7.7 cm FK 16

Infobox Weapon
name=7.7 cm Feldkanone 16


caption=
origin=Germany
type=field gun
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=flag|German Empire
wars=World War I
designer=Krupp
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=1916-18
number=3020+
variants=
weight=convert|1318|kg|lb
length=
part_length=convert|2.695|m|ft L/35
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=separate loading, cased charge
caliber=77 mm (3 in)
action=
rate=
velocity=545 m/sec (1,788 ft/s)
range=convert|9100|m|yd (HE shell)
max_range=convert|10700|m|yd (gas shell)
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal sliding block
recoil=hydro-spring
carriage=box trail
elevation=-10° to +40°
traverse=
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 Feldkanone 16 (7.7 cm FK 16) was a field gun used by Germany in World War I. Surviving examples in German service were rebarreled postwar as the 7.5 cm FK 16 nA (neuer Art) [new model] .

The older 7.7 cm FK 96 n.A. field gun was very mobile, but once the war settled into trench warfare its lack of range became a serious disadvantage. The FK 16 was intended to remedy this problem. The barrel was lengthened, it was given a box carriage to allow for greater elevation and hence range increased. It was also given separate-loading ammunition to reduce powder consumption and barrel wear at short ranges, although this had the drawback of reducing the rate of fire compared to the older gun.

It was a bit prematurely rushed into production in 1916 and early guns suffered from a number of defects, mainly stemming from the German use of substitute materials to reduce consumption of strategic metals. It also suffered from a large number of premature detonations of its shells during 1916. These were traced to poor quality control of its shells, which were sometimes too large in diameter and problems with the picric acid used as high explosive filler in lieu of TNT. The picric acid would form very sensitive picric salts within days of filling the shells and would often detonate from the shock of firing. Lacquering the insides of the shells and spraying them with a turpentine/starch solution neutralized the picric acid and prevented it from forming picric salts.

The barrel of this gun was mounted on the carriage of the 10.5 cm Feldhaubitze 98/09 as the 7.7 cm Kanone in Haubitzelafette to allow it greater elevation and range. Belgium modified the guns it received as post-war reparations as the Canon de 75 mle GP11 and the Canon de 75 mle GP111.

References

* Hogg, Ian. "Twentieth-Century Artillery". New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2000 ISBN 0-7607-1994-2
* Jäger, Herbert. "German Artillery of World War One". Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire: Crowood Press, 2001 ISBN 1-86126-403-8

External links

* [http://www.landships.freeservers.com/7.7cm_fk16_info.htm 7.7 cm FK 16 on Landships]