Dampfgeschützt

Dampfgeschützt refers to a system of artillery used during World War I, primarily by the German military. The term translates to "steam gun" or "steam cannon" in English. This system employed a steam-powered mechanism to accelerate projectiles, allowing for rapid firing rates and increased accuracy.

The Dampfgeschützt system consisted of a tracked or rail-mounted artillery piece, similar in design to the standard German field guns of the time, such as the 7.7 cm FK 16 and the 10.5 cm leFH 16. A steam boiler was added to the gun carriages, providing the required energy to propel the projectiles.

Steam pressure was used to drive a piston and a mechanism that propelled a shell at high velocity. This resulted in a firing rate significantly higher than conventional artillery pieces of the era. Although precise figures for the firing rate vary, estimates range between 10 to 15 rounds per minute.

The introduction of the Dampfgeschützt system was part of the ongoing developments in artillery technology before and during World War I. Germany developed steam-powered artillery systems, alongside other innovations like rapid-fire cannons. The effectiveness of these steam-powered artillery pieces ultimately ranged from the subjective assessments of observers in reports from different theatres of operation.

Historical records on the battle performance of the Dampfgeschützt system are limited, and much of what is known about its operational capabilities and effectiveness depends on secondary sources and reports from units that employed it.