8 cm FK M. 5

8 cm Feldkanone M. 5

A modified Italian Cannone
77/28 modello 5/8
Type Field gun
Place of origin  Austria-Hungary
Service history
In service 1907-1945
Used by  Austria-Hungary
 Austria
 Czechoslovakia
 Nazi Germany
 Hungary
 Italy
 Yugoslavia
Wars World War I
World War II
Production history
Designer Skoda
Designed 1901-05
Manufacturer Skoda
Produced 1907-1918?
Variants M 05/08
Specifications
Weight 1,065 kg (2,350 lb)
Barrel length 2.285 m (7 ft 6 in) L/30

Shell 6.68 kilograms (14 lb 12 oz) fixed
Caliber 76.5 mm (3 in)
Breech horizontal sliding block
Recoil hydro-spring
Carriage box trail
Elevation -7° 30' to +18°
Traverse 7° 52'
Rate of fire 8-10 rpm
Muzzle velocity 433 m/s (1,420 ft/s)
Effective range 6,100 metres (6,700 yd) (shrapnel)
Maximum range 7,000 metres (7,700 yd) (impact)

The 8 cm Feldkanone M 05 was a field gun used by Austria-Hungary during World War I. Guns captured by Italy were used as the Cannone da 77/28 modello 5. It was a conventional design, with its most notable feature being its obsolescent bronze barrel, necessary because Austria-Hungary still had trouble making steel of the proper quality. Its development was quite prolonged as the Austrians took years to decide on the proper recoil system and type of breech. Even then production difficulties prevented its introduction into service until 1907[1].

The M 05 was adapted for use in narrow mountain paths as the M 05/08 and could be disassembled into 3 loads. The base of the barrel was given lifting grips to speed its removal from the carriage and the carriage itself was modified to allow it to be disassembled. The original version seems to generally have left service after the war, with only Italy retaining a few in service. Some of these were captured by Nazi Germany and pressed into service as the 7.65 cm FK(i). The M 05/08 was widely used by the Austro-Hungarian successor states after World War I and captured weapons were retained in service by Italy as the Cannone da 77/28 modello 5/8. Captured weapons were used by Nazi Germany under the designations 7.65 cm FK 5/8(ö) or (t) and 7.65 cm FK 300(j).

References

Notes

  1. ^ Ortner, p. 201-202

External links