7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20

7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20
TypeInfantry gun
Place of originGerman Empire
Service history
In service1916–1918
Used byGerman Empire
WarsWorld War I
Production history
DesignerKrupp
ManufacturerKrupp
Specifications
Mass815 kg (1,797 lb)
Barrel length1.54 m (5 ft 1 in) L/20
Shell6.85 kg (15 lb 2 oz)
Caliber77 mm (3.03 in)
BreechHorizontal sliding-wedge
RecoilHydro-pneumatic
CarriageBox trail
Elevation-7° to +30°
Traverse5.5°
Muzzle velocityapprox. 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s)
Maximum firing range5,000 m (5,500 yd) (HE shell)

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.

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