10 cm schwere Kanone 18

Both Krupp and Rheinmetall competed for the development contract, but the Wehrmacht compromised and selected Krupp's carriage to be mated with Rheinmetall's gun. It sometimes equipped the medium artillery battalion (with the 15 cm sFH 18) of German divisions, but generally was used by independent artillery battalions and on coast defense duties. Some were used as anti-tank guns during the early stages of war on the Eastern Front, as well as on the prototype self propelled gun "Dicker Max". Around 1,500 guns were produced until 1945. After the war, it served with the Albanian and Bulgarian armies.

• Name — 10 cm schwere Kanone 18 • Origin — Germany • Type — Field gun • Is Artillery — yes • Used By — Nazi Germany Albania Bulgaria • Wars — World War II • Production Date — 1934–1944 • Number — 1,433 • Weight — 5,642 kg (12,438 lbs) • Part Length — 5.46 m (18 ft) L/52 • Cartridge — separate-loading, cased charge (3 charges) • Cartridge Weight — 15.14 kg • Caliber — 105 mm (4.13 in) • Rate — 6 rpm • Velocity — 835 m/s (2,739 ft/s) • Range — 19 km • Breech — horizontal sliding-block • Carriage — Split trail • Elevation — 0° to +48° • Traverse — 64°

• Illustration — Front of 10 cm schwere Kanone 18 at National Museum of Military History, Bulgaria, Sofia. • Illustration — Side of 10 cm schwere Kanone 18 at National Museum of Military History, Bulgaria, Sofia. • Illustration — Back of 10 cm schwere Kanone 18 at National Museum of Military History, Bulgaria, Sofia. • Illustration — 10 cm schwere Kanone 18 fitted with an 8,8 cm squeeze-bore adapter attached to the muzzle.