The 120 mm Krupp howitzer M1905 was a howitzer used by Turkey, Japan and a few smaller armies including during World War I. After the Ottoman Empire entered World War I in 1914 on the side of the Central Powers, it realized that it needed to modernize its artillery. The Model 1905 was a "stock gun" from Krupp that could be supplied from parts on hand on short notice, with minor alterations to suit customers' needs. The Model 1905 was a conventional artillery piece for its time, except for the lack of a gun shield to protect the crew. This was not a major liability, as most artillery quickly moved into concealed positions after the first few months of war.