French 75 mm gun......Canon de 75 Modèle 1897 (1 Viewer)

[mikemiller1955]

I have been reading up on this French gun...

The French 75 easily delivered 15 aimed rounds per minute..
which is one every 4 seconds....
it didn't sound realistic to me...

then I read an article that said an experienced crew could actually fire 30 rounds per minute...
that's one every 2 seconds...
which sounds flat out far fetched...

but watch this video at about the 50 second mark...these guys are amazingly fast...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFygIJHnpq4

This rate of fire...with the gun's accuracy...made the French 75 superior to all other regimental field artillery at the time...

I'm not sure...and maybe some would confirm or deny...but in this photo...it looks like John has made a 3 man French crew pushing the 75...

the pic is labeled GWF50PJC...so I think they are French...

if so...I'm in for this forthcoming set...but am hoping John might consider making a bigger crew...perhaps an additional 3 artillery members helping to manhandle pushing/pulling this gun...

the gun weighed in excess of 3,000 pounds and I think that would equate to some pretty severe hernias for these 3 poor guys...

the gun was usually transported with a 6 horse team...and I currently have 23 JJD horses...so I would prefer another 3 artillery crew members rather than a limber set...and if it is a new limber set...I hope the horses are interchangeable with the horses I currently have...

the French had monstrously large artillery crews that handled these guns...

Each Mle 1897 75 mm field gun battery (4 guns) was manned by highly trained crews of 170 men led by 4 officers recruited among graduates of engineering schools. Enlisted men from the countryside took care of the 6 horses that pulled each gun and its first limber. Another 6 horses pulled each additional limber and caisson which were assigned to each gun. A battery included 160 horses, most of them pulling ammunition as well as repair and supply caissons.

here are some pics...

 

[chalklands]

I have been reading up on this French gun...

The French 75 easily delivered 15 aimed rounds per minute..
which is one every 4 seconds....
it didn't sound realistic to me...

then I read an article that said an experienced crew could actually fire 30 rounds per minute...
that's one every 2 seconds...
which sounds flat out far fetched...

but watch this video at about the 50 second mark...these guys are amazingly fast...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFygIJHnpq4

This rate of fire...with the gun's accuracy...made the French 75 superior to all other regimental field artillery at the time...

I'm not sure...and maybe some would confirm or deny...but in this photo...it looks like John has made a 3 man French crew pushing the 75...

the pic is labeled GWF50PJC...so I think they are French...

if so...I'm in for this forthcoming set...but am hoping John might consider making a bigger crew...perhaps an additional 3 artillery members helping to manhandle pushing/pulling this gun...

the gun weighed in excess of 3,000 pounds and I think that would equate to some pretty severe hernias for these 3 poor guys...

the gun was usually transported with a 6 horse team...and I currently have 23 JJD horses...so I would prefer another 3 artillery crew members rather than a limber set...and if it is a new limber set...I hope the horses are interchangeable with the horses I currently have...

the French had monstrously large artillery crews that handled these guns...

Each Mle 1897 75 mm field gun battery (4 guns) was manned by highly trained crews of 170 men led by 4 officers recruited among graduates of engineering schools. Enlisted men from the countryside took care of the 6 horses that pulled each gun and its first limber. Another 6 horses pulled each additional limber and caisson which were assigned to each gun. A battery included 160 horses, most of them pulling ammunition as well as repair and supply caissons.

here are some pics...

Neigh, Mike, Neigh!!!

 

[villagehorse]

When you embrace something Mike, you do not do it in halves^&grin. The French man handling the gun will be useful in other scenes like pushing a truck etc. No doubt a gun crew will pop up some time in the future releases. Robin.

 

[mikemiller1955]

When you embrace something Mike, you do not do it in halves^&grin. The French man handling the gun will be useful in other scenes like pushing a truck etc. No doubt a gun crew will pop up some time in the future releases. Robin.

Robin...good point on that type of figure (pushing/pulling) being versatile...lots of applications...I don't think John will make a gun firing artillery crew...it doesn't seem to go with the motif of these idle...no weapons firing figures he has developed for this series...

 

[mestell]

Mike . . . . all possibilities exist. John has already made a full 10-man British Gun Crew for the 6" Howitzer . . . . . . a full French gun crew could be possible. In the meantime, I have the gun and am looking forward to the 3 French soldiers pushing it. I like the way Robin thinks also . . . . these French figures could be used to push any type of motorized vehicle, wagon, or gun. By the way, the French 75 was well used by the American too.
:smile2: Mike

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Robin...good point on that type of figure (pushing/pulling) being versatile...lots of applications...I don't think John will make a gun firing artillery crew...it doesn't seem to go with the motif of these idle...no weapons firing figures he has developed for this series...

John could make a 75 crew which would be 6 men dedicated to each gun (I think ??). I have ordered the gun and 3 crew because of their classic pose of hauling the gun. I bet they are the first 3 of a bigger set.

