Bronco CB35173 75mm Pack Howitzer M1A1(British Airborne Version) & Gun Crew

The M1 Howitzer (designation M116 since 1962) is an American 75 mm towed howitzer from the interwar period, World War I, post-war and modern times. The initial velocity of the demolition shell from this gun is up to 381 m / s, with a maximum range of about 8,800 meters. Serial production was carried out in the years 1927-1944 and led to the production of about 8,400 copies of this weapon

The first prototypes of the M1 howitzer were developed in 1927. From the very beginning, the smallest possible weight of this weapon was assumed, so that it could be relatively easily disassembled and transported over difficult terrain. This was achieved to a great extent because the howitzer weighed only 653 kilograms. Over time, the weapon received an M8 handguard with rubber wheels, which made it easier to pull it by infantry soldiers. In the course of serial production, several gun upgrades were made, one of the most important of which was the M1A1 howitzer. The weapon was used on a massive scale during World War II - especially by the Allied airborne forces and the US Marine Corps. The howitzer was also mounted (in M2 and M3 versions) on the M8 self-propelled gun. The gun was also exported to many countries, including France, Great Britain, Turkey and Pakistan.