203 mm Howitzer M1931 file photo [11984]

203 mm Howitzer M1931 (B-4) Field Gun

Country of OriginRussia
TypeField Gun
Caliber203.000 mm
Length5.087 m
Barrel Length4.894 m
Weight17700.000 kg
Ammunition Weight98.50 kg
Rate of Fire1 rounds/min
Range18.000 km
Muzzle Velocity606 m/s

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe 203 mm Howitzer M1931 (B-4) field guns were designed by Nikolai Nikititsch Magdesiew in 1931, and production began in 1932. These heavy howitzers were mounted on tracked carriages for towing. Although the firing rate of 1 round per minute was rather slow, they were used with success against German defensive fortifications as the Soviet forces advanced toward Berlin, Germany during the European War.

During the design's production life, 871 examples were built.

Source: Wikipedia ww2dbase

Last Major Revision: Jan 2011

203 mm Howitzer M1931 (B-4) Field Gun Interactive Map

Photographs

Soviet 203 mm Howitzer M1931 (B-4) field gun and crew, Moscow Oblast, Russia, early 1942203 mm Howitzer M1931 of Soviet 3rd Byelorussian Front, summer 1944203 mm Howitzer M1931 gun on parade, Red Square, Moscow, Russia, circa 1940sSoviet 203 mm Howitzer M1931 (B-4) field gun on display at Minsk, Belarus, 23 Jun 2005
See all 5 photographs of 203 mm Howitzer M1931 (B-4) Field Gun



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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
10 Aug 2011 03:54:26 PM

In case anyone is wondering about the odd seeming size, 203mm is 8 inches.
2. Commenter identity confirmed Alan Chanter says:
29 Aug 2019 07:33:20 AM


In the final days of the war, B-4s were frequently used in the direct-fire role against German strongpoints in Berlin, becoming known as ‘Stalin’s sledgehammer’.

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203 mm Howitzer M1931 (B-4) Field Gun Photo Gallery
Soviet 203 mm Howitzer M1931 (B-4) field gun and crew, Moscow Oblast, Russia, early 1942
See all 5 photographs of 203 mm Howitzer M1931 (B-4) Field Gun


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