Missing Gun from the SMS Königsberg

[stulev]

did they make small arms ammunition in GEA? - if shells stated to run low would they try to make them there also?

[CPT Bob]

Holger, are you out there? Am I looking in the wrong place? Have I plotted Mkuyuni correctly? If so, the gun position must be a short distance to the north, if it is only 1500m from the British when it opened fire..

I see that the British reported action near Pugu; shelling from the K-berg gun began at 9:30am on 29 August 1916. Throughout that day, and the next, the British tried to maneuver around the Germans' flanks and were fired upon by the K-berg gun. The Germans withdrew on the night of 30 August.

“Konigsberg gun and other German artillery firing from ridge 1500 yards to the front.”

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[danebrog]

did they make small arms ammunition in GEA? - if shells stated to run low would they try to make them there also?

They did not make ammo in GEA. But they reloaded thousands of k98 cartridges and 10.5-cm shells delivered by blockade runner S/S Marie. The brass of expended shells was collected and send to Tabora for coins as the africans refused paper money

[CPT Bob]

I agree. I understand that the 10.5cm ammo was assembled in a munitions factory in Germany (shell, casing and primer) and shipped 3-per-canister. There were two variants; High Explosive (HE) and Armour Piercing (AP). Various fuses would be attached prior to firing.

Tabora had already fallen to the Belgians by this date.

[CPT Bob]

Here is an excellent source for K-berg Gun data. Notice the difference in weight between the HE round and the AP round.

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_41-40_skc00.php

[CPT Bob]

I have combined both the German and British accounts. The village labeled "Mangulubwida" is found on Google Maps and Google Earth. I am unsure of the location of "Mkuyuni".

29-30 August 1916 - Action at Mkuyuni / Pugu

The howitzers’ maximum range is c.3-miles.

The K-gun’s maximum range is c.7-miles.

The Germans halted during their withdrawal and emplaced their howitzers and the K-gun on high ground in the vicinity of Mkuyuni.

The Germans had plotted targets all along the road that the British were now strung-out upon. On the first day, the British scouts advanced to 1500 yards. The German artillery forced the British to retire and to determine a new course of action.

On the second day, the howitzers withdrew to the south as the K-gun continued to fire all day at the British as they attempted to maneuver to the flanks. That evening, the K-gun was disabled, something was cached and the position was abandoned. The crew of the K-gun caught-up to the howitzer battery at the Ruvu Bridge.

I see it there.jpg

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[Xavier]

this gun belonged to Emden, but since armament was similar, it might be relevant to the thread, specially details about the gun and base

[CPT Bob]

I searched the Google for "Mkuyuni Primary School Morogoro" and I found a map. I did plot "Mkuyuni" correctly.

https://maps.me/catalog/education/ameni ... 261312075/

[CPT Bob]

I can see you from Mkuyuni!

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[arche-foto]

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I have the following caption for this picture:

Zanzibar, outside slave compound, opposite arab cemetary

[CPT Bob]

The photo was taken at the old Portuguese Fort in Zanzibar.

Portuguese Fort Zanzibar August 1916.JPG

Portuguese Fort Zanzibar.jpg

[CPT Bob]

there it is I see.JPG

[CPT Bob]

The Last Bogeyman - The "Kibata Gun".

We agree that the Kibata Gun was 1-of-3 DAR carriages; the other two are the one that Belgians took to Stanleyville and the one that the British captured at Mkuyuni.

We have understood that there are two photographs of the Kibata gun. I now believe that we were wrong.

Kibata OK.JPG

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[danebrog]

Hmmm...
1st thought: Well spotted, Sir!
But all other known Mkuyuni pics show the barrel pointing down and the sights missing?

[CPT Bob]

Yes, I know. That is why this is a bit troubling.

But.......that is the same box.