The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
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 breech block is of wedge type sliding vertically instead of horizontally. Recoil, constant at all angles of elevation, is limited by two oil buffer cylinders and a steel spade and wheel brakes hold the gun when firing.. Elevation and traverse crank wheel mechanisms are located on the left of the cradle. The trail is a straight box type formed from rivetted steel plate. The gun has no shield. The carriage allows for a small amount of barrel traverse, and for elevation of up to 40 degrees. The wheels are wooden spoke with steel tyres and brake pad attachments. Matching breech and gun numbers. Missing are the firing pin and sight brackets. Markings - FRIEDRICH KRUPP AG, ESSEN, 1917; KRUPP CYPHER.
The weapon was painted after the Second World War with a camouflage scheme consisting of brown, yellow and green patches outlined in black lines.
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 was shipped 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.
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