Middlesex Township in Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Defender of Pusan
8 Inch Howitzer, M1
The 8 inch Howitzer was a large-caliber field artillery piece, which provided long-range fire support to Army combat units during World War II (where it was the first fielded in 1944), the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Cold War. Based on the British 8 inch Howitzer design, this heavy artillery piece was mounted on an M1 Carriage that was created to handle its excessive weight. When attached to a Heavy Carriage Limber, M2, the entire assembly was pulled by a Cannon Transport Wagon, M1. Improved upon throughout its service life to include other large field pieces and self-propelled versions, the 8-inch Howitzer was eventually employed within NATO forces as a method of firing nuclear projectiles. It remained in U.S. service into the 1990s.
"The 8 inch cannons were very impressive [and] accurate with good fire direction control. If fire direction control was good we could put the … shell in [the] opening of a bunker (target) six miles away!"
- Sergeant First Class Edward F. Brufke, Headquarters Battery, 17th Field Artillery Battalion
8 Inch Howitzer Range: 18,510 yards
Ammunition: High-Explosive (H.E.) Shell
Weight: 31,700 lbs.
Length: 40 ft.
Height: 8 ft. 6 in.
Width: 16 ft. 8 in.
Rateof Fire, Sustained: 1 round every 2 minutes
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Section/Crew: 24: Chief of Section, gunner, Ammunition, Corporal, 18 Cannoneers, Mechanic, 2 Drivers
[Captions:]
Artillerymen of the 17th Field Artillery Battalion fire their 8 inch Howitzer at incoming North Korean tanks, September 17, 1950.
Cannoneers of Battery A, 17th Field Artillery Battalion reload their 8 inch Howitzer after firing at Chinese positions in support of infantry units south of Chorwon, North Korea, June 10, 1951.
Erected by The United States Army War College; United States Army Heritage and Education Center.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Cold • War, Korean • War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is June 10, 1951.
Location. 40° 12.214′ N, 77° 9.476′ W. Marker is in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It is in Middlesex Township. Marker is on Army Heritage Trail south of Soldiers Drive, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carlisle PA 17013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Corporal Eugene C. Rivera (a few steps from this marker); Personal Courage (a few steps from this marker); "Tigers in Support" (within shouting distance of this marker); Revolutionary War
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 55 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 2, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
