The 75 mm Howitzer was introduced into American service in 1927. It was adopted for British service in 1944 with guns being supplied on Lend/Lease. The guns were used by 1st and 53rd Air landing Light Regiments, 159 Para Field Regiment, E Battery Raiding Support Regiment, 7th Mountain Regiment and a Battery of 85th Mountain Regiment. Various other units were issued the 75 mm Howitzer on a temporary basis. It was in use by the airborne artillery until the 1960’s.
Gun
Howitzer M1A1
Re-designed breech ring and block. Not compatible with the M1
Carriage
Carriage M8
M1 carriage fitted with steel disc wheels & pneumatic tyres.
Data
Weight of Gun & Breech mechanism
341 lbs
Total length
52 inches
Length of Bore
47 inches (16 calibres)
Rifling
28 grooves, uniform Right Hand 1/20
Breech mechanism
Horizontal sliding block, percussion fired
Elevation
-5º to +45º
Traverse
3º right & left
Recoil syystem
Hydropneumatic, constant 29 inches
Weight in action
1,339 lbs
Performance
Firing standard 14lb HE Shell
Muzzle velocity
1,250 feet per second
Maximum range
9,610 yards
Break down for pack use
Tube
Breech Ring, Mechanism & Wheels
Cradle & Top Sleigh
Recoil system & Bottom Sleigh
Front Trail
Rear Trail & Axle
Ammunition
Shell, HE, M48
Streamlined, nose fuzed & filled with 1.47 lbs of TNT
Shell, Chemical, M64
Similar shell body to M48. Central burster surrounded by chemical filling: White Phosphorus (WP) or Titanium Tetrachloride (FS)
Shell, HEAT, M66
Hollow charge shell with Base Fuze M62
Propelling Charge
Semi-fixed ammunition with 4 adjustable charges. The HEAT round was fixed ammunition with a single charge
