The 155 mm Howitzer M1 was a field artillery piece used by the US Army during World War II, Korean and Vietnam War. It was introduced in 1942 and it would be re-designated M114 in the 1960s. It was developed in the late 1930s as a replacement for the French 155mm M1918 Schneider, which had a limited traverse of only 3 degrees.
The 155-mm Howitzer M1 was one of the most massively used field artillery piece both in World War II and Korea. It was also used by the US Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater. When the Allies landed on Normandy on June 6, 1944, every US Army infantry division was equipped with this howitzer. Although it could be towed by trucks, the preferred method of towing was the M5 tractor.
The barrel and cradle of the 155 mm Howitzer M1 were mounted on the Carriage M1, which was a two-wheel, split-trail type. It was fitted with interrupted screw breech and hydro-pneumatic recoil system. It fired 6.8-kg high explosive shells to a maximum distance of 14,600 m (16,000 yards).
Specifications
Type: howitzer
Caliber: 155mm (6.10 inch)
Shell: separate loading.
Weight: 5,600 kg (12,300 pounds)
Barrel Length: 3.79 m (12 feet, 5 inches)
Breech Type: interrupted screw
Elevation: -2 to +63 degrees
Traverse: 25 degrees left or right
Muzzle Velocity: 563 m/s (1,847 ft/s)
Maximum Range: 14,600 m (16,000 yards)
Below, the 155-mm Howitzer M1 of the 20th Field Artillery Battalion, 4th Infantry Division in action, in St Lo, France, in July 1944.
The 15mm Howitzer M1 crew shows the standard loading during drills in Washington DC, in 1942.
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