Cannone da 75/27 modello 11

The Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 was a French-designed field gun produced in Italy prior to World War I. It was introduced in 1912, designed by Colonel Deport. It was taken into service by Italy for use with its Alpine and cavalry troops going into World War I, and was built there in large numbers. The gun was designed with two notable features. It was the first artillery piece to introduce the split trail, as well as the last to utilize its novel dual-recoil system. The former became a very popular feature on artillery pieces through to the modern day. The later, while functional, did not get repeated. The dual-recoil system consisted of a small tubular recoil under the barrel which in turn traveled in a traditional rectangular cradle. This lessened heat transfer from the gun barrel to the recoil mechanism effectively, but was not necessary for the added complexity.

Cannone da 75 modello 11
Cannone da 75/27 modello 11, displayed in Hämeenlinna Artillery Museum.
TypeField gun
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1912–45
Used by Italy
 Nazi Germany
 Finland
WarsWorld War I
World War II
Production history
ManufacturerVickers-Terni, Armstrong
Specifications
Mass1,076 kilograms (2,372 lb) (travel)
1,015 kilograms (2,238 lb) (combat)[1][2]
Barrel length2.13 m (7 ft) L/28.4

ShellFixed QF 75 x 185mm R[3]
Shell weight6.35 kg (14.0 lb)
Caliber75 mm (2.95 in)
BreechNordenfelt eccentric screw
Recoilhydro spring dual recoil
CarriageSplit trail
Elevation-15° to +65°
Traverse52° 9'
Rate of fire4-6 rpm
Muzzle velocity510 m/s (1,670 ft/s)
Maximum firing range10,240 m (11,200 yd)

Some guns had two crew seats on the front of the gun shield.

The gun was used by the Italian army throughout World War I and remained on strength well into World War II. Many pieces even saw service with German forces fighting in Northern Italy from 1943 until the end of the war, as the 7.5 cm Feldkanone 244(i).

One cannon was also sold to Finland in 1929 where it was designated as "75 K 11".

Rear view.

References

  • Chamberlain, Peter & Gander, Terry. Light and Medium Field Artillery. New York: Arco, 1975
  • Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945. New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3

Notes and citations

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