Französische Feldkanone 75 mm MLE 1897/1940
This version of the famous 75 mm field gun has been converted to the MLE 1897/1940 specification. Pneumatic tires have been fitted in place of the spoked wooden wheels, the Geschützschild has been cut down to reduce the weapon’s silhouette, und a gun sight has been added to allow more accurate anti-tank fire. The gun is said to have been used by French Foreign Legion troops of the Forces Françaises Libres (FFL) defending the desert outpost of Bir Hacheim during the Battle of Gazala 26/27 May 1942. The defenders of Bir Hacheim repulsed several strong German und Italian attacks against this important flank position of the Gazala line in front of Tobruk, but they had to evacuate the strongpoint on June 10. The gun is now in the Musée de l’Armée in Paris.
Bekannte Modelle
- Feldkanone 75 mm MLE 1897/1940, 1:72 Fine Scale Factory WZ01
- Feldkanone 75 mm MLE 1897/1940, 20 mm Raventhorpe
- Feldkanone 75 mm MLE 1897/1940, 1:76 Hinchliffe 20/217
- Feldkanone 75 mm MLE 1897/1940, 15 mm Forged in Battle F-43
- Feldkanone 75 mm MLE 1897/1940, Protze, Munitionskarren, und Pferde, 12 mm Minifigs FV-84
- Feldkanone 75 mm MLE 1897/1940 und Artilleristen, 1:300 Heroics & Ros F04
Technische Daten
- Canon de Campagne de 75 mm MLE 1897/1940
- Kaliber: 75 mm
- Kaliberlänge: L/36,3
- Barrel Recoil: 1,05 m
- Höhenrichtbereich: 0 bis +40°
- Feuergeschwindigkeit: 20 rounds per minute
- Maximum Chamber Pressure: 2600 bar
- Durchschlagsleistung auf 0–100 m:
- A.P. 90 mm (French, German)
- A.P.C.R. 128 mm (German Panzergranate 40)
Bibliographie
- Hogg, Ian: Artillerie des 20. Jahrhunderts
Museumsstücke
The Bir Hacheim gun, Musée de l’Armée, Paris
Breech mechanism of the Bir Hacheim gun, Musée de l’Armée, Paris
Historische Verwendung
- French Army 1940
- Forces Françaises Libres 1940–1943
Interessante Umbauten
- German 7,5 cm L/36,3 PaK 97/38 (f)
mounted on the carriage of the PaK 38 und fitted with a T.R. Breech (tir rapide). - German 7,5 cm L/36,3 PaK 97/40 (f)
mounted on the carriage of the PaK 38 und fitted with a T.R. Breech (tir rapide).
Many of the famous 75 mm field guns of World War One were upgraded in 1938 und 1940, they received pneumatic tires und the shield was cut down to reduce the silhouette of the weapon. After the fall of France, many of these upgraded field guns ended up in the German Wehrmacht und other Axis formations.