Collection:
Juneau—Douglas City Museum
Object ID:
2007.08.001
Accession#:
2007.08
Credit Line:
Donated by the State Department of Transportation.
Object Name:
Shell, Artillery
Date:
March 21, 2007
Year Range to:
2007
Description:
Shell casing

Brass shell casing from a 105MM Howitzer. Object is cylindrical, and open at one end. On the closed end there is a primer in the center. The following is printed in white letters: " AMMLOT SL—98D125—007/CARTRIDGE M1/HOW M2AI M2A2/M103 M137/DUALGRAN." Etched into the same end is the following: 1/105MM M14B4/KX085B017—009
Notes:
This shell was shot on 3/21/2007 from a 105 MM howitzer that belongs to the State DOT as a part of avalanche control on Thane Road. They shoot at 21 different points on Mount Roberts by changing their elevation and deflection. There are two main avalanche paths above Thane Road called Snowslide and Cross Bay.

The firing is done by DOT—Southeast Region Maintenance and Operations Section, they maintain highways and State airports in Southeast Alaska. The only other place where they do avalanche control is on the Klondike Highway, and they don't use a howitzer there. The members of the gun crew are equipment operators on a day to day basis. The head gunner on this shoot was Dave Stevenson. A gun crew consists of 4 people. There are probably 12 people involved all together acting as spotters and traffic control. They go to training every three years.

The firing point is on a cement pad at Treadwell, just at the rim of the hole where the cave—in occurred.

The powder comes in bags, which you can adjust for how far you have to shoot. All these shots were "2 baggers."

The avalanche on this day was larger than normal because of the heavy snow load. The shoot was performed the day after Juneau set a new record for the amount of snowfall in the year in Juneau. The avalanche covered the Thane Road, necessitating front end loaders to clear it. Snow also reached the channel. There was coverage in the Juneau Empire.

There are digital photographs available in the document file.
People:
Stevenson, Dave
Patz, Greg
Search Terms:
State
Transportation
Road
Thane
Military
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Shell CasingShell Casing
Shell Casing detail of primerShell Casing detail of primer