San Martin and Fray Luis Beltran. Fray Luis Beltran was a priest who, curiously, was in charge of the arsenals for the Andean Army during the war for independence. This priest (of French origin?) with knowledge of chemistry and ironwork dedicated himself to making all types of equipment, from cannons (4" Mountain Artillery), rifles, sabres, powder and uniforms.
Fray Luis Beltrán (a Franciscan friar and self-taught metallurgist) manufactured a specialized range of artillery at the Maestranza del Plumerillo designed specifically to survive the crossing of the mountains. Types of Artillery Produced:
4-inch Mountain Artillery: The primary pieces were mountain howitzers designed to be lightweight and compact.
Siege Mortars: Beltrán cast various mortars used for high-angle fire, essential for attacking fortified positions in rugged terrain.
Campaign and Field Guns: In addition to mountain pieces, he forged standard 4, 8, and 12-inch field guns for open-field combat.
Improvised Castings: Beltrán famously melted down church bells to obtain the bronze and copper needed to cast new cannon barrels and shot.
Engineering for the Andes:
Dismountable Carriages: He developed specialized "cureñas" (carriages) that could be disassembled so the guns could be transported on the backs of mules or dragged by specialized sleds (zorras) across narrow, steep mountain passes.
Ammunition: His workshops produced not only the cannons but also the necessary projectiles, including round shot, grape shot, and grenades.
Scale of Production: Working with approximately 700 artisans, Beltrán established a "frenetic" production pace, ensuring the army had enough cartridges and powder for the campaign.
The 19th century artillery was divided into Siege and campaign. The siege artillery used the most powerful pieces, like the 24-inch. Field Artillery, Mounted or foot,(4, 8 and 12 inches), acting in the open-field, hence the denomination Field Gun. A standard battery from this time consisted of six pieces, which could include one or two mortars.
The maxime range could reach 800-900 meters, with relative efficiency of 400. When close combat was near, Part servers placed a bucket of metal splinters or nails. The rate of fire was slow, taking into account that with every shot they had to brush the cannon. A well-trained crew could make two rounds per minute.
Fray Luis Beltrán (a Franciscan friar and self-taught metallurgist) manufactured a specialized range of artillery at the Maestranza del Plumerillo designed specifically to survive the crossing of the mountains. Types of Artillery Produced:
4-inch Mountain Artillery: The primary pieces were mountain howitzers designed to be lightweight and compact.
Siege Mortars: Beltrán cast various mortars used for high-angle fire, essential for attacking fortified positions in rugged terrain.
Campaign and Field Guns: In addition to mountain pieces, he forged standard 4, 8, and 12-inch field guns for open-field combat.
Improvised Castings: Beltrán famously melted down church bells to obtain the bronze and copper needed to cast new cannon barrels and shot.
Engineering for the Andes:
Dismountable Carriages: He developed specialized "cureñas" (carriages) that could be disassembled so the guns could be transported on the backs of mules or dragged by specialized sleds (zorras) across narrow, steep mountain passes.
Ammunition: His workshops produced not only the cannons but also the necessary projectiles, including round shot, grape shot, and grenades.
Scale of Production: Working with approximately 700 artisans, Beltrán established a "frenetic" production pace, ensuring the army had enough cartridges and powder for the campaign.
The 19th century artillery was divided into Siege and campaign. The siege artillery used the most powerful pieces, like the 24-inch. Field Artillery, Mounted or foot,(4, 8 and 12 inches), acting in the open-field, hence the denomination Field Gun. A standard battery from this time consisted of six pieces, which could include one or two mortars.
The maxime range could reach 800-900 meters, with relative efficiency of 400. When close combat was near, Part servers placed a bucket of metal splinters or nails. The rate of fire was slow, taking into account that with every shot they had to brush the cannon. A well-trained crew could make two rounds per minute.
Argentine Mountain Artillery January 19 to February 13, 1817.
75mm Gebirgskanone C/64 and C64/67
75mm L/13 C/64 GK Gebrigskanone.
Brech: 4, double wedge (Kreiner system) breech.
Carriage: C/64 wooden material.
The "1865 batch" Argentina received consisted of 10 Krupp 7.5cm L/13 Mountain Guns (C/64 GK Gebirgskanone) purchased from private merchants. At this time, Krupp’s export technology was in a state of rapid transition. While the Prussian Army was just adopting the "Double Wedge" C/64, Krupp was already offering a single horizontal sliding wedge for export. However, these very early C/64 models often utilized a rectangular (square) block rather than the round-back design that would define the C/67.
The guns were "Mountain" (Gebirgs) models, specifically because they were lighter (L/13 barrel length) and could be disassembled for transport. This made them ideal for the marshes of the Paraguayan theater.
75mm L/13 C/67 GK Gebrigskanone.
Breech: round-Back (Cylindro-Prismatic) Wedge breech.
Carriage: C/64 wooden material.
By the end of the war, the batches (11), Argentina received were the upgraded C/67 Export Version, which standardized the round-back (cylindro-prismatic) wedge to solve the cracking issues found in the 1865-era square blocks.
These 75mm C/67s were the export version of the C/64 design, and featured the Rundkeil-Verschluss (rounded back closure breech). Most likely, they arrived in C/64 wooden carriages. But the use that Argentina gave them in the Paraguayan Front, was not for Mountain's specialty, but for the difficult terrain of Paraguay. Probably because of its light weight to adapt it to the tropical climate as other countries have done.
Brech: 4, double wedge (Kreiner system) breech.
Carriage: C/64 wooden material.
The "1865 batch" Argentina received consisted of 10 Krupp 7.5cm L/13 Mountain Guns (C/64 GK Gebirgskanone) purchased from private merchants. At this time, Krupp’s export technology was in a state of rapid transition. While the Prussian Army was just adopting the "Double Wedge" C/64, Krupp was already offering a single horizontal sliding wedge for export. However, these very early C/64 models often utilized a rectangular (square) block rather than the round-back design that would define the C/67.
The guns were "Mountain" (Gebirgs) models, specifically because they were lighter (L/13 barrel length) and could be disassembled for transport. This made them ideal for the marshes of the Paraguayan theater.
75mm L/13 C/67 GK Gebrigskanone.
Breech: round-Back (Cylindro-Prismatic) Wedge breech.
Carriage: C/64 wooden material.
By the end of the war, the batches (11), Argentina received were the upgraded C/67 Export Version, which standardized the round-back (cylindro-prismatic) wedge to solve the cracking issues found in the 1865-era square blocks.
These 75mm C/67s were the export version of the C/64 design, and featured the Rundkeil-Verschluss (rounded back closure breech). Most likely, they arrived in C/64 wooden carriages. But the use that Argentina gave them in the Paraguayan Front, was not for Mountain's specialty, but for the difficult terrain of Paraguay. Probably because of its light weight to adapt it to the tropical climate as other countries have done.
7.5cm L/13 C/98 GK GebirgsKanone - (Cañón de Montaña Modelo 1898)
This 75mm L/13 Krupp c/98 was the export Krupp version of the German Empire's famous 7.5cm L/13 C/80 Gebirgskanone.
They were acquired in with the Maxim-Nordenfelt system customized from the same Krupp factory.
Cañón de Montaña "Andino" 75mm L/13 tipo C98
Caliber: 75mm (7.5cm) The standard Argentine mountain/infantry caliber.
Barrel Length: L/13 (Approx. 975mm).
Weight (Firing): ~100–200 kg Extremely light for its class; this explains why it was so adaptable for both mountain use and the later Matorras infantry support role.
Max Range: ~3,900 m Typical for a short-barreled mountain gun of that era (comparable to the early Krupp and Schneider mountain pieces).
Material: High-Performance and tensile nickel wteel version. For Mountain Guns (Gebirgskanone), the use of nickel steel was actually more about portability than explosive power. Because nickel steel was stronger per pound, Krupp could make the barrel walls even thinner while maintaining the same pressure rating. In mountain warfare, where guns had to be broken down into "mule loads," shaving off even 5–10 kg from the tube was a massive advantage.
Actions: These guns saw significant combat action during the Chaco War (1932 - 1935) between Paraguay and Bolivia. Despite Argentina's official neutrality, it provided these specialized "hybrid" weapons.
Mule Loads: 2–4 Loads Highly portable, making it ideal for the Andean terrain or being manually moved by infantry squads.
Breech System: Maxim-Nordenfelt Specifically the eccentric screw/block, which was the preferred Argentine "hybrid" modification for these tubes.
Fate: As the guns became obsolete for frontline mountain warfare, they were mounted on a new, low-profile carriage to become the Modelo Argentino Matorras 75mm L/13. This gave the old 19th-century steel a new role as a close-support infantry gun during the WWII era.
They were acquired in with the Maxim-Nordenfelt system customized from the same Krupp factory.
Cañón de Montaña "Andino" 75mm L/13 tipo C98
Caliber: 75mm (7.5cm) The standard Argentine mountain/infantry caliber.
Barrel Length: L/13 (Approx. 975mm).
Weight (Firing): ~100–200 kg Extremely light for its class; this explains why it was so adaptable for both mountain use and the later Matorras infantry support role.
Max Range: ~3,900 m Typical for a short-barreled mountain gun of that era (comparable to the early Krupp and Schneider mountain pieces).
Material: High-Performance and tensile nickel wteel version. For Mountain Guns (Gebirgskanone), the use of nickel steel was actually more about portability than explosive power. Because nickel steel was stronger per pound, Krupp could make the barrel walls even thinner while maintaining the same pressure rating. In mountain warfare, where guns had to be broken down into "mule loads," shaving off even 5–10 kg from the tube was a massive advantage.
Actions: These guns saw significant combat action during the Chaco War (1932 - 1935) between Paraguay and Bolivia. Despite Argentina's official neutrality, it provided these specialized "hybrid" weapons.
Mule Loads: 2–4 Loads Highly portable, making it ideal for the Andean terrain or being manually moved by infantry squads.
Breech System: Maxim-Nordenfelt Specifically the eccentric screw/block, which was the preferred Argentine "hybrid" modification for these tubes.
Fate: As the guns became obsolete for frontline mountain warfare, they were mounted on a new, low-profile carriage to become the Modelo Argentino Matorras 75mm L/13. This gave the old 19th-century steel a new role as a close-support infantry gun during the WWII era.
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Photo Caras y Caretas, Left: Photo: todo-argentina.net.
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The L13 was the undisputed backbone of the mountain regiments for over 40 years, only being truly outclassed when the Schneider 75mm L/18.6 Model 1928 (French Mle 1919) arrived.
Photo: Caras y Caretas 1932.
Photo: Caras y Caretas 1932.
1931, Mountain Artillery Troops. Caras y Caretas.
Firing the 7.5 cm Krupp L13 from high-altitude Andean peaks required creative fieldcraft, as its C/98 carriage was a "rigid" design with a very limited elevation range of roughly -10° to +20°. To overcome these mechanical limits and strike targets in deep valleys or on opposing ridges, Argentine batteries used several key tactics. Because the gun lacked a high-angle traverse or elevation mechanism, the crews used the terrain as a "wedge."
The Sapo (Toad) Technique: To fire at a steeper upward angle, the crew would dig a deep pit for the trail spade or prop the front of the carriage up on rocks and timber. This effectively "pre-tilted" the entire weapon to achieve angles beyond its 20° limit.
Counter-Sloping: To fire into deep valleys (negative elevation), the gun was positioned on a reverse slope or a man-made ramp of earth, allowing the muzzle to point further down than the standard -10°.
During this era, the L13 was primarily a direct-fire weapon; the gunner needed to see the target through the breech-mounted sights.
High Velocity vs. High Angle: Because it wasn't a howitzer, it fired "flat." From a peak, this made it excellent for "grazing fire" against troops advancing up a slope, but difficult to use for "plunging fire" behind cover.
Ammo Choice: At these high altitudes, batteries heavily favored shrapnel and canister rounds. A shrapnel shell timed to burst above an enemy's head was more effective than trying to land a direct hit with a common shell on uneven mountain rock.
Argentine doctrine emphasized placing the L13 on "dominant heights" where the targets would naturally fall within that narrow 20-degree window. By choosing a peak that was roughly at the same altitude as the enemy’s likely approach path, they minimized the need for extreme vertical adjustments.
Argentina eventually adopted the updated 1891 Krupp carriage, which was heavier and specifically designed to increase elevation to +23° or +25°. While a small increase, it significantly improved the gun's reach when combined with more powerful smokeless powders.
Firing the 7.5 cm Krupp L13 from high-altitude Andean peaks required creative fieldcraft, as its C/98 carriage was a "rigid" design with a very limited elevation range of roughly -10° to +20°. To overcome these mechanical limits and strike targets in deep valleys or on opposing ridges, Argentine batteries used several key tactics. Because the gun lacked a high-angle traverse or elevation mechanism, the crews used the terrain as a "wedge."
The Sapo (Toad) Technique: To fire at a steeper upward angle, the crew would dig a deep pit for the trail spade or prop the front of the carriage up on rocks and timber. This effectively "pre-tilted" the entire weapon to achieve angles beyond its 20° limit.
Counter-Sloping: To fire into deep valleys (negative elevation), the gun was positioned on a reverse slope or a man-made ramp of earth, allowing the muzzle to point further down than the standard -10°.
During this era, the L13 was primarily a direct-fire weapon; the gunner needed to see the target through the breech-mounted sights.
High Velocity vs. High Angle: Because it wasn't a howitzer, it fired "flat." From a peak, this made it excellent for "grazing fire" against troops advancing up a slope, but difficult to use for "plunging fire" behind cover.
Ammo Choice: At these high altitudes, batteries heavily favored shrapnel and canister rounds. A shrapnel shell timed to burst above an enemy's head was more effective than trying to land a direct hit with a common shell on uneven mountain rock.
Argentine doctrine emphasized placing the L13 on "dominant heights" where the targets would naturally fall within that narrow 20-degree window. By choosing a peak that was roughly at the same altitude as the enemy’s likely approach path, they minimized the need for extreme vertical adjustments.
Argentina eventually adopted the updated 1891 Krupp carriage, which was heavier and specifically designed to increase elevation to +23° or +25°. While a small increase, it significantly improved the gun's reach when combined with more powerful smokeless powders.
Above, photo from an Argentine Army manual. Mountain batteries in position.
Comparison: The Rigid Carriage Era (1880s–1890s)
In the late 19th century, before the 1897 "French 75" revolution, mountain artillery was defined by rigid carriages. While the Krupp 7.5 cm C/80 was the "fearsome" export king, it faced stiff competition from the French De Bange and the Italian Cannone da 75.
Krupp 7.5 cm C/80 (German).
Material: Crucible Steel.
Weight (Firing): ~100–200 kg
Max Range: ~3,900 m.
Mule Loads: 2–4 Loads.
Breech System: Cylindro-prismatic (Krupp).
To understand why the cylindro-prismatic (round-back) breech was a "masterpiece" specifically for mountain warfare, you have to look at the physics of weight versus explosive pressure. In mountain artillery, every kilogram of steel counts because the gun must be broken down and carried by mules. Krupp had to make the barrel as thin and light as possible without it exploding.
In the older C/64 square wedge, the corners of the breech slot were 90-degree angles. Stress "bunches up" at sharp corners (known as stress concentration). To prevent a square-cut breech from cracking, you had to make the steel walls around it massive and thick. By rounding the back of the wedge into a D-shape, Krupp distributed the firing pressure evenly along a curve.
Because the stress was distributed, Krupp could use thinner steel walls. This allowed them to shave off significant weight, making the C/80 Gebirgskanone light enough for mountain transport while still being stronger than the heavier guns of their rivals.
De Bange 80mm Mle 1877.
Material: Steel.
Weight (Firing): ~300 kg.
Max Range: ~4,200m.
Mule Loads: 3–5 Loads.
Breech System: De Bange Obsturator (Screw).
The "Obturator Pioneer". Before the famous 1897 model, France relied on the De Bange system.
The 80mm mountain version used the revolutionary mushroom-shaped obturator, which provided a perfect gas seal. This allowed for much more consistent velocity than the Krupp guns of the early 1880s.
While Krupp dominated South America, Schneider (using De Bange tech) dominated the Balkans. It was considered more "rugged" for long-duration siege work in mountain forts.
The Canon de 65 M (montagne) modèle 1906 was the direct successor to the 80 mm de Bange mountain gun modèle 1878 (also referred to as the Mle 1878/81).
Cannone da 75 Mod. 1883 (Italian).
Material: Bronze (later Steel).
Weight (Firing): ~250 kg.
Max Range: ~3,500m.
Mule Loads: 3–4 Loads.
Breech System: Interrupted Screw.
Italy’s own designs in this era were often a mix of homegrown ideas and French influence. Italy stuck with bronze barrels longer than Krupp or Schneider, making their guns heavier and less durable over time until they switched to steel.
The 1883 model was so quickly outclassed by the Austro-Hungarian Skoda M15 (75/13). Italy eventually gave up on this "rigid" lineage entirely to manufacture the Skoda under license.
This 75mm Mod. 1883 was replaced in 1913 with a 65mm called the 65/17 (6.5cm caliber, 17. barrel lenght) mod. 1913 with the same interrupted screw breech system of the Model 1883; It was very light and easy to transport. However, after capturing some 7.5 Gebirgskanone (Skoda), the Italians decided on the latter Obice 75/13 (75mm caliber - 13 barrel lenght), leaving the 65/17 for infantry support and as an improvised anti-tank weapon in WWII.
The Krupp C/80 was the best of the group, the lightest and made of the best steel, but the French De Bange had superior gas seal but being heavier to transport.
Krupp 7.5 cm C/80 (German).
Material: Crucible Steel.
Weight (Firing): ~100–200 kg
Max Range: ~3,900 m.
Mule Loads: 2–4 Loads.
Breech System: Cylindro-prismatic (Krupp).
To understand why the cylindro-prismatic (round-back) breech was a "masterpiece" specifically for mountain warfare, you have to look at the physics of weight versus explosive pressure. In mountain artillery, every kilogram of steel counts because the gun must be broken down and carried by mules. Krupp had to make the barrel as thin and light as possible without it exploding.
In the older C/64 square wedge, the corners of the breech slot were 90-degree angles. Stress "bunches up" at sharp corners (known as stress concentration). To prevent a square-cut breech from cracking, you had to make the steel walls around it massive and thick. By rounding the back of the wedge into a D-shape, Krupp distributed the firing pressure evenly along a curve.
Because the stress was distributed, Krupp could use thinner steel walls. This allowed them to shave off significant weight, making the C/80 Gebirgskanone light enough for mountain transport while still being stronger than the heavier guns of their rivals.
De Bange 80mm Mle 1877.
Material: Steel.
Weight (Firing): ~300 kg.
Max Range: ~4,200m.
Mule Loads: 3–5 Loads.
Breech System: De Bange Obsturator (Screw).
The "Obturator Pioneer". Before the famous 1897 model, France relied on the De Bange system.
The 80mm mountain version used the revolutionary mushroom-shaped obturator, which provided a perfect gas seal. This allowed for much more consistent velocity than the Krupp guns of the early 1880s.
While Krupp dominated South America, Schneider (using De Bange tech) dominated the Balkans. It was considered more "rugged" for long-duration siege work in mountain forts.
The Canon de 65 M (montagne) modèle 1906 was the direct successor to the 80 mm de Bange mountain gun modèle 1878 (also referred to as the Mle 1878/81).
Cannone da 75 Mod. 1883 (Italian).
Material: Bronze (later Steel).
Weight (Firing): ~250 kg.
Max Range: ~3,500m.
Mule Loads: 3–4 Loads.
Breech System: Interrupted Screw.
Italy’s own designs in this era were often a mix of homegrown ideas and French influence. Italy stuck with bronze barrels longer than Krupp or Schneider, making their guns heavier and less durable over time until they switched to steel.
The 1883 model was so quickly outclassed by the Austro-Hungarian Skoda M15 (75/13). Italy eventually gave up on this "rigid" lineage entirely to manufacture the Skoda under license.
