I think that with we have a confusion after the Dibo's post.
Guns from Sturm78's question are GERMAN ARMY models:
10-cm Kanone 04 (105mm L/30)
10-cm Kanone 14 (105mm L/35)
Both models Dibo refers to are CAPTURED weapons (made by Krupp)
105mm Krupp "L/30" (quick-firing guns, ex-Turkish)
105mm Krupp "L/35" (slow-firing guns, ex-Romanian)
Let's clear somewhat this issue:
First 105mm caliber "long guns" in Bulgarian armament were ex-Turkish guns, captured in Odrin Fortress. They were modern commercial guns, produced by Krupp for export, a design very much different (also more modern) than German Army model "10-cm Kanone 04" (also made by Krupp, also 105mm L/30). Similar guns were purchased by Holland (only 2 pcs) in 1912 as "10 Lang 30" (see:
viewtopic.php?f=70&t=140714&start=15 ). Dibo's data for 105mm guns in 1915 Bulgarian use (
http://forum.boinaslava.net/showthread. ... post110274 , post #14) is 12 quick-firing guns. MCP’s identification of these guns as “M.04” is wrong, because Turkey acquired these guns much later, 1910 or 1911 (Wrong photo also, showing a German K 04). Did some of these guns survived to be a WW2 armament -
possible, but small number only.
Second 105mm model was captured Romanian Krupp, XIX-century, slow-firing guns, captured in 1916. According to MCP (Dibo’s second link) they were L/35. Did some of these obsolete guns survived to be a WW2 armament – I don’t believe so!
As MCP states in post #13, exact quantity of German artillery supply to Bulgaria in WW1 is not known – he estimates some 400 to 500 guns. He also points that Germans were reluctant to give their heavy artillery or the most modern types. Other info is about the German heavy artillery units, supporting Bulgarian Army. Regarding of number of 105mm L/30 & L/35 guns in Bulgarian inventory 1941, it is safe to give two assumptions:
1) Germany DID supply Bulgaria with some 105mm “long guns”. As Wikipedia states -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_cm_K_14 some “10-cm Kanone 14” (L/35) were in use by Bulgaria in WW1 - maybe older K 04 guns (L/30) were received too.
2) Due to the rapid collapse of Bulgaria in 1918, it is highly unlikely that all German Army heavy artillery units, supporting Bulgarian armies, had managed to evacuate intact. My guess is that some of their equipment was left at Bulgarian territory, then hidden to avoid their seizure by Allied comissions – and put again into the use at late 1930s. Again, 105mm models used by German units at Bulgarain Front were older L/30 and L/35, not the most modern K 17 guns (105mm L/45).
Btw, there is one more issue – during 1930s Bulgaria acquired some Rheinmetall 105mm L/30 gun-howitzers (forerunner of leFH-18). These were more a light howitzers than “guns”, of course, but - because their rather long L/30 barrels - another confusion might emerged.
So, 105mm “long guns” in Bulgarian use (before the supply of “Krupp L/56” and “Skoda L/42” guns) were:
1st option - German Kanone 04 (L/30) & Kanone 14 (L/35) long guns, with possible few ex-Turkish Krupp commercial L/30 guns. (I would go for this one
)
2nd option – newly acquired 105mm (L/30) Rheinmetall gun-howitzers and still viable 10-cm Kanone 14 (L/35) long guns, with all old (and rather obsolete) 105mm L/30 long guns discarded in 1919, to comply with Allied disarmament comission demands.
by nuyt on 29 Nov 2008 15:12 
