Help to Id. US artillery

[ROLAND1369]

if we go by the nav weapons entry which is a secondary source. I have no "official document" which confirms this association. as you see the turret/mount catalogue has no gun model association.

[yantaylor]

Rowland, have you ever come across a photo of the U.S. 75mm Howitzer on Carriage M3A3? I have seen the other variants but not this one, I have data saying that only 400 of these 75mm M3 (with gun shield) were produced, and that they got took over by the Cavalry.

Yan.

[ROLAND1369]

Here are two pics from army manuals of the 75 MM pack howirizer m1a1 on carriage M3A3, however the defining factor of the A3 designation was not the addition of the shield. The addition of the shile was the defining defination of the Carriage M3A2 and by extension the M3A1carriage of the 105 Howitizer which was developed from the 75 MM A2. Both had brackets for the shield attachment but were seldem if ever fitted. The defining feature of the M3A3 per Tm 9- 2800 was the addition of Combat Wheels with split rimms in place of ordinary truck rims.

[yantaylor]

Thanks Rowland, I think that pictures of the A1 in action are as rare as hen’s teeth.

Here is the difference in the stats that I for all three weapons;

M1A1 & M8;
Numbers Produced: 4.939 (both M1A1 & M8).
Weight in Transit: 667 kg (M1A1) 6.53 kg (M8).
Weight in Action: 573 kg (M1A1) 6.53 kg (M8).

M3A3;
Numbers Produced: 400
Weight in Transit: 1.073 kg.
Weight in Action: 1009 kg.

Ian.

[yantaylor]

Rowland, do you have any totals for the quad .50 MMGC M51? I have 10.000 for the quad .50 MMGC M55 but nothing for the M51.

Yan.

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

A blurry image of a 155mm M2 or M3 gun:
Any additional wartime image of one of these guns will be wellcome

Image from EBay
Sturm78

[yantaylor]

Hi Sturm, I have what looks like a 155mm M1918A1 Gun.

[Sturm78]

Thank you for your image, yantaylor, but I was looking for M2-M3 version. (M1917-1918 upgraded)

Sturm78

[yantaylor]

Its hard to make out Sturm, as you cannot see the wheels;

155MM.jpg (171.18 KiB) Viewed 1086 times

Yan.

[Sturm78]

Thank you, Yan

Is there any way to differentiate between the M2/M1917 and M3/M1918 ?

Sturm78

[yantaylor]

You are welcome Sturm, here is some data from the “Kodiak Military History Museum”

The M1917 was the original French-manufactured gun. It was termed "Grande
Puissance Filloux" (GPF), for "Great Power" and the name of the designer,
Filloux.

The M1918M1 was the American-made gun, which differed in some respects, especially the breech and firing mechanism.

Most M1917s had their breech and firing mechanisms replaced by the breech and firing mechanisms of the M1918M1. These modified M1917s were designated M1917A1s.

The original carriages, M1917 and M1918, were intended for very slow speeds, with two steel-bodied wheels carried on bronze hub liners. Each wheel had two solid rubber tires.

The carriages were modified for high-speed transport, with electric brakes and antifriction roller bearings for the wheels, and designated M1917A1 and M1918A1.

Later, most carriages were further modified with steel disk wheels, heavy-duty pneumatic tires, and airbrakes. The original semi-elliptic spring, on which the gun axle was suspended in the traveling position, was eliminated. These carriages were designated M2 and M3.

The GPF guns were superseded, but not entirely replaced, by 155 mm M1 and M2 guns, the "Long Toms." While production of the improved guns during the war was sufficient to replace all the GPFs, the new guns could not use the older ammunition, and shortages of projectiles for the Long Toms kept the GPFs in service until the end of the war.

Yan.

[Sturm78]

Thank you, Yan

....but How can I differenciate a M2 from a M3 in an image? Which were the changes in the breech and firing mechanism?

Sturm78

[yantaylor]

Sturm, a lot of this it outside my scope and I hate to let you down, but have a look at this my friend, maybe this will help you.

http://www.fortwiki.com/Category:155mm_Rifle_M1918MI

Yan.

[ROLAND1369]

As to IDing the differences between the m 1917/M2 and m1918/M3 I know of no reliable method. The only real difference is that the 17/M2 was manufactured in France while the 18/M3 was us made. I quote from the "Catalogue of Standard Ordinance Items of 1944" Guns M1917 and M1918A1, The differences between these models are superficial, and the breech mechanisms are interchangable." Enclosed is a pic of the 155 that was at the Fort Scott Museum.

[Sturm78]

Thank you for your answers, Yan and ROLAND1369

Regards Sturm78