M116 howitzer

Infobox Weapon
name=75mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 on Carriage (airborne) M8


caption=
origin=US
type=pack howitzer
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=US
wars=WWII
designer=
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number=
variants=
weight=653 kg (1,439 lbs)
length=3.68 m (12 ft)
part_length=bore: 1.19 m / 15.9 calibers
overall 1.38 m / 18.4 calibers
width=1.22 m (4 ft)
height=0.94 m (3 ft)
crew=6 or more
cartridge=
caliber=75 mm (2.95 in)
action=
rate=3-6 rounds per minute
velocity=381 m/s (1,250 ft/s)
range=
max_range=
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal block
recoil=hydropneumatic, constant
carriage=box trail, dismantling
elevation=+5° to +45°
traverse=6°
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yield=
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The 75mm Pack Howitzer M1 (also known by its post-war designation M116) was designed in the United States in 1920s to meet a need for an artillery piece that could be moved across difficult terrain. The gun and carriage was designed so that it could be broken down into several pieces to be carried by pack animals. The gun saw combat in Second World War with the US Army (primarily used by airborne units), with US Marine Corps, and was also supplied to foreign forces.

In addition to the pack / air portable configuration, the gun was mounted on a non-dismantling carriage to serve as a field artillery piece. Derived vehicle mounted howitzers M2 and M3 were used in the 75mm HMC M8 and some LVT models. In addition, the M1 in its original version was mated to a number of other self-propelled carriages, though only one of those - 75mm HMC T30 - reached mass production.

Development and production

The 75 mm pack howitzer was designed in the United States in 1920s to meet a need for an artillery piece that could be moved across difficult terrain. In August 1927, the weapon was standardized as Howitzer, Pack, 75mm M1 on Carriage M1. Due to meager funding, production rates were low; by 1940, only 91 pieces were manufactured. Only in September 1940, a year into World War II, was the howitzer put into mass production. By then, M1 was succeeded by the slightly modified M1A1. The production continued until December 1944.Zaloga - "US Field Artillery of World War II", p 6-8.] Hogg - "Allied Artillery of World War Two", p 42.]

The only significant changes during the mass production period were carriage improvements. The original carriage M1 was of box trail type, with wooden wheels. Requirement for a lightweight howitzer for airborne troops led to introduction of the M8 carriage, similar except new wheels with pneumatic tires. Another requirement, from the cavalry branch of the US Army, resulted in a completely different family of "field howitzer" split trail carriages M3A1 / M3A2 / M3A3. However, only limited number of the M1 in field howitzer variant were built, due to cavalry's switch to self-propelled guns.

Notes

References

* cite book
last = Hogg
first = Ian V.
authorlink = Ian V. Hogg
coauthors =
others =
title = Allied Artillery of World War Two
publisher = Crowood Press, Ramsbury
series =
date = 1998
isbn = 1-86126-165-9
* cite book
last = Hunnicutt
first = R. P.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank
publisher = Presidio Press
series =
date = 1992
isbn = 0-89141-462-2
* cite book
last = Hunnicutt
first = R. P.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank
publisher = Presidio Press
series =
date = 1994
isbn = 0-89141-080-5
* cite book
last = Hunnicutt
first = R. P.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Half-Track: A History of American Semi-Tracked Vehicles
publisher = Presidio Press
series =
date = 2001
isbn = 0-89141-742-7
* cite book
last = Zaloga
first = Steven J.
authorlink = Steven Zaloga
coauthors =
others = illustrated by Brian Delf
title = US Field Artillery of World War II
publisher = Osprey Publishing
series = New Vanguard 131
date = 2007
isbn = 978-1-84603-061-1
* cite book
last = Zaloga
first = Steven J.
authorlink = Steven Zaloga
coauthors =
others =
title = US Airborne Divisions in the ETO 1944-45
publisher = Osprey Publishing
series = Battle Orders 25
date = 2007
isbn = 1-84176-118-2
* cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Technical Manual TM 9-319, 75mm Howitzer M1A1 and Carriage M8
publisher = War Department, 1948
series =
date =
isbn =
* cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Technical Manual TM 9-1320, 75mm Howitzers and Carriages
publisher = War Department, 1944
series =
date =
isbn =
* cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Technical Manual TM 9-1901, Artillery Ammunition
publisher = War Department, 1944
series =
date =
isbn =
* cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Technical Manual TM 9-2005 volume 3, Infantry and Cavalry Accompanying Weapons
publisher = War Department, 1942
series =
date =
isbn =
* cite web
title=History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II at HyperWar website
url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/
accessdate=2007-09-16
* cite web
title=The Marine Division at WW2Gyrene website
url=http://www.ww2gyrene.org/Division_structure.htm
accessdate=2007-09-16
* cite web
title=Anderson, Rich - "US Army in World War II" at MilitaryHistoryOnline website
url=http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/usarmy/default.aspx
accessdate=2007-09-16
* cite web
title=US Guns in UK Service at British Artillery in World War II website
url=http://members.tripod.com/~nigelef/gunsintro.htm
accessdate=2007-09-16