▁old ▁M 1 9 0 9 ▁guns ▁were ▁upgrad ed ▁to ▁the ▁M 1 9 0 9 / 3 7 ▁standard . ▁ ▁The ▁M 1 9 0 9 / 3 7 ▁was ▁a ▁typical ▁short - bar rel ▁how itzer , ▁intended ▁mostly ▁for ▁shooting ▁with ▁elev ations ▁from ▁+ 2 0 ° ▁to ▁+ 4 3 ° . ▁ ▁Sh ell ▁could ▁be ▁fired ▁with ▁six ▁prop ell ant ▁loads ▁( no . ▁ 1 ▁to ▁ 5 ▁and ▁full ). ▁The ▁gun ▁had ▁horizontal ▁sl iding ▁b ree ch block , ▁hyd ra ul ic ▁re co il ▁buffer ▁and ▁spring - dri ven ▁recuper ator . ▁ ▁The ▁carriage ▁was ▁of ▁single ▁trail ▁type ▁with ▁uns pr ung ▁wooden ▁whe els ▁and ▁limited ▁traverse . ▁ ▁Organ ization ▁and ▁employ ment ▁ ▁Red ▁Army ▁ ▁The ▁M 1 9 0 9 / 3 7 ▁was ▁a ▁divis ional ▁level ▁how itzer . ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁the ▁organization ▁of ▁ 1 9 3 9 , ▁each ▁rif le ▁division ▁had ▁two ▁art illery ▁reg iments ▁- ▁light ▁regiment ▁( a ▁batt alion ▁of ▁ 7 6   mm ▁guns ; ▁two ▁mixed ▁batt al ions ▁with ▁one ▁battery ▁of ▁ 7 6   mm ▁guns ▁and ▁two ▁batter ies ▁of ▁ 1 2 2   mm ▁how itz ers ) ▁and ▁how itzer ▁regiment ▁( a ▁batt alion ▁of ▁ 1 2 2   mm ▁how itz ers ▁and ▁a ▁batt alion ▁of ▁ 1 5 2   mm ▁how