| Place | Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Palestine |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM05051 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Artillery |
| Place made | Czechoslovakia |
| Date made | 1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
100 mm M. 14 Field Howitzer (Austria) ; Australian Light Horse Regiment, Palestine
Description
10 cm howitzer with Sheet steel box trail gun carriage, gun shield, and mud guards on wooden spoked wheels. Factory fabrication number on breech ring 8660. Breech block number 4964. Firing pin present. Breech operational. Sight bracket operational. Carriage manufacturer's plate number 2981. Original paint has been overpainted post-capture with a dark sand colour.
History / Summary
This 10 cm howitzer was manufactured in the Skoda works in 1917 and was captured by the Australian Light Horse during the campaign in Palestine. The complete equipment weighs about 33 cwt. and was horse drawn. The projectile consisted of a 39 Ib. shell (shrapnel, high explosive or gas) and was hurled to a distance of from 8,000 to 10, 000 yards.
A feature of this howitzer is the semi automatic wedge type breech mechanism which is self-closing immediately the shell is thrust into the chamber. The recoil is of a varying length and controlled by an oil buffer while recuperation is secured by springs. The carriage allows for liberal top traverse while elevation ranging from 5 degrees depession to 45 degrees elevation is operated by toothed arcs and pinions.