hi all

i am looking for vehicle markings for Vietnam for
the M55 mainly and M53.

also any pictures that might show location of teh markings.

thanks
ossie

Found this while surfing. Dont know if it helps much.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m55-8-pics.htm

hi

thanks

ossie

Ossie,
I don't believe any M53s or M55s were used in Vietnam. By that time, the M110 and M109 were in service. The markings would be pretty much the same as Vietnam era though, as seen in the photos at the above site.

I am very interrested in this kit. Can you give any more info on who will be producing it and when it may be ready?

The photos below are an M109 short tube, as it appeared pre 1973, when they first started pattern painting in Germany. Also there is an M110 8" from the Mich Army NG in 1977. The location of the bumper markings, stars and USA numbers are correct for that era, and would be "typical" for other vehicles at that time.

Gino is correct. I do not believe that the US ever used the M55 or M53 in Vietnam, strictly the M109 and M107/M110 as SP howitzers. The only towed howitzers I'm aware of that the US used in Vietnam were the M101 and then M102 105mm, and the M114 155mm howitzer. I'm pretty sure no "Long Tom" 155mm or towed 8" were used either.





Tom

hi

thanks

i have just found out that they were in Vietnam , DAnag in 67 at least and some had a barrel change from 155 to 8 inch.

thanks
ossie

It's surprising, but then things do get crazy during wartime. Any idea which unit had them?

Tom

Ossie,
After some search one from my french friend send me this list of books pic :

TANKS ILLUSTRATED Nº6 Tank War Vietnam from Simon Dunstan publié en 1983 :
M53 155 gun et M55 8in howitzer à Phu Bai en february 1967 page 22 et 23

CONCORD Nº7007 Armor of the Vietnam War published en 1996 :
M53 et M55 used par USMC page 71

Modern American Armour de Steven J.ZALOGA published in 1982:
M53 et M55 used by First Division Marine au Vietnam

Sorry today no pics why my friend dont have any scanner.

But if necessary I can have them in a week or 2.
Hope this will help you

pascal

Here are 2 Vietnam-era USMC M53s :

This one belonged to the 1st 155 Gun Battery (SP) in February 1967 (from S.Dunstan's Vietnam Tracks) :


and this one served with the 1st Marine Division in January 1968 ( from S.Zaloga's Modern American Armour) .No markings are visible except the "USMC xxxxxxx" number on the side above the return rollers. :


HTH
Frenchy

AHHH! All is clear!! I was thinking Army, and I suspect that Gino was as well. While it is true that the US Army trains all USMC artillery personnel and both services generally use the same equipment, the Marine Corps is sometimes behind the Army when it comes to getting equipment.

And I believe that unfortunately the markings used by the USMC are not the same as they would be for the Army.

Yup, I was thinking Army as well. And as Tom says, USMC is usually about 10 years behind the Army in getting new equipment.

hi

thank you all.

i have had so much good response i now have it sorted i think.

by the way. on one picture it looks like a back pack which i thought was a WW2 type with the poncho around the outside. is this so?

so keep a eye for the update .
thanks
ossie

Just came across a colour picture of a M53 showing the serial number on the front :
http://www.3rdbridge.org/page11.html

Frenchy

hi

thank you all

ossie

The USMC hasn't really been a big user of self-propelled artillery has it? I know they used some early M109 variants, but I thought they have been working with towed artillery the last decade or so. Am I wrong?

According to Norm Polmar's "Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet" (15th Edition) 1993:

"The three Marine Artillery Regiments. (10th, 11th and 12th Marines) were reorganized in late 1992, with each regiment being assigned three or four direct support battalions, and each battalion having three firing batteries with six M198 155mm howitzers. In addition to the M198 towed howitzers, each MEF has available 48 M101A1 105mm howitzers for use in special contingencies where the heavy M198s are not suitable. The present plan is to retain the M198s in artillery battalions until the Marine Corps receives the lightweight 155mm howitzer that will replace the M198."

However, it further indicates that regiments also have a General Support Battalion with either M110A2 8" SP howitzers or M109 155mm howitzers. And it indicates that there is an MLRS battery as well.

The 17th Edition (2001) has essentially the same words, but indicates that an MEB and MEF will have 6 or 12 203mm howitzers.

So while they appear to use towed for Direct Support, there appears to be SP for General Support.

I'm sure we've got somebody who's still in who knows for sure. I think the Army quit using the M110A2 even in the Guard not too long after Gulf War I.

Tom

From all I have read, USMC has gone exclusively to M198 for all Arty support. They turned in their M110A2s shortly after ODS, and the last of their M101A2 105s were retired a couple of years ago. In OIF1 (the invasion), they had an Army MLRS Bn (2-4 FA from Ft Sill) as a GS unit supporting them. Don't believe they have any other organic artillery.