German Krupp 75mm Mountain Gun: 1895 - 1939

                                       

I've decided to add a German Mountain Gun to my German colonial and WWI armies. As with most projects I started my research in my library, then an internet image search, followed by hitting my usual on line hobby forums and websites looking for advice. However my research was contradictory and inconclusive so I reached out my friend Roy Jones Jr. whom in my opinion is the premier historian on German colonial topics that I know, especially the Herero Wars. 

Roy directed me to a website that I’ve loved in the past for German colonial uniform references, but even this website wasn't 100% conclusive. Based on Roy's recommendations I went with a dull brass colored barrel and breach with the remainder in a light sand. As Roy says, it will give me more diverse usage.

If anyone has any additional data please contact me, I can always repaint the model. 

The model I picked  is from Askari Minis German Colonial range. Here's the link data from their website.

                German Krupp 75mm Mountain Gun

                                               

This very versatile gun was manufactured by Krupp for export beginning in 1895, ironically not being bought (initially) by the German government. It was widely used until as late as 1939. Kitchener had them at Omdurman (being purchased by the Egyptian Army); they were also used by the Afghan army, the Spanish Army in the Spanish-American War and others. The German Army "requisitioned" some intended for export for use in the Boxer Rebellion.

This little gem comes in eight parts: gun barrel, barrel platform, carriage, two wheels, two handles for the rear of the carriage, and an optional spade.

                                                       

Painting Recipe:

Undercoat: Flat Black spay paint 

Base Coat: Glidden sample size - Warm Caramel 

Barrel: Vallejo Game Color #998 Bronze

Wheel Rim: Flat Black

When dry, I paint on Polyshades Minwax Tudor Satin to seal and shade. After 24 hrs I spray my models with Testors “Lusterles Flat”. This dulls the Polyshades shine and gives the model another layer of protection. 

 

Here’s the gun with 28mm figs for scale. They are a German gun crew from Tiger Miniatures purchased from Recreational Conflict in the USA that I’ve painted up as German Seebattalion Gunners. But that is another post. 

    

                                                  

Here are some of the photos I’d found of various German Mountain guns during my research for this hard to find artillery piece starting with the aforementioned German Colonial Uniforms website references. 

                                           

 

                                              

     

                                               

                                                

Below is my correspondence with my friend Roy Jones, the well known historian and author I discussed earlier. His website and the Herero Wars scenario book he and Eric Alvarado wrote are awesome, check it out. 

https://www.hererowars.com/

Jeff,

I'm sorry to hear you and your family got sick, but glad to know that it didn't effect you too much and everyone has recovered.

I have some corrections for the color scheme. Everything that's not brass-colored in the photos should be painted sand-colored. So, you have two options:

 

(a)  Paint the barrel and breech brass-colored, and everything else sand-colored. This would be intended to match Gun No. 7 and Gun No. 4, 6, or 10 (see here: http://www.germancolonialuniforms.co.uk/militaria/mountaingun.htm ). 

(b)  Paint everything, including the barrel and breech, sand-colored to match Gun No. 1.

 

I would suggest option (a), for reasons discussed below.

 

 

Reasons for the corrections:

 

(1)  I neglected to read the following sentence in the description in German Colonial Uniforms:

 

"It is thought that they were originally painted in a sand colour when delivered to the Schutztruppen".

 

 

(2)  Last night I received a new, hard-to-find resource from Germany: the war diary of a German artillery commander during the Herero and Nama Wars. It has a contemporary black and white photo from 1905 of a German Mountain Gun during the Nama Wars. The gun looks exactly like Gun No. 1, gun shield and all. It might even be Gun No. 1.

 

In that contemporary 1905 photo there’s no discernable difference in shading between the barrel and the rest of the gun (except for the back of the gun shield), just as there’s no difference in color between the barrel and the rest of the gun in the photo of Gun No. 1 (except for the black wheel rims, which are a modern touch).

