Fort Sill in Comanche County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

M51 Skysweeper 75mm Anti Aircraft Gun

Photographed By James Hulse, September 9, 2021

1. M51 Skysweeper 75mm Anti Aircraft Gun Marker

Inscription. The M51 Skysweeper project began in 1948 and was a significant evolutionary step in Air Defense Artillery. Anti aircraft guns had advanced steadily during World War II, utilizing radar and analog computers (known as gun directors) to lay an entire battery's guns on target. The Skysweeper was the first system that combined the radar and director on the gun mount into a single, integrated system. Coupled with two rotary magazines that allowed for rapid firing, the Skysweeper could track high speed targets and keep up a sustained rate of fire of 45 rounds per minute, twice that of the 90mm M2.

Skysweepers entered service in the early 1950s and were emplaced around US cities to defend against low altitude, high speed targets. However, due to the increasing capabilities of the Nike Air Defense systems Skysweeper was relegated to a secondary role by the end of the decade.

Caliber - 75 mm
Weight - 19,200 lb - 8,727 kg
Range - 14,764 yds - 13,500 m
Muzzle Velocity - 2,825 ft/sec - 762 m/sec
Elevation - (-6 to +85 degrees)
Rate of Fire - 45 rounds per minute

Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 319.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1948.

Location.

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34° 39.873′ N, 98° 23.107′ W. Marker is in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in Comanche County. Marker is at the intersection of Harry Road and Randolph Road, on the right when traveling east on Harry Road. The marker is located in the southeast section of Missile Park at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Sill OK 73503, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. MIM-3 Nike Ajax (a few steps from this marker); Lockheed X-7A1 Target Drone (a few steps from this marker); MIM-14 Nike Hercules (a few steps from this marker); Iraqi SZ-60 57mm Anti Aircraft Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Nike Hercules HIPAR Radar AN/FPS-71 Antenna (within shouting distance of this marker); Sprint Missile (within shouting distance of this marker); MIM-23 Hawk (within shouting distance of this marker); Soviet M1939 52-K 85mm Anti Aircraft Gun (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Sill.

More about this marker. The marker and museum are located on Fort Sill, an active military installation. The museum is open to the public, but appropriate photo identification is required for access to the post.

Also see . . . U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Submitted on September 24, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the M51 Skysweeper 75mm Anti Aircraft Gun and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, September 9, 2021

2. The view of the M51 Skysweeper 75mm Anti Aircraft Gun and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 377 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 23, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.