Special thanks to Mr. Matthew Seelinger,  Chief Historian, and Mr. Seth Paltzer, Assistant Historian,
The Army Historical Foundation, Arlington, VA.

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS OF 75 mm PACK HOWITZER, M1A1, AND CARRIAGE, M1
HOWITZER
Caliber	75mm
Weight	341 lb.
Overall length	52 ins.
Length of bore	15.93 cals.
Muzzle velocity	700, 800, 950, 1,250 f./s.
Travel of projectile in bore	39.2894 ins.
Maximum powder pressure	26,000 lb./sq.in.
Type of block mechanism	Sliding block
Rate of fire	6 rds./min.
Range, Shell, M41A1	9,760 yds.
RECOIL MECHANISM
Type	Hydro-pneumatic
Weight	211 lb.
Normal recoil	32 ins.
Maximum recoil	33.65 ins.
Maximum piston-rod pull	5,188 lb.
CARRIAGE, M1
Total weight without howitzer	927 lb.
Length of carriage (muzzle to spade)	144 ins.
Width over hub caps	47 ins.
Maximum height at 0°	35 ins.
Type box trail	Axle traverse
Elevation (maximum)	45°
Depression (maximum)	-5°
Traverse (right)	3°
Total weight of howitzer, recoil mechanism, and carriage in firing position	1,269 lb.

 

AMMUNITION	M41A1	M48	H.E., A.T., M66
Weight of complete rounds	17.32 lb.	18.12 lb.	16.3 lb.
Weight of projectile	13.76 lb.	14.60 lb.	16.3 lb.
Weight of projectile explosive charge	1.11 lb.	1.47 lb.	1 lb.
Weight of propelling charge		.92 lb.	.41 lb.
Type of ammunition			semi fixed

 

Sighting and Fire Control Equipment

 

On Carriage Equipment

Panoramic Telescope, M1

Telescope Mount, M3

 

Off Carriage Equipment

Bore Sight

Gunner's Quadrant, M1

Aiming Circle, M1

Compass, M2

1-Meter-Base Range Finder, M7 or M1916

B.C. Telescope, M65 or M1915A1

 

 

Trainer

 

The 37 mm Subcaliber Gun, M1916, and Subcaliber Mount, M5, are used for practice in laying and firing the 75 mm Pack Howitzers, M1 and M1A1.

REFERENCES: TM 9-2005, v.3; TM 9-320; TM 9-1320.

CARRIAGE (AIRBORNE), M8

The 75 mm Pack Howitzer Carriage, M8, was developed to provide airborne troops with a light, powerful weapon which could be transported as a unit to the combat area by glider or airplane. When the airplane lands at its destination the howitzer and carriage can be unloaded and maneuvered into position by hand or be towed by a prime mover. The howitzer and carriage can also be disassembled, packed in paracrate loads, and dropped by parachutes from an airplane in flight. When the paracrates reach the ground the individual loads are unpacked and the howitzer and carriage are assembled for action.

The standard 75 mm Pack Howitzer, M1A1, is mounted on the Carriage, M8. This carriage is identical to the 75 mm Pack Howitzer Carriage, M1, except for the substitution of steel disk and rim type wheels equipped with 6.00 x 16 pneumatic tires in place of the 29 inch wooden wheels used on the M1 carriage.
 

REFERENCES: OCM 20196; TM 9-319.

 

 

Sighting and Fire Control Equipment

 

On Carriage Equipment

Telescope Mount, M3

Telescope Adapter, M9

Elbow Telescope, M62

 

Off Carriage Equipment

Gunner's Quadrant, M1

Aiming Circle, M1

Hand Fuze Setter, M1912A4, M15, or M16

 

 

 

75 mm PACK HOWITZER, M8, FOR AIRBORNE USE

 

From the Technical Manual TM 9-319:

 

 

75-mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 and carriage M8 - left rear view

 

 

 

75-mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 and carriage M8 - right front view

 

 

 

75-mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 and carriage M8 - in towing position

 

 

 

PARACRATES M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, Parachest M8, Paracaisson M9

 

In order that the disassembled 75 mm Pack Howitzer, M1A1, and Carriage, M8, together with fire control instruments, and accessories, could be safely delivered by parachute from an airplane in flight, a series of containers known as paracrates, parachest, and paracaisson, were evolved to hold the nine loads to be dropped. Fabrication of these containers was begun in September, 1942, and they were standardized in May, 1943, as Paracrates, M1 to M7, Parachest, M8, and Paracaisson, M9.

Paracrates, M1 to M7, are constructed of plywood, each paracrate being designed to accommodate a specific load. When the load is packed it is secured to bomb shackle and parachute harnesses by means of a quick-release fastening. A standard 24-foot cargo parachute is attached to each load, the parachutes being colored to differentiate between the loads and hasten identification.

Paracrate Loads, M1 to M5, together with Paracrate Load, M9, are fastened to and dropped from parachute pack racks beneath the airplane. Paracrate Loads, M6 and M8, are carried as a daisy-chain load inside the fuselage, from which they are pushed out through the doorway of the airplane.

 

 

 

PARACRATE, M1 (FRONT TRAIL), CRATE SUSPENDED (Left)
AND PARACRATE, M2 (REAR TRAIL AND AXLE), CRATE LOADED (Right)

 

PARACRATE, M1

This paracrate consists of front and rear reinforces and a wooden brace for the howitzer front trail assembly, together with a canvas paracrate cover with parachute harness attached. When packed it holds the front trail and a lifting bar.

