Saint-Chamond-Mondragón
Field gun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Canon de 75 modèle 1915 Saint-Chamond also known as the Canon de Tir Rapide 75 mm St Chamond or the Saint-Chamond-Mondragón was specified in the 1890s by Mexican General Manuel Mondragón, designed mostly by Colonel Émile Rimailho, and produced by the French arms manufacturer Saint-Chamond. It was widely used by different forces during the Mexican Revolution.[3] It was also used in modified form to arm some of the French Saint-Chamond tanks deployed during the First World War.
| Saint-Chamond-Mondragón | |
|---|---|
 Saint-Chamond 75 mm gun in the IDF History Museum. | |
| Type | Field gun |
| Place of origin | Mexico |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1900-? |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Manuel Mondragón |
| Manufacturer | Saint-Chamond |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Firing: 1,090 kg (2,400 lb) Travel: 1,770 kg (3,900 lb) with limber |
| Barrel length | 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) L/28.5 |
| Shell | Fixed QF 75 x 253 mm R[1] |
| Shell weight | 7.2 kg (16 lb) Shrapnel 5.32 kg (11.7 lb) High explosive |
| Caliber | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Breech | Interrupted screw |
| Carriage | Box trail |
| Elevation | -8° to +17° |
| Traverse | 5° L/R[2] |
| Muzzle velocity | 550 m/s (1,800 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 6,500 m (7,100 yd) |
Israel purchased a number of pieces from Mexico in 1948[4] and used them in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Because of its Mexican origin, the gun was known in Israel as Cucaracha. Three surviving pieces are on display in Israeli museums: two in the Israel Defense Forces History Museum in Tel Aviv, and one in Beyt ha-Gdudim museum in moshav Avihayil.