 

More specifically, the barrel is NOT brass-colored. So, I would conclude that Gun No. 1 was originally all sand-colored. If it’s the same gun as in the contemporary photo, it would have been manufactured no later than 1905. If the numbering system aligns with date of manufacture, in fact it would have been manufactured in 1904.

 

For Gun No. 7, on the other hand, the barrel and breech ARE brass-colored. The rest of the gun is all another color. I would conclude originally sand-colored.

 

Gun No. 7 was manufactured in 1908 – too late to participate in the Nama Wars (the Nama Wars ended in March 1908, and no artillery accompanied the camel-mounted Expeditionskorps in that year). Whether earlier guns with brass barrels (e.g., Gun No. 4, 6, or 10) were used in the Nama Wars, I don’t know off the top of my head.

 

But Gun No. 7 was definitely deployed in WWI, as was Gun No. 4, 6, or 10.

 

So, I would suggest option (a) - paint the barrel and breech brass-colored, and everything else sand-colored – for maximum flexibility of use.

HurriCon 2022 - HMGS-South’s Convention (9/22/22 - 9/25/22)

 

The annual awesome HMGS-South convention HurriCon-2022 is fast approaching! The theme is Persia, though there will be every manor of games. As usual our crew will have one table just dedicated to Colonial games played with THE SWORD AND THE FLAME rules with a different game every session of the convention starting Thursday night running through Saturday night for a total of 7 sessions / games. More on that later.

Convention link: https://tabletop.events/conventions/hurricon-2022

Club link: HMGS-South

A message from the con director:

It is a good milestone for Hurricon, on behalf of the BoD, I am happy to say we are approaching 100 games. We are close to meeting our hotel rooms, we keep selling out ahead of schedule and they keep adding rooms to our block. 

Or theme is Persia, but as usually we have something for everyone. Maybe one of the command tents has a Persian rug in it, that works. 

We have Pete Panzeri's large Borodino Game with 30 feet of Napoleons brutal assault on the Russians. The Rob Hall Memorial game event, Two Bolt action tournaments, multiple De Bellis Antiquitatis tournaments, and the Pathfinder RPG special 3-98 Expedition into Pallid Peril (up to 36 players) exploring a old Dwarven sky-citadel.

We have more coming in every day! 

Yes, we are having a flea market, to sell it is $20 a table. 

HMGS-South as a club is dependent on others to spread the word. We keep the show cheaper than most, we keep vendor rates low, and hope to deliver a maximum value for your money. It been tough on shows and on clubs. Talking to other HMGS Chapters gives me a good perspective. Please tell your friends and opponents about us, and if you have questions or concerns, you can email any BoD member.  

More to come . . . .  

Update: Here’s our groups games for HurriCon-22 thus far. 

HurriCon 2022 - TSATF Table

Thursday at 20:00 - 105 - The lost mine - TSIA

Friday at 09:00 - 106 - Timing is everything - TSIA

Friday at 14:00 - 119 - The Belgians are at it again! - TSATF

Friday at 20:00 - 120 - The Belgians are at it again! - TMWWBK

Saturday at 09:00 Marc C?

Saturday at 14:00 -116 - Afghanistan, 5 February 1891, Chitral Territory - TSATF

Saturday at 20:00 -118 - Flame over Morocco 1907 - TSATF

Sunday at 09:00 (nothing scheduled)

18 September 1890 - Lieutenant Lowell & Naik Majendra Bahadur Gurung #4864, Billy Fish

 

Lieutenant Lowell and Naik Gurung # 4864 are moving through the foothills looking for good ground for the 1st Brigade to advance upon. 

As the Russians move south across the Chitral Territory border …..

….the British move north towards Chitral to relieve the beleaguered garrison of Chitral Fort. 

The Anglo-Indian 1st Brigade of the Chitral Field Force is probing north towards the Chitral territory. The attached political officer Lieutenant Reginald Lowell scouts ahead with a patrol of the 77th Bengal Lancers and is accompanied by his adjutant Naik Majendra Bahadur Gurung, aka, Billy Fish. 

