British Ordnance Collectors Network
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Sub calibre 4 barrel 4 Panoramic sights- ?????????
- Thread starter Gspragge
- Start date
It's a WWII U.S. M3 field artillery sub-caliber trainer. It fired a 1" diameter steel ball as far as 85 yards by compressed air or a blank cartridge. I don't see any lines for air so I think these are the cartridge types. There are 4 separate units in the photo, bolted down side by side. These were used to train artillery gunners the basics of azimuth and elevation and other factors of firing artillery. Take a look at this video....
[video=youtube;B3ah9nFAbdg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3ah9nFAbdg[/video]
[video=youtube;B3ah9nFAbdg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3ah9nFAbdg[/video]
Gunnerwho?
Active Member
"These were used to train artillery gunners the basics of azimuth and elevation and other factors of firing artillery."
Possibly but doesn't seem very likely, you don't need to fire to do that. Layer training is done on the gun itself. The bank of 4 is an obvious clue to their use. Training forward observation officers in the basics of observation and adjustment of fire, a more modern equivalent is the 14.5mm trainer mounted on a tripod and with a range or 1000-1500m or so.
Possibly but doesn't seem very likely, you don't need to fire to do that. Layer training is done on the gun itself. The bank of 4 is an obvious clue to their use. Training forward observation officers in the basics of observation and adjustment of fire, a more modern equivalent is the 14.5mm trainer mounted on a tripod and with a range or 1000-1500m or so.
A copy of the manual - http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29970/m1/
The photograph is of the 'field artillery trainer battery'
TimG
P.S. Rick - so do I.
The photograph is of the 'field artillery trainer battery'
TimG
P.S. Rick - so do I.
Last edited:
Slick
Well-Known Member
The manual for this device, TM 6-225, is titled FIELD ARTILLERY TRAINER.
http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29970/m1/1/
Having read through it, there is nothing referencing forward observing. Apparently, this is a device for training in aiming artillery at the most basic level(s). This page identifies its intended uses:
http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29970/m1/25/
Rick
*** TimG beat me to it. ***
AND, I wish I had one.
http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29970/m1/1/
Having read through it, there is nothing referencing forward observing. Apparently, this is a device for training in aiming artillery at the most basic level(s). This page identifies its intended uses:
http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29970/m1/25/
Rick
*** TimG beat me to it. ***
AND, I wish I had one.
Last edited: