The 7.5 cm kanon PL vz. 37 (Anti-aircraft Gun Model 37) was a Czech anti-aircraft gun used in World War II. Those weapons captured after the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 were taken into Wehrmacht service as the 7.5 cm Flak M 37(t) or Flak Skoda. The Germans sold many of them to Italy where they were designated as the Cannone da 75/49 or 75/50. Surviving guns were taken back into German service after Italy's surrender in 1943. Twenty were sold to the Finns in November 1940.[2] Twelve were in Luftwaffe service between April and September 1944.[3]
Description
The gun had a semi-automatic, vertical sliding-block breech that automatically ejected the cartridge case after firing, but had to be hand-loaded for the next shot. It had a standard hydro-pneumatic recoil system and a muzzle brake. It could fire a 6.5 kilograms (14 lb) armor-piercing shell for direct fire. It was intended for motor towing as it rode on a two-axle carriage with pneumatic wheels, but could be towed by horses if necessary. The side legs of the cruciform mount folded for transport.[2]
Notes
- ^ "75–77 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". quarryhs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ a b "ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS PART 3: Heavy Guns". 23 September 2007. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ^ Gander and Chamberlain, p. 153
References
- 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
- Kliment, Charles K. and Nakládal, Bretislav. Germany's First Ally: Armed Forces of the Slovak State 1939–1945. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1997 ISBN 0-7643-0589-1