[asiaticus]

There were several batteries of 120/25 guns in the Italian Army that conquered Ethiopia 1935-36. I cant figure out what this thing was, and who made it. Anyone have an idea and what its range would be?

[FB]

I don't know if we are talking of the same gun, but the Italians, in Africa at least, had a 120/25 artillery piece. It was an old Skoda gun, probably war booty from the Italo-Turk war. I have found such a reference in the memories of an artillery man in Bardia (Lybia) when the town fell in 1940 (IIRC):

Best regards

[Attilio]

The 120/25 was an old gun mod. 1878 De Bange received from France during the WWI in 136 pieces:
11 batteries in Lybia at 1940
26 guns in Africa Orientale at the beginning of the word. 1 battery was used to defend the harbour of Chisimaio

weight of the gun 3573 kg, weight of the round 24,9 Kg, muzzle velocity 525 m/s, max range 11,1 Km

Best regards
Attilio

[asiaticus]

From the pics I had I was thinking it might have been the 120mm De Bange but the /25 threw me off. Thanks for the confirmation and the additional info on its use elsewhere too.

[vzita]

Hi,

visit this page:
http://members.xoom.virgilio.it/VZita/m ... 120_25.htm
there are technical data on this gun (incomplete). In italian language

Source: Felice Grandi, "Dati sommari sulle artiglierie in servizio e sul tiro", 3^ edizione, Tipografia Vogliotti, Torino, 1934-XIII, Edizione fuori commercio

best regards