Selectmen Sign Agreement to Move Howitzer in OId Saybrook, Connecticut

OLD SAYBROOK - A 1956 army tank sitting on the Old Saybrook Town Green might soon be rolling away.

The M114A2 Howitzer, a familiar sight to those driving or walking down Main Street, is right now located between the Old Saybrook Fire Department Headquarters and several war memorials.

The war memorials are dedicated to those who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam and the nearby Howitzer was in use during the later three conflicts.

The tank is on loan through the Department of the Army's Donation Program and the leadership of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, #10153 Post in Old Saybrook have indicated that they would like to see the tank moved in front of their building.

The town's VFW is located at 315 Essex Road in the town's Ferry Point section and is approximately three miles away from the town green.

While several pieces of artillery are in front of the American Legion at 113 Essex Road, next to Comfort Inn, there is a large empty yard in front of the VFW Post, next to the Brother of Empire Restaurant.

At the Mar. 20 Old Saybrook Board of Selectmen meeting, selectmen unanimously voted in favor of sending paperwork to the Army so that the Howitzer can move to the VFW.

According to a letter written by Marilyn Clore, Donations Specialist for the Army, the move requires a "conditional deed of gift" requiring the maintenance and upkeep of the Howitzer to transfer from the town to the VFW.

First Selectman Michael Pace favors the move, stating, "It's an unattractive nuisance (on the green) and the VFW is looking for equipment to represent the military and the VFW is a good home for it," Pace said.

Selectman Bill Peace said he spoke with several veterans, all of whom were in favor of the move, and that he personally has "no objection as long as there is no objection in the community. Those people who feel the strongest are in support of it."

Peace admitted that the issue of moving military artillery has been a hot-contested issue in other communities.

The medium-towed M114A2 Howitzer was a 155 millimeter field artillery with the capability of nuclear and non-nuclear firing and consists of aluminum and steel.

It was a standard size cannon used by U.S. Army Forces through the late 1980's and is now considered obsolete.

The M114A2 required a crew of 11 men, had a range of 14 miles, and could maintain a sustained rate of fire of 40 rounds per hour.

The Howitzer currently sitting on the town green had its recoil mechanism demilitarized with lead in February 1984 while the rest of the tank was demilitarized with lead in December 1989, according to plaques affixed to the unit.