7.5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18

7,5-cm-leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18
Type Infantry gun
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Service history
In service 1932–45
Used by Nazi Germany
Wars Second World War
Production history
Designer Rheinmetall
Designed 1927
Manufacturer Rheinmetall
Produced 1932–45
Number built ~ 12.000
Specifications
Weight 400 kilograms (880 lb)
Barrel length 88 cm (3 ft) L/11.2
Crew 5
Shell cased cartridge
Shell weight 6 kilograms (13 lb)
Caliber 75 millimetres (3.0 in)
Breech Shotgun-type block
Carriage split trail
Elevation -10° to 73°
Traverse 12°
Rate of fire 8-12 rpm
Muzzle velocity 210 m/s (690 ft/s)
Maximum firing range 3,550 m (3,880 yd)

The 7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7,5 cm le.IG 18) was an infantry support gun of the German Wehrmacht used during World War II.

History

Development of the gun began in 1927, by Rheinmetall. The crew was protected by an armoured shield. There was a mountain gun variant, the 7.5 cm le.GebIG 18. For transport, the mountain variant could be broken down into six to ten packs, the heaviest weighing 74.9 kg. The Germans would typically assign two of these to each mountain battalion. Six 7.5 cm le.IG 18F were manufactured in 1939. These were airborne guns, capable of being broken down into four 140 kg loads. The airborne variant had smaller wheels and no shield. There was also an infantry support gun, known as the 7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/13, which was designed as a replacement for the le.IG 18, this gun could be broken into four to six loads. However, though prototypes were tested, the German army felt that it did not improve on the existing design sufficiently to merit introduction and the army stayed with the earlier gun.

Statistics of the 7.5 cm le.IG 18 and 7.5 cm le.GebIG 18

Statistics of the 7.5 cm IG L/13

See also

References

External links

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