This 75mm Mod. 1883 was replaced in 1913 with a 65mm called the 65/17 (6.5cm caliber, 17. barrel lenght) mod. 1913 with the same interrupted screw breech system of the Model 1883; It was very light and easy to transport. However, after capturing some 7.5 Gebirgskanone (Skoda), the Italians decided on the latter Obice 75/13 (75mm caliber - 13 barrel lenght), leaving the 65/17 for infantry support and as an improvised anti-tank weapon in WWII.
The Krupp C/80 was the best of the group, the lightest and made of the best steel, but the French De Bange had superior gas seal but being heavier to transport.
The C/80 type Gebirgskanone and its successor in the Imperial German Army, the C/06.
The C/80 used a rigid carriage with no internal recoil mechanism. To manage kickback, it relied on its weight and primitive external methods like wooden wheel ramps. The Model 1906 (Gebirgskanone 7.5cm c1906) introduced a hydro-spring recoil mechanism, which allowed the barrel to move while the carriage stayed stationary, vastly increasing the rate of fire.
The C/80 used the older cylindro-prismatic breech and separate-loading bagged charges. The Model 1906 (and its successor, the M1908) used a modern horizontal sliding-wedge breech designed for cased ammunition, which provided a much better gas seal.
The C/80 had no traversing mechanism; to aim left or right, the entire carriage had to be manhandled with levers. The recoiling models included a pivot that allowed for fine-tuned horizontal adjustment without moving the wheels.
While the 7.5 cm GebirgsKanone 06 was technically the direct successor to the C/80 in the Krupp catalog, they represent two completely different eras of artillery technology.
The 7.5 cm GebirgsKanone 06 utilized a hydro-spring recoil mechanism, a significant leap from the rigid carriage of the C/80. This system used two primary components housed within a "cradle" beneath the barrel:
When the gun was fired, the barrel recoiled backward, pushing a piston through a cylinder filled with oil (Hydraulic Buffer). The oil was forced through small, restricted holes (orifices) in the piston head. The resistance of the oil passing through these holes absorbed the violent energy of the recoil, slowing the barrel's rearward movement to a controlled stop.
Simultaneously, as the barrel moved backward, it compressed a large heavy-duty spring. Once the hydraulic buffer had fully absorbed the recoil energy, the stored energy in the compressed spring took over, pushing the barrel forward back into its original "in-battery" (firing) position.
While modern for its time, the 1906 model lacked the "variable recoil" found on some later mountain guns (like the Ehrhardt 1904). Variable recoil automatically shortened the distance the barrel traveled as the gun's elevation increased to prevent the breech from hitting the ground.
To give the C/80 a recoil system, it couldn't just "bolt on" a buffer; you had to replace the entire rigid carriage with a recoiling cradle carriage, which is exactly what the C/06 represented in the Krupp evolution.
The C/80 used the older cylindro-prismatic breech and separate-loading bagged charges. The Model 1906 (and its successor, the M1908) used a modern horizontal sliding-wedge breech designed for cased ammunition, which provided a much better gas seal.
The C/80 had no traversing mechanism; to aim left or right, the entire carriage had to be manhandled with levers. The recoiling models included a pivot that allowed for fine-tuned horizontal adjustment without moving the wheels.
While the 7.5 cm GebirgsKanone 06 was technically the direct successor to the C/80 in the Krupp catalog, they represent two completely different eras of artillery technology.
The 7.5 cm GebirgsKanone 06 utilized a hydro-spring recoil mechanism, a significant leap from the rigid carriage of the C/80. This system used two primary components housed within a "cradle" beneath the barrel:
When the gun was fired, the barrel recoiled backward, pushing a piston through a cylinder filled with oil (Hydraulic Buffer). The oil was forced through small, restricted holes (orifices) in the piston head. The resistance of the oil passing through these holes absorbed the violent energy of the recoil, slowing the barrel's rearward movement to a controlled stop.
Simultaneously, as the barrel moved backward, it compressed a large heavy-duty spring. Once the hydraulic buffer had fully absorbed the recoil energy, the stored energy in the compressed spring took over, pushing the barrel forward back into its original "in-battery" (firing) position.
While modern for its time, the 1906 model lacked the "variable recoil" found on some later mountain guns (like the Ehrhardt 1904). Variable recoil automatically shortened the distance the barrel traveled as the gun's elevation increased to prevent the breech from hitting the ground.
To give the C/80 a recoil system, it couldn't just "bolt on" a buffer; you had to replace the entire rigid carriage with a recoiling cradle carriage, which is exactly what the C/06 represented in the Krupp evolution.
German Askari troops with a 7.5 L/13 C/80 Gebirgskanone mountain gun. This was the same pattern that Argentina Produced from 1880−1904.
1920s. Paraguayan Artillery with 7.5 L/14 Gebirgskanone C/06. It was the first Krupp mountain gun to feature a hydro-spring recoil mechanism. This allowed the barrel to recoil while the carriage remained stationary, dramatically increasing the rate of fire to roughly 6 rounds per minute. It was equipped with an optional gun shield to protect the crew from small arms fire and shrapnel. This shield was typically designed to be dismantled into smaller sections for transport.
Circumventing Versailles. Krupp and Bofors
The Treaty of Versailles completely disrupted the Argentine Army's long-standing reliance on Krupp, forcing a major shift to French weaponry in the late 1920s.
Argentina had been a major Krupp customer, using the 75mm L/13 C/80 mountain gun and later the Model 1909 field gun. The 7.5 cm GebirgsKanone 06 was the logical next step, as it introduced the modern recoil system Argentina lacked in its mountain units.
After WWI, the Treaty of Versailles prohibited Germany from exporting heavy weaponry. This "interregnum" left Argentina unable to purchase new German mountain artillery just as their older C/80 guns became completely obsolete.
With the German market closed, Argentina turned to the French firm Schneider-Creusot. In the late 1920s, they acquired a massive "family" of weapons under the Model 1928 designation, including the 75mm L18.6 mountain gun.
The wait until 1928 meant that when Argentina finally modernized, they didn't just get a "recoil-equipped C/80" they jumped straight to a modernized mountain gun (based on the Schneider M1919/1923) that was lighter, more accurate, and easier to dismantle into mule loads than the older Krupp designs.
Argentina eventually bypassed some Versailles restrictions by working with Bofors in Sweden (which had close ties to Krupp) to modernize their remaining German guns in the 1930s, essentially getting "German" upgrades via a neutral third party.
Argentina had been a major Krupp customer, using the 75mm L/13 C/80 mountain gun and later the Model 1909 field gun. The 7.5 cm GebirgsKanone 06 was the logical next step, as it introduced the modern recoil system Argentina lacked in its mountain units.
After WWI, the Treaty of Versailles prohibited Germany from exporting heavy weaponry. This "interregnum" left Argentina unable to purchase new German mountain artillery just as their older C/80 guns became completely obsolete.
With the German market closed, Argentina turned to the French firm Schneider-Creusot. In the late 1920s, they acquired a massive "family" of weapons under the Model 1928 designation, including the 75mm L18.6 mountain gun.
The wait until 1928 meant that when Argentina finally modernized, they didn't just get a "recoil-equipped C/80" they jumped straight to a modernized mountain gun (based on the Schneider M1919/1923) that was lighter, more accurate, and easier to dismantle into mule loads than the older Krupp designs.
Argentina eventually bypassed some Versailles restrictions by working with Bofors in Sweden (which had close ties to Krupp) to modernize their remaining German guns in the 1930s, essentially getting "German" upgrades via a neutral third party.
Technically Bofors (Krupp) could have performed such an "Recoil" adaptation to the Argentina's old C/80, but it was generally considered not worthwhile for the aging C/80. While Bofors specialized in modernizing older Krupp designs for Argentina during the 1920s and 30s, they primarily focused on the more advanced Krupp Model 1909 field guns rather than the obsolete C/80.
The 7.5 cm C/80 used the Krupp's horizontal sliding wedge breech specifically designed to interface with metallic cartridge cases. Modernizing it would require not just a new carriage with a recoil system, but also a new breech to handle modern cased ammunition.
Bofors offered to modify Argentine Krupp 1909 guns with modern split-trail carriages and recoil systems, but even for those newer guns, the cost was often deemed too high. For the C/80, it was more economical to simply replace the entire unit.
Argentina ultimately decided that instead of "Frankensteining" 40-year-old Krupp barrels onto new Swedish carriages, it was more effective to buy the entirely new 75mm Model 1928 Schneider mountain guns, which were designed from the start for modern recoil and portability.
Bofors successfully updated the Krupp 1909 cavalry and field guns by adding equilibrators and modern carriages.
In 1927, there was an attempt to convert old Krupp 1895 barrels into anti-aircraft guns by adding recoil absorption systems and new breeches, proving the technical capability existed.
The 7.5 cm C/80 used the Krupp's horizontal sliding wedge breech specifically designed to interface with metallic cartridge cases. Modernizing it would require not just a new carriage with a recoil system, but also a new breech to handle modern cased ammunition.
Bofors offered to modify Argentine Krupp 1909 guns with modern split-trail carriages and recoil systems, but even for those newer guns, the cost was often deemed too high. For the C/80, it was more economical to simply replace the entire unit.
Argentina ultimately decided that instead of "Frankensteining" 40-year-old Krupp barrels onto new Swedish carriages, it was more effective to buy the entirely new 75mm Model 1928 Schneider mountain guns, which were designed from the start for modern recoil and portability.
Bofors successfully updated the Krupp 1909 cavalry and field guns by adding equilibrators and modern carriages.
In 1927, there was an attempt to convert old Krupp 1895 barrels into anti-aircraft guns by adding recoil absorption systems and new breeches, proving the technical capability existed.
To transport the 75mm Mountain Gun L13 through the rugged terrain of the Andes, the Argentine Army followed the standard Krupp "pack" procedure. Because the L13 was a "rigid" carriage gun (lacking a modern recoil system), it was remarkably simple to disassemble into two to four primary mule loads, depending on the specific terrain and animal endurance.
