Satisfied with the previous 10cm K 04 and 10cm K 14 guns, the German Army require an even longer range, that is to say an even longer tube, that must be increased from 35 to 45 calibres.

As a consequence, the corresponding weight increase is enough to bring the resulting gun in the category of the weapons that cannot be towed by horses in a single piece, despite the efforts to lighten other parts, such as the breech. Therefore, Krupp has to design its new '10 cm K 17' so that it can be dismantled for transportation in two distinct loads, the tube and the carriage.

The resulting gun that appears on the front at the end of 1917 is a very good weapon, even considering its lesser mobility and fire rate. But it is a very sophisticated piece of equipment, whose manufacturing is really complex.

This latter issue was the reason for the design of a last version, the '10 cm K 17 / 04' with considerably simplified aiming systems, recoil system and carriage, and without the useless options designed in the eventuality of an anti-aircraft use. This way, the gun was light enough to be kept in a single piece when towed by horses.

192 such '10 cm K 17' ('K' = Kanone = Gun) were produced by Krupp during the war. 90 were in service in November 1918. It was still in use in WW2.

Main characteristics :

• Weight in firing position : 3200 kg
• Calibre : 105.2 mm
• Tube length : 45 calibres
• Number of grooves : 32
• Projectile weight : 18.75 kg
• Initial velocity : 650 m/s
• Maximum range : 14100 / 16500 m
• Elevation range : max +45 degrees
• Direction range : 6 degrees total range