8 cm FK M. 5

8 cm Feldkanone M. 5
300px A modified Italian Cannone 77/28 modello 5/8
Type	Field gun
Place of origin	Austria-Hungary
Service history
In service	1907–45
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 (2,348 lb)
Barrel length	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 firing range	6,100 metres (6,700 yd) (shrapnel)
Maximum firing 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 autofrettaged bronze (so-called steel-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.

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).

Surviving examples

File:Artillery - South African National Museum of Military History.jpg

A Model 5/8 in front with various other artillery in the background at the South African National Museum of Military History

• An 8 cm Model 5/8 at the South African National Museum of Military History

References

• Englemann, Joachim and Scheibert, Horst. Deutsche Artillerie 1934-1945: Eine Dokumentation in Text, Skizzen und Bildern: Ausrüstung, Gliderung, Ausbildung, Führung, Einsatz. Limburg/Lahn, Germany: C. A. Starke, 1974
• Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945. New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3
• Ortner, M. Christian. The Austro-Hungarian Artillery From 1867 to 1918: Technology, Organization, and Tactics. Vienna, Verlag Militaria, 2007 ISBN 978-3-902526-13-7
• Chamberlain, Peter and Gander, Terry. Light and Medium Field Artillery. New York, Arco

External links

• M 05 on Landships