Can anyone provide me with the address of the Krupp archives or tell me where I can find a diagram of the firing mechanism of the M1909, 75mm Krupp exported to Argentina, interrupted screw type breech? Any information would be most appreciated.
When I am in contact with the Krupp Archives I write to Dr. Ralf Stremmel. It has been some time since I have contacted him, so I have checked the internet if he is still working there. According to the ThyssenKrupp site, he still does. His address is:
Thank you. I have been searching for any information, diagrams for a long time with no luck at all. There doesn't seem to be much information on the M1909 75mmKrupps that were delivered to Argentina about 1910.
I'm restoring one to firing condition, but it came from Argentina missing the firing pin assembly and the recoil system. Things are going well, but the firing pin mechanism has us baffled. I'll keep in touch.
I have heard that most of the Krupp drawings were destroyed during WW2.
Another approach might be to search the patent literature via Google - Krupp often patented their developments in the US so Google searches will often turn up drawings of the mechanisms used. There was a thread on this forum about Krupp patents in Google - useful search terms, etc.
I'm guessing that the 75mm Argentine guns didn't use an obturator but relied on cartridge cases to do the obturation. Another gun which had a screw breech and no obturator was the 75mm Krupp M1908 Mountain Gun. This was built in large numbers by the Japanese as the Type 41 Mountain Gun - perhaps this has a similar firing pin arrangement.
Charlie, I appreciate your rapid reply and useful advice. I will look into this ASAP. I don't think the gun was ever fired because there are no spots of wear or even a stain to indicate where springs or other parts may have rubbed, so no clues to be found there. I will let you know how the search goes. Thanks again,' Stilwell
As a follow up to the Krupp archive questions, nothing was found by anyone, anywhere and thanks by the way for the attempts to help. So, my machinist took what was left of the firing mechanism and devised an apparatus which works very well. We are working the bugs out of the ammo and the extractor, which was torch cut before importation, and at last, a project six years on, is being completed.