Paper model of the Soviet 203 mm heavy howitzer M1931 (B-4)

The model of the howitzer was made in 1:25 scale. The work was awarded at the 8th Competition of Paper and Plastic Models in Świdnik, Poland in 2014.

The prototype of the howitzer was completed in 1931 and entered service in 1932. By 1945, 1008 copies had been produced.

The B-4 howitzers model 1931 were used by the USSR during the Second World War. They were mostly used to destroy strongly fortified points of resistance. Some the B-4 howitzers were taken over by the Germans in 1941 during the attack on the USSR. The Wehrmacht used them later on all European fronts of the Second World War.

The B-4 howitzers were still in service in the Soviet army in the early 1980s.

Some technical data:

• Caliber: 203 mm (8 in),
• Height: 1.8 m (5 ft 10.9 in),
• Mass: 17.7 t (UK-17.4 t, USA-19.5 t),
• Barrel length: 4.894 m (16 ft 0.7 in),
• Weight of the anti-concrete projectile: 102 kg (224.9 lb),
• Weight of the high-impact missile: 98.82 kg (217.9 lb),
• Projectile initial speed: 575-607 m/s (1,886-1,991 fps),
• Maximum firing range: about 18 km (11.2 mi),
• Maximum towing speed: 15 km/h (9.3 mph),
• Crew: 15,
• Transition from marching to combat state: 45-120 min.

A plastic model of the B-4 howitzer

Sources:

• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/203_mm_haubica_wz._1931_%28B-4%29
• http://www.dws-xip.pl/encyklopedia/203mm-wz1931/

25 Jun 2014