Ordnance – M3 Howitzer
Should anyone wish to further research the 11th Airborne’s field artillery, the division constituted the 674th and 675th Airborne Field Artillery.
The 105 mm Howitzer M3 was a light howitzer designed for use by airborne troops. The gun utilized the barrel of the 105 mm howitzer M2, shortened and fitted to a slightly modified split trail carriage of the 75 mm pack howitzer. The howitzer was used by the U.S. Army during WWII. It was issued to airborne units and the cannon companies of infantry regiments.
The howitzer was designed to fire the same ammunition as the longer M2. However, it turned out that shorter barrel resulted in incomplete burning of the propelling charge. The problem could be solved by use of faster burning powder. Otherwise the design was considered acceptable and was standardized as 105 mm Howitzer M3 on Carriage M3. The carriage was soon succeeded by the M3A1, which had trails made from thicker plate. Even stronger tubular trails were designed, but never reached production.
The production started in February 1943 and continued until May 1944; an additional bunch was produced in April–June 1945.
Production of М3, pcs.[2] | |||||||||||
Year | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | Total | |||||||
Produced, pcs. | 1,965 | 410 | 205 | 2,580 |
The gun fired semi-fixed ammunition, similar to the ammunition of the M2; it used the same projectiles and the same 105 mm Cartridge Case M14, but with different propelling charge. The latter used faster burning powder to avoid incomplete burning; it consisted of a base charge and four increments, forming five charges from 1 (the smallest) to 5 (the largest).
In an emergency, gunners were authorized to fire M1 HE rounds prepared for the Howitzer M2, but only with charges from 1 to 3. M1 HE rounds for the M3 could be fired from an M2 with any charge.
HEAT M67 Shell had non-adjustable propelling charge. For blank ammunition, a shorter Cartridge Case M15 with black powder charge was used.
Available ammunition | |||||
Type | Model | Weight (round/projectile) | Filler | Muzzle velocity | Range |
HE | HE M1 Shell | 18.35 kg (40 lb) / 14.97 kg (33 lb) | 50/50 TNT or amatol* 2.18 kg (4 lb 13 oz) | 311 m/s (1,020 ft/s) | 7,585 m (8,300 yd) |
HEAT-T | HEAT M67 Shell | 16.62 kg (37 lb) / 13.25 kg (29 lb) | 311 m/s (1,020 ft/s) | 7,760 m (8,500 yd) | |
Smoke | WP M60 Shell | 18.97 kg (42 lb) / 15.56 kg (34 lb) | White Phosphorus, 1.84 kg (4.1 lb) | 311 m/s (1,020 ft/s) | 7,585 m (8,300 yd) |
Smoke | FS M60 Shell | 19.65 kg (43 lb) / | Sulfur trioxide in Chlorosulfonic acid, 2.09 kg (4 lb 10 oz) | ||
Smoke | HC BE M84 Shell | 18.29 kg (40 lb) / 14.91 kg (33 lb) | Zinc chloride | 311 m/s (1,020 ft/s) | 7,585 m (8,300 yd) |
* Amatol is a highly explosive material made from a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate. Amatol was used extensively during WWI and WWII.
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Mildred (Andrews) Andres – Baton Rouge, LA; US Army WAC, German Occupation, Sgt.
Patricia Delaney – Evanston, IL; US Navy WAVES, WWII, Lt. JG
Thomas A. Dennison – Lander, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII
John Jarvie – Rock Springs, WY; USMC, WWII, PTO / Korea, MSgt., Engineering, (Ret. 21 y.)
Theodore Lumpkin Jr. (100) – Angeleno, CA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, 2nd Lt., 100th Fighter Squadron, Intelligence; Lt. Col. (Ret.)
Davis Mosqueda – Boise, ID; USMC, Silent Drill Corps, LCpl.
Louis V. O’Brien – Providence, RI; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, 486/352 Fighter Group, 2nd Lt., pilot
Madge (Watkins) Redwood – Auckland, NZ; NZ Army WAAC, WWII, # 813240, 9th Coastal Regiment
Brian D. Sicknick – NJ; National Guard, Middle East, Sgt., / US Capitol Police, 1st Responder Unit
James Wento – Lynn, MA; US Army, SSgt., 2-2 Assault Helicopter Battalion/2nd Combat Assault
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Posted on January 11, 2021, in WWII and tagged 1940's, Airborne, Army, Artillery, family history, History, Howitzer, Military, Military History, Ordnance, Pacific War, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 59 Comments.
As always, thanks for the education, GP!
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No problem, Lavinia.
I hope you are no longer in danger of fires. Have you had any rain lately?
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We are in the rainy season now, and a big storm came through yesterday. The ground is plenty wet these days. We hope the mountain gets lots of snow pack to help with the annual dry season, which starts in July. Hopefully we will not have a year like last year.
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With fires out of the way for now, we’re back to just the usual threats, eh? We made it this far – we can hold out if need be!!
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Good golly, Miss Molly! Even the photos of those things feel loud. LOL.
Something different. Cool post, GP. Hugs on the wing!
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Thanks, Teagan! It’s always a pleasure to read your comments – I get such an elevated ego!!
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Wow! Sorry, how could i forget just this posting! A dream of me, to have such a great thing in my garden. 😉 You need not only use hardened bullets, some small cabbage would do best for the neighbours too. Lol Michael
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hahaha, thanks, Michael, I needed that!!
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Lol – Me too! :-))
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Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
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Thank you, Dave.
