By Lasse Jensen

Last updated 10 April 2002

75mm Pack Howitzer M1(A1) on M1-M3A3 carriage.
 

General


Designer


75mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 on M1 carriage
Original Manufacture US Ordnance Dept.
Original Manufacture name 75mm Pack howitzer
Is this a license build gun? no
License Manufacture ~
Customer Aim Domestic Military
Prototype naming
Indented country naming USA, 75mm Pack Howitzer
Naming variants
reversion models
Licenses build variants
Export variants
Nature of weapon Light howitzer
Introduction date
First action date
Production time
Production number
Crew

Gun dimension

Caliber, bore 75mm (2.95inch)

Caliber, length/bore
Muzzle brake
Recoil system
Breech mechanism
Barrel length (all)  1.194m
Barrel length (ex breech)
Length of rifling
Twist of rifling
Barrel weight (all)
Barrel construction
Weight (firing position) 580kg
Weight (traveling order)
Length (firing position)
Length (traveling order)
Width (firing position)
Width (traveling order)
Height (firing position)
Height (traveling order)
Ground Clearance (towing)

Gun performers

    

Traverse Right 3°
Traverse Left 3°
Elevation +45°
Depression -5°
Ammunition types 6.241kg -HE
Maximum Range 8.925m -HE
Muzzle velocity 381m/s -HE
Charge weight
Rate of Fire - 30s ~
Rate of Fire - 4m ~15-25 rounds
Rate of Fire - 10m ~
Rate of Fire - 1h, sustained ~

Carriage

    

Name M1
Variants M8 (air), M2, M2A1, M3, M3A1, M3A2, M3A3, M116 (postwar)
Shield Yes, field version
Weight
Wheels (if any) yes
Tyres (if any) yes

Towing vehicle

    

Primary type
Trailer

 

History
The concept of Pack artillery was developed by the US Army and dates back to 1830. It was designed to be easily disassembled and transported by animal, thereby making it ideal for deployment in rugged terrain. 

At the close of World War I, the US Army began looking for a new Pack howitzer. After a relative short time-span development of a complete new equipment begun in the 1920ties. In 1927 it was released and adopted as the 75mm Pack Howitzer M1 on M1 carriage. 

The 75mm Pack howitzer was a light gun originally designed for transport by draft or pack animal. During World war 2 it was the standard gun used by U.S. mountain infantry and similar troops needing a light portable gun. An update of the gun was done in the 30'ties, which named it '75mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 on M1 carriage'. The M1A1 may be broken down into 6 loads for transport, the heaviest load weighing 100kg. It may be re-assembled by the crew in about 3 minutes.

Most Pack's was modified in the late 1930’s, with pneumatic tires. The howitzer was first used in combat in 1942 in the Philippines and proved very successful. The small howitzer proved overall efficient and reliable and was used by several regularly units using a jeep as the prime mover. The types of ammunition used by the Howitzer included an anti-tank round.

Several carriages was developed for the gun. The original M1 carriage, The Airborne M8 as well as field version M2, M2A1, M3, M3A1, M3A2 and M3A3. Given the gun the long and cryptically name '75mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 on M3A3 carriage'....need I say more!

The Field version is signifying heavier, about 980 Kg, do to that it uses a carriage designed for higher travel speeds, it also adds a gun shield to protect the crew. It was introduced in 1936, as was the M8 Airborne version.

Post-war this gun is name '75mm M1A1 Pack Howitzer on M116 Carriage'
More Pictures
75mm Pack How M1A1        
       
Unknown location        

References: 
Additional web resources.
Various web notes.

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