For some reason the M114 is my favorite 155mm Howitzer, it was fielded in 1942 and well into the 80's each Marine Artillery regiment had at least 8 Pigs that were traded out to the batteries to keep schooled on it. It is the only howitzer that I ever saw fire, so that might be the reason I favor it. [TABLE] [TR] [TD]Calibre[/TD] [TD]155 mm[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Barrel length[/TD] [TD](muzzle to rear end of breech mechanism) 3.778 m (excluding breech) 3.626 m[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Muzzle brake[/TD] [TD]no[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Recoil system[/TD] [TD]hydropneumatic[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Breech mechanism[/TD] [TD]stepped thread, interrupted screw[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Carriage[/TD] [TD]split trail[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Shield[/TD] [TD]optional[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Weight[/TD] [TD](travelling order) 5,800 kg (firing position) 5,760 kg[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Length[/TD] [TD](travelling) 7.315 m[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Width[/TD] [TD](travelling) 2.438 m[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Height[/TD] [TD](travelling) 1.803 m[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Ground clearance[/TD] [TD]0.229 m[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Track[/TD] [TD]2.07 m[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Elevation/depression[/TD] [TD]+63°/-2°[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Traverse[/TD] [TD](right) 25° (left) 24°[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Rate of fire[/TD] [TD](first 30 s) 2 rounds (first 4 min) 8 rounds (first 10 min) 16 rounds (per hour, sustained) 40 rounds[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Max range[/TD] [TD]14,600 m[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 30%"]Crew[/TD] [TD]11 View attachment 14894 View attachment 14895 View attachment 14896 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
My favorite too, Chutes. My dad was with the 949th FA BN during WWII, which fielded the M1 155mm Howitzer. Development of the 155mm Howitzer M1 began in the late 1930s, when the U.S. Army determined it needed a new medium field artillery piece to replace the WWI vintage Howitzer M1917. The Howitzer M1 first saw action in North Africa in 1942. Each infantry division had four field artillery battalions. The battalion HQ was equipped with three batteries each possessing 4 155mm howitzers. The other three light artillery battalions had a combined strength of 54 105mm howitzers. The 155 used separate loading ammunition comprised of four components: a projectile, a separate bagged propellant charge, a fuse and a primer. The propelling charge contained individual bags of powder, which could be stacked or reduced to adjust for range of fire. Projectiles were shipped in crates or pallets; the charge was packaged individually in fibre or metal canisters. The projectiles, weighing 95 lbs. each, had rings in the tip to assist in shipping; these were removed and replaced with fuses when ready to fire. The primers were placed in the breech of the gun for firing. The 155mm Howitzer typically fired 80% or more HE (high explosive) shells during the war. The piece could also fire smoke or white phosphorus shells as well. Over 4,000 of these howitzers were produced. A second version issued in 1944 and designated the M1A1, was made with strengthened steel and the brakes changed from electrical to air brakes. The Howitzer had a range of 16,000 yards, more than 3,000 yards farther than the M1917. The standard prime mover for the 155 was the Diamond T truck, but the M5 High Speed Tractor was also used when available. The 155mm Howitzer soldiered on through WWII, Korea and Vietnam. (compiled from various sources)
The 155mm - I think the classic artillery peice...destroy just about anything too. A handsome gun, made better looking by a well drilled team of gunners.
The current self-propelled 155 (M110 I believe) is a development of the M114. Besides being in a full-enclosed tracked vehicle, it has a longer barrel with more powder increments, thus longer range. The current version would probably be better described as a "gun-howitzer".
