American Boomsticks: Part II

[Commander Waffle]

75mm... not too big considering what was used in that time...88,105...800...but it was still seen as a good weapon. The 75mm Pack Howitzer M1 (M116 Post-War) was main howitzer of US. It was designed in 1920s (thats why its a small caliber) to be easily moved through difficult terrain and broken down to be on pakc animals. This was used by airborne units, US Marines Corps, and other foreign untis. Becuase of its small caliber, it wasn't great feild artillery gun, but the Marines and Airborne loved it and its capability to be easily broken down. Some variations were put onto vehicles. It was alos put on as field units, but wasn't very effective, and only 349 units were produced throughout the whole war. The howitzer on the other hand was desired and requested...how do you...A LOT. The some 4,939 units produced say so, with nearly half of that produced in 1943.
Many variations of the carrage were designed, about 4. The ammunition it used, was simliar to the 105mm M3 and M2 howitzers. However, it was also able to fire another drill shell, to simluate HEAT-T rounds, and was able to fire chemical shells of Mustard Gas in WWI.
At American Legion Post #276 in Severn Maryland, there is an M116 used by the Marines (combat zone unkown) with the serial number "276"....which is kinda cool.


Makes you want on in your garage, don't it?

[TRDG]

I don't know much about this one C.W., thanks for the info, were they used more often in the Western front, or the Pacific one?

Cheers, thanks for another good topic!!

Tom