Cannone da 75/27 modello 11

Cannone da 75 modello 11
Cannone da 75/27 modello 11, displayed in Hämeenlinna Artillery Museum.
Type	Field gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1912–45
Used by	Italy  Nazi Germany  Finland
Wars	World War I World War II
Production history
Manufacturer	Vickers-Terni, Armstrong
No. built	1341[1]
Specifications
Mass	1,076 kilograms (2,372 lb) (travel) 1,015 kilograms (2,238 lb) (combat)[2][3]
Barrel length	2.13 m (7 ft) L/28.4p
Shell	Fixed QF 75 x 185mm R[4]
Shell weight	6.35 kg (14.0 lb)
Caliber	75 mm (2.95 in)
Breech	Nordenfelt eccentric screw
Recoil	hydro spring dual recoil
Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	-15° to +65°
Traverse	52° 9'
Rate of fire	4-6 rpm
Muzzle velocity	510 m/s (1,670 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	10,240 m (11,200 yd)

The Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 was a French-designed field gun produced in Italy prior to World War I.^[5] It was introduced in 1912, designed by Joseph-Albert Deport. It was taken into service by Italy for use with its Alpine and cavalry troops going into World War I, and was built there in large numbers. The gun was designed with two notable features. It was the first artillery piece to introduce the split trail, as well as the last to utilize its novel dual-recoil system. The former became a very popular feature on artillery pieces through to the modern day. The later, while functional, did not get repeated. The dual-recoil system consisted of a small tubular recoil under the barrel which in turn traveled in a traditional rectangular cradle. This lessened heat transfer from the gun barrel to the recoil mechanism effectively, but was not necessary for the added complexity.^[6]

Some guns had two crew seats on the front of the gun shield.^{[citation needed]}

The gun was used by the Italian army throughout World War I and remained on strength well into World War II. Many pieces even saw service with German forces fighting in Northern Italy from 1943 until the end of the war, as the 7.5 cm Feldkanone 244(i).^[7] Modello 11s were retired from active service in 1950.^[8]

One cannon was also sold to Finland in 1929 where it was designated as "75 K 11".^{[citation needed]}