105 mm Howitzer M3 - Ayer, MA - Static Artillery Displays on Waymarking.com

This 105 mm Howitzer M3 is on public display at the Town Hall in Ayer, Massachusetts. You'll find the Howitzer near the south-east corner of the Town Hall building standing on the lawn.

Accoding to the wikipedia (visit link), the 105 mm Howitzer M3 was a U.S. light howitzer designed for use by airborne troops. The gun utilized the barrel of the 105 mm Howitzer M2, shortened and fitted to a slightly modified split trail carriage of the 75 mm pack howitzer. The howitzer was used by the U.S. Army during World War II. It was issued to airborne units and to cannon companies of infantry regiments.

The address of the Ayer Town Hall is 1 Main Street. Parking can be found on both sides along Main Street. It looks like the Howitzer is not longer operational because the end of the tube is welded shut.

The following text is stamped into the top of the ring, breech assembly:

HOWITZER 105MM.M3.NO.2080
ORD.DEPT.U.S.A.
UNITED ENG. & F`D`Y. CO.1943.
958 LBS.INSP.H.M.R.

There is also a rusty little plaque on the left side of the tube near the ring, breech assembly with the following text:

NO.2227
MECHANISM, RECOIL
105MM.HOW.
M14
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL 1943

These are all information I can give. If you know the origin of this Howitzer please provide it your log.

There are no geocaches listed near the Town Hall of Ayer. However, 250 meters to the west along Main Street (at N 42°33.596 W 071°35.378) starts the Nashua River Rail Trail. This paved trail is good for hiking, biking and inline skating. The trail leads north to Nashua, NH and there are several fine geocaches along this trail. If you are interesting in bench marking, there is a nice bench mark just 3 meters away from the Howitzer at the corner stone of the Town Hall. The bench mark is also a waymark with the ID WM8YXY.

Many thanks and enjoy your visit of Ayer.

What type of artillery is this?: 105 mm Howitzer M3 Where is this artillery located?: Government building What military of the world used this device?: U.S. Army Are there any geocaches at this location?: Please see detailed waymark description. Date artillery was in use: Not listed Date artillery was placed on display: Not listed Parking location to view this Waymark: Not Listed Cost?: Not Listed Artillery is no longer operational: Not Listed Still may work: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
Two pictures are required for this Waymark. Please take a close up picture of the artillery. Take a second with the artillery in the distance and capture as much of the surroundings as possible. Name the Waymark with first the name of the area and second what the artillery is. An example would be if it were a cannon in front of the Montgomery Armory you would name the Waymark: Montgomery Armory Cannon.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.