8 cm FK M 18
Encyclopedia
The 8 cm Feldkanone M 18 was a field gun used by Austria-Hungary
during World War I
. The initial guns used the standard Austro-Hungarian 76.5 mm caliber, but testing was underway for the heavier 83.5 mm version when the war ended. However, only six guns had been delivered by the end of World War I. Its post-war service is unclear, but it seems that it served in small numbers with the Austrian Army, although it doesn't appear that the Germans placed it into service following the Anschluss
, possibly because it used non-standard ammunition. Gander and Chamberlain don't list it in their book, but the older work by Chamberlain and Gander claims it saw service with the Heer
as the 8 cm leichte Feldkanone 18(ö).
It was a far more innovative design than Skoda's 8 cm FK M. 17
. The carriage of the M 18 had a bent axle which allowed the whole carriage to traverse since the spade pivoted around a vertical pin, so that neither the spade nor the wheels had to be moved to traverse. For use in mountains it could be fitted with a special narrow set of wheels. For transport it broke down into three animal carts.
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The initial guns used the standard Austro-Hungarian 76.5 mm caliber, but testing was underway for the heavier 83.5 mm version when the war ended. However, only six guns had been delivered by the end of World War I. Its post-war service is unclear, but it seems that it served in small numbers with the Austrian Army, although it doesn't appear that the Germans placed it into service following the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
, possibly because it used non-standard ammunition. Gander and Chamberlain don't list it in their book, but the older work by Chamberlain and Gander claims it saw service with the Heer
Heer
Heer is German for "army". Generally, its use as "army" is not restricted to any particular country, so "das britische Heer" would mean "the British army".However, more specifically it can refer to:*An army of Germany:...
as the 8 cm leichte Feldkanone 18(ö).
It was a far more innovative design than Skoda's 8 cm FK M. 17
8 cm FK M. 17
The 8 cm Feldkanone M. 17 was a dual-purpose field and mountain gun used by Austria-Hungary during World War I. Between the wars it was used by Austria, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Captured weapons were used by Nazi Germany under the designations 7.65 cm FK 17 or and 7.65 cm FK 303.It was a...
. The carriage of the M 18 had a bent axle which allowed the whole carriage to traverse since the spade pivoted around a vertical pin, so that neither the spade nor the wheels had to be moved to traverse. For use in mountains it could be fitted with a special narrow set of wheels. For transport it broke down into three animal carts.