Typical Disassembly (4-Mule Pack System)
When broken down for standard mountain transit, the 200kg weapon was typically split into these loads:
The Barrel (The Tube): The L13 barrel, being only about 975mm long, was a single compact load. It was secured to a specialized pack saddle (albardón) so the weight was centered over the mule's spine.
The Carriage (Front Section): The forward part of the box trail carriage, which included the trunnion seats where the barrel rested.
The Carriage (Rear Section/Trail): The rear part of the trail, often including the spade and the handspike used for traversing the gun.
The Wheels and Axle: The two wooden-spoked, steel-rimmed wheels were typically carried together or split if the axle was particularly heavy.
Rapid Transit (2-Mule Pack System):
In some configurations, especially for the lightest Krupp export models like the L13, the gun could be stripped into just two 100kg loads:
Load 1: The barrel and breech mechanism.
Load 2: The entire carriage (minus wheels) and the axle.
Assembly in the Field:
Artillery crews practiced until they could transition from "mule to firing position" in roughly five minutes. The mules would be positioned in a circle; as each part was unloaded, the crew would slot the axle into the carriage, drop the barrel into the trunnion beds, and secure the wedge breech.
Proactive Follow-up: Since this gun was a "direct fire" weapon with limited elevation (-10° to +20°).
Typical Disassembly (4-Mule Pack System)
When broken down for standard mountain transit, the 200kg weapon was typically split into these loads:
The Barrel (The Tube): The L13 barrel, being only about 975mm long, was a single compact load. It was secured to a specialized pack saddle (albardón) so the weight was centered over the mule's spine.
The Carriage (Front Section): The forward part of the box trail carriage, which included the trunnion seats where the barrel rested.
The Carriage (Rear Section/Trail): The rear part of the trail, often including the spade and the handspike used for traversing the gun.
The Wheels and Axle: The two wooden-spoked, steel-rimmed wheels were typically carried together or split if the axle was particularly heavy.
Rapid Transit (2-Mule Pack System):
In some configurations, especially for the lightest Krupp export models like the L13, the gun could be stripped into just two 100kg loads:
Load 1: The barrel and breech mechanism.
Load 2: The entire carriage (minus wheels) and the axle.
Assembly in the Field:
Artillery crews practiced until they could transition from "mule to firing position" in roughly five minutes. The mules would be positioned in a circle; as each part was unloaded, the crew would slot the axle into the carriage, drop the barrel into the trunnion beds, and secure the wedge breech.
Proactive Follow-up: Since this gun was a "direct fire" weapon with limited elevation (-10° to +20°).
75mm L18.6 Model 1928 (French mle 1919) Mountain Gun
In 1928, Argentina updated its artillery arsenal with a specialized contract from Schneider-Creusot, which included the 75mm Schneider L18.6 mountain gun (designated as M1928 in Argentine service). This model was a direct derivative of the French Canon de 75 M mle 1919 Schneider, but it incorporated a distinct squared-off gun shield instead of the original rounded version.
The Argentine Army utilized this L18.6 model alongside the shorter-barreled 105mm Schneider L12.4 mountain howitzer (also M1928) to provide a versatile, portable artillery mix for rugged terrain.
The Argentine Army utilized this L18.6 model alongside the shorter-barreled 105mm Schneider L12.4 mountain howitzer (also M1928) to provide a versatile, portable artillery mix for rugged terrain.
While the original mle 1919 was exported to countries like Brazil and Greece, the 1928 contract versions (like those sold to Argentina and Peru) featured a simpler, more angular shield designed to improve ease of manufacturing and transport.
True to its mountain gun design, the piece could be dismantled into seven or eight mule loads for transport over trails where traditional wheeled carriages could not pass. It remained compatible with standard 75mm French ammunition, including that used by the legendary Canon de 75 modèle 1897.
The 75mm Schneider L18.6 (M28 / Mle 1919) mountain gun used an interrupted screw breech system. This mechanism was a standard Schneider design feature for many of their post-WWI mountain and field guns, differing from the Nordenfeldt rotating block found on the earlier Canon de 75 modèle 1897.
True to its mountain gun design, the piece could be dismantled into seven or eight mule loads for transport over trails where traditional wheeled carriages could not pass. It remained compatible with standard 75mm French ammunition, including that used by the legendary Canon de 75 modèle 1897.
The 75mm Schneider L18.6 (M28 / Mle 1919) mountain gun used an interrupted screw breech system. This mechanism was a standard Schneider design feature for many of their post-WWI mountain and field guns, differing from the Nordenfeldt rotating block found on the earlier Canon de 75 modèle 1897.
While the 75mm Schneider L18.6 M1928 was technically a mountain gun by design, the Argentine Army utilized its light weight and versatility to fill the Infantry Support role (Spanish: Acompañamiento de Infantería).
The 1919 vs. 1928
The Cañón de montaña 75 mm L. 18,6 mod. Arg. 1928 was indeed the localized name for the export version of the French Canon de 75 M (montagne) modèle 1928 Schneider.
While they shared the same ammunition and basic mountain warfare purpose, the 1928 model (Argentine version) introduced several key updates over the original 1919:
The "L18.6" designation refers specifically to the barrel length of the 1928 version, which was a refined, updated derivative.
The 1928 was redesigned based on French combat feedback from the Rif War in Morocco, leading to a simpler, more robust shield and a split-trail carriage for better stability.
Like the 1919, the Argentine 1928 model could be broken down into seven mule loads (or towed by three), making it the backbone of Argentina's mountain regiments until the 1960s.
Schneider 75mm L/18.6 "M" Mle 1919. Breech: This model used an interrupted screw breech. It was a modern Schneider-Canet design intended to be light and easily disassembled into seven or eight mule loads.
Schneider 75mm L/18.6 Model 1928 (Argentino). Breech: Horizontal sliding wedge breech. This was a "Schneider-style" screw breech manufactured by Krupp to meet specific Argentine requirements.
The 75mm L/30 Model 1909 used an interrupted screw (Welin) that, to open it, the handle rotates the block to disengage the threads, then swings it out on a hinge.; And the 75mm L18.6 Model 1928 Schneider used a horizontal sliding wedge where the block does not rotate; it simply slides across a track from left to right.
While they shared the same ammunition and basic mountain warfare purpose, the 1928 model (Argentine version) introduced several key updates over the original 1919:
The "L18.6" designation refers specifically to the barrel length of the 1928 version, which was a refined, updated derivative.
The 1928 was redesigned based on French combat feedback from the Rif War in Morocco, leading to a simpler, more robust shield and a split-trail carriage for better stability.
Like the 1919, the Argentine 1928 model could be broken down into seven mule loads (or towed by three), making it the backbone of Argentina's mountain regiments until the 1960s.
Schneider 75mm L/18.6 "M" Mle 1919. Breech: This model used an interrupted screw breech. It was a modern Schneider-Canet design intended to be light and easily disassembled into seven or eight mule loads.
Schneider 75mm L/18.6 Model 1928 (Argentino). Breech: Horizontal sliding wedge breech. This was a "Schneider-style" screw breech manufactured by Krupp to meet specific Argentine requirements.
The 75mm L/30 Model 1909 used an interrupted screw (Welin) that, to open it, the handle rotates the block to disengage the threads, then swings it out on a hinge.; And the 75mm L18.6 Model 1928 Schneider used a horizontal sliding wedge where the block does not rotate; it simply slides across a track from left to right.
The following countries used the original 1919 gun during the WW2 conflict:
The Canon de 75 M (montagne) modèle 1919 Schneider was widely exported and saw significant service during World War II across multiple theaters.
France: The primary user, deploying them in mountain and alpine units during the Battle of France in 1940.
Greece: Used extensively by the Greek Army during the Greek-Italian War (1940–1941). Greece
procured 192 units, which equipped 12 of its 15 divisional artillery regiments.
Poland: Utilized the gun during the German invasion in 1939.
Kingdom Of Yugoslavia: Deployed the weapon during the Axis invasion in 1941.
Germany Captured large numbers from France, Poland, and Yugoslavia and pressed them into service. They were given specific German designations based on their origin:
7.5 cm GebK 237(f): Captured French guns.
7.5 cm GebK 283(j): Captured Yugoslav guns.
7.5 cm GebK M.19(p): Likely designation for captured Polish guns.
Brazil: Operated the Model 1919 during the war period, having ordered several in 1923; some remain in use today for ceremonial purposes.
Paraguay: Though primarily known for their use in the earlier Chaco War (1932–1935), these guns remained in Paraguayan service during the WWII era. While Peru and Spain also possessed these guns (or licensed versions), their active "WW2" service was largely limited to regional conflicts or internal use during that period.
The Model 1919 was the primary version used by countries like Brazil, Paraguay, Greece, and Yugoslavia during WWII. Argentina, however, specifically adopted the modernized 1928 version as part of its massive rearmament effort prior WW2.
France: The primary user, deploying them in mountain and alpine units during the Battle of France in 1940.
Greece: Used extensively by the Greek Army during the Greek-Italian War (1940–1941). Greece
procured 192 units, which equipped 12 of its 15 divisional artillery regiments.
Poland: Utilized the gun during the German invasion in 1939.
Kingdom Of Yugoslavia: Deployed the weapon during the Axis invasion in 1941.
Germany Captured large numbers from France, Poland, and Yugoslavia and pressed them into service. They were given specific German designations based on their origin:
7.5 cm GebK 237(f): Captured French guns.
7.5 cm GebK 283(j): Captured Yugoslav guns.
7.5 cm GebK M.19(p): Likely designation for captured Polish guns.
Brazil: Operated the Model 1919 during the war period, having ordered several in 1923; some remain in use today for ceremonial purposes.
Paraguay: Though primarily known for their use in the earlier Chaco War (1932–1935), these guns remained in Paraguayan service during the WWII era. While Peru and Spain also possessed these guns (or licensed versions), their active "WW2" service was largely limited to regional conflicts or internal use during that period.
The Model 1919 was the primary version used by countries like Brazil, Paraguay, Greece, and Yugoslavia during WWII. Argentina, however, specifically adopted the modernized 1928 version as part of its massive rearmament effort prior WW2.
The 75mm Mountain, from the Alps to the Andes.
