EMHAR:s 1/72 77mm
Feldkanone 96 n.A.
By Stephen Brezinski
This field gun was the standard light field gun at the outset of WW1 and served all through the conflict. It was eventually augmented by the new 77-mm FK 16 field gun but never totally replaced by it. A breach loader with a recoil system, the FK 96 n.A. originally started life in 1896 as a rigid field gun, the FK 96, to be later updated with a shield and recoil system after the French fielded their famous 75-mm M1898 gun with both features. The n.A., or n.A., in the designation of the later gun with the recoil system stands for neuer Art, or translated to English as "new version".The FK 96 n.A. also had a howitzer brother for high angle fire, the 10.5-cm LFH 98; which could be the subject of a conversion.
If you are curious about the two horseshoe shaped items that attach to the front of the shield, they are footrests for two gun crewmembers who sit there, facing rearward, during a march. This was a common feature of light field guns of this time period, such as with the German Krupp 75 and Italian 75/27 modello 06.
The kit is molded in nine light gray, stiff urethane plastic with parts for two guns, several crew figures and infantry figures. I would have preferred a full gun crew rather than the infantry figures, but they are all at least molded very well. The molding is very, very good for soft plastic. The gun consists of nine pieces and looks better than most white metal and many resin guns in this scale. The shield is a bit thick which is what is to be expected for this scale and for soft plastic.
Like Emhar’s kit of the British 18 Pdr gun, it is a good model for wargaming and makes a decent a display model, but can stand a bit of detailing which will need some good references. Considering that you get two guns in each kit it is a good value.
Caliber 3.1 inch Weight 2142 lb. Shell Weight 14.4 lb. Muzzle Velocity 1395 f/s Maximum range 23,400 ft. Elevation +15 degrees Final color for a WW1 piece should be an overall field gray color. I have not seen much as far of markings in period photos.
And to get some additional info on the 77mm FK96 n.A., click here!
