The 7.5 cm Feldkanone 18 (7.5 cm FK 18) was a field gun used by Germany in World War II. It was designed to replace the 7.5 cm FK 16 nA, which was a World War I-era 7.7 cm FK 16 rebarreled in 75 mm during the early Thirties. The development of the FK 18 had a low priority and it was not until 1938 that the gun was issued to the Heer.

7.5 cm Feldkanone 18
Export version on a Brazilian parade
TypeField gun
Place of originGermany
Service history
In service1938–45
Used byNazi Germany
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerKrupp
Produced1938–40
Specifications
Mass1,120 kg (2,649 lbs)
Barrel length1.94 metres (6 ft 4 in)

Shellseparate-loading, cased-charge and projectile
75 x 260mm R[1]
Shell weight5.83 kilograms (12.9 lb) (HE)
6.8 kilograms (15 lb) (AP)
Caliber75 mm (2.95 in)
Breechhorizontal sliding-block
Recoilhydro-pneumatic
Carriagesplit trail
Elevation-5° to +45°
Traverse60°
Rate of fire8–10 rpm
Muzzle velocity485 m/s (1,591 ft/s)
Maximum firing range9,425 m (10,307 yds)
FillingTNT
Filling weight0.52 kilograms (1.1 lb)

Design

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The FK 18 was significantly lighter than the older gun, but was otherwise an unimpressive weapon. It used a modern split trail carriage, with the rear section and spades folding upwards for travel. It used the typical German recoil system where the hydraulic buffer was housed in the cradle underneath the barrel and the hydro-pneumatic recuperator in a cylinder above the barrel. For some reason the FK 18 was unusually prone to bore damage from cartridge debris and the barrel had to be inspected after every shot to ensure that it was clear.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ "75-77 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-01-17. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  2. ^ Hogg, p. 40

References

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  • Engelmann, Joachim and Scheibert, Horst. Deutsche Artillerie 1934-1945: Eine Dokumentation in Text, Skizzen und Bildern: Ausrüstung, Gliederung, Ausbildung, Führung, Einsatz. Limburg/Lahn, Germany: C. A. Starke, 1974
  • 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
  • Hogg, Ian V. German Artillery of World War Two. 2nd corrected edition. Mechanicsville, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997 ISBN 1-85367-480-X