7.5cm Feldkanone 38

The 7.5cm Feldkanone 38 was a light field gun built by Krupp for Brazil and later adopted by the Wehrmacht.

The FK 38 was a modern design, with a muzzle brake, one piece ammo and a heavy split trail. It was a significant improvement over the Krupp 7.5cm leFK 18, with over 2,000m longer range and improved traverse, although it was rather heavier.

The recoil brake was built into the cradle below the barrel and the return spring was carried above it. It had a longer barrel than the German army's 7.5cm leFK 18, and as a result maximum range rose from 9,425m to 11,508m. Some had wheels with wooden spokes and steel rims and were meant to be towed by horses. Others were completed with wheels with distinctive cast spokes - two 'half' wheels with six spokes each, mounted back to back but offset to produce twelve spokes. It had a split trail carriage, with recoil spades at the tip of each leg. The legs were hinged about two thirds of the way back from the gun and could be folded forwards to shorten the gun's length when being towed. As a result the towing hooks were mounted at the fold point. 

It was built in response to a Brazilian order, and 65 guns were delivered to Brazil by September 1938. The 7.5cm leFK 18 wasn't a great success, lacking range and being very costly to build, and in 1942 the FK 38 design was modified to satisfy the OKH and placed into production. It partially replaced the leFK 18 in German service, although only 80 were produced, so it was never a major weapon. Twenty sixty were still officially in service in 1945.

On D-Day one was found on Utah Beach, at least two on Gold Beach and possibly one on Sword Beach.

Name

7.5cm Feldkanone 38

Calibre

75mm/ 2.95in

Barrel Length

2,550mm/ 100.4in (L/34)

Weight for transport

1,860kg/ 4,101lb

Weight in action

1,355kg/ 3,012lb

Elevation

-5 to 45 degrees

Traverse

50 degrees

Shell Weight

5.83kg/ 12.85lb

Muzzle Velocity

605 m/s/ 1,985ft/ sec

Maximum Range

11,508m/ 12,577 yards

Rate of Fire

 

German Heavy Artillery Guns 1933-1945, Alexander Lüdeke. Despite the title actually covers light, medium and heavy artillery as well as mortars and anti-tank guns (excludes railway guns, flak and rocket launchers). Each gets a useful write-up, supported by stats and at least one photo. Covers German-built guns and the many types captured and used by the Wehrmacht. [read full review]
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (14 December 2017), 7.5cm Feldkanone 38 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_75cm_feldkanone_38.html

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