During WW I, the United States Army ordered large numbers of the 75 mm Field Gun, Model of 1897(French), the famous “French 75.” The weapons manufactured to U.S. specifications were converted to become the 75-mm Field Gun, M1897A4 in the late 1920’s. In 1933, the old single trail carriage was replaced with a new split-trailed carriage, the M2. The M2A2 utilized a firing jack, the M2A3 used segmented wheels.
The 75 mm Field Gun, M2, was nearly obsolete in 1940, and was being relegated to a training role at the outbreak of WW II. A few saw service in the Phillipine Islands against the invading Japanese, and a stop-gap anti-tank weapon was produced by mounting the M2 in the M3 Half Track to become the Gun Motor Carriage, T-12. The T-12 saw service in the North African Campaign against the German Afrika Corps, but was quickly replaced by newly designed Tank Destroyers. They continued to serve against the Japanese in the Pacific Theater until the end of WW II in the configuration.
One of the most unusual employments of the 75 mm Field Gun was the M1897A5E1, which was mounted in the nose of the B-25 Mitchell Bomber for use as a heavy aircraft cannon employed in a ground attack role. The 75-mm Field Gun is no longer in service with any major power.
Caliber: 75 mm; 2.95-in
Weight(in action): 1544 kg; 3400 lbs
Shell Weight: 6.628 kg; 13.6 mils
Range: 12,960 meters 42,120 ft (8 miles)
Elevation: -164 mils to 809mils -9 degrees to 45 degrees 30’
Traverse: 1066 mils 60 degrees
Traction: 6 Horses or a 2 1/2 ton truck
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