PHOTO GALLERY

The Pretoria Gun, c2005
This photograph shows the Pretoria gun on display at the Union Buildings painted green prior to its restoration in 2006. Note the shape of the carriage sloping upwards where it meets the barrel. This is unlike any other of the Konigsberg gun carriages and resembles the shape of British gun carriages of the era. Note also recoil cylinders under the breech and the eight strutted Krupp wheels.
Photo © MC Heunis

The Pretoria Gun, 2006
This photograph shows the Pretoria gun on display shortly after its restoration in reddish brown paint in 2006. Note again the shape of the gun carriage, the eight strutted Krupp wheels and the recoil cylinders now restored to their original brass finish.
Photo © MC Heunis

The Pretoria Gun
This photograph shows the gun with Martin Brookes from the South African Department of Public Works who restored it in 2006. This gives some idea of the size of the gun. Note also the Krupp wheels with their specially widened rims riveted on.
Photo © MC Heunis

The Pretoria Gun, 2012
This photograph shows a frontal view of the gun. Note that the axle runs through the carriage rather than below the carriage as on the Krupp gun carriages. This photo again gives a good view of the steel bands added to the Krupp wheels. The small elevation wheel can just be seen to the right of the carriage. A bar has been added to the display below the carriage to help support the weight of the carriage and barrel.
Photo by PH Parsons on WikiCommons

The Pretoria Gun, 2012
This photograph is another frontal view of the gun showing the carriage, wheels barrel and flange.
Photo by PH Parsons on WikiCommons

The Pretoria Gun, 2006
This photograph shows a view of the gun and its carriage from the firer's point of view. Note the breech, recoil pistons and elevation control wheel to the left of the carriage. The widened 25cm steel bands riveted onto the original Krupp wheels can clearly be seen. Note also the brass plaque added to the gun and again the rough construction of the carriage, for example the visible welding on the upper part of the carriage and the not-quite-circular shape of the hole in the tail plate.
Photo © MC Heunis

Breech of the Pretoria Gun
The gun's relatively intact breech. Note horizontally sliding firing block has been removed. This was done by the Germans when they abandoned it so that it did not fall into allied hands while in working order. Note the very smooth machining of the Krupp breech as opposed to the rough welding of the improvised carriage seen in the previous photograph. Note also the recoil cylinder at the bottom of the photo.
Photo © MC Heunis

Serial Number on the Breech of the Pretoria Gun
The original maker's markings on the breech of the gun: "Nr 369L"- the weapon number, "Fried. Krupp"- Friedrich Krupp AG of Essen- the maker's mark, and "1905"- the date of manufacture.
Photo © MC Heunis

Left Recoil Cylinder
This close view up of the left recoil cylinder shows the serial number 369L
Photo by PH Parsons on WikiCommons

Right Recoil Cylinder
This close view up of the right recoil cylinder shows the serial number 367R. This proves that the two recoil cylinders were originally from different guns.
Photo by PH Parsons on WikiCommons

The Elevation Wheel on the Pretoria Gun
Note the serial number 361 in the top right corner, showing that it was originally attached to a different gun from the barrel it is now with and right hand recoil cylinder.
Photo © Frank Du Plessis

More Serial Numbers on the Pretoria Gun
These photographs show close ups of two bolts on the Pretoria gun with different serial numbers showing them to be from different guns. On the left 366 and on the right 361.
Photo © Frank Du Plessis

Plaque on the Pretoria Gun
A plate now fixed onto the gun identifying it in English and Afrikaans as a "German Naval Gun, Calibre 10.5cm=4.1inches.Captured by the SA Mounted Brigade and SA Infantry Brigade Rifles at Kahe, East Africa 21st March 1916". As described above this is inaccurate.
Photo © MC Heunis

Sight Arc from one of the 10.5cm SMS Königsberg Guns
This nicely mounted sight arc from is marked with the serial number 369. This is therefore part of the missing aiming mechanism from the barrel of the gun on display outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. This item is for sale via Ruby Lane at the Antiques Storehouse in the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth, England.
Photos © Antiques Storehouse

7.5cm Gebirgskanone L/17 M08
This mountain gun captured by South African forces from the Schutztruppe in German South West Africa is one of two such guns also on display outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Photo © MC Heunis