| 7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Infantry gun |
| Place of origin | German Empire |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1916–1918 |
| Used by | German Empire |
| Wars | World War I |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Krupp |
| Manufacturer | Krupp |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 815 kg (1,797 lb) |
| Barrel length | 1.54 m (5 ft 1 in) L/20 |
| Shell | 6.85 kg (15 lb 2 oz) |
| Caliber | 77 mm (3.03 in) |
| Breech | Horizontal sliding-wedge |
| Recoil | Hydro-pneumatic |
| Carriage | Box trail |
| Elevation | -7° to +30° |
| Traverse | 5.5° |
| Muzzle velocity | approx. 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 5,000 m (5,500 yd) (HE shell) |
The 7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/20 was an infantry gun used by Germany in World War I. It was designed by Krupp to rectify the shortcomings of the 7.62 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/16.5.
Krupp mounted a shortened 7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 n.A on one of their mountain howitzer carriages. It fired the full range of ammunition of the FK 96 n.A., but generally only with a reduced charge, although it retained the capacity to fire the old full-power charges that gave a maximum muzzle velocity of 435 m/s (1427 ft/s). It also used a new full-power anti-tank round. Generally, it broke down into two loads for transport, although it could break down into a maximum of eight loads.
While generally liked by the troops, it was thought to be too heavy and slow to break down and reassemble. The German search for a better infantry gun that maximized the use of existing components continued with Krupp's 7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/27.
References
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (August 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
- Jäger, Herbert. German Artillery of World War One. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire: Crowood Press, 2001 ISBN 1-86126-403-8