 

                          

Political Officer Lieutenant Reginald Lowell (left) and General Sir Leighton McGuinness (right)

                            

Naik Majendra Bahadur Gurung, aka, Billy Fish, Naik Gurung # 4864 of the 2nd Gurkhas. 

They have come across many villages and tribes of various Pashtun peoples. Some encounters have been productive, others have not.

On the approach to Shalkani village Jemadar Singh of the 77th Bengal Lancers dismounts with one section and advances on foot, lead by LT Lowell and Naik Gurung #4864, while the remaining section maintains a perimeter security picket. 

Naik Gurung #4864 makes contact with a shepherd who takes him to the village head man’s house where LT Lowell and Billy Fish make introductions. 

                            

They are invited to tea and discuss the world. As LT Lowell questions the village elder he sees an old British cavalry saber by the fire, he moves towards it, noticing the Ishapore India 1840 manufacturing stamp. As he attempts to pick it up Tulwars are drawn and jezzails are pointed towards the ferenghi. LT Lowell draws his saber as well. 

Billy Fish does not draw his weapon, instead he laughs loudly. They all look at each other and a riotous laughter breaks out amongst them all. 

“I see you like my saber Lieutenant!” says Abdali Rahimi Khan. 

“Yes indeed Khan” LT Lowell responds. “I noticed a barracks and date stamp, Ishapore India, 1840!”

“You have good eyes and even better perception for a foreigner.” Abdali says with squinting eyes. “My father served in the 3rd Bengal Native Infantry Regiment  during the Indian War for Independence, this saber belonged to his officer who died protecting his men! No one touches this saber. “

“Understood Khan, my apologies for any disrespect and my gratitude for your family’s service to the crown!”

With many stories being told and the sun beginning to set LT Lowell and Naik Gurung #4864 bid farewell. 

LT Lowell and Naik Gurung #4864 discuss the meeting as they head back to their cavalry escort. 

“That was a very productive meeting. Cooler heads prevailed thanks to you old boy! The general is going to be very pleased with the information we gained about the surrounding tribes and the hidden pass through the mountains.”

“Yes sahib, what do you think 

Abdali Rahimi Khan will do with the rupees and rifle you gave him. I have a feeling we will see him again sah.” Billy Fish exclaimed. 

That night LT Lowell briefs General McGuinness and his staff.

This action was fought out using a deck of playing cards and TSATF to determine the characters actions. 

TSATF re-crew guns @ TMP

There’s a very interesting thread on The Miniatures Page regarding the ability to re-crew guns with personnel other than trained gunners in the rules set The Sword And The Flame. Since I’m a big fan of these rules I planned on replying with my $0.02 and decided to post it here as well in case the discussion comes up again in the future. I think I’ll post other TSATF  rules questions, issues, house rules, mods, etc on my blog as well as time permits and questions arise.

Here’s the post on TMP in the 19th Century page under The Sword And The Flame section:

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=560054

Here’s my reply.

What a great TSATF topic. I like the varied responses. First off, all the answers are right if that’s the way you want to play! Larry always said to play them as we want to. 

There is a rule that covers the gun crews. 

Section VIII: The Fire Phase

Subsection: B5, Pg 27

Gun Crews: It takes at least two figures to fire an artillery piece or machine gun. At least one of the figures must be a crewman for that type of weapon. 

Obviously this infers that figures other than gunners can re-crew an artillery piece as long as there is one gunner left for that type of artillery piece. 

Here’s how I do it, as long as there is one original gun crewman left unwounded. 

If the re-crew is Navy or Marine personnel they still roll 3 die per gunner. Any other imperial personnel only roll 2 die per gunner.  I rationalize it as many Navy and Marine personnel were trained as gunners as well to serve aboard ship while most other branches did not undertake this additional training. 

