7.5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18

7,5-cm-leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18
Type	Infantry gun
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1932–45
Used by	Nazi Germany
Wars	Second World War
Production history
Designer	Rheinmetall
Designed	1927
Manufacturer	Rheinmetall
Produced	1932–45
Number built	~ 12.000
Specifications
Weight	400 kilograms (880 lb)
Barrel length	L/11.2
Crew	5
Shell	cased cartridge
Shell weight	6 kilograms (13 lb)
Caliber	75 millimetres (3.0 in)
Breech	Shotgun-type block
Carriage	split trail
Elevation	-10° to 73°
Traverse	12°
Rate of fire	8-12 rpm
Muzzle velocity	210 m/s (690 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	3,550 m (3,880 yd)

The 7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7,5 cm le.IG 18) was an infantry support gun of the German Wehrmacht used during World War II.

History

Development of the gun began in 1927, by Rheinmetall. The crew was protected by an armoured shield. There was a mountain gun variant, the 7.5 cm le.GebIG 18. For transport, the mountain variant could be broken down into six to ten packs, the heaviest weighing 74.9 kg. The Germans would typically assign two of these to each mountain battalion. Six 7.5 cm le.IG 18F were manufactured in 1939. These were airborne guns, capable of being broken down into four 140 kg loads. The airborne variant had smaller wheels and no shield. There was also an infantry support gun, known as the 7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/13, which was designed as a replacement for the le.IG 18, this gun could be broken into four to six loads. However, though prototypes were tested, the German army felt that it did not improve on the existing design sufficiently to merit introduction and the army stayed with the earlier gun.

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Statistics of the 7.5 cm le.IG 18 and 7.5 cm le.GebIG 18

• Calibre: 75 mm (2.95 in)
• Elevation: -10° to 73°
• Muzzle Velocity (w/HE shell): 210 m/s (689 ft/s)
• Range: 3,550 m (3,882 yds)
• Traverse: 12°
• Weight: 400 kg (882 lbs)
• Weight of the 7.5 cm le.GebIG 18: 440 kg (970 lbs)
• Weight of HE Shell: 6 kg (13.22 lbs)
• Weight of HC Shell: 3 kg (6.6 lbs)

Statistics of the 7.5 cm IG L/13

• Calibre: 75 mm (2.95 in)
• Elevation: -5° to 43°
• Muzzle Velocity: 305 m/s (1,000 ft/s)
• Range: 5,100 m (5,577 yds)
• Traverse: 50°
• Weight: 375 kg (827 lbs)
• Weight of Shell: 6.35 kg (14 lbs)

See also

• Artillery
• List of artillery

References

• Hogg, Ian V. German Artillery of World War Two. 2nd corrected edition. Mechanicsville, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997 ISBN 1-85367-480-X