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Para M2A1 105mm Howitzer

By: Battlefront Miniatures

Type: Miniatures Pack

Product Line: Flames of War - WWII - United States - Artillery, AA, AT and AFV's

Late

Last Stocked on 5/13/2024

Product Info

Title
Para M2A1 105mm Howitzer
Sub-category
Publish Year
2010
NKG Part #
2147430177
MFG. Part #
BFMUS573
Type
Miniatures Pack

Description

The American 105mm field howitzer was already developed in the 1920s as the "105mm Howitzer M1" up to pre-production stage. However, the gun did not go into production, since large numbers of the older WWI vintage 75mm field guns were still in service. It was put on the back burner until war finally broke out for the US in 1941. The gun and carriage of the 105mm howitzer were each designated M1.
After further improvements to the M1 design the weapon was re-designated "105mm Howitzer M2 on carriage M2", and was put into mass production in 1940. Further technical changes in the course of production on the construction of gun and carriage led to the M2A1 version of the gun and the M2A1, M2A2 and M2A3 of the carriage.

All parts were interchangeable, so that with the 105mm field howitzer different combinations of gun and carriage were produced. The M2A1 and successive models served the US from before WWII through to Vietnam.

An experienced crew can fire up to 100 rounds per hour. In WWII, some M2A1 guns were mounted on medium tank chassis as mobile artillery (M7 Priest). The 105mm howitzers, though occasionally modified, are in the arsenals of more than 60 countries.

463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battery in Italy

The 463rd Parachute Artillery battery was formed on Anzio Beach on 20 February 1944. It consisted of the headquarters and personnel of A and B batteries of the 456th Parachute Artillery of the 82nd Airborne Division. However, all their guns had been sent back with C and D batteries to England for the Normandy Invasion.

The 463rd Parachute Artillery Battery received their 105mm howitzer guns from the 45th Infantry Division and supported the First Special Service Force throughout Italy.