Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle

History

In 1916, with the First World War (1914-1918) in full swing, French factories began producing a new weapon called the "Canon d'Infanterie de 37 Modele 1916 TRP". It was designed with a focus on providing large caliber infantry-grade fire support, with some degree of human portability, and relied on a 37 x 94 Rmm (1.45") projectile. The system consists of the barrel itself plus a recoil system installation and Can be mounted on a fixed tripod or on a two-wheeled wagon. A hood near the gun body is optional, as is a conical flash suppressor on the muzzle.

APX scopes are used for precision shooting at range, while a fast The firing action has been incorporated into the operation of the weapon (hence the "TRP" part of the name: "Tir Rapide, Puteaux").

Many once believed that the war would end by Christmas 1914, but this soon proved disastrously wrong, as the once mobile war infiltrated the trench system, leading to a massacre of "trench warfare". Along with the cannon, the machine gun was one of the most important weapons on the battlefield, bringing carnage to both sides and eventually becoming popular in modern warfare. Defenders set up kill zones to deter any cavalry and infantry charges trying to take key positions, while machine guns killed hundreds of thousands in the conflict, resulting in direct action against guns - often sitting well - to protect positions from the enemy.

Arms attack.

The Modele 1916 TRP was developed as such a counter, the design of which is attributed to Atelier de Puteaux. It was believed that equipping infantry with powerful long-range weapons could help overthrow defenders and clear the way for advancing infantry lines.

In addition, the gun could be used against other fortified positions along the trenches and helped clear the clutter of barbed wire.

The weapon is relatively portable and can be moved in three main parts and reassembled elsewhere for combat. A two-wheeled transporter facilitates this operation, but the weapon can easily be carried by multiple units (it requires four to six people to operate the weapon effectively).

The main 37mm round fired by the Modele 1916 TRP consisted of high-explosive (HE) projectiles, which had enough "penetration" to remain an effective measure during the war.

Overall, the system weighs 238 pounds when ready for launch and 354 pounds when ready for transport. Its barrel is 2.4 feet long. The mounted hardware provides an inherent elevation range of -8 to +17 degrees and 35 degrees of traverse on either side of the centerline. A well-trained and experienced rifleman can hope to achieve a sustained rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute.

The shells fire at a muzzle velocity of 1,200 feet per second and have an effective range of up to 1,600 yards (the maximum range listed is 2,600 yards).

In addition to being used as an infantry support gun, the gun was found suitable for aerial combat and was installed on a handful of aircraft in the war, including the Beardmore WBV series. The SPAD S. XII fighter was deployed by French ace Rene Fonck, carrying the Modele 1916 TRP as part of his armament.

The French Army kept Modele 1916 TRPs in service until the 1940s, where they played a secondary role as France's main anti-tank weapon - mainly due to supply issues. The stock was large enough that the conquering Germans took it over and gave it the name "3.7 cm IG 152(f)".

The captured French ammunition was designated "Sprgr 147(f)".

In service with the US Army during World War I, the Modele 1916 TRP was adopted as the "37mm M1916". Again, these documents circulated until the beginning of WWII, when the inventory was either relegated to other useful side missions or kept in the inventory.

A few saw the service itself as a direct combat weapon during the war, mostly during the early stages of the Philippine campaign, when the Allies encountered supply shortages and were forced to rely on outdated designs.

The Modele 1916 TRP was eventually used by the armed forces of France, the United States, Poland and Italy. The Japanese Army copied the gun as the "Type 11" and used it from 1922 to 1945. French designs played a role in both world wars, but both reasons were largely forgotten over time.

Nonetheless, it was a remarkably effective battlefield artillery and one of many artillery systems of French origin to emerge from combat.

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