| Place | Europe: France |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM05008.001 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Artillery |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
21 cm Morser 10/16 (Germany)
Description
21 cm howitzer with an horizontally sliding breechblock. Inscribed 'Nr 1257 Fried Krupp A.G. Essen 1918' on the rear face of the breech block. Barrel is mounted on a steel box carriage, with steel spoked wheels. Shield is present. Gun is painted in a light grey gloss enamel. Wooden tool-holders inside the tool holder in the gun's trail are heavily charred, suggesting that at some stage a fire was lit within.
History / Summary
The 21 cm mortar was one of the largest artillery pieces used by the German Army on the Western Front. Because of its weight it had to be transported in two loads, each hauled by its own team of horses, until tractors sufficiently powerful enough to pull it in a single load were introduced.
The gun was modernised after WWI and also used in limited numbers during WWII.
This was one of 29 guns captured by the 45th Battalion on 8/8/18. Gun No 1257 was captured in an area South-West of Morcourt, France - Map ref 62D France, 1:40,000-, Grid Ref Q21 b and d. This relic and Carriage No. 1103 entrained at East Croydon in G.W Ry truck No 84352 for Royal Albert Docks. Gun shipped to Australia on SS Bulla, April 1919. (AWM Files 4386/1/26, 4386/2/3, AWM Series 16 refer.)