Dutch 7-veld gun

This Dutch 7-field gun was under the command of Sergeant O. Kruithof of the Korps Rijdende Artillerie. ( Motorized Artillery Corps). The gun was positioned behind the barricade at the Vriesebrug in the Vriesestraat. The barricade was manned by the 7-field gun, an Anti-Tank Gun of the Wielrijders ( Bicycle Infantry ), and another heavy machine gun. Behind the barricade were Bicycle Infantery and Army Maritime Engineers for defense. On May 13, 1940, German tanks attacked the bridges in the city center of Dordrecht. Some bridges were raised, but this could not be done at the Vriesebrug. Here, a fierce battle ensued between the 7-field gun and the German tanks. The first German tank was hit by the 7-field gun. However, the second tank struck the gun with a hit.

Sergeant Kruithof recalled: “I then had it loaded again and aimed at the second combat vehicle, which had meanwhile opened fire on us. Again, I fired. I am not sure if this shot hit the target, as due to the raised sand from the excavated street by the exploding projectiles and also because my jacket had been set on fire, probably by a projectile (the tanks were firing tracer ammunition), I couldn’t observe the effect. For the third time, I tried to load, but Eijkelenberg was unable to open the breech block. It was stuck tight, and as I looked back to reach for the handle, which is on the left cheek of the carriage to open the breech with it, I noticed with horror that the number 3, Burgers, and the number 4, the unknown field artilleryman, who had been kneeling by the tail, lay stretched out on the ground bathed in their blood. A shell had killed them both.”