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

U.S. 8-Inch Howitzer, M1/M115

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

1. U.S. 8-Inch Howitzer, M1/M115 Marker

Inscription. The 8-inch Howitzer was known as a very accurate artillery piece that delivered a shell weighing over 200 lbs. The Westervelt Board findings of 1919 made the existing 155mm Gun and 8-Inch Howitzer systems inferior in range, traverse and elevation. The Ordnance Department found that the stresses of firing were similar in both the 155mm Gun and the 8-Inch Howitzer. Consequently, it was decided that the new systems would use the same carriage. The resulting system was the 155mm Gun, M2, and the 8-inch Howitzer, M1, which served the U.S. Army through World War II and the Korean War. The 8-Inch Howitzer rapidly gained a reputation for extreme accuracy throughout its range. Its dual-tired, double-bogie axle provided excellent cross-country mobility and was usually towed behind a 6 X 6 truck with a limber or with a tracked vehicle without the limber. In firing position, the wheels were jacked up and the entire carriage rested on the ground. Recoil energy was transferred to the ground by four spades, two at the end of the trails and two behind the carriage. The 8-Inch Howitzer, M1, remained in service after WW II. Consequently,

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it was given a "Century" number and became the M115.

Caliber - 8 in. - 203 mm
Weight - 32,005 lbs. - 14,515 kg
Range - 18,510 yds. - 16,937 m
Shell Weight - 203 lbs. - 90.7 kg
Muzzle Velocity - 1,950 ft/sec. - 595 m/sec.
Elevation - (-2 to +65 degrees) - (-36 to 1155 mils)
Traverse - 60 degrees - 1,066 mils
Rate of Fire - 1 rpm
CCN# 111553

Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 290.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Korean • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 34° 39.996′ N, 98° 23.099′ 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,

The U.S. 8-Inch Howitzer, M1/M115 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

2. The U.S. 8-Inch Howitzer, M1/M115 and Marker

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

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: German 88mm Anti-Aircraft 36 Gun (a few steps from this marker); U.S. M43 8-inch Howitzer Motor Carriage (a few steps from this marker); German Heavy 10cm K-18 Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); French GPF 155mm Gun, Model of 1917 (within shouting distance of this marker); German K-18 170mm Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); German 150mm Heavy Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. M1 4.5-inch Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); German LG 42/1 105mm Airborne Recoilless Gun (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

The side view of the U.S. 8-Inch Howitzer, M1/M115 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

3. The side view of the U.S. 8-Inch Howitzer, M1/M115

museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access for Fort Sill.

Also see . . . U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Submitted on March 13, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,595 times since then and 158 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 13, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.