75MM Pack Howitzer | Ordnance TSF: An Inside Look

[@wesleythomas1594]

This weapon you have in your collection is not the pack howitzer you think it is: this is actually the much, much rarer 75mm field howitzer M-1 or M-1A1 on field carriage M-3A1, which indeed was designed to replace the 75mm M-1897A4 field gun in the two new motorized cavalry divisions as a direct support weapon. Only 349 of these guns were built (another source states only 125 complete equipments were ever built) apparently, as compared to almost 5,000 M-1 series pack howitzers on the M-1 or M-8 carriages, and most of these ended up being supplied to the Nationalists in China. The M-3A1 carriage was equipped with the split trails you see here as well as a folding down firing jack to aid in stabilizing the gun in action (this is the girder type feature folded up below the recoil system), as well as the equilibrators, all features the pack howitzer on M-1 or M-8 carriages lacked. The M-1 and M-8 carriages both had characteristic folding box trails so they could be easily broken down for use in mountainous terrain. Also it is notable how much wider this carriage was than either the M-1 or M-8 carriages of the M-1 series pack howitzers. This was for stability while being towed behind a vehicle. The majority of these howitzers were built in 1941 (234 equipments). The M-3A2 carriage had a shield added and the M-3A3 was the same but was fitted with more rugged bolted split rim “combat” tires. The wheels on this example are actually incorrect, they are from an M-8 carriage; the original wheels would have been slightly larger 2 or 6 holed Budd disc wheels with commercial car or truck tires.

[@brianbranson2306]

so does anyone on the planet know what happened to Ft. Carson's complete pack rig ?

[@ClarenceCochran-ne7du]

I was going to say the carriage is a lot different than the De-Milled M1A1 we have in front of our VFW Lodge in Flagler, CO. This is a much heavier carriage. The original M1A1 was designed to be broken down and carried by 9 mules, where there were no roads only paths.

[@MakeMeThinkAgain]

I see that this gun (M116) was also used on the M8 gun motor carriage. The perfect little howitzer to place on a light tank chassis.

[@robertomaricruz6026]

It's an M1-A1 actually

[@99Racker]

As you said, "a classic." Thanks for the video.

[@fxdpntc]

The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast brought me here. Apparently these howitzers were used to great effect, defending Edison’s Ridge, on August 12-14, 1942, during the Battle for Guadalcanal.

[@zacharybunting3637]

@01:56 >Man packed. >1,300#/ 6 sections That gives you ~217# per man plus assumed partial combat load. Assign 2 men per disassembly? Assume barrel is heaviest yet least bulky. Springs and gears probably suck. How much longer is time to employ and disperse in 9 sections?

[@andrewsteele7663]

Thanks, that was really interesting, cheers

[@alecharper515]

Interesting. Thanks, General. I am currently reading Fenelon's book entitled, Four Hours of Fury; the story of the US Army's largest airborne invasion into Nazi Germany. They mention this field artillery piece.

[@michaelbevan3285]

That's not the same carriage as the original 75mm pack howitzer. this is a permanently fitted carriage for fast road towing.

[@mp-lv8bw]

Can you feature the Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34?

[@linnobery6573]

Would be interesting to see an example broken down into its 6 parts - get a feeling for man-portability

[@toddnesbitt3113]

Salute, with a Roy Clark accent…think we all like arty.

[@daveh188]

Dad was a Marine artilleryman in the Pacific in WWII. He was trained on this and was told it was designed to be hauled by mules. He later found out Marines were used as mules. He and another guy walked the 200 pound barrel thru fire in the surf on the murderous approach to Tarawa. He told me they gave the Marines all the safety and protection the people of the United States.....could put into a khaki shirt. Semper Fi

[@jacklalaing169]

Being such a great system, why is it obsolete?

[@West_Coast_Mainline]

75mm > everything else

[@samueljackson6188]

Shit, slap that on a humvee and the troops will love you. Especially if you put that system at the company level. Then disperse it along the line. No more begging for fire support. Because you got your support right there with you. Let me know what you think.

[@charlesvaughan3517]

1300÷6=216.6 ibs. That's heavy af for man portable. Must still roll... i guess

[@มดแดง-ฃ3ข]

ฉันเข้าใจว่ามีระบบเรดาร์ที่ตามวิธีกระสุนณจุดตกอยู่แล้วแต่เราอยากเห็นภาพจริงๆ

[@Orlosthedruid]

The loss of this weapon system from inventory is a God D@mn shame. If the carriage was upgraded and the sights, if the ammo was reworked and made up to date...there is nothing the infantryman would love more than to have this at his back, chewing the faces off enemy TIC. I am incensed that we walked away from this weapon system.....stupidity is the only reason that truly makes sense.

[@Orlosthedruid]

BTW, I was also in the 3rd ACR...BRAVE RIFLES !!

[@alexandroszoumpos7984]

Δεν μπορώ να ξεχάσω τον ξερό εκκωφαντικό κρότο που έκανε αυτό το πυροβόλο! Αν θυμάμαι καλά διότι έχουν περάσει + 30 χρόνια από τότε είχε βεληνεκές σχεδόν 7-8 χιλιόμετρα. Δυστυχώς ο στρατός μας, δεν μας χορηγούσε ωτοασπιδες οι οποίες ηταν απαραίτητες για τις βολές με αυτό.

[@ethangregg702]

Aww jake

[@schrodingerscat6437]

All that rank and all those recorses that he can draw from and he cant be bothered to get a microphone thats not part of a crappy camera

[@BuddyLee23]

Bah, I think it was great. It should leave you feeling like you were part of a live audience and not watching some polished production. :)