The 7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 neuer Art (7.7 cm FK 96 n.A.) was a field gun used by Germany in World War I.

Description

The gun combined the barrel of the earlier 7.7 cm FK 96 with a recoil system, a new breech and a new carriage. Existing FK 96s were upgraded over time. The FK 96 n.A. was shorter-ranged, but lighter than the French Canon de 75 modèle 1897 or the British Ordnance QF 18 pounder gun; the Germans placed a premium on mobility, which served them well during the early stages of World War I. However, once the front had become static, the greater rate of fire of the French gun and the heavier shells fired by the British gun put the Germans at a disadvantage. The Germans remedied this by developing the longer-ranged, but heavier 7.7 cm FK 16. As with most guns of its era, the FK 96 n.A. had seats for two crewmen mounted on its splinter shield. Guns taken into service by Finland, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia upon independence in 1919 served until replaced during the 1930s.

Variants

Ammunition

It mainly used the K.Z. 11 time fuse or the later L.K.Z. 16 contact fuse. Because they exploded without delay, shells with contact fuses were called "whizzbangs".

Users

Gallery

Surviving example

A restored example of a FK 96 n.A. captured at the Battle of Hamel by Australian forces has been restored and is on display at the Australian Armour & Artillery Museum. India A cannon in front of Hotel Ananda - In the Himalayas, Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand WTK20150913-IMG 2660.jpg Language Watch

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era