Feldkanone M.5 (Cannone da 77/28 Modello 5/8) 76.5mm Field Gun

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Feldkanone M.5 (Cannone da 77/28 Modello 5/8) 76.5mm Field Gun
Feldkanone M.5 (Cannone da 77/28 Modello 5/8) 76.5mm Field Gun

As the world's armies upgraded their artillery at the beginning of the 20th Century, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was no different. However, the Austro-Hungarians lagged behind other European powers because of poor metallurgy and a lack of steel production, forcing its artillery pieces to still use bronze in their construction--at a time when nearly every world power had long since abandoned bronze for iron and steel. All the same, the Austro-Hungarians used a bronze/steel alloy in their gun barrels until sufficient quantities of steel could be obtained.

The Feldkanone M.5 was originally meant to enter service in 1905, but delays in selecting a breech design and production issues meant that the M.5 did not reach Austro-Hungarian forces until 1907. Once in the field, however, the M.5 proved to be a solid, reliable design despite its use of bronze. It was adapted into two variants--a mountain howitzer that could be broken down into three pieces for mule transport, and an antiaircraft gun fitted to a fixed turntable and ability to raise the barrel to 90 degrees. The M.5 would be one of Austria-Hungary's standard field pieces during World War I, seeing combat against Russia and Italy; later versions were given steel barrels.

After the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I, thouands of M.5s were taken as war prizes by Italy, where they were redesignated the Cannone da 77/28 Modello 5/8. Though supplemented by newer Italian designs, the Modello 5/8 was still in service with Italian units when Italy entered World War II in 1940. These were used in combat in North Africa from 1940 to 1943, and many were still in use when Italy itself was invaded in 1943--enough that former Italian examples captured by the Germans were redesignated as 7.65mm FK 5/8(i). A number of former M.5s were also taken up by the German Army after Austria was absorbed into the Reich in 1938, as well as former Czech examples in 1939. These were used mainly by interior forces, though likely quite a few were still in use as the Third Reich was overrun in 1945. After the war, any survivors were either scrapped or sent to museums.

This particular M.5 is a former Italian Army Modello 5/8, captured by US Army forces in Italy in 1944. Though Austro-Hungarian M.5s had spoke wheels for horse-drawn movement, the Italians were motorizing their artillery batteries, and their Modello 5/8s were refitted with steel and rubber wheels for truck movement; this M.5 has been so modified. It is on display at Fort Douglas, Utah.


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Taken on: June 28, 2022
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