Photo Help

[Chip M]

Hello everyone,

Does anyone had a good clear copy of this photo? I know it has been shown on the Internet before and I believe that it has come out of the photographic collection of the Imperial War Museum. The original shots are crystal clear and sharp.

This is one of a series of photos of this unit, who are carrying the parts to a smaller caliber field gun, perhaps an Infanterie Geschütz. Drop me a PM if you have a copy you can send me.

Thanks,
Chip

[C. Roelens]

That's an excellent photo. I would gladly pay for a good clear copy of this one.

Chuck

[Hoss]

Hello everyone,

Does anyone had a good clear copy of this photo? I know it has been shown on the Internet before and I believe that it has come out of the photographic collection of the Imperial War Museum. The original shots are crystal clear and sharp.

This is one of a series of photos of this unit, who are carrying the parts to a smaller caliber field gun, perhaps an Infanterie Geschütz. Drop me a PM if you have a copy you can send me.

Thanks,
Chip

Hey Chip
Just clicked. Part of that photo is shown in Helmets of the First World War (M. Haselgrove)
There is a ref # in the book 1918. (IWMQ 9345)
Maybe you can get in touch for a copy if they are so inclined. Had trouble there once because I had my biker gear on.
"Yes Sir, and WHAT... pray tell can we do for you?"

"German Machine Gun Units First War..Let me in...Tosh!"

Eric

[Johnny R]

They may be changing barrels, some of the early guns were "shot out" after 3000 rounds etc. I was Artillery in the American Army and that was not a fun task to perform.

[Hoss]

Hi Johnny
What type of gun is that? The barrel looks incredibly 'light' for such a large caliber.
Looks to me its been disassembled and is being loaded on something.

Eric

[Chip M]

Hey Eric,

Thanks. I was fairly sure that the IWM had this photo. I was hoping to get a good clear copy so I could see the shoulder strap on the closest guy. You can see that it has a field artillery flaming bomb, but in this copy you cannot see what is underneath it. I think, as I recall from the last time I saw a good copy, that it has "IG" or "JG" for "Infanterie Geschütz".

Chip

[Hoss]

Chip
Fumbled around with the pic from the book while me baked beans are warming up. Don't know if this helps.

Eric

[Chip M]

Thanks Eric! Sure looks like "JG 2" on that shoulder strap. That would be Infanterie Geschütz Batterie Nr. 2. I just happen to have the battery history, so perhaps I can do some reading and see if they mention the shield on the helmet.

Regards,
Chip

[Johnny R]

Hi Johnny
What type of gun is that? The barrel looks incredibly 'light' for such a large caliber.
Looks to me its been disassembled and is being loaded on something.

Eric

I am not sure but it may be a 7.7 FK 16, they have a board or a cleaning rod stick in the bore so more people can help carry it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.7_cm_FK_16

[Chip M]

Johnny,

I think it is actually a 7.7cm Infanteriegeschütz L20/17. This gun was used to replace the "Russian guns" that most of the IG batteries were using. As the poorer barrels of the Russian guns wore out, they were replace by these, which were essentially a Feldkanone 96 n.A., with a shortened barrel and a mountain gun carriage. I know that the IG Batterie Nr. 2 received these guns in the summer of 1917.

Chip

[Johnny R]

That also would make sense. It looks a little shorter than the FK 16 but the caliber looks correct. Write to the War Museum archives, they generally are very helpful.