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Post Info TOPIC: German Mountain Gun?


Major

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German Mountain Gun?
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I am trying to find out what gun the Germans used in their Mountian units, especially in Romania and Italy.

Thanks,
Chris

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Legend

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This has proved surprisingly difficult - lots of info on A-H but comparatively litle on Germany. It turns out that that's largely because the Austrians were ahead in this technology and eventually supplied the majority of mountain artillery to both armies.

The following info is courtesy of Herbert Jäger, German Artillery of World War One.

Although Germany manufactured mountain guns, they were all for export and the Army had none of its own at the outbreak.

Supplies still at the manufacturers were pressed into service; 18 Rheinmetall 7.5cm Gebirgskanone L/16 M1914 (intended for China) were divided equally between German and A-H forces in the Alps and Carpathians, and four 7.5cm Krupp Gebirgskanone L/14 M1913 (ordered by Chile) equipped the newly-formed Gebirgsartilleriebataillon Nr. 1.

Later the Rheinmetall 7.7cm Gebirgskanone L/17 M1915 was developed.These were subsequently passed on to Turkey and replaced with A-H guns.

(The entire stock of 12 Rheinmetall 7.5cm Gebirgskanone L/17 M1908 was sent to the German colonies. Either East Africa or Southwest Africa - accounts differ.)

In addition, howitzers included the Rheinmetall 10.5cm Gebirgshaubitze L/12 M1912 and the Krupp 10cm Gebirgshaubitze L/12, a total of just three. Krupp altered the design of theirs and supplied the German Army as well as Bulgaria and Turkey, eight batteries in total.

Most German batteries ended up using the Skoda 7.5cm Gebirgskanone, and the Skoda 10cm Gebirgshaubitze M16 was altered to take German 10.5cm ammunition.

German mountain artillery during the War numbered only 17 batteries of mountain guns and four of mountain howitzers, formed into 7 Abteilungen, each of 3 gun batteries or 2 gun batteries and one howitzer battery.

Initially, Germany also relied on captured mountain guns, as follows:

French: St. Chamond 45mm M1906 & 65mm
Russian: 7.62cm M1909 (made by Schneider)

Successful joint trials of breaking guns down into 3 parts for transport led to the following being used as mountain artillery:

15cm sFH 02 & sFH 13, 10cm K04 & K14.

Rheinmetall built just one 10.5cm Feldkanone L/35 zerlegbar (easily dismantled).

Hope you can sort something out of the above.

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Major

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James,
Great info. thanks. It is a tough subject to find details on.

Chris

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Colonel

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Hello Chris,

Please have a look on http://bronzecannon.com

They are seeking for Krupp guns from WWI and showing besides a wonderfull restored 75mm
mountain -howitzer!

Best regards
Gerd

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