7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20
The 7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20 was an infantry gun used by Germany in World War I. It was designed by Krupp to rectify the shortcomings of the 7.62 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/16.5.
| 7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Infantry gun |
| Place of origin | German Empire |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1916-1918 |
| Used by | German Empire |
| Wars | World War I |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Krupp |
| Manufacturer | Krupp |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 815 kg (1,797 lb) |
| Barrel length | 1.54 m (5 ft 1 in) L/20 |
| Shell | 6.85 kg (15 lb 2 oz) |
| Caliber | 77 mm (3.03 in) |
| Breech | Horizontal sliding-wedge |
| Recoil | Hydro-pneumatic |
| Carriage | Box trail |
| Elevation | -7° to +30° |
| Traverse | 5.5° |
| Muzzle velocity | approx. 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 5,000 m (5,500 yd) (HE shell) |
Krupp mounted a shortened 7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 n.A on one of their mountain howitzer carriages. It fired the full range of ammunition of the FK 96 n.A., but generally only with a reduced charge, although it retained the capacity to fire the old full-power charges that gave a maximum muzzle velocity of 435 m/s (1427 ft/s). It also used a new full-power anti-tank round. Generally, it broke down into two loads for transport, although it could break down into a maximum of eight loads.
While generally liked by the troops, it was thought to be too heavy and slow to break down and reassemble. The German search for a better infantry gun that maximized the use of existing components continued with Krupp's 7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/27.
References
- Jäger, Herbert. German Artillery of World War One. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire: Crowood Press, 2001 ISBN 1-86126-403-8