Historic context :

Starting early in 1904, studies were launched in Austro-Hungaria for a new flt trajectory gun meant to replace the old siege 12cm M80 gun. They lasted for long years and only ended in 1909 with the test of a 104 mm gun designed by the Artillerie Zeugs Fabrik (A.Z.F.). This turned to a big disappointment, caused by the bronze tube revealing itself unable to resist to the inner ballistic big solicitations induced by the demanding spec design.

The Military Technical Commission (TMK) then turned to a Skoda existing prototype that was tested in 1910. The realization of the modifications requested by these tests as well as by the use in a test battery in July 1914 allowed the passing of an order of 300 such new 10.4cm M15 heavy field gun. The 300 guns were built both in Skoda and in the Hungarian Gun Factory of Györ, and allocated to the Heavy Field Artillery units.

This good and modern weapon with a steel tube and a shield could be separated in two loads for tranportation. It had similar performances to the ones of the corresponding French and German guns, the 105 mm L Mle 1913 and the 10cm K 14. About 500 such guns were manufactured mainly by Skoda. After WW1, these guns were also produced in Italy by Ansaldo (and named Cannone da 104/32 Mod 15).

Technical data :

• Complete description : 10.4 cm gun M 1915
• Design year : 1915
• Calibre : 104.00 mm
• Weight in firing position : 3299 kg
• Weight for transportation : 2 separate loads
• Tube length in calibres : 36.40
• Grooves : 28 to the right, constant angle
• Projectile weight : 17.4 kg
• Initial speed : 680 m/s
• Fire rate :
• Range : 11000 m to 12400 m
• Elevation range : -10 to +30 degrees
• Direction range : 6 degrees total range