The Performance of the "Cañón de Montaña 75mm" with respect to that of Gebirgsgeschütz 36 and the "Obice" da Montagna 75/13.
75mm L18.6 Schneider (M1928) Andino : This modernized derivative of the M1919 was praised for its balance of range and portability. While it matched the German gun in range (9 km), it lacked the high-angle firing capability (only 40° elevation) required for the most extreme mountain combat. In Argentina, it was favored for its robustness and the fact it could be broken into seven mule loads.
Max Range: ~9,000m.
Muzzle Velocity: 375 m/s.
Elevation:-10° to +40°
Weight (Combat):660 kg
Traverse:10°
Breech: This model used a horizontal sliding wedge breech. While Schneider is famous for the interrupted screw seen on the 75mm Mle 1897, they utilized the sliding wedge for this mountain gun to make it more compact and easier to disassemble for mule transport.
Cañón de Montaña 75mm L18.6 (Mountain Cannon). Argentina followed the French school of nomenclature, classifying the Schneider as a "Cañón" (Cannon).
The Schneider L18.6 was essentially a mountain gun designed for "long-range" support compared to the old Krupp C/80. In Argentine service, it was expected to provide suppressive fire and direct support.
Unlike the Italian "Obice" or the German "Geschütz," the Schneider M1928 only had an elevation of. This means it could not fire as "vertically" as a true howitzer. It was more of a light field gun that happened to be portable by mules.
Gebirgsgeschütz 36 (Gebirgs): According to GermanWarmachine, it was a "decidedly heavy" but stable weapon. Its variable recoil system and massive elevation arc (up to 70°) allowed it to function almost like a howitzer, firing over steep obstacles that the other two could not clear. It was also unique for its lack of a gun shield to save weight and its "jumping" behavior when fired at low angles with maximum charges.
Max Range: 9,150–9,250m.
Muzzle Velocity: 475 m/s.
Elevation: -2° to +70°.
Weight (Combat): 750 kg.
Traverse: 40°.
Breech: 7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36 used a horizontal sliding breech block. While the gun was a modern design for its time, it was not semi-automatic in the way anti-tank guns or the earlier Skoda M.15 were.
The Germans used the word "Geschütz" (Gun/Piece) or "Kanone" (Cannon). The GebG 36 had a much longer barrel than the Italian 75/13 and a much higher muzzle velocity.
Because it had a very high elevation and used 5 different powder charges, it functioned like a howitzer, but its high velocity allowed it to act like a flat-trajectory cannon for direct fire against bunkers or tanks. Calling it a "Mountain Gun" (Gebirgsgeschütz) acknowledged its dual role.
Obice da 75/13 (Škoda M15) Alpino: The oldest design, it was widely respected for its reliability but had the lowest muzzle velocity (349 m/s) and shortest range. It was a "superior" piece of its time but was considered fragile by German crews who used captured versions in WWI. Its primary advantage was its light weight and ease of transport.
Max Range: 8,250m.
Muzzle Velocity: 349 m/s.
Elevation: -10° to +50°.
Weight (Combat): 613 kg.
Traverse: 7°.
Breech: 75/13 horizontal semi-automatic sliding wedge breech
In Italian doctrine, the 75/13 was a Howitzer because it was designed for high-angle fire. In the Alps, you often need to fire over a mountain peak to hit a target in the next valley. A howitzer uses a shorter barrel and multiple "zones" (different amounts of gunpowder) to loft a shell high into the air so it can drop nearly vertically onto the enemy.
The 75/13 had a short barrel (only 13 calibers long) which is a classic howitzer trait.
7.5 Original Skoda Mod.15 to China: China originally ordered an earlier version, the Skoda 7.5cm Model 1911 (or M13), with shipments beginning in 1912. When WWI broke out in 1914, a shipment of 18 Chinese-ordered guns was seized by the Italians (who were neutral at the time). Another 24 guns from the Chinese order were confiscated by Austria-Hungary for its own use.
While the initial wartime shipments were blocked, China is reported to have acquired the improved M15 variant after 1920, likely from Czechoslovakia (where Skoda was then located) or potentially as surplus from Italy (where it was known as the Obice da 75/13). These guns, along with various other Skoda models like the Model 1928 and Model 1936, were used by various factions during the Chinese Warlord era and the Second Sino-Japanese War.
75/13 Modello 1933. In 1933, the Italian military high command decided to restart production of the Skoda 75mm Model 15 (the Obice da 75/13), producing an identical version of the original Austro-Hungarian design
7.5 Skoda M28. This was an improved export version of the original M15, manufactured by Skoda in Czechoslovakia and sold primarily to Yugoslavia and Colombia. It featured a modernized carriage and could even be fitted with a
barrel, but it retained the signature horizontal sliding-wedge breech of the original.
The 7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36 was the most modern and highest-performing of the three, offering significantly better range and elevation. While the Schneider Model 1928 and the Škoda/Obice da 75/13 were solid, versatile mountain guns, they were older designs with more limited ballistic performance.
Anti-Tank Capability
None of these guns were designed as anti-tank weapons, but they all utilized specialized ammunition to compensate for low muzzle velocity.
The GebG 36 used a hollow-charge (HEAT) shell to engage armor.
The Obice da 75/13 used "effeto pronto" (shaped charge) ammunition to maintain a limited defensive capability against tanks.
Unlike the German 7.5 cm GebG 36, the Argentine Schneider did not have a high-velocity APHE (Armor-Piercing High Explosive) shell. Its muzzle velocity was simply too low to punch through modern tank armor using a solid steel slug. The Model 1928 was not an anti-tank gun, but by the time of its mid-life service in the 1940s, it had "emergency" access to hollow-charge technology. By the late 1930s and early 1940s, Schneider developed or adapted HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds, known in Spanish as Granada de Carga Hueca.
75/13 Skoda vs T-34
On the Eastern Front, the Obice da 75/13 (known to the Germans as the 7.5 cm GebK 259(i)) was severely outclassed in traditional anti-tank roles but remained a desperate threat due to its specialized ammunition.
The "Quality Gap" Against Soviet Armor.
With a muzzle velocity of only 349–387 m/s (less than half that of a dedicated anti-tank gun like the Pak 40), the 75/13 could not penetrate the thick, sloped armor of the T-34 or KV-1 using standard kinetic energy (Armor-Piercing) shells.
Its limited traverse (only 6°) made it almost impossible to track a moving tank at close range. A crew would have to manhandle the entire carriage to shift their aim, making them easy targets for Soviet tank machine guns.
The Secret Weapon. Effetto Pronto.
Despite its poor ballistics, the 75/13 remained "fearsome" in specific circumstances because it was among the first guns to use Hollow-Charge (HEAT) ammunition:
The "Effetto Pronto" shell did not rely on velocity to penetrate. Instead, it used a shaped-charge explosion to burn through armor.
This allowed the 75/13 to theoretically penetrate up to 70–80mm of armor at any range, provided the gunner could actually hit the target.
HESH (High-Explosive Squash Head) or the massive kinetic shock of a heavy shell, known in ballistic terms as spalling.
Even if a shell like the 75/13 Skoda's high-explosive round didn't "punch a hole" through the T-34's armor, the mechanical shockwave traveling through the steel could be fatal for the tank and its crew.
Desperation. Italian and German mountain units used these shells as a "last-ditch" defense. While it could knock out a T-34 from the side, the 75/13's slow rate of fire and poor sights meant that for every successful tank kill, many 75/13 batteries were simply overrun and crushed.
During the disastrous retreat from the Don in January 1943, the Julia Alpine Division faced a lethal "quality gap" where their 75/13 Skoda howitzers were nearly useless against the thick armor of Soviet T-34 tanks. This forced the Alpini into desperate, close-quarters "man vs. tank" combat that has become legendary in Italian military history.
Lieutenant Enzo Pagni of the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment (Julia Division) is a primary example of this sacrifice. During the retreat, his battery was intercepted by Soviet armor. With his guns unable to penetrate the T-34s, Pagni led his men in a suicidal charge with pistol, rifles, grenades and molotov into the rear engine ventilation grilles to ignite the fuel.
75mm L18.6 Schneider (M1928) Andino : This modernized derivative of the M1919 was praised for its balance of range and portability. While it matched the German gun in range (9 km), it lacked the high-angle firing capability (only 40° elevation) required for the most extreme mountain combat. In Argentina, it was favored for its robustness and the fact it could be broken into seven mule loads.
Max Range: ~9,000m.
Muzzle Velocity: 375 m/s.
Elevation:-10° to +40°
Weight (Combat):660 kg
Traverse:10°
Breech: This model used a horizontal sliding wedge breech. While Schneider is famous for the interrupted screw seen on the 75mm Mle 1897, they utilized the sliding wedge for this mountain gun to make it more compact and easier to disassemble for mule transport.
Cañón de Montaña 75mm L18.6 (Mountain Cannon). Argentina followed the French school of nomenclature, classifying the Schneider as a "Cañón" (Cannon).
The Schneider L18.6 was essentially a mountain gun designed for "long-range" support compared to the old Krupp C/80. In Argentine service, it was expected to provide suppressive fire and direct support.
Unlike the Italian "Obice" or the German "Geschütz," the Schneider M1928 only had an elevation of. This means it could not fire as "vertically" as a true howitzer. It was more of a light field gun that happened to be portable by mules.
Gebirgsgeschütz 36 (Gebirgs): According to GermanWarmachine, it was a "decidedly heavy" but stable weapon. Its variable recoil system and massive elevation arc (up to 70°) allowed it to function almost like a howitzer, firing over steep obstacles that the other two could not clear. It was also unique for its lack of a gun shield to save weight and its "jumping" behavior when fired at low angles with maximum charges.
Max Range: 9,150–9,250m.
Muzzle Velocity: 475 m/s.
Elevation: -2° to +70°.
Weight (Combat): 750 kg.
Traverse: 40°.
Breech: 7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36 used a horizontal sliding breech block. While the gun was a modern design for its time, it was not semi-automatic in the way anti-tank guns or the earlier Skoda M.15 were.
