The French 75: The 75mm M1897 field gun that revolutionized modern artillery

This is the first English-language history of the legendary French 75mm field gun, which revolutionized artillery firepower and helped save France in 1914.

The “Soixante­quinze,” France's legendary 75mm Modele 1897, was the first modern field gun, pioneering several critical innovations in field artillery designs, including a fast action breech and a soft recoil system. Although some of these features had been incorporated into earlier guns, the 75mm M1897 integrated them into a superior, lightweight field gun.

The 75mm M1897 earned its reputation in the Great War, forming the backbone of French field artillery. It was widely distributed to Allied armies, including the American Expeditionary Forces and was also widely exported after World War I around the globe. It was manufactured under license in numerous countries, including the United States, which used the gun in its initial Pacific campaigns. Due to its modernity and sound design, the 75mm remained in service well into World War II. It was used by the French, Polish and other armies in the Blitzkrieg campaigns of 1939–1940 and thousands were captured by the German Army in 1940 and used for coastal defense. Surprisingly, many were also converted into a very effective antitank gun, the PaK 97/38. These weapons lingered in service after World War II, though by this time, they were largely obsolete.

This fascinating book explores the history of the 75mm Modele 1897 in detail, from its design and development to its deployment around the world. The text is supported by stunning, specially commissioned artwork including three-dimensional views of the gun and its variants.

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The French 75: The 75mm M1897 field gun that revolutionized modern artillery

This is the first English-language history of the legendary French 75mm field gun, which revolutionized artillery firepower and helped save France in 1914.

The “Soixante­quinze,” France's legendary 75mm Modele 1897, was the first modern field gun, pioneering several critical innovations in field artillery designs, including a fast action breech and a soft recoil system. Although some of these features had been incorporated into earlier guns, the 75mm M1897 integrated them into a superior, lightweight field gun.

The 75mm M1897 earned its reputation in the Great War, forming the backbone of French field artillery. It was widely distributed to Allied armies, including the American Expeditionary Forces and was also widely exported after World War I around the globe. It was manufactured under license in numerous countries, including the United States, which used the gun in its initial Pacific campaigns. Due to its modernity and sound design, the 75mm remained in service well into World War II. It was used by the French, Polish and other armies in the Blitzkrieg campaigns of 1939–1940 and thousands were captured by the German Army in 1940 and used for coastal defense. Surprisingly, many were also converted into a very effective antitank gun, the PaK 97/38. These weapons lingered in service after World War II, though by this time, they were largely obsolete.

This fascinating book explores the history of the 75mm Modele 1897 in detail, from its design and development to its deployment around the world. The text is supported by stunning, specially commissioned artwork including three-dimensional views of the gun and its variants.

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The French 75: The 75mm M1897 field gun that revolutionized modern artillery

The French 75: The 75mm M1897 field gun that revolutionized modern artillery

The French 75: The 75mm M1897 field gun that revolutionized modern artillery

The French 75: The 75mm M1897 field gun that revolutionized modern artillery

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Overview

This is the first English-language history of the legendary French 75mm field gun, which revolutionized artillery firepower and helped save France in 1914.

The “Soixante­quinze,” France's legendary 75mm Modele 1897, was the first modern field gun, pioneering several critical innovations in field artillery designs, including a fast action breech and a soft recoil system. Although some of these features had been incorporated into earlier guns, the 75mm M1897 integrated them into a superior, lightweight field gun.

The 75mm M1897 earned its reputation in the Great War, forming the backbone of French field artillery. It was widely distributed to Allied armies, including the American Expeditionary Forces and was also widely exported after World War I around the globe. It was manufactured under license in numerous countries, including the United States, which used the gun in its initial Pacific campaigns. Due to its modernity and sound design, the 75mm remained in service well into World War II. It was used by the French, Polish and other armies in the Blitzkrieg campaigns of 1939–1940 and thousands were captured by the German Army in 1940 and used for coastal defense. Surprisingly, many were also converted into a very effective antitank gun, the PaK 97/38. These weapons lingered in service after World War II, though by this time, they were largely obsolete.

This fascinating book explores the history of the 75mm Modele 1897 in detail, from its design and development to its deployment around the world. The text is supported by stunning, specially commissioned artwork including three-dimensional views of the gun and its variants.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781472839305
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication date: 10/27/2020
Series: New Vanguard , #288
Pages: 48
Product dimensions: 7.10(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.20(d)

About the Author

Steven J. Zaloga received his BA in History from Union College and his MA from Columbia University. He has worked as an analyst in the aerospace industry for over three decades, covering missile systems and the international arms trade, and has served with the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think tank. He is the author of numerous books on military technology and military history, with an accent on the US Army in World War II as well as Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Development
Combat Use of the Canon de 75mm M1897
The American 75mm Gun M1897
Use of the 75mm Gun in the World War II
Further Reading
Index

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