155mm loading

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major519
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155mm loading

Post by major519 » Thu Jan 19, 2023 4:00 pm

I was just wondering what the tool was called that was used to load the 155? I have watched some
period footage which shows a two man team using a tray to handle the round followed by the rammer to push it into the beech.
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Re: 155mm loading

Post by doctordirt » Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:57 pm

The official term is "Loading Barrow."

I never heard it called anything but either a loading tray or shell tray. The two members of the gun crew lift the ~100 pound shell in the tray and place it at the breech face, the Assistant Gunner uses the rammer to push the round off the tray and into the breech. Then the charge bag is placed in the breech, the breech block is closed and the gunner inserts a percussion primer into the breech lock. A lanyard is hooked to the breech lock and when pulled, the primer fires, ignites the powder bags, and the shell is on its way.

On Self Propelled 155's the loading tray in attached to the breech and slides down and rotates to mate with the breech face allowing round to sit in the tray until the loader engages the auto rammer. From there the procedure is much the same as with the towed 155 howitzer.

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major519
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Re: 155mm loading

Post by major519 » Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:26 am

Thanks for the info.
Now for the question, where can I find one, or does someone have dimensions to fabricate a reproduction?
1968 M274A5 USMC 325489
1966 M274A2 USMC 333007
1958 M274 US ARMY 2B3379
1970 M38A1 CDN3 70-08715
1981 M101CDN Manac 3/4 trailer
1984 M1009 CUCV
1943 Converto Airborne Trailer

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Re: 155mm loading

Post by Kaptainssurplus » Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:10 pm

major519 wrote:
Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:26 am
Thanks for the info.
Now for the question, where can I find one, or does someone have dimensions to fabricate a reproduction?
They can be found online for sale. I have seen multiple for sale over the last few years.

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DoctorCheney223
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Re: 155mm loading

Post by DoctorCheney223 » Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:50 pm

major519 wrote:
Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:26 am
Thanks for the info.
Now for the question, where can I find one, or does someone have dimensions to fabricate a reproduction?
I found mine on eBay and they pop up every so often.

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Re: 155mm loading

Post by dwing » Tue Mar 21, 2023 5:19 pm

It looks like those on this thread are knowledgeable on 155s. Does anyone know of a m1 155mm carriage?

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Re: 155mm loading

Post by Robin » Mon Mar 27, 2023 7:38 pm

Here's my loading tray for reference only.
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Re: 155mm loading

Post by ida34 » Sun Apr 02, 2023 8:16 pm

I was a 13B Cannon Crewmember and was on the M198 and M109 155MM howitzers. My son and I collect ordinance and I collect anything artillery related I can get. Still trying to find a loading tray but I do have the ramming staffs. I even have a firing block from the M198. Now I just have to get the rest of the gun.

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Re: 155mm loading

Post by pdqf » Sun May 07, 2023 5:04 pm

I have a shell remover for 155mm Brass $155.00 + shipping PDQF 515 442 3126


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