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

U.S. M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

1. U.S. M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage Marker

Inscription. With the great success of the M12 155mm Gun Motor Carriage (GMC) in Western Europe, by 1944 the Army was convinced that a new self-propelled gun was needed as the supply of old 155m guns used on the M12 had been exhausted. The new vehicle used the M4A3E8 Sherman tank chassis and could mount either the M1 155mm Gun or the M1 8-inch Howitzer. The M40 is the self-propelled version of the legendary 155mm "Long Tom". The first prototype was produced in July 1944. Tests were very successful with both gun and howitzer mounted. Production began in early 1945 with a total of 418 M40s manufactured by the Pressed Steel Car Company before production ended in late 1945. Two of the prototypes saw service during the attack on Cologne, Germany, but none of the production M40s made it into service during World War II. The M40 did see significant action during the Korean War where it proved to be an effective and powerful weapon.

Caliber - 6.1 in. - 155 mm
Weight - 80,000 lb. - 40,640 kg
Range - 25,715 yd. - 23,514 m
Shell Weight - 94.7 lb. - 42.96 kg
Muzzle Velocity - 2,899 ft/sec. - 883 m/sec.
Elevation - (-5 to + 45 degrees) -

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(-89 to + 800 mils)
Traverse - 36 degrees - 640 mils
Rate of Fire - 1 rpm - Crew 8
Maximum Speed - 24 mph - 38.6 kph
Cruising Range - 100 miles - 161 km
Engine - Continental R975 9-cylinder radial gasoline, 960 hp
CCN# 454827

Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 361.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Korean • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1944.

Location. 34° 39.984′ N, 98° 23.131′ 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 central 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. M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

2. The U.S. M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage Marker

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: Italian Semovente M149/40 Self-Propelled Gun (here, next to this marker); German 210mm Howitzer 18 (a few steps from this marker); Soviet M1938 122mm Field Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); Japanese Type 90 75mm Field Gun (a few steps from this marker); Soviet M1931 203mm Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); French GPF 155mm Gun, Model of 1917 (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. M1A1 Cannon and M3A1 Carriage Transport Wagons (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. M1 240mm Howitzer (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 Sill.

Also see . . . U.S. Army

The U.S. M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

3. The U.S. M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage

Artillery Museum. (Submitted on September 20, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 670 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 20, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.