MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO -- When families and friends come to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego to witness America’s newest Marines graduate on the parade deck, they will find that there is more to the depot than meets the eye.
On the depot, many will find that every street, building, monument and relic has a story behind it. In fact, did you know there are 13 cannons displayed at various locations aboard the depot?
At one time, each of those cannons was employed with Marine units during battles and skirmishes. Although not serving their original purpose, the weapons still serve as a token of military history and innovation.
If one wanted to discover more about these relics, it would only take some walking and reading the signs. A good place to start a self-guided tour would be at the Museum and Historical Society located next to the Marine Corps Exchange and barracks.
It is at the museum you will find the majority of the cannons with the most history. However, even the cannon with the most known history has only limited information available about it.
For example, the M-116 Pack Howitzer was originally produced as a towed piece for horse artillery units. This 75mm gun was used by the Marines in the Pacific during World War II. It was then given to the Chinese National Army and then taken by the Red Chinese Army.
During the Korean War, the Marines ended up capturing the very same cannon back. The cannon now resides in the Korea section of the depot museum.
The next stop is just outside the museum near the parade deck where four of the 13 cannons are on display.
These weapons were obtained from several different countries. The western most cannon is a Japanese Model 38, 75mm Howitzer. Although several versions are known to exist, this one in particular was in use in 1905 and is attached to large wagon wheels for convenient transport.
Several paces east of the Model 38 is another Japanese cannon. This Model 94, 37mm Anti-Tank Gun was able to fire both high explosive as well as armor piercing rounds up to 5000 yards during its use in 1934.
Continuing down the line is an American M3, 37mm Anti-Tank Gun. Although the 1930s-era weapon can only fire one kind of projectile unlike the Japanese Model 94, it can reach a distance up to 8000 yards and proves to be superior from that aspect.
The last weapon in the depot museum line up is French made, and technically not a cannon. The classification of this weapon is an M1970 120mm Mortar—meaning, it is muzzle loaded and fires projectiles at low velocities and shorter ranges, but at high trajectories. The weapon was used by Iraqi forces during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from 1990-1991. It was captured by Marines of the 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Across from the museum located near the north eastern end of the parade deck sits another weapon. Though its origin is Japanese, it is not another anti-tank weapon. The Model 41, 75mm Infantry Gun was used in 1908. The gun has a range of 7,800 yards, but can only fire somewhat accurately at a range of approximately 7000 yards where 75 percent of the rounds would fall within the first 100 yards.
To get to the next set of big guns, one could walk northwest to the front of the Headquarters and Service Battalion building behind the Home Store here. They are a twin set of Japanese Model 92, 70mm Howitzers, also known as the “Battalion Guns.”
Unfortunately, very little is known about the three Saluting Guns facing the parade deck with their back to the General’s building. All that is known is that they are 40mm Mark 11, Naval Saluting Guns that were placed on the depot around 1993.
Last but not least in the tour of the depot’s weaponry displays are our two, 3-inch, Mark 22 Naval Guns sitting on the southwestern corner of Henderson Avenue and Mira Monte Place, which can be seen on your way to the boat house or the Bay View. They are the latest variants of the gun and were used in anti-aircraft protection in 1943.
Though the majority of these guns are from conflicts of similar time periods, they may give us additional insight to the history and innovations of modern weaponry.
To learn more about the history of the MCRD San Diego or the Marine Corps, visit the Museum and Historical Society here.