The Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 was a field gun used by Italy during World War I and World War II. It was a license-built copy of the Krupp Kanone M 1906 gun. It had seats for two crewmen attached to the gunshield as was common practice for the period. Captured weapons were designated by the Wehrmacht during World War II as the 7.5 cm Feldkanone 237(i).
| Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 | |
|---|---|
 Front view of a battered Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 at Museum of World War I, Kobarid (Caporetto), Slovenia | |
| Type | Field gun |
| Place of origin | German Empire |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1906?–1945 |
| Used by | Italy Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War I World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Krupp |
| No. built | 2000+[1] |
| Variants | Cannone da 75/27 modello 12 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,080 kg (2,380 lb) |
| Barrel length | 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) L/30 |
| Shell | Fixed QF 75 x 185mm R[2] |
| Shell weight | 6.3 kg (14 lb) |
| Caliber | 75 mm (2.95 in) |
| Breech | horizontal sliding-block |
| Recoil | hydro spring |
| Carriage | Pole trail |
| Elevation | -10° to +16° |
| Traverse | 7° |
| Rate of fire | 4-6 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 502 m/s (1,647 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | Horizontal: 6.8 km (4.2 mi) Vertical: 4 km (13,000 ft) |
Variants edit
Special fortress versions were produced as the Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 in Casmatta and Caverna. These had different carriages suitable for static use.
The Cannone da 75/27 A.V. was mounted on a high-angle pedestal mount for anti-aircraft use was produced, and these were assigned to coastal defense and second line units during World War II.[3]
In 1915, the anti-aircraft version formed the basis of Italy's first truck mounted artillery, called the Autocannone da 75/27 CK. Eventually, twenty-seven batteries of five guns were formed during World War I.[4]
Between the wars, many guns were modernized for tractor-towing with pressed-steel wheels and rubber rims. These weighed some 65 kg (143 lb) more than the original version with spoked wooden wheels.
The Cannone da 75/27 modello 12 was a modello 06 modified for greater elevation (-12° to +18° 30') and lighter weight (only 900 kg (2,000 lb)). Only small numbers were produced for the cavalry divisions of the Royal Italian Army. The Germans designated captured guns as the 7.5 cm Feldkanone 245(i).
The Bundeswehr Museum of German Defense Technology in Koblenz has one of these cannons in its collection.
Notes edit
- ^ "CANNONE DA 75/27 MODELLO 06 - Quartermaster Section". www.quartermastersection.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ "75-77 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ Chamberlain, Peter (1975). Anti-aircraft guns. Gander, Terry. New York: Arco Pub. Co. p. 27. ISBN 0668038187. OCLC 2000222.
- ^ Riccio, Ralph (2010). Italian truck-mounted artillery in action. Pignato, Nicola., Spraggins, Matheu. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 9780897476010. OCLC 917891702.
References edit
- Chamberlain, Peter & Gander, Terry. Light and Medium Field Artillery. New York: Arco, 1975
- 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