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United States Field Artillery


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Over the years I've become more and more interested in two overlapping subjects for "armor" models: the Cold War and the field artillery. Recently, we're getting some truly awesome coverage in new kits (the variously announced M109 kits have me deciding it's time to finally build my closely-guarded cache of Italeri kits), but I find I've had only limited success in getting more information on this branch during the 1950s through the 1980s. So I thought a reference thread might be in order.

To get things started, some general and random queries:

What good books are available that touch on U.S. field artillery in the Cold War, that detail equipment, organization, and so forth? Anybody know of veterans' or organizational sites with lots of good photos?

Beyond this, what kits are available, beyond guns, that the artillery enthusiast or veteran thinks are good to have for the field artillery shelf? For example, what is the tractor/prime mover for the M198? Is that the M939 series 5-ton truck? If so, what modifications are necessary for the Italeri kit? Was the M35 series (available from AFV Club) used by the field artillery? Did batteries, or other units attached to Field artillery use things like M577s, M151s, HMMVWs, HEMMTs, or even M113s?

For dioramas, are there things we should know about crewmembers' practices, such as use of Nomex suits or flak vests?

How late was the classic World War II 105mm and 155mm howitzers used in regular, reserve, and guard units? Did the M-4 high speed tractor hang around that long, or did a truck take over pulling the -155mm?

Anyone know of a "must-have" source for converting an Italeri M109A6 kit into a FAASV?

In short, this thread can be a catch-all reference that will grow over time.

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Over the years I've become more and more interested in two overlapping subjects for "armor" models: the Cold War and the field artillery. Recently, we're getting some truly awesome coverage in new kits (the variously announced M109 kits have me deciding it's time to finally build my closely-guarded cache of Italeri kits), but I find I've had only limited success in getting more information on this branch during the 1950s through the 1980s. So I thought a reference thread might be in order.

To get things started, some general and random queries:

What good books are available that touch on U.S. field artillery in the Cold War, that detail equipment, organization, and so forth? Anybody know of veterans' or organizational sites with lots of good photos?

Beyond this, what kits are available, beyond guns, that the artillery enthusiast or veteran thinks are good to have for the field artillery shelf? For example, what is the tractor/prime mover for the M198? Is that the M939 series 5-ton truck? If so, what modifications are necessary for the Italeri kit? Was the M35 series (available from AFV Club) used by the field artillery? Did batteries, or other units attached to Field artillery use things like M577s, M151s, HMMVWs, HEMMTs, or even M113s?

For dioramas, are there things we should know about crewmembers' practices, such as use of Nomex suits or flak vests?

How late was the classic World War II 105mm and 155mm howitzers used in regular, reserve, and guard units? Did the M-4 high speed tractor hang around that long, or did a truck take over pulling the -155mm?

Anyone know of a "must-have" source for converting an Italeri M109A6 kit into a FAASV?

In short, this thread can be a catch-all reference that will grow over time.

The classic WWII 105 and 155 howitzer were a little different than what was used in Vietnam. But the Korean War era guns were basicly similar to the WWII stuff. They also used the M102 in Vietnam, and it was still a little different than what was used later. There are other differences that are not minor at all. As for a prime mover with a typical howitzer, it would have been an M54 till the advent of the "900 series platform". An M35 might have been up to the task for short smooth roads, but for the long haul it was always an M54. In Vietnam most guns were moved by air unless you were pretty close to where ever you were headed. I know of no M4 / M5 tractors used inthe Vietnam war, so I imagine they were pretty much gone by then. Vietnam was the war we learned to move things by air.

Nomex fire suits? Never saw anything like that, and I'm glad I didn't. In the heat we often shot without shirts, and many times just shot in a pair of shorts, boots, and a steel pot. Flak jackets were considered a no no between the trails unless you were trading fire with the neighbors. You wore nothing that might possibly catch or snag on anything for saftey issues alone. Some guys wore the black leather gloves issued to them (mostly 105's). What they used in ODS was different than earlier times, and I can only imagine what fun that was.

