With any luck two photos have been uploaded but I will need help with how to insert a photo into the message. When I pressed the insert/edit image icon the table meant nothing to me. Sorry new at this.
The photos I have downloaded are of a gun at Mount Morgan in Queensland, Australia. All we know is it is described as being a 95 mm SB (smooth bore) gun captured from the Turkish Force at Beersheba in late Oct 1917. Can anyone identify it. Unfortunately we have no marking for it but it appears they may be behind a plate that has been welded at the breech end of the barrel.
Understand two similar guns of same calibre are located elsewhere. One still exists but a very poor photo of it indicates the mounting arrangement for the barrel is different. Third one am still trying to determine if it is still in existence.
Second question concerns the wheels used on german guns. Does anyone have a book that shows the different types and their construction. Many of the Trophy guns in Australia are missing wheels and I would like a reference that we can use to encourage the guns to be restored.
I have all the information for British wheel if anyone needs anything
There's a fair bit of expertise in recreating wheels for WW1 German guns in Queensland. The replica wheels for the FK 96 n.A at Corinda were done by Nobby Blacksmith (Darling Downs). The wheels for the K04 at Nundah are also replicas but I don't know who built them. The main problem is the cost - I've seen quoted costing for the replica wheels for a 15cm howitzer at Moonta , SA - $A4000 for the two wheels.
There's a somewhat similar looking gun mount to the Mt Morgan cannon at Gatton, Lockyer Valley but the bore of the gun looks larger. Gatton's on my list to get to but I don't know when.
The third Turkish cannon might be at the Mount Perry War Memorial. Mount Perry is fairly remote - it's between Gin Gin and Eidsvold west of Bundaberg. The images are from the Qld Govt war memorial database.
... this specimen of the 9cm C73 is rare ( despite the silly wheels ), because it retains the axle seats ! They were discarded on the newer C73/88 and C73/91 versions, and it is primarily these last two versions that survive today.
thank you for your replies. There are similar guns to that from Mount Perry at Manilla NSW stated as 120 mm, Camden NSW stated as 100 mm and that gun at Gatton as well is along similar lines.
Markings on the Camden gun show on the barrel from breech forward; Serial no 14 Tura of Abulhamid II Date of dedication is 1321 of the Ottoman calendar, which corresponds to 1905
Right trunnion is 465 Kg
Breech "Tophane-I Amire" Imperial Arsenal
The axle seats had the wire backing but it has not been replaced.
Presently it is said to be a Model 93 but that is not confirmed. The carriage has the Krupp logo so it would appear the carriage was made in Germany and the barrel 'under licence' in Turkey.
what I was hoping for on the wheels was a source who may have the German equivalent of a Textbook on Service Carriages. The British book contains information on the wheels used on the British guns. With such a source it would be possible to provide exact details on the wheel construction for a wheelwright that does not have access to the original wheel.
Many World War I trophy guns have long lost their wheels so no example can be provided at the site to assist with restoration. Examples of the C45 wheel as used on the 18 pounder and 4.5 inch howitzer are attached.
It is always hard to identify a gun from a poor quality photo so the one I posted on the Mount Morgan gun doesn't make life easy. However, it would appear simplicity was the basis and i assume at present it is one of the early models of the mine throwers.
