155-mm Howitzer M1A1 CDN
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235869)
155-mm Howitzer M1A1 Cdn on Carriage M1A2 Cdn (manufactured by Sorel Industries Limited, Quebec), aka M114 Cdn, in service.
The Saga
In 1951, as part of the postwar standardization on American equipment, Canada decided to replace all its 5.5-inch medium guns with an American 155-mm weapon. Forty-seven American-produced 155-mm M1 Howitzers were ordered in 1951. Of the group, 43 were the M1 on M1A1 carriage version, and four were M1 on M1A2 carriages.
Canada wanted the howitzer to be manufactured at Sorel Industries in Québec, which had been manufacturing artillery since 1940, and had already been selected to make the 105-mm C1 Howitzer. A sample M1 Howitzer was sent to Sorel in August 1951 to assist in setting up the manufacturing process. To make an economical production run, howitzers were also to be manufactured for Belgium, Denmark, Turkey, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, with a total of 209 howitzers being produced. (See below for comment on France)
The Sorel howitzer was a modified M1 version and not the M1A1. When the decision was made to manufacture the howitzer in Canada, the Americans were concerned about the obturation of the M1, as well as a series of accidents in Korea caused by failure of the barrel or breech ring at low temperatures. The obturation failures were caused by improper handling of the gas check pads, but the breech and barrel failures restricted the howitzer’s use to temperatures above 20ºF. In the fall of 1951, when the drawings were arriving from the US, DND discussed the problems with Watervliet Arsenal, who stated that the US had no intention of changing their design at that time. However, they understood the Canadian concern about the low temperature problems, and assisted DND with the selection of different steels that had better low-temperature impact resistance and better tensilestrength. Watervliet then provided a revised drawing for the forging that was used for Canadian manufacture. These stronger steels resulted in the Canadian howitzers having a better reputation for wear than the American-produced weapons. Other changes in Canadian howitzers were standardized screw threads, a rotating lunette (towing eye) on the trail, and the use of standard 5-ton truck tires.
During the summer of 1952, DND discovered that the US was redesigning the howitzer to simplify manufacture. The modified weapon would be designated the M1A1 and would use the Canadian barrel and breech specification. However, this resulted in some parts on the M1A1 not being interchangeable with the M1. The American changes would not take effect until Canadian production was well underway, so DND decided to complete Canadian production in the M1 configuration, but with the revised barrel and breech. This ensured commonality of most spare parts with the 6,000 M1 Howitzers produced during the war.
In 1955, 35 of the American-manufactured howitzers in Canada were sent to France, and replaced by 35 Sorel-manufactured howitzers from the French order. They were overhauled at 202WD before shipping. This left twelve howitzers from the original batch, but their fate is unknown. They do not appear in any subsequent record. In the documents on the transfer to France, several of the howitzers were noted as being unserviceable and they were probably scrapped. For the Regiment, this left 64 C1 howitzers in service – all Sorel production. NOTE: there are no known American-produced guns in Canada. All the gun memorials on Hal Scaarup’s web site are Sorel manufacture.
The Canadian-produced howitzers were originally given the nomenclature “Howitzer, 155-mm, M1, CDN”, which clearly identified the make and model. This was later changed to “Howitzer, 155-mm, M1A1, CDN”, and still later “Howitzer, Medium, Towed, 155-mm, C1”. Although, the US changed the designation to M114 in 1962, this was never applied to the Canadian-manufactured weapons.
All the above can be confirmed from files in the Library and Archives Canada – or could be if DND had not withdrawn files from the LAC and later destroyed them because of lack of space. I have my notes, but the originals seem to have gone.
The 155-mm C1 was taken out of service in Canada in 1966 (in “Z” Battery, 3 RCHA, we were disbanded and turned our guns in to the RCOC in the late spring, although the BC and OP parties went to Wainwright for the summer training so the FGH would have theoretical artillery support. Nine guns went to Germany to allow the regiment there to prepare for the issue of the M109 in 1968. Thereafter the gun remained in reserve until it was eventually scrapped or issued as monuments.
I have never come across any document that changed the C1 to an M114. That was an American nomenclature change and could not be applied to our guns in any case since our barrel was a unique Canadian production. John Davidson’s pamphlet/book uses M114, but he could never provide documentation to support the change.
In support, I am attaching the RCEME Data Summary from 15 November 1968 which refers to the Howitzer Equipment, Medium Towed, 155-mm, C1. AFAIK, that was the last Data Summary issued for the equipment. It never re-entered service. Note also the ERN description above is from a 2015 CF supply document, which records as a C1.
Probably enough said, although I encourage questions, and I am completely willing to change my position if anyone ever comes up with the documentation for the name change.
However, I respectfully suggest that, especially in these times, we should emphasize our long-forgotten Canadian defence production rather than suggesting that it is just another American gun. The 155-mm C1 Howitzers may have had American parents, but they were born in Sorel Québec and are Canadian citizens. The long-barrelled gun is a Canadian with an American barrel installed in Europe – again not an M114.