In WWII and Korea arty pretty much shot in a generic direction, but things were much different in Vietnam. You shot 360 degrees 75% of the time; no matter what you were using. A towed gun almost always shot that way, and only the big SPGs shot in a basic direction. But even they they would shift the gunabout 45 degrees in both directions. Towed guns (other than an M102) tended to shoot out of purpose built parapits. The M102 did as well, but didn't have the massive back stops like a 155 or even an older 105 did. Parapits for SPG's were a little different, but still similar in many ways. Towed guns were the real work horse in the Vietnam era. Also it was common for towed units to split into a couple different three gun units for mutual fire support in two different directions. I have seen them split into three two gun batteries, but not often.

gary

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Some answers....

...what is the tractor/prime mover for the M198? Is that the M939 series 5-ton truck? If so, what modifications are necessary for the Italeri kit?

Yes, the prime mover for the M198 was the M900 series 5 ton. The Italeri kit is fine how it is in setup to be a prime mover. The basic kit needs some work though. Check out my M198 and M923A1 build for more info: M923A1 build and in-process and done. Also, look at Pavel's article on it.

7ton_m198.jpg

Before the M900, it was pulled by the M800 series 5 ton.

m54a2_m198.jpg

In the late '90s, the standard 5 ton prime mover started becoming the M1083 5 ton FMVT. It was used with the M198 and is now used with the M777 Light Weight Howitzer.

fmtv_m1083_03_700.jpg

Was the M35 series (available from AFV Club) used by the field artillery?

Yes, it was the prime mover for the M102 105mm howitzer used from Vietnam up hrough the early '90s.

m102_sdyfgthd000.jpg

Did batteries, or other units attached to Field artillery use things like M577s, M151s, HMMVWs, HEMMTs, or even M113s?

Yes, all of these are used by artillery batteries and battalions. M577s are used as HQ vehicles, Fire Direction Centers, etc. M151s and HMMWVs were/are used as staff officer vehicles. HEMTTs are used as ammo trucks and general supply vehicles. M113s are used as maintanace vehciles in Armored and Mechanized divisions.

Also, HMMWV became the prime mover for the M102 and now is the prime mover for the M119 105mm howitzer.

78615be793a413dcf07fafe388de_grande.jpg

m119_sdyfgthd001.jpg

For dioramas, are there things we should know about crewmembers' practices, such as use of Nomex suits or flak vests?

Nomex was used from the late '70s on by SP arillery crewmen. It is the same gear as worn by armor troops. Flak vests are worn by most armored crewman and some light guys as well. SInce the early 2000s, pretty much all soldiers wear the IBA bulletproof vests.

Did the M-4 high speed tractor hang around that long, or did a truck take over pulling the -155mm?

During Vietnam, the prime mover for 155 howitzers was the M54 5 ton cargo truck. The M4 was retired from active service right after Korea.

id_m54_01_700.jpg

Anyone know of a "must-have" source for converting an Italeri M109A6 kit into a FAASV?

There is no kit or conversion of the US M992 FAASV. There was a Spanish M992 by Nemix, but it was not the same as the US version and it is now OOP. The Paladin can be converted into one, but the entire superstructure has to be scratched. You can see how I did it in-progress and done.

For a good rundown of available kits, check out this thread. Since this thread, Trumpeter has come out with a plastic M198. There have also been 3 different new M109s announced; AFV Club M109A2, Riich Model M109A6 Paladin w/full interior and engine, and Kinetic M109A2. Kinetic and Riich also have announced T136 M108/M109 tracks and T154 M109A6 Paladin track sets. Bronco has also come out with a series of 155mm M1A1/M114 kits, both a WW2 and a Vietnam version. Dragon and AFV Club have also come out with M101 WWII and Korean war 105mm howitzer kits.

Hope that helps.

Edited by HeavyArty
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in Vietnam most all arty units were over loaded with five tons, and there were probably a two to one ratio. Most all 105's move by air, and I probably didn't see a dozen being towed for the 15 months I was there. On a fire base we might move a howitzer out of the parapit to do something to the pit with an M35. Moving guns became a CH46 thing once they started building the heavy lift version. Before that we'd have to strip the gun to take 600 to 800 pounds out of the load. In Korea it was always towed via truck or tractor, but they couldn't go where the infantry wanted to place them (RVN) unless they moved by air.

gary

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Yes, in Vietnam, most artillery was moved by air (by helos) due to the lack of roads in the bush. However, the trucks were still the assigned prime movers (that is why the Arty BNs had so many trucks). Also, before and after Vietnam, the guns were still moved by the trucks. The same is happening in parts of Afghanistan now. The guns are being air inserted into fiebases by helo, but the trucks are still the prime movers and are usually consolidated at Bn base camps.

