German Artillery
12cm Kanone Handheld Range Drum
Above: This is a very unusual Range Drum. Most are permanently attached to the gun. This one is removable and is placed on the face of the breech-ring rather like a gunner's quadrant. While comparing this range drum with another very similar one for the 15cm RK, I now believe that the mechanism for this drum is reversed
Link to the s. 15cm. R.K. handheld range drum
Above: As the drum is moved to indicated gun to target range, the rectangular brass vile bubble mount moves up and down. With the range drum placed on the breech-ring the barrel is elevated until this vile bubble is level. At this elevation the projectile will achieve the range on the indicator when the piece is fired
Below: This is a 12cm Kanone with its crew. Notice that the NCO on the far left is holding a range drum of this type
Below: 12cm. Kanone and crew. The indirect fire sight is fitted onto the breech-ring in this photograph
All images, research, and text are sole property of Ralph Lovett.