M1 240mm Howitzer

An M1 in action during the fighting in Manila - US National Archives

Having just entered service in 1943, the M1 240mm Heavy Howitzer was a relatively new weapon in the US arsenal. The massive weapon was originally designed to break heavy fortifications, such as those employed by the Germans along the infamous Siegfried Line.

Notorious for excessive barrel wear due to the massive amount of powder required to throw it’s 360 pound projectile at ranges of up to 14 miles, the gun regardless saw use throughout the European Theater. In the Pacific, however, there was seldom need for such a massive weapon in the jungles of the theater. As the battle for Manila loomed, it was hoped that the Japanese would abandon the city without a fight, but if need be, these massive guns could be brought to bear against the city and its defenders, and may well be needed to assault the reinforced concrete edifices of the government buildings in and around the Intramuros.