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8 cm kanon vz. 28

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
8 cm kanon vz. 28
TypeField gun
Place of originCzechoslovakia
Service history
In service1928–1945
Used by Argentina
 Czechoslovakia
 Nazi Germany
 Romania
 Kingdom of Yugoslavia
WarsWorld War II[1]
Production history
DesignerŠkoda Works
Designed1928
ManufacturerŠkoda Works
Produced1928
Variants8 cm kanon vz. 30
75 mm Skoda Model 1928[1]
Specifications
MassCombat: 1,816 kg (4,004 lb)
Travel: 2,977 kg (6,563 lb)
Barrel length3.06 m (10.0 ft) L/40[1]

ShellFixed QF 76.5 x 346mm R[2]
Shell weight8 kg (17 lb 10 oz)
Caliber76.5 mm (3 in)
BreechHorizontal sliding wedge
Recoilhydro-pneumatic
CarriageTwo-wheeled Box trail
Elevation-8° to +80°
Traverse360° with firing table[1]
Rate of fire10-12 rpm
Muzzle velocity600 metres per second (2,000 ft/s)
Maximum firing range13.5 km (8.4 mi)[1]

The 8 cm kanon vz. 28 (Cannon model 1928) was a Czech field gun used during World War II.

Design & history

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The origins of the 8 cm kanon vz. 28 began in 1928 at the Škoda Works in Pilsen. The design attempted to combine the field gun, mountain gun, and anti-aircraft gun roles into one weapon. The vz. 28 combined a two-wheeled box trail carriage, horizontal sliding wedge breech, hydro-pneumatic recoil system, high angle elevation and a firing table[clarification needed] for 360° degree traverse. Notably, for the first time among field guns it featured a muzzle brake, one of the designs by company's engineer Bohdan Pantoflíček patented[3] in 1927. For the mountain gun role it could be broken down into three pieces for transport, a feature also shared by the contemporary 10 cm houfnice vz. 28 and the later 8 cm kanon vz. 30 and 10 cm houfnice vz. 30 guns.[1]

The vz. 28 proved to be fairly successful as a field and mountain gun, but was a failure as an anti-aircraft gun due to very quick developments in aviation during the following decade. The Czech Army used the vz. 28 in limited numbers, but ordered its successor the vz. 30 in larger numbers. The vz. 30 lacked the vz. 28's firing table, otherwise their configuration, dimensions, and performance were largely the same.[1]

The Yugoslav Army ordered the vz. 28 who referred to it as the 80 mm M.28. The Romanian Army also ordered a 75 mm version the 75 mm Skoda Model 1928 which it used during World War II. Guns captured from Yugoslavia by the Germans were given the designation 7.65 cm FK 304(j).[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Chamberlain, Peter (1975). Light and medium field artillery. Gander, Terry. New York: Arco. pp. 6–7. ISBN 0668038209. OCLC 2067331.
  2. ^ "76-77 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-01-17. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  3. ^ FR 657091A 

References

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  • Peter Chamberlain and Terry Gander: Light and Medium field Artillery. New York. Arco Publishing. 1977. ISBN 0-668-03820-9
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