelt type guns reworked in Finland.
Derby.

Hotchkiss.

Canet, also many other mount versions: Me, M, ML.
Obuhov.
Obuhov, with naval mount, six used by the Navy.

Putilov, first AA guns in Finland.

Obuhov 75/50 guns with naval mount, reworked in
Finland to 76 mm AA guns during 1930's.

Heavy Coastal Guns (Raskaat rannikkotykit):
.
102/60 O
.

120/41 A
.

120/45 C
120/45 CLo

120/50 V
120/50 V2

130/50 N
.

152/22 D

152/35 Mk

152/45 C
152/45 CR
152/45 CLo
152/45 CL

152/46 E

152/50 V

155/27 BaMk
.

13,6
.

12,9
.

18,8
.

18,5
16,5

24
.

7,8

15

20
+20
20
20

12,5

16

12,3

-/-/2
.

8/6/6
.

2/2/2
3/3/3

-/2/2
1/4/4

-/-/3
.

4/6?/8

14/10?/7

95/76/28
=/=/=
=/=/12
=/=/20

-/7/-

-/2/2

-/4/4

Rus
.

UK/Jap
/Rus

Rus
Rus/Fin

UK/Rus
UK/Rus

SU/Fin
  

Rus

Rus

Fra/Rus
Rus
Rus/Fin
Rus

UK

Rus

Fra/Fin

Obuhov naval gun, most reworked in Finland to
105/58 O.

Armstrong 4,7" QF Coast Defence Gun Mk 4.
 

Canet guns made under licence by Obuhov.
Lo = new Finnish Lokomo mount.

Vickers naval gun, single mount,
twin mount, used on ice breakers during Winter War.

Captured Soviet naval guns repaired in Finland,
additonal two used by the Navy.

Obuhov 152mm 190 pud. gun on Durlacher mount.

Mk = sea cannon, Obuhov.

Canet guns made mainly by Obuhov.
R = high coastal mount.
Lo = new Finnish Lokomo mount.
L = naval mount.

6" Mk VII Field Gun, wheel carriage.

Vickers type gun made by Obuhov.

155 K/77 de Bange guns on sea cannon (Mk) mount.

Super Heavy Coastal Guns (Järeät rannikkotykit):
.
203/45 C
203/50 VC

234/50 Be
.

254/45 D

305/52 O
305/52 O2
.

25
28

25,5
.

27,5

36/+40
41

3/1/1
1/1/1

6/-/6
.

26/17/17

4/2/2
4/4/4

Rus
UK/Rus

USA/Rus
.

Rus

Rus/Fin

Canet model guns made by Obuhov
Vickers gun on Canet mount.

9,2" Bethlehem Steel, in spring 1940 removed
because Hanko Peninsula was ceded to USSR.

Obuhov guns on Durlacher mount.

Obuhov guns in single turrets (Örö, -3.40 Ristiniemi).
Two twin turrets (Mäkiluoto, Kuivasaari).

Railway Guns (Rautatietykit [Raut]):
.
152/45 CRaut
.

180/57 NRaut
.

305/52 ORaut
.

20
.

37,7
.

52

1/2/4
.

-/1/4
.

-/-/3

Rus/Fin
.

SU/Fin
.

SU/Fin

Canet. Two more completed by 11.2.1940.
All four guns since 31.7.1941.

War booty (Karelian Isthmus and Hanko 1941),
repaired in Finland.

Obuhov. War booty (Hanko 1941), repaired in Finland.

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Sources: ENQOV1, PAUJY1, PAUJY3, MIKPO1, TALHI, JATHI
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© 2001 - 31.10.2003 Harri Anttonen

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