The standard Army anti-aircraft gun from World War II through the mid-1950s is the latest addition to the Fort Sill Artillery Park collection.
The M2 90mm gun saw action in the European and Pacific theaters, and later during the Korea War. It had a dual role because it was also designed to engage armor targets, said Jonathan Bernstein, Army Air Defense Artillery Museum director and curator.
"It was a great gun that could fire a shell up to about 35,000 feet, had a very good range with high muzzle velocity, so it was great in the anti-aircraft and anti-armor roles," he said.
Work crews from Taylor Crane and Rigging in Tulsa placed the gun Jan. 13 in a dedicated revetement, or gun emplacement. The sloped earthen shelter is patterned after those used in World War II. It is in the front of Artillery Park, which is outside the Army Field Artillery Museum.
"In my view, it's the centerpiece of the park," he said. "The display draws the visitor in and it's one of the first pieces you see."
ADA museum officials received the gun from the Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground , Md., in September 2012, the director said. Fort Sill Directorate of Logistics workers finished refurbishing the gun in the fall.
"The colors are perfect," Bernstein said. "We're really happy with it."
The M2 came into service in 1943, as an improvement over the M1, which the ADA museum houses.
It was more tactically flexible than the M1 because of its dual role, he said. The M2's autoloader allowed its guncrew of 12 to fire almost 30 rounds a minute.
Although the M2 is not particularly rare, it is still a nice addition to Artillery Park, he said.
The Army Air Defense Artillery Museum is open in its new facilities at bldgs. 1505 and 1506 Bateman Road on Fort Sill. Operating hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 580-442-0424.
The Fort Sill National Historic Landmark Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For further info, call 580-442-5123.
The Army Field Artillery Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 580-442-1819 for more information.
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