The first returns of experience from the static trench war demonstrated the need for a substantial increase of the range of the fieldguns.

Therefore, in 1916, a new evolution of the famous fieldgun 7.7cm FK 96 n/A was born, equipped with a longer tube and assembled on the carriage of the light field howitzer 10cm lFH 16 (allowing a higher elevation but increasing the total weight). This new gun, manufactured by Rheinmetall, was named '7.7 cm FK 16' (FK = FeldKanone - Fieldgun).

It was a nice gun, who could rival the French "75" gun range, up to 11200 m with a special shell adopted in 1918, and proved to be really efficient too in an anti-tank role. At the end of the war, 3020 such guns were still in service in the German Army. Some of them were given to Belgium after the war, but most remained the standard guns of the small German army that was allowed by the Versailles Treaty.

Main characteristics :

• Weight in firing position : 1325 kg
• Calibre : 77 mm
• Tube length : 35 calibres
• Projectile weight : 7.2 / 5.89 kg
• Number of grooves : 32
• Initial velocity : 545 / 602 m/s
• Maximum range : 9100 / 10700 m
• Elevation range : -10 / +40 degrees
• Direction range : 4 degrees total range