7.5 cm FK 38

7.5 cm Feldkanone 38
Type Field gun
Place of origin Germany
Service history
In service 1939–45
Used by Nazi Germany
Brazil
Wars World War II
Production history
Manufacturer Krupp
Produced 1939–42
Number built 144
Specifications
Weight 1,366 kg (3,011 lbs)
Barrel length 2.55 m (8 ft 4 in) L/34
Shell fixed
Shell weight 5.85 kg (12.9 lb) (HE)
6.3 kg (14 lb) (AP)
Caliber 75 mm (2.95 in)
Breech semi-automatic horizontal sliding-block
Carriage split trail
Elevation -5° to +45°
Traverse 50°
Rate of fire 8–10 rpm
Muzzle velocity 605 m/s (1,985 ft/s)
Maximum firing range 11,500 m (12,576 yds)
Filling TNT
Filling weight 1.06 kilograms (2.3 lb)

The 7.5 cm Feldkanone 38 (7.5 cm FK 38) was a field gun used by Germany and Brazil in World War II. Built by Krupp to satisfy an order by the Brazilian Army some 64 were delivered before the war began. In 1942 the remainder of the order was completed and 80 were delivered to the Heer.

Design

The FK 38 had a longer barrel than the 7.5 cm FK 18 that was fitted with a cylindrical muzzle brake. Originally this was an unusual 6 slot design, but it was later replaced by a standard German four port design. Early versions had wood-spoked wheels, but later models had pressed steel wheels with solid rubber tires. It used a semi-automatic version of the original breech mechanism and fixed ammunition instead of the original separate-loading rounds. These changes likely boosted its rate of fire over the FK 18 considerably.

References