155 Howitzer M1918A3

155 Howitzer M1918A3. . A howitzer is a cannon featuring a comparatively short barrel, which is used especially for firing shells at a high angle of elevation in order to reach a target behind cover or in a trench. At the end of World War I, the U.S. Army retained 2,900 French-designed 155mm Schneider howitzers of both French and American manufacture. With its high rate of fire and superb accuracy, the Schneider stood out as one of the best medium howitzers of World War I., In the 1930s, the Army began modernizing its 155mm Schneider howitzers by replacing their wooden wheels with steel rimmed rubber tires and converting the French-built version to American standards. The modernized 155mm M1918 howitzer served as the principal howitzer at the division and corps level when World War Il began. The accurate and effective M1918 saw very heavy use in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and throughout the Pacific Theater. The M1918 continued in use throughout the war despite the introduction of the 155m Howitzer M1 in 1942. By the end of World War II, the elderly World War I howitzers were practically worn out, therefore the military declared them obsolete in 1945 and all were retired. , , This 155mm Howitzer M1918A3 was manufactured by American Brake Shoe and Foundry Co. of Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1918. This company took an order in August 1917 for 3,000 howitzers and by October 1918 was producing twelve a day. The company turned out its first howitzer in February 1918. The MT917A4 carriage was produced by the French in 1917. The howitzer was re-manufactured into the M1918A3 in 1941 by the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois. , Specifications: , Weight: 9,000 pounds , Range: 12,775 yards (7.25 miles) , Rate of fire: 5 rounds/minute in burst, 2 rounds /minute prolonged fire , Projectile Weight: 95 pounds , Ammunition: Separate loading high explosive, white phosphorus smoke, and chemical smoke, (captions) , U.S. Army troops load a 155mm howitzer during the enemy counterattack east of El Guettar, North Africa, 23 March 1943. (Department of Defense), On 28 July 1944, a 155mm howitzer took part in the initial Marine assault or Tinian in the Marianas. The island's capture was completed on 1 August after four days of fighting against the Japanese. (U.S. Marine Corps), At Arare during World War II just east of a major Japanese supply and staging point at Sarmi, a 155mm Howitzer M1918 was photographed firing on Japanese positions. (U.S. Marine Corps), U.S. Marines fired a 155mm Howitzer M1918A3 from a firing position on Arundel as the Japanese unsuccessfully attemp ad to reinforce their remaining garrisons in the New Georgia group of islands. (U.S. Marine Corps)