Army Ducks - The 115mm Howitzer
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Size: 
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The year is twenty-eleven. There has been an ongoing feud between two rivals that many are unaware of. After the southern migration of the Canadian Geese, so many years ago, they have became a nuisance to us all. One inhabitant of this area is very angry at the fact that the Canadian Geese are stealing their food and ponds. They are beginning to join in massive flocks to create a force that is unstoppable. Their goal is to drive these geese back to their homeland. General Donald Duck has created an army of SUPER ducks!
I, Gen. Donald Duck of the Army Ducks, is calling you to join us in the war against the Canadian Geese. As a Geocacher and new recruit of the Army Ducks, your mission is to find caches at current Army Duck post while learning about the past wars and equipment used. Godspeed fellow Army Duck/Geocacher on your journey and hunt.
-General Donald Duck
The M114 155 mm howitzer was a towed howitzer used by the United States Army. It was first produced in 1942 as a medium artillery piece under the designation of 155 mm Howitzer M1. It saw service with the US Army during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, before being replaced by the M198 howitzer. The gun was used by the armed forces of many nations, including Afghanistan, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Republic of China, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, South Vietnam, South Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Norway, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yugoslavia. One hundred sixteen surplus howitzers were sent to Bosnia in 1997. In some countries the M114 still remains in service.
A new carriage was under development for much of the 1930s for the existing World War I-era M-1918 155 mm howitzer, which was a license-built French Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider until 1939 when it was realized that it did not seem logical to put a new carriage underneath an obsolete howitzer. So development began anew with a carriage designed to be used for either the 155 mm howitzer or the 4.7-inch (120 mm) gun. This was completed by 15 May 1941 when the Howitzer M1 on the Carriage M1 was standardized.
The howitzer itself differed from the older model by a lengthened barrel of 20 calibers and a new breech mechanism. Uniquely it was the sole 'slow-cone' interrupted screw mechanism to enter service after 1920. This meant that two separate movements were necessary to open the breech, versus the single movement of the 'steep cone' mechanism that simultaneously rotated and withdrew the breech.
The M1A1 was redesignated as the M114A1 in 1962.
About the M114A2 Towed 155mm Howitzer
Weight: 12,750 lbs.
Caliber: 155 mm
Crew: 11 men
Maximum Range: 9.07 miles or 14.6 kilometers
Projectile Weight: 84.8 lbs.
Maximum rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute
Sustained rate of fire: 1 rounds per minute
Maximum elevation: 63 degrees
Please be respectful to the area and replace as found. Thanks and have fun!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Arne gver pybfrfg gb fgerrg