Historic context :

The '10cm GebH M99' mountain howitzer was already obsolete when born, because of the lack of a modern recoil recuperation system. Skoda proposed some years later the very first Austro-Hungarian mountain howitzer equipped with a hydro-spring recoil recuperation system, with the mountain howitzer '10 cm Geb.H M08', adopted in 1908.

This howitzer had a bronze barrel similar to the one of the model 1899 one; but this time with a sliding wedge breech system. Although still limited by the power of its shell -the same as the one of its 1899 predecessor); it was a modern weapon, precise, equipped with a hydro-spring variable recoil recuperation system, and a shelter. It was dismountable into 3 separate loads for transportation, and could also be adapted on a special carriage allowing to reach very high elevation angles from 43 to 70 degrees.

A slightly modified version was adopted in 1910 with the '10 cm Geb.H M08' that was anymore adaptable to the special carriage for high elevation angles, and whose elevation mechanism wheel had been moved from the left side of the breech to the right side...

Technical data :

• Complete description : 10 cm mountain howitzer M 1908 and 1910
• Design year : 1908
• Calibre : 104.00 mm
• Weight in firing position : 1233 kg (M08) - 1210 kg (M10)
• Weight for transportation : 3 separate loads
• Tube length in calibres : 14.70
• Grooves : 36
• Projectile weight : 15.5 kg
• Initial speed : 300 m/s
• Fire rate :
• Range : 6000 m
• Elevation range : -8 to +43 degrees (M08); +43 to +70 degrees (M08 on special carriage); -8 to +42 degrés (M10)
• Direction range : 5 degrees total range