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I recieved a request from Mr. Tencza for the M43 at the 1st Cav museum. This vehicle sits out at ther corner of the museum, by the parking lot entrance. A very nice looking piece. I found that it could throw a 95lb projectile, 25,175 meters. Below are some specific's I put together from two different sites. I didn't get the plaque in front of the vehicle, for some reason it just didn't turn out. I did contact both museum directors here and both seemed pleased to get my assistance. I'm meeting with the 1st Cav director this Friday and the 4th ID director will e-mail me information so I can pass it along here and use it for research. I told ehr that the M5 Stuart had been in Canada and possibly the Portugeese military, she said that was possible, but she believed it was found in Kansas?! Hopefully I'll find out as I do more research. She even agreed to let me into vehicles if possible to get pictures and info from data plates, I would just need an escort by some one on the staff.


1945- U.S.A. M43 8" Howitzer Motor Carriage
Armament: 1 -M1 8" howitzer
Armor: 32mm - 100mm
Engine: Continental, R975-C4, 9 cyl., radial, gas, 395 hp
Speed: 24 mph
Range: 100 miles
Crew: 8
Weight: 41 tons
The M1 155mm gun (towed) shared its carriage with the 8" howitzer. The barrels could be changed quite easily. Therefore, when the M40 SP 155mm gun was developed, it was logical to mount an 8" howitzer on the same carriage. In November 1945, a design was standardized as the M43. There was to be 576 ordered, but only 48 were built of which 24 were conversions of the T83's 155mm. The components of the M4 tank were used with HVSS suspension. There was a shield for the gun, but no cover was provided for the crew. They remained in service until the 1950s, being used in Korea.

Only a 95 lb projectile? That seems light for an 8" round.

My 'British and American Artillery of World War Two' by Ian Hogg says the 155mm gun round was 95 lb. The 8" HE round was 200 lb.

Very clever how you worked your mo'cycle into the pic.

That's certainly fair! I've been known to get my 'Stang in the pic

What kind of motorcycle is it?

Neil

BTW, not a whole lot of M43s out there that I am aware of...

Just this one at Fort Hood, one at an American Legion Post in Grand Rapids, MI, and thats it! Maybe Fort Sill has one too?

Neil

- Neil_Baumgardner

That's certainly fair! I've been known to get my 'Stang in the pic

What kind of motorcycle is it?

Neil

Oooh, Ooooh! I know that one!

50th Anniversary Sportster.

Neil, we two or three whole threads devoted to the gearhead among us. Been slow lately, but it's in Officer's Club a way's back.

(Me have 'Stang, too!)

Yeah, I'm not actually much of a gearhead. Mustangs are in my blood - both my father & mother had 'em (technically his was a T5 imported from Germany), and I'm on my third ('87, '96 and '06) - but I didnt quite inherit my father's mechanical abilities... The most I've ever done is replace an alternater or starter...

Neil

- Neil_Baumgardner

BTW, not a whole lot of M43s out there that I am aware of...

Just this one at Fort Hood, one at an American Legion Post in Grand Rapids, MI, and thats it! Maybe Fort Sill has one too?

Neil

Does Wyoming, MI count as Grand Rapids? If so, then I have pics of that one: M43. There's also one in So. Calif. at Tankland. I think I took some pics of that one last year. I just haven't posted them on my site.

Yeah, that was at American Legion Post 154? I noticed I had that one double listed for Grand Rapids & Wyoming MI. The legion post is in Grand Rapids...

Tankland? I need more info!

Neil

Oh right, the "American Society of Military History" museum...

I get to LA every once in a while, I need to check that place out sometime...

Neil

First let me say that Doug is right, I did manage to place my bike in the picture and wondered if you pick it out, good job. However, its a 2003, "100th Anniversary", 1200 Sportster Custom. I have a Stage I Screaming Eagle kit installed and some chrome goodies like the oil tank, belt guard, headlight trim-ring, battery cover, and ignition cover. The wife bought me smoked turn signals lenses last Valentines Day. I took first place in the local Ft Irwin car and bike show in 2005 in the motorcycle catagory. It's never seen the rain, and has never been washed because I detail and wipe it down at least once a week.
With only 48 total M43's built, I would love to know where all the surviving ones are and see some pictures. If anyone has pics, please post them. Stay tuned, I will be posting many more pictures this weekend as I intend to hit the post this weekend and burn up the digital with pictures and record all the vehicles on display here on the post.

SFC Button, Thanks for the great pictures of the rare M43. I've been searching for good photos for a long time. I would also be interested in photos of any other M43's still around. Question for Neil. What is the URL of your Web Site. I've been following your postings with photos for a long time. I will add these photos to my Web Site at my next update. TomT

Yup 96lbs is the weight of a 155mm HE round (108lbs for a WP), 206lbs for a 8".

Tom,
I actually dont have an armor website, although I have had one in planning for years literally. Too much going on - school, travel, moving apartments, back to school.... Its on my to do list, but who knows...

However, I have been working on a "USA AFV Registry" - ie a registry of all historical monument & museum AFVs in the USA. Right now I'm just trying to get addresses down for VFWs, etc. It may be ready in a couple of weeks... Maybe...

Neil

- Neil_Baumgardner

Tom,
I actually dont have an armor website, although I have had one in planning for years literally. Too much going on - school, travel, moving apartments, back to school.... Its on my to do list, but who knows...

Yes you do...it's here!

However, I have been working on a "USA AFV Registry" - ie a registry of all historical monument & museum AFVs in the USA. Right now I'm just trying to get addresses down for VFWs, etc. It may be ready in a couple of weeks... Maybe...

Neil

And we'll be ready when you are.