Artillery piece from 1918 - Identification help

[Brian Wolfe]

Hello Everyone,

While at my favourite musuem I took some phtoos of the items that are sitting outside. The musuem lacks the funds to restore the items stored outside which is very sad to me. This particular piece is starting to rust away and there is no hope for it. Man, would I love to restore it and place it in the wooded area behind my house. Alas, it is not for sale.

The Chairman of the musuem said this is a French piece and made that determination based on the artillery piece being a 75mm. He says that the Germans never used a 75mm. I couldn't tell the gauge as I had no way to measure it and there were no such marking on the gun. I think it is German based on the markings that are on the breach and that the French 75mm had additional metal pieces on the end of the barrel giving them a quite distinctive look. I don't like to argue with those who are a lot more versed in the topic so I am asking the membership to comment.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Cheers

Brian

[Brian Wolfe]

Here's another view. The tail is starting to rust away and the wooden parts of the wheels are starting to show decay. There are few things the bring tears to my eyes, the Last Post played on Remembrance Day and an artifact rotting away just about sums up my soft spots. What a shame.

Brian

[Brian Wolfe]

Here's another view of the front of the gun. I believe the areas to the right and left of the barrel are for the crew to sit while the piece is in transit. I would have thought this feature would have disappeared by 1918. I base that on pure speculation.

My next photo will show the breach markings that makes me think this is German.

Cheers

Brian

[Brian Wolfe]

Now this is what I base my opinion (uneducated as it is) that this is a German gun. The German short form of number, I believe, is Nr. which differs from that used by the French.

What do you think?

Cheers

Brian

[joe campbell]

french is "nombre".

i don't know what the abbr4eviation for it it is.

does anyone have some Chanel # 5 laying about????

joe

[speedytop]

Hi,

it must be something like this, 75mm or 77mm, German:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.5_cm_FK_16_nA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.7_cm_FK_16

Regards

Uwe

[Brian Wolfe]

Many thanks fellows.

I will inform the museum that they have German gun and not a French one on my next visit.

Cheers

Brian