If the crew served weapon is an MG that normally rolls  1D6 for jamb each turn and more than half the crew is untrained, they roll the standard 1D6 trying to avoid a 5 or 6 rather than the usual 6 for a jamb. But that’s just how I do it. 

I also make different rules or judgments, most of them scenario specific for the troops involved in that battle or campaign. 

But like Larry said, play them how you want to!

Here a few Gun Crews in action for your viewing pleasure. 

                          

                          

Egyptian gunners, by Old Glory 25mm Miniatures , serving a Houston Ships 75mm gun on the bow of one of Last Stand Dan awesome handmade gunboats! Figs, Gun, and  Boat all built and painted by my buddy Dan. 

British gunners, by Old Glory, painted by Last Stand Dan man a 75mm gun on one of his handmade gunboats in one of the many Sudan scenarios he’s run across the country at various cons. 

German Seabatallion gunners, converted from Old Glory German Marines, painted by me, man a bow gun on one of Last Stand Dan’s gunboats in the scenario, The Hun, The Frog & The Lion. This incredible scenario was designed by my friend Patrick from The Virtual Armchair General. He sells all sorts of cool products for gaming as well as the excellent Game Card Decks for my favorite rules, The Sword And The Flame.

German Seabattalion crew man upper deck Machine Guns. 

Figures are the defunct Lead Boiler Suite Co and Old Glory German Marines, serving MG’s aboard the Cite de LaMeers custom made by Last Stand Dan during the large TSATF game The Hun, The Frog, and The Lion designed by my friend Patrick of TVAG - The Virtual Armchair General.

               

Dervish Gun crew I painted and converted from Old Glory Ansar and an Askari Minis Arab laborer. I made and painted these for my buddy Last Stand Dan. The terrain is made by Bill Daniels of Gamers Garage. 

Another Dervish / Ansar gun crew, mfg by Cannon Fodder Miniatures, serving a Foundry cannon, undercover of a Bill’s Basement custom terrain gun pit. The figs represent captured Egyptians in chains commanded by a large Ansar wielding a whip. This is another crew I painted.  

Old Glory Sikh gun crew with a Castaway Arts Miniatures

baggage camel. 

Gripping Beast WWI French Hotchkiss MG crew with Legionaries heads which I painted as a 1900 French Marine MG crew. 

Wargames Foundry Regular Afghan Gun crew supported by Afghan Regular Infantry. The infantry & gun painted by my friend Nick Stern. The crew loads grape shot to stop a charge of Cossacks in the battle for the village of Terakh Mir, NWF 1890, ongoing NWF Campaign. 

French Naval Gun Crews mfg by Askari Miniatures, painted by me, serving MG’s aboard another custom made gunboat by Last Stand Dan. Askari Minis has all manner of French colonial troops as well as many other nations and some of the best artillery pieces in 25mm. Photo from the Scenario, Kaiser’s Revenge, The Horn of Africa, 1903.

 

Spanish Gun Crews from Old Glory Miniatures SAW range

painted by my friend Mark Coolidge. He also made all the terrain for this awesome Spanish American War game he ran for us at our SMG -Club House - Das Krieg Haus in Fort Lauderdale Florida. 

German Marine MG Crew, unknown mfg painted by my friend John Murk, fighting my French Marines in an exciting TSIA game run at an HMGS-South Convention run by my buddy Dr. Dwight Jones, who also made all the terrain for this game. 

Here is an American Gun Crew from the same game and collection above, Mark Coolidge. 

A destroyed Pathan Gun Crew made by Wargames Foundry

painted by me. This gun and crew were destroyed in a recent NWF game ran by me at Das Krieg Haus as part of our Epic LAF - Epic NWF Campaign - Never Trust Anyone on the Frontier. The gun and crew were taken out by Russian counter battery fire at the battle for the village of Terakh Mir. Artillery hit marker made by my friend Bud at Bud’s Blast Markers. He’s got an array of all sorts of amazing blast markers!