Independent heavy artillery units

[bellum]

Here are the results of my own research thru my limited sources. Please, feel free to correct the errors and fill the gaps. More and new info will be heartly appreciated.

Carlos Pérez
Spain


On Sep.39 existed seven heavy artillery regiments (regimente de artilerie grea), with a eighth mobilized on this date, equipped with modern Czech Skoda M1934 150 mm howitzers (12 pieces) and French Schneider M1936 105 mm guns (12). All were motorized through 1938 to 1940.

On Sep.39 were mobilized 19 independent heavy artillery battalions (divizioane de artilerie grea).
- Nrs. 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 were also motorized and equipped with 12 Skoda M1934 150 mm howitzers. These modern battalions were usually attached to the heavy artillery regiments to act as corps artillery.
- Battalions nrs. 37, 41 y 45 were equipped with French Schneider M1913 105 mm captured guns provided by Germany after French shipments were stopped on 1940. Each possessed 12 pieces and were motorized. The battalion nr. 36 had only two batteries of these guns and was horse drawn.
- The remaining independent battalions were raised with old materiel and none were motorized. The nr. 34 had three batteries of Russian Schneider-Putilov M1910/12 107 mm guns; and nr. 35 deployed two batteries of –probably– Skoda M1915 105 mm guns. Composition of battalions nrs. 11, 12, 13, 33, 46 and 48 is unknown.
On this date were also mobilized Fortification Heavy Artillery Regiments nrs. 1 and 11 (regimente de artilerie grea fortificatii). More data on these units are unknown.

By Jun.41 other new independent heavy artillery battalions were ready:
- In Apr.41 was raised the 10th Heavy Artillery Regiment (horse drawn) from independent battalions nrs. 12 and 34. Was ever created the 9th Hv Art Regiment?
- Nrs. 38 and 47 were equipped with 12 Schneider M1913 105 mm guns. First was located at artillery school in Mihai Bravu and second was motorized.
Along the war were mobilized six independent fortification heavy artillery battalions (divizioane de artilerie grea fortificatii). One of them was ready by Jun.41: the nr. 14 was horse drawn and equipped with 12 Schneider M1917 155 mm howitzers [also cited as Saint Chamond guns]. The other ones were nrs. 21, 22, 25, 26 and 27. More data on these units are unknown. Were these battalions assigned into fort hv art regiments nrs. 1 and 11?

Sources:
- Dan-Simion Grecu: Armata Regală Română (internet site)
- V. Nitu & D. Pusca: Romanian Armed Forces in the Second World War (internet site)
- G. Nafziger: Rumanian Order of Battle...
- M. Axworthy et al.: Third Axis...

This post has been edited by bellum on December 08, 2006 07:18 pm

[evrton]

hi i am trying to find my frthers family the only clues i have he was in the artillery horse drawn in the nationalist legion is there any way of tracing them its a start dave he never said much no hes gone would like to find family dave

[Dénes]

Dave, ask C-2 on this forum, he is the Expert.

Gen. Dénes