Austria-Hungary
7.5cm Gebirgskanone M.15
The most numerous, important and also best mountain gun of the Army of Austria-Hungary was the 7.5cm Gebirgskanone M15, made by Skoda. The M15 could fire HE grenades Shrapnel and the hybrid type of HE Shrapnel Because of the guns high elevation (+50º) it could be used as a sort of quasi-howitzer. It had an impressive range of some 8.000 km, but for most of the time the gun was usually used for direct fire at the comparatively short range of 1000-2.500 meters.
The M15 needed a firing crew of some 6 men, who could fire some 20 rounds a minute. It was used to equip the GAR (Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regimenter) of the Austro-Hungarian Army, of which there were (nominally) 14 in 1914, and 28 in 1917. All batteries had originally a (again nominal) strength of 6 guns each. The Austro-Hungarian were quite pleased with the M15. The German Army also aquired the M15 during WW1, using it as a Infantry Gun in close support. 14 German Infanteriegeschütz-batallions were equipped with the M15, using the gun as it was.The soundness of the design is proved by the fact, that it was kept in production well into the 1930-ies, equipping not only the Armies of Austria and Hungary - but of course - but also those of Czechoslovakia and Italy, and other countries as well. It was used in the early years of WW2 as well, and after WW2 by the Italian Army.
My model is a result of a kit-bash of the offerings from SHQ and Friend-or-Foe, with a completely new shield made of plastic card, and of course a lot of extra detailing: handles, dial-sight, elevation and traverse wheels, seats etc. The crew is from HäT's Austro-Hungarian Heavy Weapons set.
Click on the thumbnails to see more views of this model (notice that on many of these, the model will appear larger than life):
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