For years a gun stood on the highway on the outskirts of Port
Wakefield, creating a landmark for the highway town for a rest
stop. After an absence of more than a year, the iconic gun was
replaced with a 155mm Long Tom on an M1 carriage in early December
2008. The previous gun, arrived in Port Wakefield in 1941, and
after it was decommissioned, became a well-known landmark at the
turn-off to the proof range. However, in mid 2006 it was taken to
Sydney to commemorate the defence of Sydney Harbour during World
War II. Hundreds signed a petition protesting at the relocation,
including people from across South Australia and interstate.
The new gun is a 155mm Long Tom on a M1 Carriage (circa 1943),
and is located at the same site. The M1 Carriage design allowed a
variety of firing systems to be mounted, enabling the testing of
ammunition and firing systems of in-service Australian ordnance.
The Carriage is a solid stable platform, allowing the proofing of
ordnance such as 76mm Naval and 105mm Tank, and continues to be
used today.
Combined, the 155mm Long Tom and M1 Carriage weigh 12,564
kilograms, with a 7.05 metre long barrel and a muzzle velocity of
853 metres per second.
Each projectile weighs more than 43 kilograms, and is 67.8
centimetres long. The gun was originally towed by a Mack 6.6, 7.5
ton truck from 1938, later replaced in 1943 by the Tracked M4 High
Speed Tractor.
Looking for a small magnetic object.
Please BYO Pen/Pencil
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