Developed from the WWI-vintage French Canon de 155 mm Grande Puissance Filloux (GPF), the 155 mm gun M1A1, known as the "Long Tom," along with its companion, the 8-inch howitzer M1, formed the backbone of the US Army's heavy field artillery during WWII and Korea.
- With ranges of just over 14 miles for the gun, and 10.5 miles for the howitzer, the cannons were notable for their long reach, heavy impact, and accuracy.
- These weapons were used on every front where GIs fought during WWII, and continued to be used by US forces, as well as those of allied nations, into the 1960s.
- Through vintage and modern photos, this volume follows the development of the 155 and the 8-inch, the details of their construction, and field use.
- Provides an overview of their associated prime movers and ammunition carriers, including the Mack NO and the Allis-Chalmers M4 high-speed tractor of the WWII era, and the Mack M125 10-ton 6×6 of the 1950s.
Written by prolific military author David Doyle, this book is part of the very popular Legends of Warfare series.