The Germans used the word "Geschütz" (Gun/Piece) or "Kanone" (Cannon). The GebG 36 had a much longer barrel than the Italian 75/13 and a much higher muzzle velocity.
Because it had a very high elevation and used 5 different powder charges, it functioned like a howitzer, but its high velocity allowed it to act like a flat-trajectory cannon for direct fire against bunkers or tanks. Calling it a "Mountain Gun" (Gebirgsgeschütz) acknowledged its dual role.
Obice da 75/13 (Škoda M15) Alpino: The oldest design, it was widely respected for its reliability but had the lowest muzzle velocity (349 m/s) and shortest range. It was a "superior" piece of its time but was considered fragile by German crews who used captured versions in WWI. Its primary advantage was its light weight and ease of transport.
Max Range: 8,250m.
Muzzle Velocity: 349 m/s.
Elevation: -10° to +50°.
Weight (Combat): 613 kg.
Traverse: 7°.
Breech: 75/13 horizontal semi-automatic sliding wedge breech
In Italian doctrine, the 75/13 was a Howitzer because it was designed for high-angle fire. In the Alps, you often need to fire over a mountain peak to hit a target in the next valley. A howitzer uses a shorter barrel and multiple "zones" (different amounts of gunpowder) to loft a shell high into the air so it can drop nearly vertically onto the enemy.
The 75/13 had a short barrel (only 13 calibers long) which is a classic howitzer trait.
7.5 Original Skoda Mod.15 to China: China originally ordered an earlier version, the Skoda 7.5cm Model 1911 (or M13), with shipments beginning in 1912. When WWI broke out in 1914, a shipment of 18 Chinese-ordered guns was seized by the Italians (who were neutral at the time). Another 24 guns from the Chinese order were confiscated by Austria-Hungary for its own use.
While the initial wartime shipments were blocked, China is reported to have acquired the improved M15 variant after 1920, likely from Czechoslovakia (where Skoda was then located) or potentially as surplus from Italy (where it was known as the Obice da 75/13). These guns, along with various other Skoda models like the Model 1928 and Model 1936, were used by various factions during the Chinese Warlord era and the Second Sino-Japanese War.
75/13 Modello 1933. In 1933, the Italian military high command decided to restart production of the Skoda 75mm Model 15 (the Obice da 75/13), producing an identical version of the original Austro-Hungarian design
7.5 Skoda M28. This was an improved export version of the original M15, manufactured by Skoda in Czechoslovakia and sold primarily to Yugoslavia and Colombia. It featured a modernized carriage and could even be fitted with a
barrel, but it retained the signature horizontal sliding-wedge breech of the original.
The 7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36 was the most modern and highest-performing of the three, offering significantly better range and elevation. While the Schneider Model 1928 and the Škoda/Obice da 75/13 were solid, versatile mountain guns, they were older designs with more limited ballistic performance.
Anti-Tank Capability
None of these guns were designed as anti-tank weapons, but they all utilized specialized ammunition to compensate for low muzzle velocity.
The GebG 36 used a hollow-charge (HEAT) shell to engage armor.
The Obice da 75/13 used "effeto pronto" (shaped charge) ammunition to maintain a limited defensive capability against tanks.
Unlike the German 7.5 cm GebG 36, the Argentine Schneider did not have a high-velocity APHE (Armor-Piercing High Explosive) shell. Its muzzle velocity was simply too low to punch through modern tank armor using a solid steel slug. The Model 1928 was not an anti-tank gun, but by the time of its mid-life service in the 1940s, it had "emergency" access to hollow-charge technology. By the late 1930s and early 1940s, Schneider developed or adapted HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds, known in Spanish as Granada de Carga Hueca.
75/13 Skoda vs T-34
On the Eastern Front, the Obice da 75/13 (known to the Germans as the 7.5 cm GebK 259(i)) was severely outclassed in traditional anti-tank roles but remained a desperate threat due to its specialized ammunition.
The "Quality Gap" Against Soviet Armor.
With a muzzle velocity of only 349–387 m/s (less than half that of a dedicated anti-tank gun like the Pak 40), the 75/13 could not penetrate the thick, sloped armor of the T-34 or KV-1 using standard kinetic energy (Armor-Piercing) shells.
Its limited traverse (only 6°) made it almost impossible to track a moving tank at close range. A crew would have to manhandle the entire carriage to shift their aim, making them easy targets for Soviet tank machine guns.
The Secret Weapon. Effetto Pronto.
Despite its poor ballistics, the 75/13 remained "fearsome" in specific circumstances because it was among the first guns to use Hollow-Charge (HEAT) ammunition:
The "Effetto Pronto" shell did not rely on velocity to penetrate. Instead, it used a shaped-charge explosion to burn through armor.
This allowed the 75/13 to theoretically penetrate up to 70–80mm of armor at any range, provided the gunner could actually hit the target.
HESH (High-Explosive Squash Head) or the massive kinetic shock of a heavy shell, known in ballistic terms as spalling.
Even if a shell like the 75/13 Skoda's high-explosive round didn't "punch a hole" through the T-34's armor, the mechanical shockwave traveling through the steel could be fatal for the tank and its crew.
Desperation. Italian and German mountain units used these shells as a "last-ditch" defense. While it could knock out a T-34 from the side, the 75/13's slow rate of fire and poor sights meant that for every successful tank kill, many 75/13 batteries were simply overrun and crushed.
During the disastrous retreat from the Don in January 1943, the Julia Alpine Division faced a lethal "quality gap" where their 75/13 Skoda howitzers were nearly useless against the thick armor of Soviet T-34 tanks. This forced the Alpini into desperate, close-quarters "man vs. tank" combat that has become legendary in Italian military history.
Lieutenant Enzo Pagni of the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment (Julia Division) is a primary example of this sacrifice. During the retreat, his battery was intercepted by Soviet armor. With his guns unable to penetrate the T-34s, Pagni led his men in a suicidal charge with pistol, rifles, grenades and molotov into the rear engine ventilation grilles to ignite the fuel.
105mm L12,4 Model 1928 (French Mle 1919) Mountain Howitzer
Argentina did indeed have a Schneider model with a box trail carriage. While modern field guns like the Schneider 105mm L/17.8 (Cañón de Campaña) used split-trail carriages, the mountain variants (like the one in the photo) retained the box trail to meet weight and transport requirements.
Argentine Army. Schneider Mountain howitzer 105mm L12,4 Mod. 1928. The Schneider 105mm Modelo 1928 used by Argentina is directly based on the Canon Court de 105 M (montagne) modèle 1919 Schneider with the gun shield being the primary visual.
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The Schneider 105mm L12,4 Model 1928 Mountain portable howitzer, was a French designed mountain howitzer intended to provide powerful, mule-portable firepower in rugged terrain. It was an updated variant of the earlier 1919 model with a squared-off gun shield to protect the crew and potentially a sprung axle with pneumatic tires to allow for motor traction in some configurations. It utilized a hydro-pneumatic recoil system and an interrupted screw breech mechanism.
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The gun was engineered as a "pack howitzer," meaning it could be broken down into several manageable loads and carried by mules across terrain impassable to wheeled vehicles, a critical requirement for deploying artillery in the Andes.
This weapon was part of a wide array of Schneider artillery pieces (including 75mm mountain guns and various field and heavy guns) purchased by Argentina in the late 1920s to modernize its entire artillery corps.
Like its counterpart, the 75mm L18.6, the 105mm Schneider L12.4 (mle 1919 and M1928) utilized an interrupted screw breech.
The 105mm Schneider L12.4 (M1928) was eventually replaced in its mountain artillery role in Argentina by the OTO Melara Mod 56 105mm Pack Howitzer. Also the M56 replaced in Italy the obice 105/14 (Schneider 105mm L14) and the obice 75/13 (75mm L15/4 Skoda).
This weapon was part of a wide array of Schneider artillery pieces (including 75mm mountain guns and various field and heavy guns) purchased by Argentina in the late 1920s to modernize its entire artillery corps.
Like its counterpart, the 75mm L18.6, the 105mm Schneider L12.4 (mle 1919 and M1928) utilized an interrupted screw breech.
The 105mm Schneider L12.4 (M1928) was eventually replaced in its mountain artillery role in Argentina by the OTO Melara Mod 56 105mm Pack Howitzer. Also the M56 replaced in Italy the obice 105/14 (Schneider 105mm L14) and the obice 75/13 (75mm L15/4 Skoda).
The French Schneider 105mm Mle 1919 vs the Obice da 105/14 Modello 1917
The French Schneider 105mm Mle 1919 (Argentine M1928) was the "Big Brother" to the 75mm L18.6. In Argentina, it was designated the 105mm L12.6 Model 1928.
When comparing the 105mm Schneider Mle 1919 (Mountain Howitzer) and its Italian counterpart, the Obice da 105/14 Modello 1917 (and later versions), we see the classic struggle: balancing extreme mountain portability with raw firepower.
Schneider took the 75mm mountain carriage and upscaled it to fire a massive 105mm shell. It had a max range of about 8,000 meters. While shorter-ranged than a field gun, its "plunging fire" was perfect for the Andes.
It was a masterpiece of disassembly. It could be broken down into 8 mule loads. For the Argentine Army, this meant they could bring 105mm heavy support into places where even a horse-drawn wagon couldn't go.
The Italian Variant: Obice da 105/14 (Schneider License)
Italy used the 105/14, which was essentially the same Schneider design but adapted for Italian production and Alpine doctrine. Just as the Julia division used the 75/13, their heavy support came from these 105/14 howitzers.
It was nearly identical to the French version but often slightly heavier due to Italian shield designs. Its range was approximately 8,000–8,500 meters.
105 vs 105. Greco-Italian War (Fronte Greco-Albanese)
In the Greco-Italian War (1940–1941), the mountain artillery duel was a rare historical moment where both sides deployed nearly identical versions of the same Schneider-designed 105mm howitzer against one another.
While the Italian Obice da 105/14 Modello 1917 and the Greek 105mm Mle 1919 Schneider (often called the M1925/27 in Greece) shared a common lineage, they were used by two very different armies under brutal winter conditions.
Greek 105mm Mle 1919 (Schneider)
Max Range: ~7,850 – 8,000 m.
Muzzle Velocity: 350 m/s.
Elevation: 0° to +40°.
Transport: 8 Mule Loads.
Italian 105mm 105/14 Model 1917. (Ansaldo)
Max Range: ~8,000 m.
Muzzle Velocity: 350 m/s.
Elevation: -10° to +45°.
Transport: 8 Mule Loads.
As you will see, it is the same performance, the same type of weapon, the same model, one manufactured by Schneider and the other copied by Ansaldo. The real difference in the conflict wasn't the quality of the guns, but their organization and numbers.
Greece had integrated these guns deeply into their mountain divisions. Each of the 12 primary Greek divisional artillery regiments was equipped with 8 mountain 105mm guns alongside 16 mountain 75mm guns. They were effectively the "heavy fist" of the Greek defense in the Pindus Mountains.
Despite having a theoretically modern force, the Italian logistical system collapsed during the invasion. The Italian 105/14 was often considered inferior by its own crews compared to captured Austro-Hungarian 100/17 howitzers.
The harsh Balkan winter (specifically in sectors like the Klisura Pass) rendered Italian motorized transport useless. The Greeks, more accustomed to the terrain and possessing better localized supply lines, used their Schneider 105s to rain accurate fire on stalled Italian columns.
Ultimately, the Greek Schneider guns were part of the force that achieved the "first Axis setback" of the war, pushing the Italians back into Albania. However, the victory was short-lived; by March 1941, the Greeks had depleted their ammunition stocks, and the subsequent German intervention (Operation Marita) overwhelmed the exhausted Greek artillery regiments.
When comparing the 105mm Schneider Mle 1919 (Mountain Howitzer) and its Italian counterpart, the Obice da 105/14 Modello 1917 (and later versions), we see the classic struggle: balancing extreme mountain portability with raw firepower.
Schneider took the 75mm mountain carriage and upscaled it to fire a massive 105mm shell. It had a max range of about 8,000 meters. While shorter-ranged than a field gun, its "plunging fire" was perfect for the Andes.
It was a masterpiece of disassembly. It could be broken down into 8 mule loads. For the Argentine Army, this meant they could bring 105mm heavy support into places where even a horse-drawn wagon couldn't go.
The Italian Variant: Obice da 105/14 (Schneider License)
Italy used the 105/14, which was essentially the same Schneider design but adapted for Italian production and Alpine doctrine. Just as the Julia division used the 75/13, their heavy support came from these 105/14 howitzers.
It was nearly identical to the French version but often slightly heavier due to Italian shield designs. Its range was approximately 8,000–8,500 meters.
105 vs 105. Greco-Italian War (Fronte Greco-Albanese)
In the Greco-Italian War (1940–1941), the mountain artillery duel was a rare historical moment where both sides deployed nearly identical versions of the same Schneider-designed 105mm howitzer against one another.
While the Italian Obice da 105/14 Modello 1917 and the Greek 105mm Mle 1919 Schneider (often called the M1925/27 in Greece) shared a common lineage, they were used by two very different armies under brutal winter conditions.
Greek 105mm Mle 1919 (Schneider)
Max Range: ~7,850 – 8,000 m.
Muzzle Velocity: 350 m/s.
Elevation: 0° to +40°.
Transport: 8 Mule Loads.
Italian 105mm 105/14 Model 1917. (Ansaldo)
Max Range: ~8,000 m.
Muzzle Velocity: 350 m/s.
Elevation: -10° to +45°.
Transport: 8 Mule Loads.
As you will see, it is the same performance, the same type of weapon, the same model, one manufactured by Schneider and the other copied by Ansaldo. The real difference in the conflict wasn't the quality of the guns, but their organization and numbers.
Greece had integrated these guns deeply into their mountain divisions. Each of the 12 primary Greek divisional artillery regiments was equipped with 8 mountain 105mm guns alongside 16 mountain 75mm guns. They were effectively the "heavy fist" of the Greek defense in the Pindus Mountains.
Despite having a theoretically modern force, the Italian logistical system collapsed during the invasion. The Italian 105/14 was often considered inferior by its own crews compared to captured Austro-Hungarian 100/17 howitzers.
The harsh Balkan winter (specifically in sectors like the Klisura Pass) rendered Italian motorized transport useless. The Greeks, more accustomed to the terrain and possessing better localized supply lines, used their Schneider 105s to rain accurate fire on stalled Italian columns.
Ultimately, the Greek Schneider guns were part of the force that achieved the "first Axis setback" of the war, pushing the Italians back into Albania. However, the victory was short-lived; by March 1941, the Greeks had depleted their ammunition stocks, and the subsequent German intervention (Operation Marita) overwhelmed the exhausted Greek artillery regiments.
In the 75mm role during the Greco-Italian War, you have the ultimate "Mountain Duel" between the two most famous lineages of the era: Austro-Hungarian (Skoda) versus French (Schneider).
This wasn't just a battle of countries; it was a battle of two different engineering philosophies for mountain warfare. Unlike the previous duel between the 105mm of Italy and Greece, here the duel with the exception of the 75mm caliber are of two completely different designs.
Greek 75mm Mle 1919 Schneider. French Modernized Design (Post-WWI).
Caliber Length: L/18.6 (Longer & Sleeker).
Max Range: 9,000 meters.
Muzzle Velocity: 375 m/s.
Mule Loads: 7 Loads (Heavier).
Obice da 75/13 (Skoda M15). This is a Austro-Hungarian Design.
Caliber Length: L/13 (Short & Stubby).
Max Range: 8,250 meters.
Muzzle Velocity: 349 m/s.
Mule Loads: 4 Loads (Very Portable).
While the Skoda 75mm Model 15 (the original Austro-Hungarian designation) was the foundation, Italy did not just use captured pieces; they eventually produced them domestically to sustain their Alpini divisions.
Italy originally acquired hundreds of these guns as war booty and reparations from the collapsing Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.By 1933, the Italian military was reorganizing its artillery. Recognizing that the 75/13 was superior to their own lighter Cannone da 65/17, they decided to put the Škoda design back into production within Italy by Ansaldo and OTO (Odero-Terni-Orlando).
The Obice 75/13 and the &5mm L18.6 Schenider in action
Greek Army’s 75mm L18.6 Schneider Mle 1919 (purchased in large quantities in the 1920s) was technically the superior weapon.
With a longer barrel and higher muzzle velocity, the Greeks could hit Italian batteries from distances where the Italian 75/13 couldn't effectively fire back. The Schneider had more modern sighting equipment than the older Skoda models, which allowed Greek gunners to be extremely accurate in the Pindus Mountains.
The Italian Advantage: "Mule-ability"
The Italian Obice da 75/13 was a classic piece of mountain hardware.Because it broke down into only 4 loads (compared to the Schneider's 7), the Italians could get their 75mm guns onto higher, steeper ridges faster than the Greeks could move their heavier Schneider pieces. The 75/13 was a "true" howitzer. It excelled at "looming" fire dropping shells into deep ravines where the flatter-shooting Schneider struggled to reach.
In the snow-covered mountains of Albania and Epirus, the Greeks used their Schneiders to devastating effect during the counter-offensive. But Greece could not manufacture 75mm shells. When the French factories were occupied by Germany in 1940, the supply of Schneider shells was cut off.
Britain tried to send ammunition, but it didn't always fit the French-pattern Schneiders. By March 1941, many Greek batteries were down to their last few rounds per gun.
The Greek Schneider was the better gun, but the Italian Skoda was part of a larger empire that could (theoretically) keep making shells even if the Italian logistics system was a disaster.
This wasn't just a battle of countries; it was a battle of two different engineering philosophies for mountain warfare. Unlike the previous duel between the 105mm of Italy and Greece, here the duel with the exception of the 75mm caliber are of two completely different designs.
Greek 75mm Mle 1919 Schneider. French Modernized Design (Post-WWI).
Caliber Length: L/18.6 (Longer & Sleeker).
Max Range: 9,000 meters.
Muzzle Velocity: 375 m/s.
Mule Loads: 7 Loads (Heavier).
Obice da 75/13 (Skoda M15). This is a Austro-Hungarian Design.
Caliber Length: L/13 (Short & Stubby).
Max Range: 8,250 meters.
Muzzle Velocity: 349 m/s.
Mule Loads: 4 Loads (Very Portable).
While the Skoda 75mm Model 15 (the original Austro-Hungarian designation) was the foundation, Italy did not just use captured pieces; they eventually produced them domestically to sustain their Alpini divisions.
Italy originally acquired hundreds of these guns as war booty and reparations from the collapsing Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.By 1933, the Italian military was reorganizing its artillery. Recognizing that the 75/13 was superior to their own lighter Cannone da 65/17, they decided to put the Škoda design back into production within Italy by Ansaldo and OTO (Odero-Terni-Orlando).
The Obice 75/13 and the &5mm L18.6 Schenider in action
Greek Army’s 75mm L18.6 Schneider Mle 1919 (purchased in large quantities in the 1920s) was technically the superior weapon.
With a longer barrel and higher muzzle velocity, the Greeks could hit Italian batteries from distances where the Italian 75/13 couldn't effectively fire back. The Schneider had more modern sighting equipment than the older Skoda models, which allowed Greek gunners to be extremely accurate in the Pindus Mountains.
The Italian Advantage: "Mule-ability"
The Italian Obice da 75/13 was a classic piece of mountain hardware.Because it broke down into only 4 loads (compared to the Schneider's 7), the Italians could get their 75mm guns onto higher, steeper ridges faster than the Greeks could move their heavier Schneider pieces. The 75/13 was a "true" howitzer. It excelled at "looming" fire dropping shells into deep ravines where the flatter-shooting Schneider struggled to reach.
In the snow-covered mountains of Albania and Epirus, the Greeks used their Schneiders to devastating effect during the counter-offensive. But Greece could not manufacture 75mm shells. When the French factories were occupied by Germany in 1940, the supply of Schneider shells was cut off.
Britain tried to send ammunition, but it didn't always fit the French-pattern Schneiders. By March 1941, many Greek batteries were down to their last few rounds per gun.
