Considering the performances of the 12cm Kanone dated 1880 were becoming insufficient, the 'Kgl Preussische Artillerie Pruefungs Kommission' ('APK') required in 1893 the design of a new gun with improved rate of fire, a better precision, and using the 105mm caliber already in use in the German Navy.

Krupp's 10cm K de 1899, met this specification thanks to a longer barrel of 30 calibers (instead of 23.4), a vertical sliding block breech mechanism, and the use of fixed ammunitions. It was associated with a high carriage from the same kind than the fortress artillery guns.

This gun was not well adapted to the field artillery needs because it needed the use of a platform (to wich the gun could be attached by means of a recoil brake piston), wood wedges under the wheels for the return to position, and also for its relative instability and overweight. But it was a real success considering the range improvement (over 10 km) and rate of fire, making it a good harassment and counter-battery weapon.

Despite its replacement by the more modern 10cm K 04 equipped with hydro-mechanical recuperator, this old gun was still in dotation in some units of the FussArtillerie or the FestungsArtillerie at the opening of the war, and used all along the conflict.

Main characteristics :

• Poids en position : 2640 kg
• Calibre : 105.2 mm
• Longueur du tube : 30 calibres
• Number of grooves : 32
• Projectile weight : 16.1 / 18.75 kg
• Initial velocity : 560 / 551 m/s
• Maximum range: 10200 / 12700 m
• Elevation range : min -5, max +35 degrees
• Direction range : none