7.5 cm FK 18

Infobox Weapon
name=7.5 cm Feldkanone 18


caption=
origin=Germany
type=field gun
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=1938-1945
used_by=flag|Nazi Germany
wars=World War II
designer=Krupp
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=1938-
number=
variants=
weight=1,120 kg (2,649 lbs)
length=1.94 m (6.36 ft)
part_length=1.66 m (5.44 ft)
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge= separate-loading, cased-charge
caliber=75 mm (2.95 in)
action=
rate=
velocity=485 m/s (1,591 ft/s)
range= 9,425 m (10,307 yds)
max_range=
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal sliding block
recoil=hydropneumatic
carriage=split trail
elevation=-5° to +45°
traverse=30°
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 7.5 cm Feldkanone 18 (7.5 cm FK 18) was a field gun used by Germany in World War II. It was designed to replace the 7.5 cm FK 16 nA, which was a World War I-era 7.7 cm FK 16 rebarreled in 75 mm during the early Thirties. The development of the FK 18 had a low priority and it wasn't until 1938 that the gun was issued to the Heer.

Design

The FK 18 was significantly lighter than the older gun, but was otherwise an unimpressive weapon. It used a modern split trail carriage, with the rear section and spades folding upwards for travel. It used the typical German recoil system where the hydraulic buffer was housed in the cradle underneath the barrel and the hydropneumatic recuperator in a cylinder above the barrel. For some reason the FK 18 was unusually prone to bore damage from cartridge debris and the barrel had to be inspected after every shot to ensure that it was clear.

References

* 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

* Hogg, Ian V. "German Artillery of World War Two". 2nd corrected edition. Mechanicsville, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997 ISBN 1-85367-480-X