Wednesday, June 11, 2025

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7 comments:

  1. He looks rather average height........

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  2. U.S. Made 16 inch naval gun, British Empire chevrons and gas mask webbing, Canada possibly...

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    1. The US Army in WWI adopted the British pattern helmet and didn't replace it until 1941. A quick search for "US model 1920 16 inch howitzer"
      reveals that this is one of four coastal defence howitzers ever built, all were emplaced at Fort Story, Virginia in 1922 by the US Army.
      To my knowledge, prior to NATO, Canada bought or licence built British artillery pieces rather than those from the US.
      Al_in_Ottawa

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    2. Then that would be a U.S. Marine sergeant.

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  3. US Army Coastal Artillery sergeant with his gun.

    The muzzle is stamped Watervliet Arsenal 1921, along with “16 INCH” and the weight of the gun; unfortunately not legible. Also “INSP. JLH”.

    Watervliet Arsenal in New York started building 16” guns for coastal defense right after WWI, the M1919 16”/50 Caliber. Only 7 were fully completed, because excess 16” barrels from the US Navy became available. They were operated right into WWII.

    Googling around, this photo is in the Library of Congress, taken in 1942 at Fort Story VA.

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