 

PARACRATE, M2

Paracrate, M2, includes a canvas cover with parachute harness attached, wooden supports, and a wooden hexagonal reinforcing housing. The load comprises the howitzer rear trail, axle and traversing mechanism assembly, trail handspike, sponge staff, aiming post sleeves, and a box containing spare parts and tools.

 

PARACRATE, M3

This paracrate is in the form of a plywood box with pentagonal ends and a hinged cover. The load consists of the howitzer bottom sleigh and recoil mechanism, a lifting bar, an aiming circle with case, circular  wooden supports, a shock block, and a shock pad.

 

 

PARACRATE, M4 (CRADLE AND TOP SLEIGH), CRATE LOADED (left) AND
PARACRATE, M5 (TUBE), CRATE SUSPENDED (right)

 

PARACRATE, M4

Paracrate, M4, is similar in shape to Paracrate, M3. The load is made up of the top cradle and sleigh of the howitzer, a shock block, and a shock pad. Paracrates, M3 through M6, have the bomb shackle and parachute harnesses separated from the paracrates.

 

PARACRATE, M5

This paracrate is a rectangular plywood box with a hinged lid. Its load is composed of the howitzer tube, a muzzle cover, a tube thread cover, a lifting bar, lifting straps, a shock block, and a shock pad.

 

 

 

PARACRATE, M6 (BREECHBLOCK AND SIGHT), CRATE LOADED (left) AND
PARACRATE, M7 (WHEELS), CRATE SUSPENDED (right)

 

PARACRATE, M6

Paracrate, M6, is a rectangular plywood box with a detachable padded lid. The load consists of the howitzer breech mechanism, the hub caps, the panoramic telescope and telescope mount in a special container, the telescope mount support, and a lifting strap.

 

PARACRATE, M7

Paracrate, M7, consists of a square wooden frame, the inner sides of which are beveled. The parachute harness is attached to the frame. The load is composed of the howitzer wheels and hub plugs.

 

 

 

PARACHEST, M8, (AMMUNITION), CRATE COMPONENTS
 

PARACHEST, M8

This parachest is made of plywood, and consists of a large section to which a slightly smaller section is added as a continuation. The cross section of each portion is six-sided, in the form of a square on which is imposed a truncated triangle. The front end of the large section is hinged, so that it can be opened for loading. The parachute harness is separate and when assembled on the parachest has skids lashed to it to facilitate landing. The load is composed of ten complete rounds of 75 mm howitzer ammunition, each of which is packed in a fiber container.

 

 

 

PARACAISSON, M9, (AMMUNITION CART), CART ASSEMBLED
 

PARACAISSON, M9

Paracaisson, M9, is a manually drawn, knockdown cart with a plywood body of hexagonal cross section, demountable steel wheels, and an axle assembly, drawbar, tongue,

and drawlines, all of which can be packed in the body when the paracaisson is disassembled for transport. A wheel spacer, a brace support, a drawbar tray, an axle tray, tray side braces, and tray top braces are utilized in packing the components of the paracaisson. The bomb shackle and parachute harness are separate.

 

The paracaisson is used to transport ammunition, eight complete rounds in individual fiber containers constituting a full load. When assembled, the paracaisson is normally pulled by two men who grasp the drawbar at the free end of the tongue. When it is necessary for four men to tow the cart two drawlines are attached to the axle by means of drawline hooks which hook through holes in the axle.

 

The howitzer, caisson and cart, with ammunition, are packed in nine paracrate loads having a total weight of 2,571 pounds. The component parts of these loads and the equipment required for assembling them are as follows:

 

 

Paracrate Load, M1
Front Trail	263 lb.
Paracrate, M1, including cover, front reinforce, rear reinforce and wooden brace	58 lb.
Lifting bar	9 lb.
Parachute	23 lb.
Total weight	326 lb.
Paracrate Load, M2
Rear Trail	95 lb.
Axle	65 lb.
Trail handspike	7 lb.
Sponge staff	6 lb.
Spare parts and tool box	40 lb.
Paracrate, M2, including cover, wooden supports, and wooden hexagonal housing	38 lb.
Parachute	23 lb.
Total weight	274 lb.
Paracrate Load, M3
Bottom Sleigh and recoil mechanism	203 lb.
Aiming circle with case	18 lb.
Paracrate, T3	73 lb.
Lifting bar	9 lb.
Parachute	23 lb.
Total weight	326 lb.
Paracrate Load, M4
Cradle	100 lb.
Top sleigh	121 lb.
Paracrate, M4	87 lb.
Parachute	23 lb.
Total weight	331 lb.
Paracrate Load, M5
Tube	221 lb.
Paracrate, M5	49 lb.
Lifting bar	9 lb.
Parachute	23 lb.
Total weight	302 lb.
Paracrate Load, M6
Breech assembly	121 lb.
Paracrate, M6	13 lb.
Telescope panoramic w/mount	45 lb.
Parachute	23 lb.
Total weight	202 lb.
Paracrate Load, M7
Wheels (two)	180 lb.
Paracrate, M7	14 lb.
Parachute	23 lb.
Total weight	217 lb.
Paracrate Load, M8
Ammunition, 10 rounds in indiv. fiber cont.	220 lb.
Parachest, M8	47 lb.
Parachute	23 lb.
Total weight	290 lb.
Paracrate Load, M9
Paracrate cart	105 lb.
Ammunition, 8 rounds in indiv. fiber cont.	176 lb.
Parachute	45 lb.
Total weight	304 lb.