German 77 mm Field Gun M.96 n.A. (Krupp)

At the beginning of World War One the 7.7 cm Feldkanone M.96 served in three of the four artillery units attached to an infantry division, in both batteries of each artillery reserve regiment, in both batteries attached to each Landwehr brigade, and in the horse battery of each of the eleven cavalry divisions. Battlefield losses in the artillery were replaced with improved guns and howitzers. In 1917, the infantry divisions had three artillery units, only one of which still deployed the 7.7 cm Feldkanone M.96. The other two artillery units were equipped with the improved 7.7 cm Feldkanone M.16 and the 10.5 cm Feldhaubitze M.98/06 or M.16.

Available Scale Model Kits

1:72 EMHAR 7204 (Feldkanone & Crew)
1:72 Fine Scale Factory WE4
20 mm Reviresco ART-1 (Feldkanone & Limber)
1:76 Tumbling Dice

Technical Specifications

7.7 cm L.23 Feldkanone M.96 neue Art (Krupp)
Weight: 1750 kg on campaign
Barrel Weight: 390 kg
Limber Weight: 535 kg
Calibre: 77 mm
Barrel Length: 1771 mm (L.23)
Shell Length: 3,75 Calibres
Fuse: Doppelzünder 96, or delayed fuse
Ammunition Supply:
- 32 Shells in Limber
- 52 Shells in Caison
Rate of Fire: 5 Round per Minute
Battery Rapid Fire with six Guns: 50 Rounds per Minute
Muzzle Velocity: 465 m/s
Range:
- 800–5000 m with delayed fuse
- 8000 m with impact fuse
Shell Weight:
- Shrapnell with 300 Balls of 10 g each: 6,85 kg
- Shell with 170 g Granatfüllung 88: 6,85 kg
Armour Penetration at 0-100 m:
- A.P.H.E. (1941) 53 mm

Bibliography

Hogg, Ian: Twentieth-Century Artillery

Museum Pieces

Wehrtechnisches Museum, Koblenz, Germany
Royal Armouries Museum, Fort Nelson, Fareham, Hants., England

Historical Employment

German Artillery 1914-1918
Bulgarian Artillery 1914-1918
Romanian Artillery 1916-1918
Turkish Artillery 1914-1918
Polish Artillery 1919 to ca. 1930
Lithuanian Artillery 1919 to ca. 1930
Estonian Artillery 1919 to ca. 1930
Livonian Artillery 1919 to ca. 1930

At the beginning of World War One the 7.7 cm Feldkanone M.96 was the most common field gun in the German infantry and cavalry divisions. Many of the surviving 7.7 cm Feldkanone M.96 were taken into Polish, Lithuanian, Estonian and Livonian army after World War One, and they remained in service until replaced by more modern equipment in the 1930’s.

Frequently Asked Questions

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World War One Miniatures