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 "Soixante-quinze," 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.
