Soviet 203 mm B-4 howitzers (Stalin’s Sledgehammers) from the Red Army Artillery Force towed by “Komintern” tractors along Red Square during the May Day military parade in 1941.
203 mm B-4 howitzers were part of the high-power howitzer artillery regiments of the Reserve of the USSR High Command.
The Second World War in Europe.
203 mm B-4 howitzers (GAU index – 52-G-625) is a Soviet high-power (special) howitzer with a caliber of 203.2 mm (8 inches). The full official name of the gun is 203-mm howitzer, model 1931. During the Soviet-Finnish War, this weapon was used to destroy concrete bunkers along the Mannerheim Line. For this, the Finns nicknamed the howitzer “Stalin’s sledgehammer.” It was actively and successfully used in World War II. Thanks to the power, excellent ballistics of 1-12 variable charges and an elevation angle of 60°, the choice of the optimal trajectory for hitting a variety of targets was ensured. The 203-mm howitzer model 1931 lived up to all the hopes placed on it. It was successfully used in breaking through fortified zones, in storming fortresses, and in street battles in big cities, and after the end of the Great Patriotic War, it was in service with the Soviet Army for a long time, both in a towed version and on a self-propelled carriage.
Location: Moscow, USSR
Time when the photo was taken: May 01, 1941