Today in WW II: 14 Dec 1942 US 3d Battalion overruns Buna Village, Papua New Guinea after heavy fighting. More ↓
14 Dec 1942 Manpower shortages in Germany motivate a statement from Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer of the SS, asking police forces under German control to send 35,000 'detainees fit for work' to labor camps.
14 Dec 1943 300 US planes attack German controlled airfields in Greece and merchant ships in the Port of Piraeus.
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M-44 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer

The M44 was standardized in 1953, after protyping as the T99E in 1952 and then the T194. The M44 was used by US and allied forces until replaced in 1962 by the M-109 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer.

The 31 ton M44 was powered by a Continental A05-895-3 500hp gasoline engine. It could travel at 35 mph on the road and 11 mph cross country. In addition to its 155mm gun it was armed with a .50 cal. machine gun.

M-44 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer
M-44 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer.

M-44 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer at 4th Infantry Division Museum, Ft. Hood, TX, 2 December 2005. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit
M-44 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer at 4th Infantry Division Museum, Ft. Hood, TX, 2 December 2005. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit.

M-44 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer at 4th Infantry Division Museum, Ft. Hood, TX, 2 December 2005. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit
M-44 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer at 4th Infantry Division Museum, Ft. Hood, TX, 2 December 2005. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit.

M-44 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer at 4th Infantry Division Museum, Ft. Hood, TX, 2 December 2005. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit
M-44 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer at 4th Infantry Division Museum, Ft. Hood, TX, 2 December 2005. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit.