In 1906, Siam (now Thailand) purchased a batch of 50mm mountain guns form Krupp of Germany. These were simple fixed barrel guns with steel-belted wooden wheels. Designed to be carried by elephant, mule, or even soldiers, the guns disassemble into a number of man-portable pieces. Two different styles of rear sight were used, although it is unclear when one replaced the other. Today, these guns are a great choice for the cannon enthusiast as they have been specifically exempted form the NFA and thus transfer like any simple firearm.
General Purpose MGs
Shooting the HK21 Modular Machine Gun
The HK21 is a the belt-fed iteration of the H&K roller-delayed blowback mechanism. H&K built a wide range of firearms around that system, including submachine guns (MP5), rifles (HK33, HK91), precision rifles (PSG-1), and machine […]
Prototype
Caveat Emptor – “StG45 Prototype”
One of the fun parts of pursuing prototype and experimental firearms is that there isn’t much written or known about many of them – it’s like a great treasure hunt. Of course, the downside is […]
Uncategorized
Tactical and Technical Trends #50: September 1944
Today I have another issue of Tactical and Technical Trends – this time #50, from September 1944. As usual, most of the material herein will be of interest to folks who like to study WWII, […]
The three interlaced rings are not Thai proerty marks, but the Krupp brand label / trade mark.
Correct. Krupp markings, in this case. Some Japanese arsenal markings are similar, but no identical.
I really like the concept and wish I had one of these. Not that I have any use for a cannon, but the breakdown on the takedown is fascinating. Its amazing!
Now where does one procure ammunition for this?
If you watch the video McCollum says uniquiveocally that there is absolutely no possible chance whatsoever of ever ever getting ammo for this cannon.
I know, I was just asking a rhetorical question, sorry about that.
He said you couldn’t buy it, but explained how you could make it. It doesn’t sound any more difficult than making cases for most 19th-century obsolete rifle rounds, and people do that all the time.
Is that hand-wheel (left side of carriage) to adjust barrel elevation?
Extremely cool weapon!
Morphy’s estimate on this is 50′ – 70′ US $. I wonder what Krupp charged for one.
‘Quick-firing’ hydraulics were pretty standard by 1906. How late were back-rolling guns made? I suppose weight concerns would make mountain guns the last holdouts.
These 5 cm cannons are said to be the last ones.
Alas a 2″ shell probably wouldn’t have enough of a bursting charge to cause much damage as compared to a a simpler, cheaper, lighter 60mm mortar.
except…those mortars weren’t available back in 1906
and they’re destructive devices according to ATF
By that time, Germany already had quite a mortar.
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/minenwerfer/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.58_cm_Minenwerfer
And any obsolete trash (like this cannon) was poured out to all monkey kingdoms.
Clarification.
In 1906, physically, this mortar did not yet exist. It was in development.
But the advantage of mortars as mountain weapons was already evident.
no matter how evident the advantage they have, as you said, it was still in development
so, at the time, crude junks like this (mountain gun with no recoil mechanism whatsoever) are still used extensively by both European monkeys and Asian monkeys, particularly the British and the Dutch for the former…and of course, if you count the Ottoman as well
also…I wonder how long it took for such a sluggish, backwater absolutist government to set up a procurement, but it’s likely that the decision was made long before Russo-Japanese war could become a case study if the gun rolled out in 1906
“Man portable”- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD4AFgxS9v8
“Screw Guns” by Kipling.
cheers
eon
Would a modern replica be NFA exempt?
except…those mortars weren’t available in 1902 and are destructive devices according to ATF…soooooo
aw, wrong place, my bad
“ATF…soooooo”
I will assume that this mean too new-fangled for your tastes if this does not hold true ignore this post entirely.
I have potential solution for you, namely Crapouillot:
http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/Canons/Eng_AfficheCanonGET.php?IdCanonAffiche=420