Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0110Description
A stereograph with the image torn away. On the top edge "W141 (Star)" is printed, on the left edge "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood, Inc. Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, on the right edge "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed, on the bottom edge "18651 A French 155-mm. Gun Trained onthe German Trenches." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
18651
A FRENCH 155-MM. GUN TRAINED ON THE GERMAN TRENCHES
This particular gun is not of the most modern type, for it has no mechanism for taking up the recoil fo the barrel but must rocoil on the whole carriage which rolls back and then forward again on the big wedges made of plank which we see, so as not to be carried clear back into the mud by force of each discharge. The French had many 155-mm. guns of improved pattern and these, though of great power and range, were mobile enough to be classed as field artillery and were drawn about by tractors or horses almost as freely as the handy "75s."
To those who know but little about guns, the extrmely short life comes as a matter of surprise. Guns are sometiems useless after 3 day's hard work. A three-inch gun is worn out by he firing of 3,000 rounds and a gun of larger caliber is useless after a fewer number of rounds have been fired. The guns are worn by the erosion of gases and by the copper bands on the shells. In the early part of the war when the opposing forces had reached the Marne, both sides had practically worn out their heavy caliber guns and used up their ammunition. They, therefore, dug in to await repairs and supplies.
The allies at the close of the war were turning out heavy artillery three times as fast as the Germans. The United States alone expected to furnish at least 30,000 guns of all calibers, and in addition a reserve supply of an equal number of gun tubes.
Copyright by the Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection