** world regions Latin America religions








World War I Artillery: French 75


Figure 1.-- The French 75mm Fieild Gun became a part of the French iconography of the War. This postcard is one of many examples.

The French 75 (Canon de 75 modèle 1897) was France's main artillery piece during World War I. The French introduced it 1897. It was the first fully integrated quick-firing gun. The technical innovations became involved in the Drefus Affair. It had a firing rate of 20 rounds a minute -- very high for the era. The rapid fire French 75 mm gun made a poweful impression early in the more mobile phase of the War, but the French Army largely because of poor leadership in the General Staff was unable to capitalize on the potential of this weapon. It did help the French slow down the German advance through Belgium and played a key role in the critical Battle of the Marne (September 1914). It also played a a major role at Verdun (1916). The 75 had an innovative recoil system that bounced the barrel back into firing position. This significantly increased the rate of fire--a critical factor on the battlefield. The recoil system also made for a smoother operation which also assisted gun crews. When the War broke out, the French had 4,000 of these 75mm Field Guns (1,000 batteries of 4 guns each). At the end of the Wat they had 17,000. The German and British armies did not develop a field gun of comparable performance until the last year of the War. The French Army on the other hnd did not have modern heavy field artillery until 1917. The French 75 was also heavily used by the American AEF when it arrived in France.

Development

General Percin and Colonel Deport were key figures in ensuring that the French Army has superb artillery to support the Fench infantrymen. It was Colonel Deport who invented the key 75 mm gun. General Percin oversaw exhaustive trials devised a system of firing which made the 75 the most deadly battlefield weapon in the world at the time. General Percin entering the Ecole Polytechnique (1865). He fought in the Franco-Prrussian War (1870-71) and was wounded teice. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour at only 25 years of age--a destibct honor. He devoted himself to a study of artillery. His war time experiences impressed on him he need for fire power to support the infantry. General Percin devoted himself to the specific problem of rapid gunnery. The result was the French 75, the wonder weapon of World War I.

Characteristics

The French 75 (Canon de 75 modèle 1897) was France's main artillery piece during World War I. The French introduced it 1897. It was the first fully integrated quick-firing gun. It had a firing rate of 20 rounds a minute -- very high for the era. The 75 had an innovative recoil system that bounced the barrel back into firing position. This significantly increased the rate of fire--a critical factor on the battlefield. The recoil system also made for a smoother operation which also assisted gun crews.

Drefus Affair

The technical innovations became involved in the Drefus Affair before the War.

Iconic Weapon

The French 75 is the icomic weapn of World War I. The German were famous for their heavy artillery, especially Bi Bertha, named after the Bertha Krupp, heiress and owner of the Krupp heavy industrial empire. The French 75 had, however, a far greater battlefield impact. Miliary historians have described the gun as the "Saviour of France". No artillery piece was more praised than the French 75. Suring World War II it was the German 88 that was the most feared artillery piece, but unlike World War II, the other combatants especially the Germans had nothing comparable. The French 75 was feared by the Germans in open field combat. It was key to the French during the open mobile phase of the War when they managed to stop the Germans at the Marne. The 75 combined two key elements. It was not only fast firing , but it was realtively light and mobile. It could thus provide artilery support in a timely fashion, unlike heavier weapons. It was here that the Germans could have won the War. The Germans has an early advatage. The German Army was the best trained and the quickest to mobilize. Once stopped, however, the Germans were at a disasvantage in an extended war of attrition. And it was the French 75 that helped stop them.

Battlefied Usage

When the War broke out, the French had 4,000 of these 75mm Field Guns (1,000 batteries of 4 guns each). At the end of the Wat they had 17,000. The rapid fire French 75 mm gun made a poweful impression early in the more mobile phase of the War, but the French Army largely because of poor leadership in the General Staff was unable to capitalize on the potential of this weapon. The French at the onset of the War attacked north to regain the lost provinces of Alsace-Loraine. This involved attacking well-prepared German positions which did not utilize the strengths of the 75--mobility. French losses weakened the French Army and its ability to deal with the German offensive through Belgium. There the 75 did help the French slow down the German advance through Belgium. In particular it played a key role in the critical Battle of the Marne (September 1914). The mobile 75 gave the French a powerful arttillery punch when they attacked the flank of the overstreached German Army at the Marne. The French 75 also played a a major role at Verdun (1916).

British and German

The German and British armies did not develop a field gun of comparable performance until the last year of the War.

Heavy Artillery

The French Army on the other hnd did not have modern heavy field artillery until 1917.

American Expeditionary Force

The French 75 was also heavily used by the American AEF when it arrived in France. When the United States declared war on Germany (April 1917), it did not have a sizeable army or the weapons to equip them. The Government instituted a draft and many soldiers were shipped to France wih virtually no training. Much of the training ook place in France. There was also a problem of equipment. The troops received priority over equipment and at any rate, it would take time to gear up American industyry to equip an army the size American was deploying. American troops as aesult used a great deal of French equipment. One of the major items used was the French 75.

Post-War Usage

The French kept the 75 in their arsenal after the War. There were important modifications, including pneumatic tires and improved ammunition. The 75 was still the French Army’s main artillery piece atv the onset of World War II. The French exported 75s to other counties during the 1930s. It was used in World War II against the Japanese in the Philippines. The Free French used it in North Africa against the Germans.







CIHn-- WW I







Navigate the CIH World War I Section :
[Return to Main World War I French artillery page]
[Return to Main World War I artillery page]
[Return to Main World War I fighting page]
[About Us]
[Aftermath] [Alliances] [Animals] [Armistace] [Biographies] [Causes] [Campaigns] [Casualties] [Children] [Countries] [Declaration of war] [Deciding factors] -------[Diplomacy] [Economics] -------[Geo-political crisis] [Home front] [Intelligence]
[Military forces] [Neutrality] [Pacifism] [People] [Peace treaties] [Propaganda] [POWs] [Russian Revolution] [Terrorism] [Trench warfare] ------[Technology] [Weaponry]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Return to Main World War I page]
[Return to Main war essay page]
[Return to CIH Home page]





Created: 7:03 PM 7/6/2009
Last updated: 3:01 AM 11/7/2009