Historic context :

Before WW1, Russia had two main artillery manufacturers, the Putilov and Obuchov companies. In 1900, the Tsar Nicolas II armies adopted the Putilov 76.2 mm Mle 1900 fieldgun with rubber recoil brake. The technological choices made for this gun, that was used during the Russia / Japan war and was still equipping some units in 1914, made it obsolete in a pair of years, so that it was soon replaced by the more modern '76.2 mm Mle 1902 fieldgun', born from an association between Putilov and the French Schneider Company in Le Creusot.

This modern gun was equipped with a quick manoeuvring Schneider breech (with interrupted screw and shutter panel). It used a hydro-pneumatic recoil recuperating system and was not, in its early version, equipped with a shield. This was added later on most of the guns, replacing the axle seats. The range was initially quite small (6,8 km), but was increased to 8,7 km by the use of a new ammunition.

The result of these modifications gave birth to a very good and modern fieldgun, able to compete with the German 7.7cm FK96 n/A fieldgun in 1914.

As numerous other Allied guns, many such guns were capured by the Alliance forces with their huge ammunitions stocks, and were used on the West Front by the Germans as fieldguns or converted into AA guns.

This gun was subject to numerous developments after the WW1, when the Soviet industry came slowly back in activity. Particualrly, one of the two 1930 versions (L/40) increased the range to 12300 m thanks to a barrel elongation from 30 to 40 calibres.

Technical data :

• Complete description : 76.2 mm fieldgun Schneider-Putilov M 1902
• Design year : 1902
• Calibre : 76.20 mm (3 in)
• Weight in firing position : 1040 kg (without shield)
• Weight for transportation :
• Tube length in calibres : 30.00
• Grooves : 28 (constant angle)
• Projectile weight : 6.58 à 7.45 kg
• Initial speed : 593 / 588 m/s
• Fire rate :
• Range : 6800 / 8750 m
• Elevation range : -6 to +17 degrees
• Direction range : 5.5 degrees range