Country:France
Caliber:65mm
weight:400 kg
projectile muzzle velocities:330m/s
horizontal ranges of fire:6°
vertical field of fire:-9° to +32°
range:5.500m
projectile weight 4.5kg or 3.8 kg
Transport in 4 Bundles
The mountain 65, which will gradually replace the mountain 80, was a rapid-fire throwing device with an articulated carriage:the steel tube had a telescopic spring that had to be compressed by hand before the first shot was fired, which had the effect of bringing the tube fifty centimeters back from its normal position. After loading, the tube being behind, the shot was made by releasing the spring, which caused the "throw" of the tube forward; the firing took place exactly at the end of the throw; the energy of the recoil counterbalanced the inertial force of the throw and brought the tube back, in position to fire the next shot. In the event of a long fire (delay in firing), fortunately rare, the gun nose-dived forward, the shell then risking hitting the ground, and therefore exploding, a few meters in front of the gun also experienced gunners always placed an empty ammunition box under the tube in the "forward" firing position to limit the tilting of the tube in the event of a long fire.
The mountain 65 had a maximum range of 5,500 meters with a 4 kg steel projectile and its firing speed could reach 10 to 15 rounds per minute, with firing angles of less than 45o. piece was broken down into four burdens for transport by mule:the piece, the brake, the jib, the wheels. Traction on the road was carried out using a stringer and a wheel under the butt. Used in the colonial campaigns, this equipment was even put on the backs of camels to form Saharan batteries.