155mm Gun Batteries were independent batteries, that were part of the Fleet Marine Force (FMF), typically commanded by a Major and fully capable of performing their own administration, organizational maintenance, and organic supply functions similar to that of a battalion. At the time of the Vietnam involvement there were at least 5 of these batteries in the Marine Corps. Four of them (1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th) were part of Force Troops/FMF PAC and saw action in Vietnam. The other battery (2nd) was assigned to the 2nd Field Artillery Group - Force Troops/FMF ATL and was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. In Vietnam they were often placed under the administrative and operational control of one of the divisions' artillery Regiments (i.e., 11th or 12th). This battery, 1st Guns, was attached to the 12th Marines (3rd MARDIV), the 11th Marines (1sr MARDIV), and to the 1st Field Artillery Group (FMFPac) at various times during its 4 year, 7 month deployment to Vietnam. The battery fired self-propelled 155mm Guns (M53) that were unique to the USMC until February 1969, when they converted to 175mm Guns (M107). They were often deployed with self-propelled 8" Howitzers (m55s) which shared the same carriage. In 1969, when the Marine Corps retired the M53's and converted all the 155mm Gun batteries to 175mm Gun Batteries, the unit's designation became the "1st 175mm Gun Battery (SP)..
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On 7Feb66 1st FAG consisting of HqBtry, 1st Guns, and 3rd 8" departed 29 Palms, CA and on 8Feb66 it got underway on the USS Ogden from Pier 6 San Diego. On 24Feb66 1st FAG was ordered to drop 3rd 8" at Chu Lai, 1st Guns at Danang, and to deliver HqBtry to Okinowa. The 1st 155mm Gun Btry (SP) landed in the Republic of Vietnam on 3Mar66 in Danang. It was deployed to a position south of the city.
The Battery moved from the Danang area to the Phu Bai area in June of 1966. An advance party arrived by convoy on 3Jun66. The Guns arrived in Hue by LCU at 1000H, and the rest of the battery arrived by convoy at 1015H on 6Jun66. The Battery came under the administrative and operational control of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines (3/12) at that time. It was located north of the Phu Bai compound near the village of Gia Le. On 14Jun66 the Battery CO, Captain N. M. Larimer, was seriously wounded and MEDEVAC'ed to the States when his vehicle ran over a mine on a mission to establish a location for a platoon needed to support a recon patrol south of Phu Bai.
On 6Sep66 the Battery was moved again to the southern perimeter of the Phu Bai compound (YD 89327 12786). It remained there until Nov68.
On 19Dec66 the Battery came under the operational and administrative control of 4/12. On 9Mar67 one gun and an 8" Howitzer were moved to PK17 (YD 6451 2771). On 6Apr67 the position at PK17 was attacked resulting in 2 Marines killed and 7 wounded. On 1Sep67 the Battery received 8 WIA as a result of VC mortar activity at the Phu Bai base camp.
On 13Mar68 Gun #2 exploded killing 6 and wounding 1. The wounded Marine died of his wounds later in the month.
On 20Nov68 the battery moved to positions south of Danang (hill 55 and hill 65) and the Battery's mission changed from reinforcing XXIV Corps Artillery, US Army, to general support of 1st MarDiv.
On 28Feb69 Battery received 175mm Guns and its official designation changed to 1st 175mm Gun Btry (SP).
