In December 2020, on the occasion of the restoration by Military Classic Vehicles of an M5 High speed tractor and its 155mm M1 howitzer, intended for the collection of Mr. Christian Dours, the Lorraine Cross Guys had the opportunity to discover this superb set, its characteristics and its setting in battery. With the support of period photos and research work from WWII Artillery Support, participants were able to put themselves in the shoes of a “155mm Howitzer Section”.
Each US infantry division had one in four artillery battalions with this set.
In each of these battalions there were three firing batteries, each composed of 4 pieces of this type, for a total of 12 howitzers per battalion.
Towed by an M5 High Speed Tractor, the 155mm M1 buster required a team of 12 men. A non-commissioned officer, part chief, ensured the good progress and the control of the operations.
The “Gunner” was in charge of pointing the piece. 9 assistants, allowed the implementation of the cannon, the preparation of ammunition, the triggering of firing.
Piloted by a technician corporal, the M5 High speed tractor, about 13 tons with its continental six-cylinder engine, allowed a rapid battery setting on all terrain of a howitzer weighing 5 and a half tons that could shoot up to 14 kilometers.
During this day, thanks to the making of accessories that are difficult to find nowadays, each participant discovered a specific role in order to best respect the situations of the time.
The American artillery, very well developed for the time, was a major support during the major battles of the Second World War. An opportunity to pay tribute to the 373rd Field Artillery Battalion of the 100th Infantry division during the Battle of Bitche in December 1944, which for several weeks faced violent artillery duels against German troops entrenched in the fortifications of the line Maginot, formerly French.
Thank you to the Christian Dours collection and to Military Classic vehicles for making this wonderful work of reconstruction possible, and for bringing to life a rare and sometimes forgotten collection of history books.
