Polish Field Howitzer 100 mm wz.14/19 1:72 First To Fight PL049

Plastic military model kit: Polish Field Howitzer 100 mm wz.14/19 1:72 First To Fight PL049

The Polish Field Howitzer 100 mm wz. 14/19 in 1:72 scale from First To Fight is an excellent proposition for enthusiasts of military history and modeling. This detailed kit allows for the recreation of one of the key elements of the artillery of the Polish Army from the interwar period and World War II.

Model characteristics:

• Scale: 1:72
• Manufacturer: First To Fight
• Catalog number: PL049
• Material: Plastic

History and use of the wz. 14/19 howitzer:

The wz. 14/19 howitzer is a Czechoslovak design, developed from the earlier 100 mm M.14 model, produced since 1914 for the Austro-Hungarian army. Between 1928 and 1939, the howitzer was produced under license in Poland, which allowed for its widespread use in the Polish armed forces.

The wz. 14/19 howitzer was used in the Polish Army as early as 1918. During the Polish-Bolshevik War, a significant number of these howitzers were purchased, and after the conflict ended, Poland acquired a license for their production. Production was launched in 1928 at factories in Starachowice, and in 1939 also in Stalowa Wola, where they were assembled from parts produced in Starachowice.

In September 1939, the Polish Army had about 900 howitzers of this type. They were a key element of the equipment of light artillery regiments, in which two battalions had 24 howitzers, and some regiments had 12 howitzers in one battalion. The wz. 14/19 howitzers effectively served during the September campaign, and their tactical and technical qualities were comparable to other European light howitzers.

These howitzers were towed by horses, similar to other light howitzers from Germany, France, or the Soviet Union. There was also a version adapted for towing by the C4P artillery tractor, used in the 1st Motorized Artillery Regiment. The howitzer was also used on armored trains and as armament for river monitors of the Pinsk Flotilla.

Additional information:

The ammunition unit for the howitzer consisted of 40 shells (20 with steel projectile wz. 28 and 20 with steel projectile wz. 31) and 59 fuses of various types. The gross weight of one ammunition unit was 792 kg.

After the defensive actions in 1939, the wz. 14/19P howitzers were taken over by the German army and handed over to Italy. One of the examples of this howitzer is currently in the Land Forces Museum in Bydgoszcz.

The 2A28SP-94 salute guns, styled as wz. 14/19 howitzers, are part of the equipment of the ceremonial platoon of the Representative Regiment, being in fact a variant of the 2A28 gun with a caliber of 73 mm.

Kit for self-assembly and painting. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and glue for plastic models (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.