Regards,
Doug Knight, Captain (ret’d) RCA
Major (ret’d) RCEME
(Clive Prothero-Brooks Photos)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. CFR 34402, Reg. No. 174. The carriage plate reads: CARR HOW 155mm M1A2 CDN, SOREL INDUSTRIES LTD, CANADA (1956), REG. NO. CDN 174, INSP (Maple Leaf). Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Museum, CFB Shilo, Manitoba
(Clive Prothero-Brooks Photos)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. Reg. No. CDN 1. The carriage plate reads: CARR HOW 155mm M1A2 CDN, SOREL INDUSTRIES LTD, CANADA (1952), REG. NO. CDN 1, INSP (symbol). 1 RCHA. Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Museum, CFB Shilo, Manitoba
(Author Photos)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. CFR 00-34411. The carriage plate reads: CARR. HOW. 155MM M1A2 CDN. SOREL INDUSTRIES LTD. CANADA 1955, REG. NO. CDN 2, INSP (symbol). This gun is located in front of the New Brunswick Miloitary History Museum, 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick.
(Author Photos)
Howitzer, Medium, Towed, 155-mm, C1, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec,Queen Elizabeth II cypher. The carriage plate reads: CARR. HOW. 155MMM1A2 CDN. SOREL INDUSTRIES LTD. CANADA (year TBC), REG. NO. CDN 8, INSP(symbol). This gun is located in the CFSEME Company lines. CFB Borden Military Museum, Ontario
(Author Photo)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. CFR 40144. The carriage plate reads: CARR. HOW. 155MM M1A2 CDN. SOREL INDUSTRIES LTD. CANADA1956, REG. NO. CDN 161, INSP (Symbol). This Gun is located on the Southeast side of the Highway entering the village. SE corner of the NMC. No. 1 of 2 in the cemetery.
(Terry Honour Photo)
(Author Photos)
(Normand Roberge Photo)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. CFR 40153. The carriage plate reads: CARR. HOW. 155MM M1A2 CDN. SOREL INDUSTRIES LTD. CANADA 1956, REG. NO. CDN 165, INSP (Symbol). This Gun is located on the Southeast side of the Highway entering the village. NW corner of the NMC. No. 2 of 2. National Military Cemetery, Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Ave., Ottawa, Ontario
(Réjean Montmarquet Photos)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, No. 186, 1942, CFR 00-40154, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 159, 4040 Montée. Saint-Hubert, Quebec.
(Will Chabun Photos)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher, 1956, CDN 173. Regina Armoury. Regina, Saskatchewan
(Réjean Montmarquet Photos)
Breech Assembly: SIL 186 6536462, Howitzer 155mm M1A1 CDN., 1271-5454, 5570678, Canada Sorel Industries Limited 1956, 3730 Lbs. Insp. Carriage: M1A2 CDN, Canada 1956, Reg. No. CDN 160. Recoil: M6A2 CDN, Canada 1956, Reg. No. CDN 167. Brossard, Quebec
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235871)
155-mm Howitzer M1A1 Cdn on Carriage M1A2 Cdn (manufactured by Sorel Industries Limited, Quebec), aka M114 Cdn, in service.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235877)
155-mm Howitzer M1A1 Cdn on Carriage M1A2 Cdn (manufactured by Sorel Industries Limited, Quebec), aka M114 Cdn, in service.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235872)
155-mm Howitzer M1A1 Cdn on Carriage M1A2 Cdn (manufactured by Sorel Industries Limited, Quebec), aka M114 Cdn, service.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235876)
155-mm Howitzer M1A1 Cdn on Carriage M1A2 Cdn (manufactured by Sorel Industries Limited, Quebec), aka M114 Cdn, in service.
(Author Photo)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. On loan from the RCA Museum, CFB Shilo, Manitoba. 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton, 1 CMBG
(Author Photo)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. 1 CMBG HQ, No. 1 in front of the HQ. 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton, 1 CMBG
(Author Photo)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. 1 CMBG HQ, No. 2 in front of the HQ. 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton, 1 CMBG
(Author Photos)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. CFR 34460. The carriage plate reads: CARR. HOW. 155MM M1A2 CDN. SOREL INDUSTRIES LTD. CANADA (1956), REG. NO. CDN 178, INSP (symbol). 1 Canadian Division HQ, Fisher Building, Givenchy St. Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Ontario.
(Author Photo)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. CFR 34406. The carriage plate reads: CARR. HOW. 155MM M1A2 CDN. SOREL INDUSTRIES LTD. CANADA (1956), REG. NO. CDN 162, INSP (symbol). Matheson (North) Gate. Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Ontario.
(Author Photos)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. CFR 40118. The carriage plate reads: CARR. HOW. 155MM M1A2 CDN. SOREL INDUSTRIES LTD. CANADA (year 1955), REG. NO. CDN 18, INSP (Symbol). The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps Museum, Montréal, Québec.
(Author Photos)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher, CDN No. 26, 1955. Connaught Range and Primary Training Centre, 35 Shirley Blvd, Ottawa, Ontario
(Maxwell Toms Photo)
155-mm C1 (M1A2) Medium Howitzer on M1A2 Carriage, aka M114, manufactured at Sorel Industries Limited in Quebec, Queen Elizabeth II cypher. This gun is inside a fenced compound. Nicolet, Quebec.