About the M1A1 155mm Howitzer – 333rd Field Artillery Battalion:

Entering service with the United States Army in 1941, the 155mm M1A1 howitzer upgraded the Allies’ available firepower against the Axis powers. Using a split-tail design, the M1A1 used a jack in front of the gun shield to raise the wheels off the ground. The M1A1 required an eleven man crew to operate and was able to launch a 98 lb. projectile over 14,000 meters.

The 333rd Field Artillery Group was a segregated unit made up of African American soldiers and white officers. The 333rd utilized the 155mm M1A1 howitzer to unleash fury on the Nazi enemy. Fighting through France in 1944, the 333rd earned a reputation for efficiency and ferocity. In the fall of 1944, they were relocated to a quiet sector along the Ardennes. As winter came, the Germans attacked to create a bulge in the Allied line. Artillerymen of the 333rd wreaked havoc on the Germans to give time for infantry units to retreat. Their heroic stand came at a high cost. As the Germans broke through, they captured or killed over half of the 333rd. Eleven artillerymen were able to escape the Germans and sought shelter in the town of Wereth. However, the men were betrayed and given up to the 1st SS Panzer Division, who led the American troops out of town and tortured and killed them.

These “invisible” soldiers were nearly forgotten, despite the bravery they showed in their service. Today, near the village where they were captured, a memorial stands to honor these eleven men:

Pvt. Curtis Adams
Cpl. Mager Bradley
Pvt. 1st Class George Davis
Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Forte
Pvt. Robert L. Green
Pvt. 1st Class Jimmie L. Leatherwood
Tech 5th Grade Nathaniel Moss
Pvt. 1st Class George W. Moten
Tech 4th Grade William E. Pritchett
Tech 4th Grade James A. Stewart
Pvt. 1st Class Due W. Turner

Specifications:

Crew: 11
Armament: 155 mm (6.1 in) main gun
Rate of fire: burst: 4 rpm, sustained: 40 rph
Muzzle velocity: 563 m/s (1,847 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 14,600 m (16,000 yd)

Additional information about this Brickmania® custom building kit:

This updated build features an elevating main gun, deployable carriage with firing pedestal, split tails, deployable spades, and one custom minifig.

Model Statistics:

Designed by Mary Wilson
136 LEGO® & BrickArms® elements
1x custom minifigs
Full-color printed building instructions
1/35th scale to match other Brickmania kits
Intermediate Skill Level (4-6 years building experience recommended)

All Brickmania® model kits are made of new-condition LEGO® bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions. This is a limited-edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.

This is not a LEGO® Product. LEGO and the LEGO minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this product. The LEGO Group is not liable for any loss, injury or damage arising from the use or misuse of this product.