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Post by mapmaster on Nov 14, 2009 9:59:28 GMT 8
Hi How close to solving a query, but never quite close enough, can one get? Here is a photograph of one of the assembled 75mm Howitzer M1A1 on Carriage M8 positioned somewhere on the southern side of the Corregidor Parade Ground. The wall and roof of several of the Senior Officers buildings can be seen on the left. The 'almost solved' is there appears to be a part of a Paracrate laying in front of the artilleryman on the right. The item appears to be the rear reinforcing piece for the front trail assembly out of Paracrate Load M2. The artilleryman is looking directly over the top of the reinforcing piece in front of and slightly to his left. Unfortunately, The Paracrate M2 was standard to all loads whether wood, steel or aluminum. Of interest also is one of the artillerymen is carrying a Colt revolver. Regards mapmaster
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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 21, 2009 8:24:33 GMT 8
Hi Everyone To round off the information I have been able to find on the 75mm Howitzer, here are images of the various models with major differences illustrated. 75mm Howitzer M1 or M1A1 on Carriage M1 The was the original late 1920s model that could be towed by a team of horses or broken into 300lb packs for mule transport. The difference between the M1 and M1A1 Howitzer was in the design of the breach ring and block. 75mm Howitzer M1A1 on Carriage M8 This was the M1A1 Howitzer on the M8 Carriage. The Carriage M8 was the same as the Carriage M1, however the new carriage axle was equipped with steel wheels, tapered wheel bearings and rubber tyres. So, the Carriage M8 was modified for high speed towing. It was this model that was dropped with the 462nd PFA Bn onto Corregidor in 1945. Traversing mechanism of the 75mm Howitzer M1A1 on Carriage M8Traverse was achieved by moving the axle in relation to the carriage. Common to both the M1 and M8 Carriages. 75mm Howitzer M1A1 on Carriage M3A3The latter models of carriage were the M3A1, M3A2 and M3A3. These carriages were split trail type with a firing pedestal under and in front of the axle. The carriage is fitted with stub axles and wheels with rubber tyres. Carriages M3A1, M3A2 and M3A3 could not be broken down into Paracrate loads. Carriage M3A2 was the same as the Carriage M3A1, but with shields. Carriage M3A3 is the same as Carriage M3A2 but with combat wheels. 75mm Howitzer M1A1 on Carriage M3A3 from the rearCarriage M3A1, M3A2 and M3A3 were fitted with top carriage traverse as evident by the traverse hand wheel on the left side of the carriage. The 75mm Howitzer M1A1 saw service from the late 1920s until the 1960s. The Carriage M8 was intended for dismantling into parachute loads, but was also intended to be carried in gliders with a jockey wheel near the carriage spade. Of interest is the howitzer entered British service for parachute operations use in 1944. However, the howitzer was not dropped as a Paracrate loads. It was parachuted as an assembled howitzer on a pallet supported by four parachutes. This load was carried by RAF heavy bombers and dropped from the bomb bay. Regards mgk
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