7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20

Infobox Weapon
name=7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20


caption=
origin=Germany
type=infantry gun
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=1916-1918
used_by=flag|German Empire
wars=World War I
designer=Krupp
design_date=
manufacturer=Krupp
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=convert|815|kg|lb
length=
part_length=convert|1.54|m|in L/20
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=convert|6.85|kg|lb
caliber=77 mm (3.03 in)
action=
rate=
velocity=approx. 400 m/sec (1312 ft/s)
range=
max_range=convert|5000|m|yd (HE shell)
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal sliding wedge
recoil=hydro-pneumatic
carriage=box trail
elevation=-7° to +30°
traverse=5.5°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
vehicle_range=
speed=

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/sec (1427 fps). 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 breakdown and reassemble. The German search for a better infantry gun that maximized 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