The United State Army as a Career--1913

[Philip S]

I recently found a booklet on the United States Army as a Career dated 1913. I have attached an illustration of the uniforms of the period.

[Todd]

Reminds me of the many stories of Marines in WW2 that enlisted to get the snazzy dress blues, only to NEVER be issued those, as they were only used by recruiters.

Must have been only a couple of years left on those blue items before they were chucked.

[Philip S]

The booklet has a number of pictures of field artillery:

[Couvi]

The guns are 3-inch Field Guns, Model of 1902. Note the steel collars. Note the Battery Commander on the home-made ladder observing the fall of the shot.



The giant periscope is a mast fernrohr or mast telescope, and they were horse-drawn. The US Army requested one of these in 1908. What they got was the Battery Commander on a homemade ladder. In 1940 the said, “Forget it. We don’t need it anymore.” The man on the seat is putting in a pin to insure that the sections do not all collapse. They extend 80 feet into the air. Several of these would get an azimuth to the target and the firing data could be calculated from that.

I couldn't get these images to show:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48140075@N04/26877636863/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paranoid_womb/8706096111

[Philip S]

That would be a lot safer than being a target on a ladder.
Attached are a couple more pictures. WWI airplanes a short time later were light years more advanced.

[Couvi]

It is amazing how much aircraft developed in such a short time.

Wright Brothers Flight Demonstration at Fort Myer 1909 US Army: https://www.facebook.com/palmspringsair ... 480616534/

[Pat Holscher]

It is amazing how much aircraft developed in such a short time.

Wright Brothers Flight Demonstration at Fort Myer 1909 US Army: https://www.facebook.com/palmspringsair ... 480616534/

Truly.

Indeed, we feel the advance of technology is rapid now, but in many areas, it was simply mind numblingly fast a century ago, and into mid century. Aircraft models became obsolete in a few years constantly.

[Pat Holscher]

The guns are 3-inch Field Guns, Model of 1902. Note the steel collars. Note the Battery Commander on the home-made ladder observing the fall of the shot.



The giant periscope is a mast fernrohr or mast telescope, and they were horse-drawn. The US Army requested one of these in 1908. What they got was the Battery Commander on a homemade ladder. In 1940 the said, “Forget it. We don’t need it anymore.” The man on the seat is putting in a pin to insure that the sections do not all collapse. They extend 80 feet into the air. Several of these would get an azimuth to the target and the firing data could be calculated from that.

I couldn't get these images to show:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48140075@N04/26877636863/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paranoid_womb/8706096111

That's one heck of a periscope.

[Pat Holscher]

Reminds me of the many stories of Marines in WW2 that enlisted to get the snazzy dress blues, only to NEVER be issued those, as they were only used by recruiters.

Must have been only a couple of years left on those blue items before they were chucked.

Indeed, I think Marines have always had to purchase the dress blues, including currently. Most do, but, probably with certain exceptions, they aren't issued.