www.passioncompassion1418.com
SURVIVING GUN FILE (# 70)
Version française

Germany

7.7cm NahKampfKanone

Light artillery

Contributor :
Charlie Clelland     
     
     
Lien vers post du blog
Location :
Australia
Miles, QLD
War Memorial
Coordinates : Lat : -26.65740 / Long : 150.18910
General comments on this surviving gun :


Identical items in the same location : 1
Items covered by this file : 1

A rare version of the classical 77 FK96 nA, as a anti-tank gun, with a lowered structure and small wheels.

Very low profile to hide from the tanks

Markings 'Nr7936 - 1917'. Captured at Messines in June 1917.


Historic and technical information
Denomination :     7.7cm NKK Origin :       ( Krupp)          

Historic context :

The apparition of the first British tanks in 1916 demonstrated both the power of this new weapon and its vulnerability to the fieldguns explosive shells in direct hit. This event created a new need of infantry guns of the same calibre than the fieldguns but easier to bring close to the first lines in order to fight the tanks efficiently.

This is how the German War Ministry ordered in the end of 1916 to deviate some 7.7cm FK 96 n/A fieldguns components for the manufacturing of new guns specifically designed for this mission. The new gun was named '7.7 cm InfanterieGeschütze L/27 Krupp' ('Infantry gun'), sometimes more simply named NahkampfKanone ('Close combatgun'), this name being later adopted for a 7.7cm L/12 Skoda gun from 1917 in Austria. It equipped more than 18 batteries. Numerous other developments were launched between 1915 and 1918 for the creation of infantry guns, either through new designs from the weapon industry, or by use or conversion of of mountain guns.

This 7.7 cm InfanterieGeschütze L/27 Krupp gun was a modification of the standard German fieldgun 7.7cm FK96 n/A, in a configuration allowing to lower its profile and lighten a little its initial 971 kg weight to 900 kg. These changes included :

  • smaller diameter wheels (1 m) and a wheel to wheel distance narrowed 30 cm
  • the removal of the lower part of the front shield
  • the removal of the servants feets rests

Technical data :

  • Complete description : 7.7cm NahKampfGeschütze close combat Gun
  • Design year : 1916
  • Calibre : 77.00 mm
  • Weight in firing position : 900 kg
  • Weight for transportation : Idem
  • Tube length in calibres : 26.90 (total tube length)
  • Grooves : 32 (progressive angle)
  • Projectile weight : 6.85 kg
  • Initial speed : 465 m/s
  • Fire rate :
  • Range : 7800 m to 8300 m
  • Elevation range : unknown
  • Direction range : unknown


Sources
  • German Artillery of World War One           Herbert Jager                   Crowood   2001  
  • Wikipedia http://fr.wikipedia.org/                           
  • Landships II http://www.landships.info/                           
  • L'Artillerie de Campagne de l'Armée Impériale Allemande - Tome III - 7,7cm Feld Kanone 96 nA       Bernard Delsert                   B.D.   2013