7.5 cm FK 38

The 7.5 cm Feldkanone 38 (7.5 cm FK 38) was a field gun used by Germany and Brazil in World War II. Built by Krupp to satisfy an order by the Brazilian Army some 64 were delivered before the war began. In 1942 the remainder of the order was completed and 80 were delivered to the Heer.

7.5 cm Feldkanone 38
TypeField gun
Place of originGermany
Service history
In service1939–45
Used byNazi Germany
Brazil
WarsWorld War II
Production history
ManufacturerKrupp
Produced1939–42
No. built144
Specifications
Mass1,366 kg (3,011 lbs)
Barrel length2.55 m (8 ft 4 in) L/34

ShellFixed QF 75 x 397mm R[1]
Shell weight5.85 kg (12.9 lb) (HE)
6.3 kg (14 lb) (AP)
Caliber75 mm (2.95 in)
Breechsemi-automatic horizontal sliding-block
Carriagesplit trail
Elevation-5° to +45°
Traverse50°
Rate of fire8–10 rpm
Muzzle velocity605 m/s (1,985 ft/s)
Maximum firing range11,500 m (12,576 yds)
FillingTNT
Filling weight1.06 kilograms (2.3 lb)

Design

The FK 38 had a longer barrel than the 7.5 cm FK 18 that was fitted with a cylindrical muzzle brake. Originally this was an unusual 6 slot design, but it was later replaced by a standard German four port design. Early versions had wood-spoked wheels, but later models had pressed steel wheels with solid rubber tires and had sprung axles for motor transport. It used a semi-automatic version of the original breech mechanism and fixed ammunition instead of the original separate-loading rounds. These changes likely boosted its rate of fire over the FK 18 considerably.

Notes

  1. "75-77 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-03.

References

  • 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
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