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History of 4th 155 mm howitzer battery

The 4th 155 mm Howitzer Battery was established during World War II as part of the U.S. Army’s expanding artillery forces. Equipped with the powerful M1 155 mm howitzers, the battery provided crucial fire support during key campaigns in the European Theater, including the Normandy breakout and the push across France. Renowned for its accuracy and rapid deployment, the unit played a vital role in neutralizing enemy fortifications and assisting infantry advances. After the war, the 4th 155 mm Howitzer Battery was inactivated as part of the postwar drawdown, but its legacy of precision and valor remains recognized in artillery history.

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ABOUT 4th 155 mm howitzer battery

  • Vietnam War Service: The 4th 155mm Howitzer Battery was a United States Marine Corps artillery unit that served with distinction during the Vietnam War, providing heavy fire support for Marine and allied forces.
  • Activation: The unit was activated in 1966 at Camp Pendleton, California, and quickly deployed to Vietnam that same year to bolster American artillery capabilities.
  • Nickname: The battery was sometimes referred to as "Big Guns" due to the powerful 155mm towed howitzers it operated, capable of delivering devastating firepower over long distances.
  • Deployment in I Corps: The battery was primarily stationed in the I Corps tactical zone, the northernmost military region of South Vietnam, where it supported Marine and ARVN operations near the DMZ.
  • Role in Khe Sanh: Elements of the 4th 155mm Howitzer Battery played a critical role in the defense of Khe Sanh Combat Base during the 1968 siege, firing thousands of rounds in support of the besieged garrison.
  • Fire Mission Volume: The unit could fire up to 200 rounds per day during heavy engagements, demonstrating both the intensity of combat and the unit's logistical prowess.
  • Transport Challenges: Moving the massive M114 155mm howitzers through Vietnam's jungles and mud required ingenuity, often relying on helicopters, bulldozers, and even local labor.
  • Combined Operations: The battery often worked in conjunction with other Marine and Army artillery units, coordinating fire missions that supported infantry assaults and base defenses.
  • Casualties and Valor: Despite being an artillery unit, the 4th 155mm Howitzer Battery suffered casualties from enemy artillery, rocket, and ground attacks, with several members receiving commendations for bravery under fire.
  • Deactivation: Following the reduction of US forces in Vietnam, the 4th 155mm Howitzer Battery was deactivated in 1969, but its legacy remains honored by Marine artillerymen today.

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