Terry

 

[lancer]

It is THE iconic gun of WW1. France went to war notably short of heavy artillery of any kind, but she did have plenty of 75's and they saved her time and again, especially in the opening stages of the war where the 75 caught the Germans in the open in attack or maneuver. It remained the most numerous gun in the French arsenal and later the American arsenal, throughout the war. I am just pleased as punch that John has made this gun. Couldn't do the French Army without it. -- Al

 

[mikemiller1955]

Mike . . . . all possibilities exist. John has already made a full 10-man British Gun Crew for the 6" Howitzer . . . . . . a full French gun crew could be possible. In the meantime, I have the gun and am looking forward to the 3 French soldiers pushing it. I like the way Robin thinks also . . . . these French figures could be used to push any type of motorized vehicle, wagon, or gun. By the way, the French 75 was well used by the American too.
:smile2: Mike

Mike...I have been studying up on it...this gun was so advanced...not only did the Americans use it in WWI...it was also used at the beginning of WWII...quite some time later...

John could make a 75 crew which would be 6 men dedicated to each gun (I think ??). I have ordered the gun and 3 crew because of their classic pose of hauling the gun. I bet they are the first 3 of a bigger set.

Terry

Terry...back in the day...when John was knee deep in the FIW...every time I suggested something to him...he would laugh and say that he is adding it to his list...he never said no...not once...he was too diplomatic for that...and he actually made quite a few figures I asked for...

but then...at the end of our conversation...he would say..."It's easier to collect a series...than make a series."

It is THE iconic gun of WW1. France went to war notably short of heavy artillery of any kind, but she did have plenty of 75's and they saved her time and again, especially in the opening stages of the war where the 75 caught the Germans in the open in attack or maneuver. It remained the most numerous gun in the French arsenal and later the American arsenal, throughout the war. I am just pleased as punch that John has made this gun. Couldn't do the French Army without it. -- Al

Al...yes...John identified this as a staple of the French army and cranked out a beautiful rendition of it...

 

[The Military Workshop]

Thanks for posting the footage. Good to see the history behind the item and a pretty impressive rate of fire. Also interesting to note the manpower required for a battery which is equal to 42.5 men per gun !

 

[mikemiller1955]

found quite a few images of the limber carriage for the 75...

looks like it is pulled by a team of 6 horses...some with riders...and also seats two riders on the carriage itself...

it's an attractive piece...

I would certainly buy one if John made one...especially with riders in the carriage...

also wouldn't mind some riders on the horses...

am I asking too much...^&grin

hopefully some of the horses in my large stable of JJD horses that I already own could work with this piece...

 

[mikemiller1955]

pic...

 

[mikemiller1955]

a few more pics...

 

[lancer]

I currently own two 75's with crews and limbers. One is the French version of the Britains Premier with the 4 man crew in Horizon Blue. The other gun set is the excellent Soldiers of the World French version, with the crew in the early war dark blue uniforms and caps. The SoW gun and limber are separate sets, with the gun coming with 4 men and the limber with 1 man. The officers in both sets come with binoculars. I emphasize the French crews in both cases because both manufacturers make versions with French or American crews. The SoW French crews can be had in early war uniforms or in Horizon Blue. The US crews can be Army or USMC and any of the sets can be ordered in gas masks if you want and in matte or gloss. My sets are gloss. In the case of the Premier set, the gun is a light gray while the SoW gun is a dark gray. The only negative I can say about either set is that for some reason Britains made the crew without bases, in action poses, which means they are extremely unstable and tend to fall over at the slightest breeze or vibration. Both are very attractive artillery sets. -- Al

 

[mestell]

Mike a great photo of the gun, limber, horses and American crew. Now I want a limber and a team of horses for my 75mm, preferably WWI USMC . . . . . Semper Fi . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[mikemiller1955]

well...

okay...

after John makes my Pouli carriage...

my 2 Pouli carriage riders...

and several mounted Poulis riding/guiding the horse team...

then...I will help you campaign for yours...^&grin...^&grin...^&grin

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Terry...back in the day...when John was knee deep in the FIW...every time I suggested something to him...he would laugh and say that he is adding it to his list...he never said no...not once...he was too diplomatic for that...and he actually made quite a few figures I asked for...

but then...at the end of our conversation...he would say..."It's easier to collect a series...than make a series."

I don't think I ever suggested JJD make anything. I have made some historical points which is as close to a suggestion as I have gotten. Until a few days ago when I mentioned the Blue Puttees.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-...wednesday-with-40-passengers-aboard-1.3002635

Just keeping him up-to-date on local Canadian events. :wink2:

Terry

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Some ideas for the French 75........

 

[Artillery_crazy]

75 mm gun in campaign.......Morroco 1919......:salute:::salute::

 

[Artillery_crazy]

75 mm gun in campaign.......Morroco 1919:salute:::salute:::salute::

 

[Artillery_crazy]

75 mm gun in campaign.......Morroco 1919^&cool