7.7 cm FeldKanone 16 (Serial Nr. 4932) - Carter Park - Leominster, Massachusetts USA - Static Artillery Displays on Waymarking.com

This German 7.7cm FeldKanone 16, captured during the First World War, stands on permanent display at the southwest corner of Carter Park at the junction of Main Street and Summer Street in Leominster, Massachusetts. VFW Post 1807 presented it to the town on September 13, 1931.

...As a final tribute to the memory of the World War, in 1931 Leominster was presented a captured German artillery cannon. This gift was given by the United States Army as a war trophy. In all likelihood, the cannon was manufactured by Krupp. They based their operations in Essen, Germany. Krupp was the biggest supplier of German artillery for more than 200 years. The artillery piece has been located at Carter Park for decades, and in 2004 Leominster established a fund drive to replace the rotted oak spokes that kept the wheels together.

SOURCE: Leominster Champion, "Leominster remembers the Great War" by Mike Kerrigan, Leominster Historical Society (7/7/2017)

The cannon appears to be intact, well-preserved and well-maintained. Battleship gray paint covers both the gun and carriage. Its oak spoke wheels are in pristine condition. Stamped into the breach are the serial Nr. 4932, the date 1917, and Rh.M.F. The carriage is marked Rh.M.F., L3463 and 1917.

A cast metal plaque painted dark gray is affixed to the front of the upper shield directly above the gun barrel:

PRESENTED TO
THE CITY OF LEOMINSTER
BY
LEOMINSTER POST 1807
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
SEPTEMBER 13, 1931

Specifications:

Calibre	77 mm
Weight limbered	2.25 t
Weight emplaced	1.38 t
Min./Max. Elevation	-10°/+40°
Muzzle Velocity(Charge 1)	420 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity(Charge 2)	545 m/sec
Max. Range	9.1 km
Max. Range (Gas grenade)	10.7 km
Shell Weight	7.2 kg (HE Grenade)
Shell Tyeps	HE, Sharpnel, Gas

SOURCE: Landships II artillery article - "7.7 cm Feldkanone 16"

What type of artillery is this?: Field Cannon Where is this artillery located?: Park What military of the world used this device?: German Army Date artillery was placed on display: 09/13/1931 Parking location to view this Waymark: N 42° 31.773 W 071° 45.435 Date artillery was in use: Not listed Cost?: Not Listed Artillery is no longer operational: Not Listed Still may work: Not Listed Are there any geocaches at this location?: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Two pictures are required for this Waymark. Please take a close up picture of the artillery. Take a second with the artillery in the distance and capture as much of the surroundings as possible. Name the Waymark with first the name of the area and second what the artillery is. An example would be if it were a cannon in front of the Montgomery Armory you would name the Waymark: Montgomery Armory Cannon.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   05/20/2019 401Photos visited it