The 7.5 cm GebG 36(German: 7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36) was a 7.5 cm (3.0 in) Germanmountain gun used during World War II. At least 1,193 were built between 1938 and 1945. It was the standard light gun of the German mountain divisions, both Army and Waffen-SS, during World War II.
7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36
Front of 7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36 at the War Museum in Narvik, Norway.
Rear of 7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36 at the War Museum in Narvik, Norway.
The 7.5 cm GebG 36 was designed by Rheinmetall to meet an Army requirement for a 7.5 cm howitzer to serve in the mountain divisions (Gebirgs Divisionen) and replace the World War I-era mountain guns still in service such as the Austro-Hungarian 7.5 cm Gebirgskanone 15. Production began in 1938 although exactly how many were produced that year is unknown.[1] Some 1,193 were built between 1939 and 1945.[2]
A ''Gebirgskanone'' in use in the Caucasus, January 1943
The design of the 7.5 cm GebG 36 was relatively conventional in regard to the gun itself, with its standard German horizontal sliding breech block and muzzle brake. To maximize its ability to fire at high-angles, it was given rear trunnions to lengthen the distance between the breech and the ground, although springs became necessary to balance the muzzle preponderance. Furthermore, it used the a variable recoil system that shortened the recoil as the elevation increased. The breech was uncommonly massive as it incorporated a transport joint to allow it to be separated from the barrel.[3] The spades at the end of the split trail legs were removable. Generally it used light-alloy disc wheels with rubber rims, but early guns had wooden-spoked wheels. No shield was fitted to save weight. It could be towed in one load or broken down into eight pack-loads to be carried by mule or horse. It weighed 750 kg (1,650 lb).[3]
Because of its lightness the 7.5 cm GebG 36 would jump when fired at low angles as the recoil forces would force the gun's trail spades to act as a fulcrum and lever the wheels upwards. In fact Charge 5, the largest propellant increment, was forbidden to be fired at angles under 15° because the gun would jump excessively. Firing at higher angles was perfectly safe as the ground absorbed any residual recoil forces not absorbed by the recoil system.[3]
Ammunition
A detachment of SS mountain rifles and Albanian volunteers in the Albanian mountains with a horse-drawn fleet carrying the 75mm GebK 36 mountain cannon (7.5 cm GebG 36 separated and transported by horse).
The 7.5 cm GebG 36 fired a wide variety of ammunition, with the notable exception of a conventional armor-piercing shell. It used instead a unique hollow-charge armor-piercing shell that weighed 5.83 kilograms (12.9 lb) with a maximum range of 9,250 metres (10,120 yd).[4] It had its own 5.83 kilograms (12.9 lb) high-explosive shell, but could also fire that used by the 7.5 cm FK 18 as well. When the situation demanded, it could fire a colored smoke shell. It used four increments of propellant which were added together to reach the desired range. A fifth charge could be used which replaced all the other charges for targets at the limit of the gun's range.[5] While this range was respectable for a light gun, the 7.5 cm calibre soon proved too small for the demands of World War II.
Organization
The guns were organized into batteries of four guns each with two or three batteries per battalion. A mountain artillery regiment (Gebirgs-Artillerie Regiment) would have anywhere from one to three battalions equipped with the 7.5 cm GebG 36.[6]
Engelmann, Joachim and Scheibert, Horst. Deutsche Artillerie 1934-1945: Eine Dokumentation in Text, Skizzen und Bildern: Ausrüstung, Gliederung, 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 ISBN0-385-15090-3
Hogg, Ian V. German Artillery of World War Two. 2nd corrected edition. Mechanicsville, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997 ISBN1-85367-480-X
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36.
