Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

75mm Field Gun, M2A2:

Photographed By James Hulse, December 2, 2021

1. 75mm Field Gun, M2A2: Marker

Inscription. During WW I, the United States Army ordered large numbers of the 75mm Field Gun, Model of 1897 (French), the famous "French 75." The weapons manufactured to U.S. specifications were converted to become the 75mm Field Gun, M1897A4 in the late 1920s. In 1933, the old single-trail carriage was replaced with a new split-trailed carriage, the M2.

The 75mm Field Gun, M2A2, was nearly obsolete in 1940, and was being relegated to a training role at the outbreak of WWII. A few saw service in the Philippine Islands and on Java against the invading Japanese. A stop-gap anti-tank weapon was produced by mounting the M2 in the M3 Half Track to become the Gun Motor Carriage, T-12. They continued to serve against the Japanese in the Pacific Theater until the end of WW II in that configuration.

• Manufacturer: Watervliet Arsenal
• Weight: 3447 lbs.
• Breech: Nordenfeld eccentric screw
• Recoil: hydropneumatic
• Carriage: split trail
• Elevation: -10 to +45 degrees
• Traverse: 60 degrees
• Ammunition: fixed
• High Explosive, projectile weight: complete round-18 lbs.
• Rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute
• Maximum Range: 14 miles

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for giants ...to serve well the guns!"
-Walt Whitman

Erected by National Museum of the Pacific War.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World I • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 30° 16.374′ N, 98° 52.02′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Austin Street and North Washington Street. The marker is located in the northeastern sectional of the National Museum of the Pacific War. There is an entrance fee to visit inside the museum but this marker is located on the outside grounds by the entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 311 East Austin Street, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Harry S. Truman (here, next to this marker); Franklin D. Roosevelt (here, next to this marker); John F. Kennedy (here, next to this marker); Dwight D. Eisenhower (here, next to this marker); Ordnance QF 25-Pounder Field Gun: (here, next to this marker); Lyndon B. Johnson (a few steps from this marker); U.S. 105mm Howitzer M2A1: (a few steps from this marker); Richard M. Nixon (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Also see . . .

The 75mm Field Gun, M2A2 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, December 2, 2021

2. The 75mm Field Gun, M2A2 and Marker

75 mm Field Gun M1897 on M2 Carriage.

The 75 mm Field Gun M1897 on M2 Carriage was a field gun and anti-tank gun which was used by the US Army during the interwar period and World War II. Source: Wikipedia

(Submitted on April 28, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.