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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I appreciate your help, John.
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I am happy to do it.
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Redleg!! I trained on and fired both the M101(A1) (split leg) and the M102 (roller), (WAY back in the day) at Ft. Sill, OK. I never got to work on them, though. My duty stations were assigned 155mm towed (Ft. Lewis) and 8-in (SP) (in Germany). LoL! I still have a slight loss of hearing.
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I’m not at all surprised! Even in the movies, the sound and reverberation can not be accurately demonstrated. Thank you for telling us your story.
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Most of the time it’s not sooo bad because you know it’s coming, have your ear plugs in and you’re behind the guns. Imagine you’re in a foxhole, on perimeter guard duty, 50 – 75 or 100 yards in front of the battery (which may be four or six guns). You can feel the shockwave physically hit you. And you “really” can’t wear your ear plugs if you are trying to hear intruders… Of course, it was peace time, but still… Your ears can be ringing for hours to days, depending on the angles of fire, amount of powder charges, numbers of rounds shot, and proximity to the guns.
No, movies don’t do it justice. Even turned up to “11”. (That’s a “Spinal-Tap” reference…)
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Thanks for giving us your first-hand experience.
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Now I’m wondering about the big guns I see at various parks, or in front of VFW halls. The next time I see one, I’m going to stop and read the plaque that’s usually somewhere near, to see if it identifies the artillery. I may have met a Howitzer and didn’t know it!
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As much as you travel around… I’m sure you must have.
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2,580 M3 artillery pieces. I wonder how many survive? There must be some in museums and others long forgotten in Army buildings, but I bet the majority were melted down when peace came, plus one or two that went to the bottom of the sea without reaching the battlefield.
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I’ll bet you have it exactly right, John. Thanks for the visit.
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I’ve been trying to track them down. So far I’ve found about half a dozen surviving examples, everywhere from the US to Normandy to Belgrade. There is one M3 at the US Army Artillery Museum at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
It’s sort of personal for me – my Grandpa was section chief on an M3 during WWII before moving up to platoon sergeant.
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Keep at it, Jeremy. Your Grandpa will be very proud of you!!
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I hope he would be. He passed away in 1995, but I’ve been researching his service in WWII for years now.
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Interesting! I have heard of the Howitzer, but knew little about it.
Good to laugh at the humor! 😀
Always want to read the names out loud to honor them and their brave service.
(((HUGS)))
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Thank you for that!! 👍🪂
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You must know that all this information about ammunition is beyond my mind but I think it is wonderful that you have placed it here for those who understand and for future generations.
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I understand, Bev. I appreciate you stopping in, you’re a good friend.
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thank you.
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Thank you for the education on the M3 Howitzer
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Sure thing, Rick.
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I know nothing about guns and weapons…but I’m always curious about the photos of your father…Everett A. Smith…old photo albums…the faces the ages of the men…so young…be well GP thank you for sharing…I always learn more ☺️🙏 hedy
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Dad was young there, but about 28 years old…. 7-10 years older than the average paratrooper.
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My daughter is working with a woman who was 19 in Afghanistan…so young…layers to remember…I’ve been thinking about second generation trauma….heavy stuff but worth knowing more about … take care GP … appreciate your teachings 🤓🙏
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Leuke militaire humor. Maar vrees als die soldaten in de oorlog zo dicht bij de kannonnen stonden als op de foto,ze allemaal doof zijn geworden voor de oorlog gedaan was
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Præcis og mange kom hjem med høreproblemer. (Det gør de stadig i dag på trods af, at der bruges ørepropper).
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Thank you for more information about how things worked, GP.
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My pleasure, John.
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Interesting history, GP. Thanks.
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Thank you for stopping by, Jacqui!
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The sound of it can make you deaf.
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I’m not surprised
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It’s interesting to learn about things that worked, things that didn’t work and the changes men in the filed made to adapt. I can only imagine that having a gun and having ammunition (and having an enemy) was incentive enough for solving the problem.
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You think as logically as they did, Dan!
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In “The Siege of An Loc” I related how a South Vietnamese Airborne battalion was airlifted to Hill 169, followed by an Airborne artillery battalion with six 105 mm cannons. The Airborne troops chased away an enemy regiment, but then the North Vietnamese trained all the might of their Soviet made long-range guns onto the two battalions, destroying all six cannons and exploding their ammunitions. Both battalions suffered severe casualties. However, a month later the Airborne battalion was reconstituted with a mixture of new trainees and veterans. It fought its way back into An Loc and its battalion commander was the first one to shake hands with an old classmate who had been defending the city.
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Thank you for bringing that story!
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Gosh. I was with 1st Infantry, and the An Loc area was the site of some head-on action. I couldn’t resist putting in a scene from An Loc in my first book, “The Valley Walker.”
Saw your books on Amazon and put them on my to-read list.
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Interested in how our own experiences influence our reactions, when I saw that photo of the men firing the howitzer, my first thought was to wonder if they returned home with their hearing intact.
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Not usually.
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An interesting adaptation of a larger gun for use by airborne troops. My uncle served in the Far East during WW2 in the artillery, and they used dismantled ‘mountain guns’ carried into action against the Japanese on mules.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’ve even heard of naval guns being used in such cases – anything in a pinch, eh?!! A soldier has to know how to adapt.
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Yes, naval guns were used on land during the Boer War, and operated by sailors.
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Thank you for including that, Pete.
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Boom 😀 😀 love it!
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Cute one – thanks!
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Thank you, Ian.
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