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

U.S. M56 90mm Self-Propelled Gun Scorpion

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

1. U.S. M56 90mm Self-Propelled Gun Scorpion Marker

Inscription. The M56 Scorpion was developed to provide American Airborne forces with a mobile, self-propelled, anti-tank gun that could be transported by helicopter or dropped by parachute. A total of 325 Scorpions were manufactured from 1953 to 1959 by the Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors of Cleveland. The vehicle was fielded with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. It went on to see combat service during the Vietnam War with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. With a crew of four (commander, gunner, loader and driver), the M56 was a fully tracked vehicle with rubber-tired, run-flat road wheels. The M56 was given a pneumatic tire arrangement that further served to lighten its combat weight. One of the drawbacks of the M56 design was that the crew sat completely exposed to the elements and critically exposed to battlefield dangers. The commander sat on top of the radio, and the loader's seat was on top of the right fender stowage box, leaving the gunner and driver as the only crewmen "in" the vehicle. The only protection was a forward fragmentation shield. During firing, the front of the vehicle would kick up violently usually

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obscuring the Scorpion in a cloud of dust.

Caliber - 3.5 in. - 90 mm
Weight - 15,750 lbs. - 7,144 kg
Range - 1,640 yds. - 1,500 m
Shell Weight - 42 lbs. - 19 kg
Muzzle Velocity - 2,700 ft/sec. - 823 m/sec.
Elevation (-10 to + 15 degrees) - (-178 to +267 mils)
Traverse - 60 degrees - 1067 mils
Rate of Fire - 20 rpm
Maximum Speed - 28 mph - 45 kph
Cruising Range - 140 miles - 230 km
Engine - Continental AOI-402-5, 6-cylinder, 4 cycle, opposed, fuel injected gasoline, 200 hp, Allison CD-150-4 Transmission
CCN# 105453

Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 540.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam. A significant historical year for this entry is 1953.

Location. 34° 40.006′ N, 98° 23.19′ 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,

The U.S. M56 90mm Self-Propelled Gun Scorpion and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

2. The U.S. M56 90mm Self-Propelled Gun Scorpion and Marker

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 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. MGM-29 Sergeant Missile (a few steps from this marker); Soviet D-44 85mm Field Gun (a few steps from this marker); U.S. M44A1 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); U.S. MGM-31A Pershing IA Missile (a few steps from this marker); U.S. T-162 175mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); U.S. M2A1/M101A1 105mm Towed Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); "C-22" (within shouting distance of this marker); Soviet M1973 (2S3) 152mm Self-Propelled Gun/Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort

The front view of the U.S. M56 90mm Self-Propelled Gun Scorpion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

3. The front view of the U.S. M56 90mm Self-Propelled Gun Scorpion

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

The side view of the U.S. M56 90mm Self-Propelled Gun Scorpion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

4. The side view of the U.S. M56 90mm Self-Propelled Gun Scorpion

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 599 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 18, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.