Today in WW II: 17 Oct 1941 USS Kearny [DD-432] torpedoed but not sunk by German submarine U-568, near Iceland, killing 11 sailors, the first American military casualties of WW II.  More ↓
17 Oct 1943 At Gothenburg, about 10,000 seriously wounded and sick German and British POWs, about half from each side, make up the first British-German prisoner exchange of WW II [17-21 Oct].
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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.