42 line gun M1877

• Name — 42-line siege gun M1877 • Origin — German Empire Russian Empire • Type — siege gun • Is Artillery — yes • Designer — Krupp • Production Date — 1877–1903 • Weight — 2,500 kg (5,500 lbs) • Part Length — L/35: 35 calibres 12.30 ft (3.75 m) • Caliber — 4.2 inch (106.7 mm) • Velocity — 543 m/s (1,781 ft/s) • Max Range — 9,600 m (10,500 yds) • Breech — Horizontal sliding-block • Carriage — wheeled siege carriage, box trail

• Illustration — Captured 42-line siege guns, captured by the Japanese at the battle of Nanshan, in action against the Russians at the battle of Liaoyang, 1904. The gun was initially developed by the German arms manufacturer Krupp and was based on an earlier 105 mm piece and would have a typical Krupp horizontal sliding-block breech block. The 105 mm weapon was demonstrated to a group of Russian Army officers along with a 120 mm design. The delegation liked the 105 mm weapon, but wanted Krupp to change the caliber to a traditional Russian caliber of "42 lines" (106.7 mm). Later the weapon entered production in Russia; it remained in production until 1903. The 42-line siege gun M1877 could fire high explosive (HE) or shrapnel shells of 15.6 kg (34.3 lbs) weight at a distance of 9.6 km (6 miles). Notice in the image on right top of page the equipment around wheels used to reduce recoil.

The gun saw action in the Russo-Japanese War like in the defense of the Nanshan Hill during the battle of Nanshan. The Japanese Army successfully attacked the hill and captured several 42-line siege guns. Due to the lack of heavy artillery the Japanese took the guns in service during the rest of the conflict. Montenegro used a few guns of this type up to World War I and Finland used weapons of this type until the World War II Era. Many of the 42-line siege guns were captured by the Imperial German Army and reissued to nine Landwehr Foot Artillery Battalions, equipping 22 Batteries. The 42-line siege gun M1877 should not be confused with the 42-line field gun M1877, a field gun version which had a shorter barrel and lower muzzle velocity.

42 line gun M1877 is classified as a siege artillery or rifled breech loader. Associated with German Empire.

• Shirokorad A. B. - Encyclopedia of the Soviet Artillery - Mn. Harvest, 2000 (Широкорад А. Б. Энциклопедия отечественной артиллерии. — Мн.: Харвест, 2000.)