SS Heavy Artillery Battery (GBX56) includes four 15cm sFH18 guns (optional s10cm K18 barrels) with crew, one Command SMG team, one Staff team, two Observer Rifle teams, one Motorcycle and sidecar, four Large bases, one Medium base & three Small bases. The 15cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18 or sFH18 (German: "heavy field howitzer, model 18"), nicknamed Immergrün ("Evergreen"), was produced by Rheinmetall and Krupp companies and adopted by the German army in 1935. It was the first artillery weapon equipped with rocket-assisted ammunition to increase range. The 15cm sFH18 was also used in the self-propelled mounting of the Hummel. Check out the SS Heavy Artillery Battery in the online store here...

What To Know More About Burning Empires? Read the Burning Empires Design Notes here... Listen to Part One of the Radio Free Battlefront podcast on Burning Empires here... Listen to Part Two of the Radio Free Battlefront podcast on Burning Empires here...

Battlefront TV Burning Empires: The Axis Mike takes a quick look at what you can expect to see in the Axis lists covered by the new Early War book Burning Empires. Visit the Battlefront TV channel on YouTube here...

"Each panzer division has a battalion of heavy artillery armed with the 15cm sFH18 howitzers or the long 10cm K18 guns. The 15cm howitzers will prove their worth in reducing the Metaxas Line fortifications with their high explosive rounds. The long-barrelled s10cm K18 provides bombardment at extreme ranges for which the Greeks have no answer."

By the outbreak of war the Wehrmacht had about 1,353 of these guns in service. Production continued throughout the war, reaching a peak of 2,295 guns in 1944. A total of 5,403 sFH 18 howitzers were produced.   One of the four battalions in each artillery regiment in infantry divisions was equipped with these howitzers. Numerous experiments were carried out on the 15cm sFH18 to improve its range. These led to the 15 cm sFH18M version with a removable barrel liner and a muzzle brake that allowed a larger "special 7" or 8 charge to be used. The 18M increased range to 15,100 m, but it was found that the liners suffered increased wear and the recoil system could not handle the increased loads in spite of the brake. This led to a more interesting modification, the introduction of the 15cm R. Gr. 19 FES ammunition, which used a rocket-assisted round that could reach 18,200m and give it some level of parity with the Soviet A-19 gun-howitzer. Finland bought 48 15cm sFH18 howitzers from Germany in 1940 and designated them 150 H/40. Designed by Evan Allen Painted by Mark Hazell

The 15cm sFH18 in Flames Of War

Weapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes 15cm leFH18 howitzer Immobile 24"/60cm 1 11 1+ Bunker Buster, Smoke. Firing bombardments   80"/200cm - 5 2+ Smoke bombardment.

The 15cm sFH18 Howitzer
"When firing bombardments, the 15cm sFH18 howitzer has plenty of range (80"/200cm) and the firepower (2+) to soften up dug in infantry anywhere on the tabletop."

The s10cm K18 Gun
"In direct fire, the 15cm sFH18 howitzer packs a serious punch (Anti-tank 11) despite its limited range (24"/60cm). This can make opponents think twice before trying to overrun your artillery battery."

"The 15cm sFH18 howitzer has the ability to fire Smoke in either direct fire or as a Smoke bombardment. Smoke can be used to conceal your units as they advance across the table or to prevent a specific enemy unit from targeting your troops."

"These powerful guns can also provide your troops with heavy anti-tank support in an emergency. Their massive shells will make quick work of enemy tanks that foolishly move into the open sights of the heavy guns."
The s10cm K18 Gun in Flames Of War
Weapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes s10cm K18 gun Immobile 32"/80cm 1 15 2+ - Firing bombardments   96"/240cm - 4 4+ -

SS Heavy Artillery Battery Command SMG Team

“The 15cm sFH18 howitzer is rated as Bunker Buster. A weapon with this attribute score a hit on a team in a building, it also hits every other team in the building. This can make your opponents think twice about using buildings for cover and concealment”

SS Heavy Artillery Battery Observer Rifle Teams

"Observer teams need a good view of the battlefield in order to do their job correctly. Be sure to deploy them in a position where they have an excellent view of the battlefield such as on a hilltop or on the top floor of a multi-level building."

"The SS Heavy Artillery Battery can be used in Early-war with Burning Empires and in Mid-war with Eastern Front. In the Early-war organisation, only one Observer team is used while Mid-war organisation uses both Observer Rifle teams." Learn more about Eastern Front here...

SS Heavy Artillery Battery Staff Team

"An artillery platoon with a Staff team can repeat an artillery bombardment in subsequent turns once it has ranged in on an aiming point. You do not need to roll again to range in, nor is there any penalty to the score needed to hit if your artillery Ranged In on the second or third attempts."

The Motorcycle and Sidecar

The SS Heavy Artillery Battery