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

U.S. 3-Inch Field Gun, Model of 1902

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

1. U.S. 3-Inch Field Gun, Model of 1902 Marker

Inscription. Introduced in 1902, this gun replaced the 3.2-inch Field Gun, Model of 1897, as the U.S. Army's standard light artillery piece for the Field Artillery. Slight modifications in the manner of production of the tube and breech mechanism resulted in the Models of 1904 and 1905. It is the first American designed breech-loading gun with an on-carriage recoil system. It used a hydro-spring system, which used both an oil-filled cylinder with a piston and springs to absorb recoil forces and to return the tube to the in-battery position. The M1902 saw service on the Mexican Border during the Punitive Expedition of 1916 against Mexican revolutionary Poncho Villa in 1916. When the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917, there were 544 of the 3-inch guns in service. The guns did not see action in World War I for the following reasons: the difficulty of manufacturing and shipping enough of the uniquely American ammunition to Europe, the availability and superiority of the French 75mm Gun, and lastly, they were needed for training in the U.S. This gun was made at Watervliet Arsenal, New York in 1904.

Caliber - 3 in. - 76.2 mm
Weight

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- 2,520 lb. - 1,143 kg
Range - 8,500 yds. - 7,772 m
Shell Weight - 19 lb. - 8.6 kg
Muzzle Velocity - 1,700 ft/sec. - 518 m/sec.
Elevation - (- 5 to + 15 degrees) - (- 89 to +267 mils)
Traverse - 7.8 degrees - 140 mils
Rate of Fire - 4-6 rpm
CCN# 119872

Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 020.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World I. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1917.

Location. 34° 39.976′ N, 98° 23.075′ W. Marker is in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in Comanche County. It is at the intersection of Corral Road and Randolph Road, on the right when traveling west on Corral Road. The marker is located in the eastern section of Artillery 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Oklahoma’s Kiowa Tribe,

in the Comanche Nation,

and in Southwest Oklahoma.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

The U.S. 3-Inch Field Gun, Model of 1902 is the first gun on the left of the two guns image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

2. The U.S. 3-Inch Field Gun, Model of 1902 is the first gun on the left of the two guns

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: U.S. 4.7-Inch Gun, Model of 1906 (here, next to this marker); U.S. 6-Inch Siege Howitzer, Model of 1908/1908M1 (a few steps from this marker); Czechoslovakian VZ 37 149mm Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); German 77mm Field Gun, M1896 (new pattern) (a few steps from this marker); German 105mm Field Howitzer, M1898/1909 (within shouting distance of this marker); British 25-Pounder Field Gun/Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); German K-18 170mm Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); 155mm Howitzer Model of 1917/18 (Schneider) (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Sill.

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

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

3. U.S. 3-Inch Field Gun, Model of 1902 Marker

Sill.

Also see . . . 3-inch M1902 field gun.

The 3-inch field gun M1902 (76.2 mm), a.k.a. M1904 and M1905, was the U.S. Army’s first nickel steel, quick-firing field gun with a recoil mechanism. Like its predecessor the 3.2-inch gun M1897, it was a rifled breechloader. Source: Wikipedia

(Submitted on February 10, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,525 times since then and 136 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 10, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.