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")
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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:
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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)
|
Back to Top !
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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)
Back to Top !
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.)
Back to Top !
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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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