13.5 cm K 09

• Name — 13.5 cm Kanone 09 • Origin — German Empire • Type — Heavy field gun • Is Artillery — yes • Used By — German Empire • Wars — World War I • Designer — Krupp • Manufacturer — Krupp • Number — about 190 • Weight — Travel: 7847 kg Combat: 6730 kg • Length — 8.2 m • Part Length — 5.4 m (L/35.6) • Width — 1.92 m • Cartridge — Separate loading, cased charge and projectile • Cartridge Weight — 42 kg • Caliber — 135 mm • Rate — 3 rpm • Velocity — 695 m/s • Max Range — 16.5 km • Breech — Horizontal sliding-block • Recoil — Hydro-pneumatic 1.42 m • Carriage — Box trail • Elevation — -5° to +26° • Traverse — 4°

The breech was a horizontal Krupp guide shaft breech, the shell and propellant charge were separated. The hydraulic recoil brake had a maximum stopping distance of 1.42 m, and the mount was a one-piece box spar mount. The gun fired using wheeled belts and was easily maneuverable off-road.

One of these guns was captured during the Battle of the Canal du Nord, on 29 September 1918, by the New Zealand Division. Two battalions of the Wellington Regiment were engaged in this action, which was part of an Allied attack on the Hindenburg Line. At the end of the war, the captured gun, Nr 4, and many other captured German weapons were sent to New Zealand as war trophies. In 1920, Nr 4 was given to the city of Wellington in honor of its soldiers. The gun, believed to be one of a few remaining in existence, is currently on public display in the Wellington Botanic Garden. In 1921 the Channel Island of Guernsey received its share of the Allies' spoils of war, four K09 Kanon. Displayed near Victoria Tower in Saint Peter Port until in 1938 two having badly deteriorated, were scrapped. The remaining two were quickly buried in 1940 before the Island was occupied by German forces. Forgotten about, they were dug up in 1978 and are now again on display next to Victoria Tower.