Looking at the page on the German 21cm Morser it says one of the modifications made in 1916 was the addition of a "shield." Was this shield placed on the top of the gun, covering the recoil tubes? Or was it the shield to protect the gunners? I have a photo I'm considering using for a book about 1914 but I want to make sure the gun is not a 1916 model.
It would appear the author is refering to the splinter shield fitted vertically over the receiver group to protect the crew from couner-battery fire. Early pics of the weapon is use during August 1914 show the shield factory fitted. Late war pics commonly illustrate the system in use without the splinter shield; either to save weight during transport or removed by the crew to facilitate ready use.
