The backbone of the field artillery was formed by more than 200 light field-guns of 7,5 cm, called ‘7-veld’ and based on a Krupp design of 1904. It was a capable rapid-fire field gun that was quite comparable to the famous French Model 1897 better known as ‘soixante-quinze’.
8-Staal
Light Field Gun
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1/72
1/56
£2.20
£3.50
£6.50
£11.00
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Introduced to Dutch field army in 1881 they were placed into storage after WWI, although more than 100 were soon put back into service. Although many had been overhauled prior to the war, many failed after firing one or two rounds with some even refusing to fire once.
10-Veld
Medium Howitzer
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£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
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This 10.5 cm howitzer of the Dutch army was the only really modern and state of the art piece of artillery available in May 1940 and it outperformed all comparative German artillery pieces substantially. Of the four regiments so equipped only two saw intensive action, at Grebbeberg and Waalhaven.
12 Lang 14
Medium Howitzer
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£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
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Introduced in 1911, equipping 12 field batteries in WWI, all guns were still in service in 1940. These howitzers were used extensively during combat in the battles for Valkenburg (shelling the occupied airfield) and later the siege of trapped German airlanding forces between Delft and Rotterdam.
12 Lang Staal
Medium Howitzer
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£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
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As obsolete as the 15 Lang Staal, there were no less than 144 of these weapons still in service at the start of hostilities in 1940. They had to rely on traction provided by other services, were incredibly slow and inaccurate and although had been upgraded in the 30’s still proved woefully inadequate.
15 Lang 15
Heavy Howitzer
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1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
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The Dutch were offered cheap BL 6″30 cwt howitzers from the British War Office stocks in 1920. 30 pieces were purchased being redesignated “15 lang 15”. All 30 guns were still in service in 1940, of which 28 would actually be deployed in action around the Grebbeline.
15 Lang Staal
Heavy Howitzer
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£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
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A part of the Dutch fortress artillery from 1880, 48 were still active in 1940, deployed in Fortress Holland, the Betuwe position and the Grebbe Line. Unsuitable for 1940 they would become a model in the public opinion for the disastrous effects of an army that had been neglected for decades
Pantserafweer Van 4.7
Limbered Anti-Tank Gun
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1/72
1/56
£2.20
£3.50
£6.50
£11.00
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In 1933 the Dutch army concluded that modern warfare would require accurate counter-measures against enemy armour. Up to that point the obsolete 6-veld were the basic means of fighting armour. The Austrian Böhler outperformed its competition and so 380 examples were purchased and license produced.
Pantserafweer Van 4.7
Deployed Anti-Tank Gun
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£2.20
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The Gun had a number of advantages. It had a low profile, could be brought into action very quickly and fired from its stand or whilst still on its wheels. It could fire both HE and AP which was capable of penetrating 50mm of hardened steel at 200m and 35mm still at 500m. This was enough to destroy any opponent.
Pantserafweer Van 4.7
Deployed Anti-Tank Gun, wheels on
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£2.20
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£11.00
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A well-trained crew was capable of firing up to 15 rounds a minute if the need arose and was so stable on its stand that its shot grouping of three shots at 2000m was only 20m. Lacking AT guns though the Dutch high command concentrated all Böhler’s would be concentrated inside Fortress Holland.
Skoda 75mm TL.nr.2
Deployed Anti-Aircraft Gun
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£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
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Facing obstacles with the indigenous production of AA guns, the Dutch looked for solutions abroad. One solution paid off, when in the winter of 1939 60 Skoda 7.5 cm guns were ordered from Skoda via Germany After three batteries had been delivered the German government prevented further delivery.
Skoda 75mm TL.nr.2
Limbered Anti-Aircraft Gun
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1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
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The Skoda guns were known under the type name 7.5 tl no.2. A total of 9 guns in three batteries were operational in 1940 and would prove successful taking aim at their erstwhile deliverers during the Five Day War.
Fire Control & Air Defence
Command & Control Assets
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£2.50
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£14.00
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With the purchase of modern guns it became important that the fire control systems were updated so that the guns could be targeted effectively. A new generation of targeting computers and stereoscopic rangefinders were introduced through the 30’s being well supported by a number of searchlights.
Wooden Artillery Platform
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£2.20
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With the obsolescence of many of the fortress guns in 1940 it was deemed wise to provide what advantages to these guns that could be achieved. One of these measures was to create stable and solid firing platforms that would facilitate the slightly faster braking and repositioning of the guns after firing.