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The number of artillery pieces
in the Finnish army

At the start and end of the Winter War

 

(The contents of this page are based on the book "Itsenäisen Suomen Kenttätykit 1918 - 1995", written by Colonel Jyri Paulaharju, published by Military Museum of Finland, 1996")

 

 

 

 

In 1938, the government accepted a budget that allowed the birth of a domestic artillery industry. It was accepted that no guns were to be expected for several years (the first domestic produced field gun was delivered in 1943) and therefore the need of guns bought from abroad was still the only option to improve the artillery arm.

As late as summer 1939 it was possible to buy relatively large numbers of modern artillery pieces, but the political decision-makers didn't approve. Only after the threat of war was looming, did the politicians issue the order to buy artillery pieces. But by then, the markets were almost nonexistent.

 

 

The following sections are found on this page:


 

 

 

Artillery pieces in Finland 30 November 1939

 

 

Guns with recoil system

Model

In whole

Distributed to troops

reserve

75 K/02

12*

12

-

76 K/00

21

18

3

76 K/02

192

192

-

76 LK/10&13

72

71

1

76 K/22

4

4

-

76 K/23

4

4

-

107 K/10&13

11

10

1**

122 H/09&10

70

69

1**

150 H/14J

12

12

-

152 H/10

8

8

-

152 H/15-17

12

12

-

TOTAL

418

412

6

* = were bought from Sweden during the mobilization phase
** = test firing model

(Table source: Jyri Paulaharju,"Itsenäisen Suomen kenttätykit 1918 - 1995", p.15)

 

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Guns without recoil system

Model

In whole

Distributed to troops

reserve

87 K/95-R

33

4

29

87 K/95

47

18

29

107 K/77

114

41

73

107 K/77-120p

60

12

48

152 K/77-190p

24

-

24

152 K/04

4

2

2

TOTAL

282

77

205

(The problem with the old guns was, that they were generally in bad shape and short of ammunition)

(Table source: Jyri Paulaharju,"Itsenäisen Suomen kenttätykit 1918 - 1995", p.15)

 

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Acquisitions during the Winter War:
(Here are listed the acquisitions, from which at least a part arrived before the war ended)

Model / seller or donator # of guns Arrived Notes
75 K/01  / Norway 12 February 1940  
75 K/02  / Sweden 24 January - February  
75 K/40A  / Sweden (Argentina) 8 February  
75 K/97  / France 48 February - March 12 arrived during the war, the rest after it
80 K/77 (de Bange)  / France 12 February - March didn't see action
84 K/18  / England 30 7 arrived during the war didn't see action
90 K/77 (de Bange)  / France 100 February - March 32 delivered to troops as auxiliary guns
105 VH/10  /  Sweden 4 December 1939 were withdrawn into storage during the war
105 K/34  /  Sweden 12 December - February  
105 KH/36  Sweden 1 January experimental gun-howitzer *
105 K/13  /  France 12 February  
114 H/18  / England 24 January  
120 K/77  (de Bange)  / France 72 February - March 24 arrived during the war, didn't see action
120 H/13  / Belgium 13 February-July 12 arrived during the war, didn't see action
150 H/06  /  Sweden 12 January  
155 H/15  / France 24 February - March 12 arrived during the war, didn't see action
155 K/77 (de Bange)  / France 48 February - March didn't see action
210 H/17  / Sweden 4 February didn't see action
* = The 105 KH 36 (or 105 K 36) saw action in the Taipale -sector, where it operated in the "Kaarnajoki"-coastal battery.

Note: the French "de Bange" cannons were guns without recoil system

 

The biggest arms deal of the Winter War was made with the US , but when the war ended, almost all war material were still on route (some guns had arrived before Germany occupied Norway, confiscating the shipments. Only after the Winter War had ended, were the arms shipments allowed to be transported to Finland) .
    All US sold equipment were classed as surplus weapons, and were of varying quality (all guns had to be inspected and most of them needed repairs and maintenance, as was the case with the majority of guns bought or donated to Finland during the war) , but the price of the US guns were only nominal and therefore greatly appreciated.
    (The deal compromised 200 light field guns, model 75 K/17, and 32 heavy howitzers, model 203 H/17.
      Also 208 898 shells of 75 mm and 9 178 shells of 203 mm were included.)

 

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The number of captured / lost artillery pieces during Winter War

War booty Notes Finnish losses
Model # of guns Model # of guns
76 K/DRP 2* * = captured in Suomussalmi

** = were war booty

   
76 K/02-30 32 76 K/36 4**
76 RK/27 54 87 K/95 3
76 K/36 37 122 H/09 & H/10 5
76 VK/04 4 107 K/77 2
122 H/09-30 & H/10-30 35 150 H/14J 11
152 H/09-30 14   old guns w/o rec.sys. from coastal defense 10
TOTAL 178   TOTAL 35

(Table source: Jyri Paulaharju,"Itsenäisen Suomen kenttätykit 1918 - 1995", p.20)

 

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The end of the war

 

When the Winter War ended, Finland had bought, received by donations or loaned 324 guns (meaning guns that arrived before the war ended, not those still on route) .
    From the 324 guns,
- 142 guns were without recoil system (the French "de Bange" guns) and only 32 saw action.
- 182 guns were with recoil system, 130 were distributed to troops and 52 were under repairs or  maintenance.

 

Only in early June 1940 was it possible to count the total and exact number of artillery pieces in Finland (all arms shipments had arrived, and war booty counted) .
This included all types and calibers, and a grand total of 1 017 guns was counted.

 

 

Go to

Finnish Artillery page

The Finnish Army
Part I
Part II

 


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