8 cm FK M. 17

The 8 cm Feldkanone M. 17 was a dual-purpose field and mountain gun used by Austria-Hungary during World War I. Between the wars it was used by Austria, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia. Captured weapons were used by Nazi Germany under the designations 7.65 cm FK 17(ö) or (t) and 7.65 cm FK 303(j).

8 cm Feldkanone M. 17
An 8 cm Feldkanone M. 17 at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum, Ft. Sill, OK
TypeField gun
Place of originAustria-Hungary
Service history
In service1917-1945
Used byAustria-Hungary
Austria
Czechoslovakia
Nazi Germany
Poland
Romania
Yugoslavia
WarsWorld War I
World War II
Production history
ManufacturerSkoda
Produced1917-1937
Specifications
Mass1,319 kg (2,980 lbs)
Length2.297 m (7 ft 6 in)
Barrel length2.078 m (6 ft 10 in) L/30

ShellFixed QF 76.5 x 233mm R
8 kg (18 lb)[1]
Caliber76.5 mm (3 in)
Breechhorizontal sliding-block
CarriageBox trail
Elevation-10° to +45°
Traverse
Rate of fire10-12 rpm
Muzzle velocity554 m/s (1,817 ft/s)
Effective firing range11,400 m (12,467 yds)

It was a conventional design, albeit with some unique characteristics. The carriage was mounted on a double-crank, curved axle which made it lower to the ground, reducing visibility and improving stability. The curved axle allowed the weapon to traverse without movement of the wheels, although traverse was still limited by the need to prevent the recoiling barrel from hitting the carriage. In addition the spade was pivot-mounted allowing the weapon to traverse without disturbing the spade. This movement of the carriage without moving the wheels or spade produced a very accurate weapon.

The cannoneers rode standing on steps in front of the shield rather than sitting in seats attached to the shield, as was normal for the period. It was pulled by three pairs of horses when attached to its limber. The carriage could be broken down into three loads (tandem hitch) for transport in rough terrain.

References

  1. "77-77 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-01-17. Retrieved 2017-09-03.

Bibliography

  • Englemann, Joachim and Scheibert, Horst. Deutsche Artillerie 1934-1945: Eine Dokumentation in Text, Skizzen und Bildern: Ausrüstung, Gliderung, 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


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