Edited by HeavyArty
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Yes, in Vietnam, most artillery was moved by air (by helos) due to the lack of roads in the bush. However, the trucks were still the assigned prime movers (that is why the Arty BNs had so many trucks). Also, before and after Vietnam, the guns were still moved by the trucks. The same is happening in parts of Afghanistan now. The guns are being air inserted into fiebases by helo, but the trucks are still the prime movers and are usually consolidated at Bn base camps.

you know Gino we learn a lot as we go thru time. You take armed combat to where it's happening, instead of waiting for it to come to you. In Iraq you probably could have taken an SPG or even a good truck most anywhere (now I'm just guessing). I can see where Afghanistan is a totally different deal as well. In Vietnam SPG's were pretty much limited to the first thirty five miles off the beach; with the exception of the very far north. I did do a road march cross country that went inland about sixty miles from the ocean, but even then we flew the pigs out. The advent of the CH46 was the real blessing to arty, and it literally made no place unaccessable. But the heavy lift version really changed things. Pulling a 12K howitzer behind a truck is hard on the chassis when going over rough or unimproved roads. It's even worse going cross country. A good part of this is that cannons lack a suspension system, and thus transfer this abuse to the frame and chassis of the tow vehicle. That's pretty much why most everything towed in RVN was with an M54 (yes I've seen a couple 105's being towed to ordanence via M35's), plus you could also load the bed up with whatever kinda stuff you needed. We never carried ammo with a truck towing a gun! Not even the firing lock went with the truck!! Plus at least one guy had a thermite grenade in his pants pocket (that was DIV. S.O.P.). I was taught the fine art of spiking the tube as well as destroying the carriage if and when that time came (never did thank you). You never get to pick your shooting position, as that comes from sombody you'll never get to meet, and really has no idea how your gonna get there. If you can tow, then you probably will (with an escort). But if it's a forty mile jaunt you'll fly out there. Had we been able to pick our shooting positions, they'd been right on the beach a couple hundred yards from China Beach

You had to have trucks matter what! Yes I was planted on hill tops that a truck couldn't move on, but then we either humped everything or moved it with a CH46 to exactly where we wanted it dropped. In my base camp we had four or five five tons and at least one M35. You mostly moved ammo in them and some other heavy things. In the rainy season you often get things bogged down, and have seen more than one howitzer pulled out of a parapit with an M113 to a dry place (if they happened to be close by). But never doubt that a 5 ton won't go thru mud! Just easier with a track.

gary

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  • 4 months later...

This thread's off to a good start, with plenty of good information. Thanks to all who've posted.

I've had HMMVW and M102 kits lined up to build into a set, but have never been able to get a decent photo of that rack above the HMMVW's cab. Periodically I've scoured the internet for such. Does anyone know where I can get a better look at that? Maybe a specific modeler's reference book?

m119_sdyfgthd001.jpg

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The Artillery Prime Mover HMMWV is the M1069. It is a heavy variant with beefed up suspension, larger (200 amp) altenator, heavier rear bumper with tow pintle, and the roof rack. The rack is a simple square rack with a rubber bushing that it is mounted on.

M1069%20Prime%20Mover%201.jpg

Here is a nice build of one that shows the rack and it's mounting points well. He didn't update the rear bumper though.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The Artillery Prime Mover HMMWV is the M1069. It is a heavy variant with beefed up suspension, larger (200 amp) altenator, heavier rear bumper with tow pintle, and the roof rack. The rack is a simple square rack with a rubber bushing that it is mounted on.

M1069%20Prime%20Mover%201.jpg

Here is a nice build of one that shows the rack and it's mounting points well. He didn't update the rear bumper though.

Very great help! I'm going to continue collecting sources on that combination. It seems to me that in 1/35th scale, the gun and the HMMWV make a nice display combination, too good to pass up.

Incidentally, I've always assumed that these guns were, by the 1980s and 1990s, limited essentially to the airborne (or air assault) units. Is this true, or were other artillerists also using the M102? Some sort of other light infantry units? the Marines?

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  • 2 months later...

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