3 inch field gun, model 1902 United States WWI 1/72 UMmT 624

3 inch field gun, model 1902 United States WWI

1/72scale plastic model kit

UMmT 624

Manufacturer: UMmt (Ukraine)

Scale: 1/72

Material: Plastic

Condition: New in Box

The M1902, a.k.a. M1905 3-inch gun (76.2mm) was the U.S. Army’s first steel,rifled, breech loading, quick-firing field gun.The features of rifling, breech loading and springs to absorb the gun's recoil and quickly return it to the firing position combined to improve the range, accuracy, and rate of fire of the gun, allowing it to be used more effectively in operations with infantry. These new capabilities allowed the gun to provide accurate indirect fire on targets not in a direct line of sight, which provided crucial firepower for infantry attacks. It was also one of the first artillery guns to have an armored shield to protect the crew from small arms fire. The gun fired 3 inches (76 mm) Shrapnel or Explosive Shells that weighed 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms). This was of a heavier poundage than the older guns, in its role, could cope with (the use of steel provided this benefit) meaning that the M1902 could fire a shell (when taking note of the use of tighter rifling) at a greater muzzle velocity at a greater accuracy than any other field gun of American origin to that point. It had a muzzle velocity of 1,700 ft/s (520 m/s) with an effective range of 6,500 yards (5,900 m), and a maximum range of 8,500 yards (7,800 m). The maximum rate of fire was 15 rounds per minute.General John J. Pershing brought several of the guns with him during theMexican Punitive Expedition in 1916–17 but they were not fired in combat.

The M1902/5 was used from 1905–1917. During World War I, the Army used the French 75mm gun instead of the M1902s, which were mostly kept in theUnited States for training. Very few of the M1902s were used in combat in Europe. They were gradually phased out of active service in the 1920s.

M1902 field gun

M1905 model

Type

Light field gun

Place of origin

United States

Service history

In service

1902–1920s

Used by

USA

Wars

World War I

Production history

Designed

1902

Produced

1902–1917

Variants

M 1902, 1904, 1905

Specifications

Weight

gun & breech : 835 lb (379 kg) (1902 & 1904)

788 lb (357 kg) (1905);

2,520 lb (1,140 kg)

gun & carriage total.

Barrel length

7 feet (2.1 m) (bore); 7 ft 3 in (2.2 m) (total)

Shell

Fixed ammunition, 15 lb (6.8 kg) shell

Calibre

3-inch (76.2 mm)

Breech

Interrupted screw

Recoil

hydro - spring, 45 inches (1.14 m)

Carriage

Wheeled

Elevation

-5° to 15°

Muzzle velocity

1,700 ft/s (520 m/s)

Effective firing range

6,000 yd (5,500 m)

at 15° elevation

Maximum firing range

8,500 yd (7,800 m) approx.