42-line field gun M1877

42-line field gun M1877

42-line field gun M1877 in Hämeenlinna Artillery Museum.
Type field gun
Place of origin German Empire
Russian Empire
Production history
Designer Krupp
Designed 1877
Specifications
Weight 1213 kg (2675 lbs)
Barrel length L/19 : 24 calibres
6.63 ft (2.02 m)
Caliber 4.2 inch (106.7 mm)
Breech Horizontal sliding block
Carriage wheeled carriage
Muzzle velocity 411 m/s (1,348 ft/s)
Maximum firing range 5,300 m (5,800 yds)

42-line field gun M1877 (Russian: 42-линия полевая пушка образца 1877 года) was a field gun used by the Russian Imperial Army in late 19th and early 20th centuries. The word "line" in the designation refers to a measurement unit which equals 0.1 inch.

History

The 42-line field gun M1877 was designed by Krupp. Some of the guns were manufactured in Germany while most of them were manufactured in the Obuhov factory in Russia.[1] Use of the guns were limited by lack of equipment needed for indirect fire - the Russian gun-sight used with them was suitable only to direct fire. Therefor the gun saw use as fortress and coastal artillery for coastal defence which allowed the guns to shoot direct fire for defending harbours and beaches.

In 1918 the Finnish Army could capture some 102 42-line field guns and put them into service. Last shots being fired with the field gun were during the Winter War in March 1940.

The 42-line field gun M1877 could fire high explosive (HE) or shrapnel shells of 12.5 kg (27.6 lbs) weight at a distance of 5.3 km (3.3 miles).[2]

The 42-line field gun M1877 should not be confused with the 42-line siege gun M1877, a siege gun version which had a longer barrel and higher muzzle velocity.

Literature

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 107 mm gun M1877.

References

  1. ↑ Finnish Army Artillery
  2. ↑ JAEGER PLATOON: FINNISH ARMY 1918 - 1945 WEBSITE. ARTILLERY PART 1: Russian guns without recoil system