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

Soviet D-44 85mm Field Gun

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

1. Soviet D-44 85mm Field Gun Marker

Inscription. The D-44 entered service with the Soviet Army in late 1945 as a multi-purpose weapon. It served as both a divisional field artillery gun and as a powerful anti-tank gun. Development of the D-44 began in 1943 and was derived from the gun on the famous T-34/85 tank. Also known as the D-48 and M-1945, this gun was used on towed, self-propelled mounts and as a tank gun. It has a vertical, sliding-wedge breech and a hydro-pneumatic recoil system mounted behind a splinter shield. An estimated 10,800 were produced from 1945 until 1953. With a crew of eight, the D-44 was capable of firing up to twenty rounds a minute. It is capable of both direct and indirect fire using a variety of rounds, including high-explosive and a number of different anti-tank rounds. In the 1950s, a variant called the SD-44 was introduced, which was fitted with a 14-horsepower auxiliary propulsion unit allowing the crew to drive the gun short distances at up to 15 mph on roads. The D-44 saw widespread service with Soviet satellite countries through the 1980s. This weapon was captured by the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War.

Caliber - 3.35

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in. - 85 mm
Weight - 3,795 lbs. - 1,725 kg
Range - 17,115 yds. - 16,650 m
Shell Weight - 21 lb. - 9.5 kg
Muzzle Velocity - 2,598 ft/sec. - 792 m/sec.
Elevation (-7 to + 35 degrees) - (-124 to + 622 mils)
Traverse - 54 degrees - 960 mils
Rate of Fire - 20 rpm
CCN# 107686

Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 520.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam. A significant historical year for this entry is 1945.

Location. 34° 40.015′ N, 98° 23.187′ 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,

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

2. Soviet D-44 85mm Field Gun Marker

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: "C-22" (a few steps from this marker); U.S. M109 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); U.S. M56 90mm Self-Propelled Gun Scorpion (a few steps from this marker); Dedicated to the Memory of SGM Ira Edward Whittaker (a few steps from this marker); "Killed in Action at FSB Rita, November 1, 1968" (a few steps from this marker); 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer, M109 (a few steps from this marker); Soviet D-20 152mm Field Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); U.S. M2A1/M101A1 105mm Towed 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 Artillery Museum.

The Soviet D-44 85mm Field Gun and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

3. The Soviet D-44 85mm Field Gun and Marker

(Submitted on February 18, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 585 times since then and 134 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 18, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.