the 7.5 cm GebG 36 at Lexikon der Wehrmacht
February 09, 2023
gebirgsgeschütz, gebg, german, german, mountain, used, during, world, least, were, built, between, 1938, 1945, standard, light, german, mountain, divisions, both, army, waffen, during, world, front, museum, narvik, norway, typemountain, gunplace, originnazi, g. The 7 5 cm GebG 36 German 7 5 cm Gebirgsgeschutz 36 was a 7 5 cm 3 0 in German mountain gun used during World War II At least 1 193 were built between 1938 and 1945 It was the standard light gun of the German mountain divisions both Army and Waffen SS during World War II 7 5 cm Gebirgsgeschutz 36Front of 7 5 cm Gebirgsgeschutz 36 at the War Museum in Narvik Norway TypeMountain gunPlace of originNazi GermanyService historyIn service1938 45Used byNazi GermanyWarsSecond World WarProduction historyDesignerRheinmetallDesigned1935 38ManufacturerRheinmetallProduced1938 45No built1 193 SpecificationsMass750 kg 1 650 lb Length1 45 m 4 ft 9 in overallCrewFiveShell75 130 mm R separate loading QFShell weight5 75 kg 12 7 lb Caliber75 mm 3 0 in BreechHorizontal sliding blockCarriageSplit trailElevation 2 to 70 Traverse40 Rate of fire6 8 rpmMuzzle velocity475 m s 1 560 ft s Maximum firing range9 250 m 10 120 yd Contents 1 Development and description 1 1 Ammunition 2 Organization 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksDevelopment and description Edit Rear of 7 5 cm Gebirgsgeschutz 36 at the War Museum in Narvik Norway The 7 5 cm GebG 36 was designed by Rheinmetall to meet an Army requirement for a 7 5 cm howitzer to serve in the mountain divisions Gebirgs Divisionen and replace the World War I era mountain guns still in service such as the Austro Hungarian 7 5 cm Gebirgskanone 15 Production began in 1938 although exactly how many were produced that year is unknown 1 Some 1 193 were built between 1939 and 1945 2 A Gebirgskanone in use in the Caucasus January 1943 The design of the 7 5 cm GebG 36 was relatively conventional in regard to the gun itself with its standard German horizontal sliding breech block and muzzle brake To maximize its ability to fire at high angles it was given rear trunnions to lengthen the distance between the breech and the ground although springs became necessary to balance the muzzle preponderance Furthermore it used the a variable recoil system that shortened the recoil as the elevation increased The breech was uncommonly massive as it incorporated a transport joint to allow it to be separated from the barrel 3 The spades at the end of the split trail legs were removable Generally it used light alloy disc wheels with rubber rims but early guns had wooden spoked wheels No shield was fitted to save weight It could be towed in one load or broken down into eight pack loads to be carried by mule or horse It weighed 750 kg 1 650 lb 3 Because of its lightness the 7 5 cm GebG 36 would jump when fired at low angles as the recoil forces would force the gun s trail spades to act as a fulcrum and lever the wheels upwards In fact Charge 5 the largest propellant increment was forbidden to be fired at angles under 15 because the gun would jump excessively Firing at higher angles was perfectly safe as the ground absorbed any residual recoil forces not absorbed by the recoil system 3 Ammunition Edit A detachment of SS mountain rifles and Albanian volunteers in the Albanian mountains with a horse drawn fleet carrying the 75mm GebK 36 mountain cannon 7 5 cm GebG 36 separated and transported by horse The 7 5 cm GebG 36 fired a wide variety of ammunition with the notable exception of a conventional armor piercing shell It used instead a unique hollow charge armor piercing shell that weighed 5 83 kilograms 12 9 lb with a maximum range of 9 250 metres 10 120 yd 4 It had its own 5 83 kilograms 12 9 lb high explosive shell but could also fire that used by the 7 5 cm FK 18 as well When the situation demanded it could fire a colored smoke shell It used four increments of propellant which were added together to reach the desired range A fifth charge could be used which replaced all the other charges for targets at the limit of the gun s range 5 While this range was respectable for a light gun the 7 5 cm calibre soon proved too small for the demands of World War II Organization EditThe guns were organized into batteries of four guns each with two or three batteries per battalion A mountain artillery regiment Gebirgs Artillerie Regiment would have anywhere from one to three battalions equipped with the 7 5 cm GebG 36 6 Notes Edit Gander and Chamberlain p 289 German Weapon and Ammunition Production 1 Sep 1939 1 Apr 1945 Archived from the original on 2 March 2009 Retrieved 28 May 2009 a b c Hogg p 32 Zentner C Soldaten im Einsatz Jahr Verlag Hamburg 1977 p 115 Hogg pp 32 3 German Army Organizations 22 June 1941 Retrieved 29 May 2009 References EditChant Chris Artillery of World War II ISBN 0 7603 1172 2 Engelmann Joachim and Scheibert Horst Deutsche Artillerie 1934 1945 Eine Dokumentation in Text Skizzen und Bildern Ausrustung Gliederung Ausbildung Fuhrung 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 Hogg Ian V German Artillery of World War Two 2nd corrected edition Mechanicsville PA Stackpole Books 1997 ISBN 1 85367 480 XExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to 7 5 cm Gebirgsgeschutz 36 the 7 5 cm GebG 36 at Lexikon der Wehrmacht Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 7 5 cm Gebirgsgeschutz 36 amp oldid 1135210760, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
