I am about to start the ICM kit of the WW1 American artillery tractor. I do not build a lot of armor, so am not up on what kits are available. I think it would be neat to display it pulling a gun. I asked a friend that builds armor, and he said the US usually used the French 75, but he didn’t know about kits. Are there any kits available for that gun? If not, what kits are available that would be appropriate to show with that tractor?
That sounds pretty interesting. I can’t find it online- do you have a link or any other info?
This one looks horse-drawn:
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/360114-commander-models-1-038-french-canon-de-75-modele-1897
Probably 95% of WWI artillery was pulled by horses. I believe that the US started the mechanizing of artillery.
In 1/72 this is a great one:
https://military.scale-model-kits.com/products/BL-8-inch-howitzer-Mk.VI-RN716.html
Don, is that the Roden 1/35th Holt tractor? Actually it is the 120 model, not the 75 model as shown here:
Yes, that’s the one. Does that mean I need to find a 120mm gun kit? If so, any available?
The number 120 is the model of the tractor.
Probably the most common towed loads were the 8" and 9.2" howitzers. It wouldn’t be used in most cases to tow a lighter gun like the 75.
Building a model of one of those larger pieces in 1/35 is a formidable task.
I sure like that tractor though.
Yes Don, the only company I saw was Roden (Ukraine) that is producing the Holt tractor. But the box says its the model 75.
If you are looking for the howitzer then Resicast makes a 1:35 scale British BL 8-Inch Howitzer Heavy Gun Mk II and Limber WWI 351241, just like the one in the picture, along with the ammunition 352368 also from Resicast. They look pricey but I did look on ebay. Good luck.
President Truman was a artillery officer in France during the war and all of the artillery in his unit was horse drawn and I believe were American made. I am going to have to find the book to see if it mentions the make and caliber of the pieces. He talked about how they would setup quickly, fire a few rounds and then move the pieces before counter battery fire from the Germans.
Marcus
If memory serves, the US used the French 155mm Mdle 189?
Yes, and the British BL’s.
There’s a gun which I’m trying to recall, it was a big one, that the US Army put wheels on, but they were casemate guns from the prewar pre-dreadnaught navy.
One kind of lousy part of the whole subject, FWIW, is that the artillery shot a lot of gas.
Actually the US used the French Canon de 155mm GPF mle 1917. US used French manufactured guns were designated M-1917. US licensed and manufactured guns were designated M-1918. Many M-1917’s and M-1918’s were brought back to the US for use. Many were still in service in the early WW2 battles, especially in the Phillippines. They were withdrawn when the M-1 started coming into service, but given new life being used in M-12 GMC’s as bunker “doorknockers”.
Don, Commander Models made a 1/35 GPF which you might find on Ebay. Don’t look at the M-1918 as that is wrong because it has rubber tires.
https://www.scalemates.com/search.php?fkSECTION[]=All&q=155mm+gpf