M1897A7 Light Field Gun - Camp Ripley, Minnesota
Posted by: BruceS
N 46° 04.867 W 094° 20.847
15T E 395816 N 5103942
Light field gun on display in front of Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley near Little Falls, Minnesota.
Waymark Code: WMCN6Y
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 09/24/2011
Views: 5
From information plaque:
Light Field Gun, 75mm (M1897A7) with Caisson
This actually the famous "French 75" with U.S. nomenclature. Designed in 1897 by the French, it was used wided by Allied forces in World War I. A weapon of unique mobility and accuracy, it could spit out 15-20 rounds per minute. Firing was by spring hammer operated with a lanyard. It fired either a 16 pound shrapnel shell or a 12 pound high explosive steel shell. Its large wooden wheels were replaced with pneumatic tires in the 1930's. Displayed also isthe M1903 Caisson, which held up to 72 rounds of ammunition.
The 151st Field Artillery, Minnesota National Guard, used this weapon with the 42nd "Rainbow" Division during World War I. At Chateau-Thierry, in a fiercely fought eight day battle, the regiment fired a record 54,709 rounds with its French 75's. The gun displayed here served as Camp Ripley's salute cannon for more than 40 years, marking the raising and lowering of the flag each day during summer field training.
Data:
Caliber: 75mm
Length: 8.12 ft tube
Weight: 2,513 lbs
Range 7.6 miles maximum (5.5 mileswith the common 12 lb shell).