10.5 cm kanon m/34

The 10.5 cm kanon m/34 was a heavy field gun produced in Sweden.

10.5 cm kanon m/34
Bofors m/34 at the Hämeenlinna Artillery Museum
Type	Heavy field gun
Place of origin	Sweden
Service history
Used by	Finland  Sweden  Switzerland Thailand
Wars	Winter War, Continuation War
Production history
Designer	Bofors
Manufacturer	Bofors
Specifications
Mass	3,750 kilograms (8,270 lb)
Barrel length	4.41 metres (14 ft 6 in) L/42
Crew	7
Shell	15.3 kilograms (33 lb 12 oz)
Caliber	105 millimetres (4.1 in)
Breech	horizontal sliding block
Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	-5° to +42°
Traverse	60°
Rate of fire	5-6 rpm
Muzzle velocity	800 m/s (2,600 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	16,300 metres (17,800 yd)

Design

Designed for motor towing with steel spoked wheels with rubber rims, the m/34 was a development of the earlier 10.5 cm Cannon Model 1927, with the carriage being used by various Bofors 15 cm howitzers of the 1930s. Like most contemporary field artillery the barrels muzzle had a pepper-pot style muzzle brake to reduce recoil.

Four were purchased for the Swedish Coastal Artillery, fifty-six by the Swedish Army as the 10.5 cm Fältkanon m/34, and an additional order for eight m/34s was produced in 1942. Coastal artillery m/34s were transferred to the field artillery in 1942 under the designation of 10.5 cm Fältkanon m/34M.

Exports

The m/34 enjoyed relatively good export success, considering the neutral status of Sweden, with the following countries ordering the weapon:-

Finland

Twelve guns were ordered during the Winter War but only four had been delivered by the time the conflict ended, but the remainder had been delivered before the start of the Continuation War, serving with Heavy Artillery Battalion 3 and later with Heavy Artillery Battalion 5 as the 105 K 34.

Switzerland

A license was acquired and 352 m/34s were produced, as the 10.5 cm Kanone 1935 L42.

Thailand

Thailand ordered four weapons which were delivered in 1935.

External links

• m/34 on The Soviet Invasion of Finland
• m/34 on jaegerplatoon
• German-language site on the Swiss guns
• discussion of the Model 27 and 34 guns on MLU Forum
• 1932 Swiss article comparing Bofors and Schneider guns