M51 Quad-.50 Trailer
The display reads:
AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile and Semi-Mobile)
The Mobile Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was designed to be a self-sufficient tactical anti-aircraft unit that would defend key areas in close proximity to the front lines. Throughout World War II, Mobile Automatic Weapons Battalions became dual-role organizations, providing much needed fire support for advancing infantry and armor. The two major weapon systems used by Mobile and Semi-Mobile battalions were the M1 40mm Bofors Automatic Gun and the M51 Quad-.50 trailer. Both systems were effective both as anti-aircraft and ground support weapons.
The Semi-Mobile battalion was similar in organization and employed the same weapons systems, but had fewer vehicles to serve as prime movers for those systems. As a result, the Semi-Mobile Battalion became the static defense rear-area unit protecting high value targets like AAA Gun and Searchlight battalions.
While not as powerful as the 90mm anti-aircraft guns, the Bofors packed quite a punch. One hit from a high explosive round was usually more than enough to destroy an attacking enemy fighter. The Bofors had significant range as well, covering the gap between the limits of .50 caliber quad mounts and the optimal range for 90mm heavy guns.
By the Fall / Winter of 1944, in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations, many Semi-Mobile Battalions began to deactivate as the Allies pushed farther from rear areas and the enemy air threat dwindled. Many of those anti-aircraft soldiers quickly found themselves on the front lines with an M1 Rifle as infantry replacements.
One of those units was the 870 AAA (semi-mobile) (colored) Battalions who had provided short range air defense for Hawaii through late 1943 and 1944. In early 1945, the battalion departed for Okinawa. Upon their arrival, they turned in their 40mm and .50 caliber guns to be retrained as infantry. On 22 May, the battalion landed on Tokashiki Shima to conduct mop-up operations to eliminate and Japanese resistance. The Battalion’s first major operation jumped off on the morning of 24 June with B Battery’s 3rd Platoon under 1Lt. Robert Peagler, in the lead. Peagler led his men fearlessly, personally capturing an enemy mortar and killing its crew while leading the charge. Although Peagler was killed by a sniper’s bullet moments later, his courage inspired his men to seize the objective with incredible speed. For his actions, Lieutenant Peagler was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
The M1A2 37mm AA Gun was the standard medium anti-aircraft gun when the US entered World War II. Based on the Colt 37mm automatic gun, it performed well, and when coupled with twin water-cooled .50 caliber machine guns on the newer T1E3 mount, the system worked well in its intended role, but met with difficulties when pressed into the ground support role.
The M1 40mm Bofors AA Gun, just entering service at the beginning of World War II, was a far better dual-role weapon than its 37mm counterpart. The higher mount and better crew positions allowed for a far better sight picture and control of the weapon when used for ground support.
The other half of the Mobile and Semi-Mobile Automatic Weapons Battalions was the M51 Quad .50 Trailer. It utilized the same M45 turret that the M16 Halftrack used, but was mounted on a 2-Ton M17 Trailer with CCKW 2 1/2 Ton Truck as its prime mover.
For static defense missions like airfield defense, many semi-mobile battalions removed their M45 Turrets from the bulky 2-ton trailers and dug them in for better crew protection. This turret is one of the 779th AAA’s guns at a Marine airfield late in WWII.
The M5 gun director was the nerve center of the M1 Bofors Battery. A single director would allow all four guns in the battery to simultaneously lay on and track a single target, significantly improving the probability of destroying an incoming threat aircraft.
The standard Bofors gun crew included two gunners, a gun commander and four loaders. The Bofors had a maximum rate of fire of 120 rounds per minute, although the barrel would begin to overheat after roughly 70 rounds fired on full automatic.
Citation:
By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 9 July 1918, the Distinguished Service Cross is posthumously awarded by the Commander in Chief, United States Forces, Pacific, to First Lieutenant Robert J. Peagler, O-1045552, Coast Artillery Corps, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area on 24 June 1945. During an attack against a high plateau near Tokashiki Shima, Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Island, flanked by two valleys and dominated by enemy-held commanding ground, Lieutenant Peagler, 870th Antiaircraft (Automatic Weapons) Battalion, skillfully led the assault platoon to a vantage point from which he sighted two Japanese pillboxes and a semicircle of emplacements covering the plateau and its approaches. After calling for machine gun fire on the Japanese emplacements, he directed sweeping Browning Automatic Rifle fire from a position overlooking the objective. When the automatic fire jammed, Lieutenant Peagler, without regard for his personal safety, charged forward through heavy machine gun fire, hurling hand grenades and firing his carbine into the nearest pillbox, killing six of the foes and capturing a grenade discharger before he was mortally wounded by sniper fire. Inspired by his gallantry, the platoon moved forward and seized the objective. By his aggressive fighting spirit and courageous leadership, Lieutenant Peagler set an outstanding example of heroism worthy of the highest traditions of the military service.
Taken December 11th, 2013.
