Developed after the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War, the 9cm C/73 Feldkanone improved German/Prussian Artillery reliability.  Previous pieces that saw service in the Franco-Prussian War were prone to burst while firing due to metallurgical problems.  The 9cm (8,8cm) was produced for the German Foot Artillery and at the same time, the 8cm (7,85cm) was for the German Field Artillery.  The two must have been almost identical except for bore diameter but the 8cm seems to have been built only in limited numbers and apparently did not see continued service into WW1.  The Foot Artillery’s 9cm C/73 saw over 40 years of service until the last days of the war in reserve Landsturm units.  Apparently, after 1888 the 9cm saw service not only with the Foot Artillery but with Field Artillery units.  By the wartime era, some were even improvised into an anti-aircraft (Flak) role.  The Ottoman/Turkish Artillery used this weapon extensively where it saw service from the Russo-Turkish War 1878, through WW1 and even likely until the Turkish Revolution of 1923.  Many examples of the C/73 can be seen today in Turkey, especially in towns near the Gallipoli (Gelibolu) Battlefield, such as the “Ramadan Gun” at Kesan.   The C/73 is a rare piece in the US.  Our C/73 and two fantastic examples owned by Jim Schoenung are the only ones I am aware of in the US.

The C/73 utilized "state of the art" Krupp steel technology.  It has a horizontal sliding wedge breech mechanism.  A friction primer placed in a vent on-top-of the breech-ring ignites the propellant charge.  The C/73 uses a single bagged propellant charge.  The piece was fitted with a direct fire sight (C82) and the Richtkreis (German indirect fire sight) which mounts further forward than on other German guns because of the vent in the center of the breech ring.  The quadrant for the C/73 is somewhat like the one for the 10,5cm. l.F.H.”98/09 but has a convex arch not a concave ach as with the “98/09.

Quadrant	Direct Fire
Richtkreis (0-5800 indirect fire sight)

The C/73 is sometimes fitted with axletree seats but these were often removed, as is the case with the C/73 in the Lovett Collection.  Elevation is accomplished by a simple worm shaft and handle mechanism.  There is no traversing mechanism.   Two types of brakes are seen on this model gun.  Sometimes there is a very basic type that has two handles sticking out from under the gun’s axle.   These turn a worm shaft that simply screws on or off a brake pad scrubbing along the gun-wheel tire.  The type seen on the C/73 in the Lovett Collection is, in principle, the same as on the 15cm s.F.H. series, the 7,7cm l.F.K. series, the 10,5cm l.F.H series and the 10cm. K.“17.  There is a brake handle mounted on the left side of the carriage that pulls a plate back and forth under the carriage.  This movement pulls a cable that both loupes around the gun-wheel hubs and pulls the brake pad against the gun-wheel tire.

There were later improvements of the C/73.  These were the 9cm. C/73/1888 and the C/73/1891.  Both seem to be primarily improvements in metallurgy.  The C/73 is operated in conjunction with a limber and transported by a typical German Foot Artillery rigged six horse team, however, some photos do show Field Artillery rigged teams with the gun.  The tube for the 9cm. C/73 was also used on the model 1879 9cm. Schwere Kanone. The fortress/siege carriage for this piece is much taller for greater elevation and firing from behind breastworks. The same limber for the C/73 was again used for the Schwere Kanone.

Above is the limber for the 9cm C/73

  Early color schemes for the C/73 are light grayish blue with some details painted black such as the wheel hubs.  After 1915 the C/73 is commonly seen in German Field Grey paint.  In Turkish Service, a few even appeared in disruptive camouflage.  The 9cm. C/73 in the Lovett Collection is not yet restored but is in Field Grey with the Prussian and King William Crest unpainted.  On examining this piece, what seems to be original primer ends at the crest.  These were mask off in a kidney shape and apparently not painted.  When the piece is restored we plan to mimic this approach. The wheels on our C/73 are too short for the gun and were originally for the 10,5cm l.F.H.  The C/73 originally had taller wheels similar to the German 7,7cm.

Data for the 9cm C/73/88

9cm. C/ 1873 Kanone Image Gallery
(click on the thumbnail for larger image)