15cm. lang schwere Feldhaubitze 1913/02

Restoration


15cm lg sFH 13/02 before restoration

The 15cm. lg. s.F.H. 1913 with iron farm implement wheels welded onto the original hubs.  No portion of the howitzer was functional at this point.

Breechring for sFH 13 series howitzer

The breechring which was later attached to the barrel. 

Breech for an sFH 13 series howitzer

The breech block.

15cm sFH 13/02 tube before attaching the breechring

A machineist at TIC's Machine Shop in Savannah, GA with the 15cm. lg. s.F.H. 13 barrel before attaching the breechring.

lg sFH after removal of the recoil cradle and tube

A rear view of the 15cm lg sFH 13 with the recoil/barrel group stripped out.

15cm sFH 13/02 with tube and recoil group removed

A side view of the 15cm lg sFH 13 with the recoil/barrel group stripped out.

15cm lg sFH 13/02

A close up that shows the elevation mechanism and incorrect wheels with the recoil/barrel group removed.

15cm lg sFH 13/02

Elevation mechanism.

15cm lg sFH 13/02

The brake lever.

15cm lg sFH 13/02

The brake leaver and axle.

15cm lg sFH 13/02

The hydro-spring recoil mechanism being pulled back into battery.  Two "come-a-longs" where needed to pull the springs back into place.  The same incorrect iron wheels are still on the howitzer in this photograph.

15cm lg sFH 13/02

The howitzer with the barrel fitted back onto the cradle/recoil group.  The re-built equilibrators are the shock absorber like pieces just to the front of the trunnions.  These keep a percentage of the weight off the gearbox and make elevation easier.   

15cm lg sFH 13/02

The breech is seen fitted into the breechring.  Also both equilibrators are evident in this photo.

15cm lg sFH 13/02 after restoration

Ralph and Leon Lovett with the 15cm lg sFH 13 after three years of restoration work.

To see more of this 15cm lg sFH 13/02 after the restoration

 

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All images, research, and text are sole property of Ralph Lovett.