M51 Quad-.50 Trailer
The display reads:
AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile and Semi-Mobile)
The Mobile Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was designed to be a self-sufficient tactical anti-aircraft unit that would defend key areas in close proximity to the front lines. Throughout World War II, Mobile Automatic Weapons Battalions became dual-role organizations, providing much needed fire support for advancing infantry and armor. The two major weapon systems used by Mobile and Semi-Mobile battalions were the M1 40mm Bofors Automatic Gun and the M51 Quad-.50 trailer. Both systems were effective both as anti-aircraft and ground support weapons.
The Semi-Mobile battalion was similar in organization and employed the same weapons systems, but had fewer vehicles to serve as prime movers for those systems. As a result, the Semi-Mobile Battalion became the static defense rear-area unit protecting high value targets like AAA Gun and Searchlight battalions.
While not as powerful as the 90mm anti-aircraft guns, the Bofors packed quite a punch. One hit from a high explosive round was usually more than enough to destroy an attacking enemy fighter. The Bofors had significant range as well, covering the gap between the limits of .50 caliber quad mounts and the optimal range for 90mm heavy guns.
By the Fall / Winter of 1944, in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations, many Semi-Mobile Battalions began to deactivate as the Allies pushed farther from rear areas and the enemy air threat dwindled. Many of those anti-aircraft soldiers quickly found themselves on the front lines with an M1 Rifle as infantry replacements.
One of those units was the 870 AAA (semi-mobile) (colored) Battalions who had provided short range air defense for Hawaii through late 1943 and 1944. In early 1945, the battalion departed for Okinawa. Upon their arrival, they turned in their 40mm and .50 caliber guns to be retrained as infantry. On 22 May, the battalion landed on Tokashiki Shima to conduct mop-up operations to eliminate and Japanese resistance. The Battalion’s first major operation jumped off on the morning of 24 June with B Battery’s 3rd Platoon under 1Lt. Robert Peagler, in the lead. Peagler led his men fearlessly, personally capturing an enemy mortar and killing its crew while leading the charge. Although Peagler was killed by a sniper’s bullet moments later, his courage inspired his men to seize the objective with incredible speed. For his actions, Lieutenant Peagler was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
The M1A2 37mm AA Gun was the standard medium anti-aircraft gun when the US entered World War II. Based on the Colt 37mm automatic gun, it performed well, and when coupled with twin water-cooled .50 caliber machine guns on the newer T1E3 mount, the system worked well in its intended role, but met with difficulties when pressed into the ground support role.
The M1 40mm Bofors AA Gun, just entering service at the beginning of World War II, was a far better dual-role weapon than its 37mm counterpart. The higher mount and better crew positions allowed for a far better sight picture and control of the weapon when used for ground support.
The other half of the Mobile and Semi-Mobile Automatic Weapons Battalions was the M51 Quad .50 Trailer. It utilized the same M45 turret that the M16 Halftrack used, but was mounted on a 2-Ton M17 Trailer with CCKW 2 1/2 Ton Truck as its prime mover.
For static defense missions like airfield defense, many semi-mobile battalions removed their M45 Turrets from the bulky 2-ton trailers and dug them in for better crew protection. This turret is one of the 779th AAA’s guns at a Marine airfield late in WWII.
The M5 gun director was the nerve center of the M1 Bofors Battery. A single director would allow all four guns in the battery to simultaneously lay on and track a single target, significantly improving the probability of destroying an incoming threat aircraft.
The standard Bofors gun crew included two gunners, a gun commander and four loaders. The Bofors had a maximum rate of fire of 120 rounds per minute, although the barrel would begin to overheat after roughly 70 rounds fired on full automatic.
Citation:
By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 9 July 1918, the Distinguished Service Cross is posthumously awarded by the Commander in Chief, United States Forces, Pacific, to First Lieutenant Robert J. Peagler, O-1045552, Coast Artillery Corps, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area on 24 June 1945. During an attack against a high plateau near Tokashiki Shima, Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Island, flanked by two valleys and dominated by enemy-held commanding ground, Lieutenant Peagler, 870th Antiaircraft (Automatic Weapons) Battalion, skillfully led the assault platoon to a vantage point from which he sighted two Japanese pillboxes and a semicircle of emplacements covering the plateau and its approaches. After calling for machine gun fire on the Japanese emplacements, he directed sweeping Browning Automatic Rifle fire from a position overlooking the objective. When the automatic fire jammed, Lieutenant Peagler, without regard for his personal safety, charged forward through heavy machine gun fire, hurling hand grenades and firing his carbine into the nearest pillbox, killing six of the foes and capturing a grenade discharger before he was mortally wounded by sniper fire. Inspired by his gallantry, the platoon moved forward and seized the objective. By his aggressive fighting spirit and courageous leadership, Lieutenant Peagler set an outstanding example of heroism worthy of the highest traditions of the military service.
Taken December 11th, 2013.