Help to Id. US artillery

Discussions on all aspects of the United States of America during the Inter-War era and Second World War. Hosted by Carl Schwamberger.
Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#931

Post by Sturm78 » 30 May 2020, 14:34

CharlieC wrote
bit later than that - the experiments in tracked carriages for field artillery seem to have been around 1921-22. The idea was to reduce the ground pressure of the field piece so that it became possible to tow over soft ground. With tracked artillery tractors it was possible to tow guns over soft ground but they could be damaged if the wheels dug it. One of the earliest examples of tracked carriages were the ex-USN 7inch guns produced before
on land carriages (http://landships/landships/artillery_ar ... _Mk_2.html). I've attached an image of the tracked carriage for the 155mm M1918 (GPF) gun, I had not seen an image of the equivalent carriage for the 8inch howitzer.
Thanks, Charlie

Sturm78

CharlieC
Member
Posts: 170
Joined: 17 Jan 2010, 06:47
Location: Australia
Contact:

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#932

Post by CharlieC » 02 Jun 2020, 01:02

Opinions on this artillery piece please...

Any ideas on when and where? What are the letters painted on the back of some of the gun crews' uniform about?

The image in the image collection of the National WW1 Museum. I guess many of the coastal artillery guns' service spanned WW1
even though they saw no action.

Regards,

Charlie
Attachments
198513924.jpg


Richard Anderson
Member
Posts: 6349
Joined: 01 Jan 2016, 22:21
Location: Bremerton, Washington

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#933

Post by Richard Anderson » 02 Jun 2020, 02:08

They are the Cannoneers, who were numbered from 1 to X depending on the piece. They did the grunt work on the gun. Otherwise the Gun Section typically consisted of the Gun Commander, the Gun Pointer, the Chief of Breech, the Range Setter, the Range Display Board Operator, the Azimuth Board Operator, the Range Recorder, and the Azimuth Recorder, among others.
Richard C. Anderson Jr.

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell

CharlieC
Member
Posts: 170
Joined: 17 Jan 2010, 06:47
Location: Australia
Contact:

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#934

Post by CharlieC » 02 Jun 2020, 14:28

Does a 12inch Disappearing gun at Fort Monroe sound plausible? I came across another image of a 12inch gun firing, it looked much like the one
I posted.

Regards,
Charlie

Richard Anderson
Member
Posts: 6349
Joined: 01 Jan 2016, 22:21
Location: Bremerton, Washington

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#935

Post by Richard Anderson » 02 Jun 2020, 17:58

CharlieC wrote:
02 Jun 2020, 14:28
Does a 12inch Disappearing gun at Fort Monroe sound plausible? I came across another image of a 12inch gun firing, it looked much like the one
I posted.

Regards,
Charlie
Both Battery DeRussy and Parrott has 12-inch DC at Fort Monroe. It's been over ten years since I lived there, so I'm not sure which one might be in the photo. :D
Richard C. Anderson Jr.

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell

ROLAND1369
Member
Posts: 1403
Joined: 26 May 2007, 16:22
Location: USA

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#936

Post by ROLAND1369 » 02 Jun 2020, 23:17

Not a 12 but a 10 inch gun M 1888 on a carriage DC LF M1896. Based on an assumption that this is Ft Monroe and the configuration of the emplacement I would give a 90% assurance that this is the No 2 emplacement of Battery Church, Ft Monroe. I would have to dig out my old photos to confirm this.

Richard Anderson
Member
Posts: 6349
Joined: 01 Jan 2016, 22:21
Location: Bremerton, Washington

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#937

Post by Richard Anderson » 03 Jun 2020, 00:07

The Gun Man to the rescue! Thanks! I wouldn't know the two apart without some serious research. I've long wondered, are you a CDSG member?
Richard C. Anderson Jr.

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell

ROLAND1369
Member
Posts: 1403
Joined: 26 May 2007, 16:22
Location: USA

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#938

Post by ROLAND1369 » 03 Jun 2020, 16:24

Yes, I have been a member since the early 80s. The primary point of identification of the 10 inch M 96 is the raised circular lower portion of the carriage which projects over a foot above the concrete floor of the gun pit. The 12 inch m 97 and 1901 carriages have a metal working platform which is level with the concrete floor of the pit. As for the 10 Inch M1888 gun I know of no other mounted on the 10 inch M 94 or M 96 carriages. As to the battery Id the picture shows an angled concrete roof over the upper ammunition hoist. As battery Church was equipped with a tunnel type also unique to this battery it is pretty conclusive.

ROLAND1369
Member
Posts: 1403
Joined: 26 May 2007, 16:22
Location: USA

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#939

Post by ROLAND1369 » 03 Jun 2020, 16:30

If you go to Google Earth and bring up the overhead view of Bty Church you will see the angled roof on the left hand gun pit.

Richard Anderson
Member
Posts: 6349
Joined: 01 Jan 2016, 22:21
Location: Bremerton, Washington

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#940

Post by Richard Anderson » 03 Jun 2020, 19:35

ROLAND1369 wrote:
03 Jun 2020, 16:24
Yes, I have been a member since the early 80s.
I suspected as much. Wonderful repository of information. I have a special place in my heart for the CAC, since my Dad was first commissioned as a 2d Lieutenant CAC. :D
Richard C. Anderson Jr.

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#941

Post by Sturm78 » 03 Jun 2020, 22:48

Here, a better quality version of your image, Richard.

10in gun, Ft. Monroe, June 1918

Sturm78
Attachments
254mm 10in gun on disappearing carriage at Fort Monroe, Virginia, June, 1918---.jpg

CharlieC
Member
Posts: 170
Joined: 17 Jan 2010, 06:47
Location: Australia
Contact:

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#942

Post by CharlieC » 04 Jun 2020, 00:09

Thank you all for your help.

Regards,

Charlie

ROLAND1369
Member
Posts: 1403
Joined: 26 May 2007, 16:22
Location: USA

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#943

Post by ROLAND1369 » 04 Jun 2020, 00:18

That larger picture confirms the location. The pillbox looking thing(actually and emergency fire control station) on the far parapet confirms that this is Bty Church.

ROLAND1369
Member
Posts: 1403
Joined: 26 May 2007, 16:22
Location: USA

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#944

Post by ROLAND1369 » 04 Jun 2020, 00:24

#940

Post 03 Jun 2020 18:35 Are you a member also? I have no family connection with the Coast Artillery, father was Air Force, and in my 33 years Army service artillery was one of the few combat branches I missed. Just got fascinated by the early application of such advanced technology.

Richard Anderson
Member
Posts: 6349
Joined: 01 Jan 2016, 22:21
Location: Bremerton, Washington

Re: Help to Id. US artillery

#945

Post by Richard Anderson » 04 Jun 2020, 01:20

ROLAND1369 wrote:
04 Jun 2020, 00:24
#940

Post 03 Jun 2020 18:35 Are you a member also? I have no family connection with the Coast Artillery, father was Air Force, and in my 33 years Army service artillery was one of the few combat branches I missed. Just got fascinated by the early application of such advanced technology.
No, I've never joined, but I probably should. I live in Bremerton now, so have east access to Worden, Casey, and Flagler.
Richard C. Anderson Jr.

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell

Post Reply

Return to “USA 1919-1945”