Canon de 120mm L mle 1931

The Canon de 12 cm L mle 1931 was a medium field gun used by Belgium in World War II. Captured guns were taken into Wehrmacht service after the surrender of Belgium in May 1940 as the 12 cm K 370(b) where it was generally used on coast defense duties.

Canon de 12 cm L mle 1931
In the Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum
Type	medium field gun
Place of origin	Belgium
Service history
In service	1934-45
Used by	Belgium  Nazi Germany
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Cockerill
Manufacturer	Cockerill
No. built	24
Specifications
Mass	5,450 kilograms (12,020 lb)
Barrel length	4.426 metres (14.52 ft) L/37
Shell	21.93 kilograms (48.3 lb)
Caliber	120 mm (4.72 in)
Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	0° to +38° 30'
Traverse	60°
Rate of fire	1 rpm
Muzzle velocity	760 m/s (2,493 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	17,500 metres (19,100 yd)

It was rather heavy for its size, but had a good range. The split trail had large spades that had to be pounded into the ground to anchor the weapon in place.

See also

• BL 4.5 inch
• 122 mm gun M1931 (A-19)

References

Media related to Canone de 120 L mle 1931 at Wikimedia Commons

• 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