7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20

7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20
Type Infantry gun
Place of origin German Empire
Service history
In service 1916-1918
Used by German Empire
Wars World War I
Production history
Designer Krupp
Manufacturer Krupp
Specifications
Weight 815 kilograms (1,797 lb)
Barrel length 1.54 metres (5 ft 1 in) L/20

Shell 6.85 kilograms (15.1 lb)
Caliber 77 mm (3.03 in)
Breech horizontal sliding wedge
Recoil hydro-pneumatic
Carriage box trail
Elevation -7° to +30°
Traverse 5.5°
Muzzle velocity approx. 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s)
Maximum firing range 5,000 metres (5,500 yd) (HE shell)

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/s (1427 ft/s). 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 break down and reassemble. The German search for a better infantry gun that maximized the use of existing components continued with Krupp's 7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/27.

References

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