The Greek Schneider was the better gun, but the Italian Skoda was part of a larger empire that could (theoretically) keep making shells even if the Italian logistics system was a disaster.
Mountain artillery with a 105mm piece transported on a trailer. With the improvement of artillery pieces, pneumatic tires will replace wooden wheels, so that they can be transported directly with trucks, without the need to transport them on a trailer.
105mm L14 M56 Pak Howitzer Oto Melara.
The OTO Melara Modello 56 (M56) was the ultimate "gun of the century" for mountain warfare. It solved the problem that had plagued both Italy and Argentina for decades: the need for two separate calibers (75mm and 105mm) in the mountains.
By 1956, the M56 made the 75mm caliber virtually obsolete for mountain artillery because it achieved the impossible: it was a 105mm howitzer that weighed almost the same as the old 75mm Schneider.
In both the Italian Alpini and the Argentine Mountain Regiments, the M56 replaced a dual-inventory system.
It was light enough and broke down into 12 mule loads, meaning it could go anywhere the old 75mm Schneider L18.6 or Skoda 75/13 could go. It offered the same "big hole" firepower as the old 105mm Schneider M1919 but with a much better range and modern NATO-standard ammunition.
Argentina became one of the biggest fans of the M56 because it fit their strategic "multipolar" philosophy perfectly:
It was an OTO Melara design (the successor to the Ansaldo).
During the Beagle Conflict (1978), the mountain artillery duel in the Andes would have pitted the Argentine OTO Melara Modello 56 (M56) against the Chilean OTO Melara Modello 56.
In a repeat of the 105mm duel "Schneider vs. Schneider" scenario in Greece, both nations had modernized their mountain regiments with the exact same Italian technology. However, Chile also maintained a "hybrid" arsenal that would have created a diverse tactical landscape.
South Atlantic War vs the 2nd NATO Power.
The situation mirrored the previous examples but with a critical technological twist. While both sides had previously used the same Italian technology, the British had recently upgraded to a superior homegrown alternative, creating a significant range gap, that echoed the "Schneider vs. Skoda" duels of WWII.
OTO Melara M56 vs. L118 Light Gun
During the conflict, the Argentine Army (specifically the 3rd and 4th Artillery Groups) deployed the 105mm OTO Melara Mod 56, which they had ironically purchased from the UK Ministry of Defence in 1976–1977. However, the British Army had already replaced its own version of the M56 (known as the L5 pack howitzer) with the more modern L118 Light Gun.
(The US Army's M119 howitzer is the American version of the British L119 Light Gun).
Argentine OTO Melara M56. Origin Italy.
Max Range: ~10,500 m
Weight: 1,290 kg
Ammunition: HE, HEAT, Illumination
British L118 Light Gun. Origin: United Kingdom.
Max Range: 17,200m.
Weight: ~1,860kg.
Ammunition: HE, Smoke, Illumination.
The British L118 Light Gun provided a massive tactical advantage because it could "out-shoot" the Argentine OTO Melaras. With a maximum range of 17,200 meters (using Charge Super), British gunners could strike Argentine positions from safely beyond the 10,500-meter reach of the M56. This allowed the British to conduct persistent bombardments of Argentine positions around Port Stanley while remaining out of range of retaliatory fire from the mountain howitzers.
The OTO Melara M56 remained "fearsome" due to its original design intent extreme portability:
Helicopter Transport and Anti-Tank capacity:
Both the M56 and the L118 could be lifted in one piece by helicopters (like the Sea King or Chinook). This was vital in the boggy Falklands terrain where heavy vehicles were often bogged down.
Like its use in the Andes, the Argentine M56 could be used for direct fire or as a makeshift anti-tank weapon using HEAT (Carga Hueca) rounds, though it was primarily used in the artillery role during the war.
Although the OTO Melara M56 was designed as a mountain gun, the Argentine Army used the M56 as its primary light field artillery across all terrains. Because of the boggy, roadless ground (the "turbal") of the Islands, the heavy CITEFA 155mm guns were difficult to move. The M56 became the "workhorse" because it could be broken down and moved by hand or by Bell UH-1H helicopters.
The GA Aerotransportado 4 (4th Airborne Artillery Group) used them because they were designed to be dropped by parachute a feature inherited from their "mountain" origin.
Using a mountain gun in an open-field battle meant Argentina was limited to a 10.5 km range. They were fighting a "short-range" duel against a "long-range" enemy.
The L118 is NOT a mountain gun in the traditional sense. Unlike the Schneider or the M56, you cannot break an L118 into 8 or 12 pieces to carry on animals. It is a single, solid piece of engineering. It was designed to be a Rapid Deployment gun. It was meant to be towed by a Land Rover or carried in one piece by a Sea King helicopter. Because it didn't have to be "broken down," the L118 had a much stronger, longer barrel. This allowed it to use high-pressure charges to reach 17.2 km. This created a tragic situation for the Argentine gunners (like those at Mount Longdon or Sapper Hill). The British L118s could sit 15 km away and destroy enemy positions with impunity.
The Argentine M56s had to be placed dangerously close to the front lines (within 10 km) just to reach the British infantry.
This made the Argentine batteries extremely vulnerable to British counter battery fire and harrier strikes.
Argentina used the M56 because it was the only thing that wouldn't sink in the mud, even though its range was insufficient. The British used the L118 because it was the perfect balance of "lightweight" and "long-range."
By 1956, the M56 made the 75mm caliber virtually obsolete for mountain artillery because it achieved the impossible: it was a 105mm howitzer that weighed almost the same as the old 75mm Schneider.
In both the Italian Alpini and the Argentine Mountain Regiments, the M56 replaced a dual-inventory system.
It was light enough and broke down into 12 mule loads, meaning it could go anywhere the old 75mm Schneider L18.6 or Skoda 75/13 could go. It offered the same "big hole" firepower as the old 105mm Schneider M1919 but with a much better range and modern NATO-standard ammunition.
Argentina became one of the biggest fans of the M56 because it fit their strategic "multipolar" philosophy perfectly:
It was an OTO Melara design (the successor to the Ansaldo).
During the Beagle Conflict (1978), the mountain artillery duel in the Andes would have pitted the Argentine OTO Melara Modello 56 (M56) against the Chilean OTO Melara Modello 56.
In a repeat of the 105mm duel "Schneider vs. Schneider" scenario in Greece, both nations had modernized their mountain regiments with the exact same Italian technology. However, Chile also maintained a "hybrid" arsenal that would have created a diverse tactical landscape.
South Atlantic War vs the 2nd NATO Power.
The situation mirrored the previous examples but with a critical technological twist. While both sides had previously used the same Italian technology, the British had recently upgraded to a superior homegrown alternative, creating a significant range gap, that echoed the "Schneider vs. Skoda" duels of WWII.
OTO Melara M56 vs. L118 Light Gun
During the conflict, the Argentine Army (specifically the 3rd and 4th Artillery Groups) deployed the 105mm OTO Melara Mod 56, which they had ironically purchased from the UK Ministry of Defence in 1976–1977. However, the British Army had already replaced its own version of the M56 (known as the L5 pack howitzer) with the more modern L118 Light Gun.
(The US Army's M119 howitzer is the American version of the British L119 Light Gun).
Argentine OTO Melara M56. Origin Italy.
Max Range: ~10,500 m
Weight: 1,290 kg
Ammunition: HE, HEAT, Illumination
British L118 Light Gun. Origin: United Kingdom.
Max Range: 17,200m.
Weight: ~1,860kg.
Ammunition: HE, Smoke, Illumination.
The British L118 Light Gun provided a massive tactical advantage because it could "out-shoot" the Argentine OTO Melaras. With a maximum range of 17,200 meters (using Charge Super), British gunners could strike Argentine positions from safely beyond the 10,500-meter reach of the M56. This allowed the British to conduct persistent bombardments of Argentine positions around Port Stanley while remaining out of range of retaliatory fire from the mountain howitzers.
The OTO Melara M56 remained "fearsome" due to its original design intent extreme portability:
Helicopter Transport and Anti-Tank capacity:
Both the M56 and the L118 could be lifted in one piece by helicopters (like the Sea King or Chinook). This was vital in the boggy Falklands terrain where heavy vehicles were often bogged down.
Like its use in the Andes, the Argentine M56 could be used for direct fire or as a makeshift anti-tank weapon using HEAT (Carga Hueca) rounds, though it was primarily used in the artillery role during the war.
Although the OTO Melara M56 was designed as a mountain gun, the Argentine Army used the M56 as its primary light field artillery across all terrains. Because of the boggy, roadless ground (the "turbal") of the Islands, the heavy CITEFA 155mm guns were difficult to move. The M56 became the "workhorse" because it could be broken down and moved by hand or by Bell UH-1H helicopters.
The GA Aerotransportado 4 (4th Airborne Artillery Group) used them because they were designed to be dropped by parachute a feature inherited from their "mountain" origin.
Using a mountain gun in an open-field battle meant Argentina was limited to a 10.5 km range. They were fighting a "short-range" duel against a "long-range" enemy.
The L118 is NOT a mountain gun in the traditional sense. Unlike the Schneider or the M56, you cannot break an L118 into 8 or 12 pieces to carry on animals. It is a single, solid piece of engineering. It was designed to be a Rapid Deployment gun. It was meant to be towed by a Land Rover or carried in one piece by a Sea King helicopter. Because it didn't have to be "broken down," the L118 had a much stronger, longer barrel. This allowed it to use high-pressure charges to reach 17.2 km. This created a tragic situation for the Argentine gunners (like those at Mount Longdon or Sapper Hill). The British L118s could sit 15 km away and destroy enemy positions with impunity.
The Argentine M56s had to be placed dangerously close to the front lines (within 10 km) just to reach the British infantry.
This made the Argentine batteries extremely vulnerable to British counter battery fire and harrier strikes.
Argentina used the M56 because it was the only thing that wouldn't sink in the mud, even though its range was insufficient. The British used the L118 because it was the perfect balance of "lightweight" and "long-range."
Andean Mountain Troops. Link:
Field and Heavy Artillery. Link:
