10 cm Kanone 04 : 13 Battalion, AIF

Places
Accession Number RELAWM05065
Collection type Technology
Object type Artillery
Physical description Steel
Place made Germany
Date made 1917
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

The 10cm Kanone 04 was the first cannon introduced into the German Army with an axial recoil system, using twin oil cylinders to buffer the recoil, and springs as recuperators. The barrel and cradle sit on top of a straight wheel axle, and features a vertical sliding wedge breech block. Elevation and traverse crank wheel mechanisms are located on the left of the cradle. The trail is a straight box type, open at the inner end with a spur piece and spike attached to the end. There is no shield and the carriage allows for a small amount of top traverse, while the angle of elevation is raised to a maximum of 40 degrees by means of a telescopic screw. The wheels are wooden spoke with steel rims and brake pad attachments. The weapon has been painted after the Second World War with a camouflage scheme consisting of brown, yellow and green patches outlined in black lines. Matching breech and gun numbers. Missing are the firing pin and sight brackets. Markings - FRIEDRICH KRUPP AG, ESSEN, 1917; KRUPP CYPHER.

The breech block is of wedge type sliding vertically instead of horizontally. Recoil, constant at all angles of elevation, is limited by two oil buffer cylinder secure recuperation; a steel spade and wheel brakes hold the gun when firing.

History / Summary

The gun was captured in France by the 13th Battalion Australian Infantry Force on 8 August 1918 in an area south west of Morcourt, France. Map Reference: Sheet 62D, France, scale 1: 40,000. Grid References: Q15. D9.9. The weapon eventually went to England where it was entrained at East Croydon in Goods Wagon Railway Truck Number 84003 for Royal Albert Docks for dispatch to Australia. The howitzer was shipped to Australia on SS Bulla April 1919.