Military Museum of North Florida
I discovered this museum when I was planning for a short drive from St. Augustine to Jacksonville, Florida. I was unaware of this museum until I saw it pop up along the route to Jacksonville I had chosen to take. A stop at the museum was quickly added to the day trip’s itinerary.
The Military Museum of North Florida is not a large museum. It consists of a quonset hut packed with many interesting things to see and numerous military vehicles parked outside. It covers all branches of the service and has displays covering more than 230 years of distinctive military history through artifacts and exhibits ranging from the Revolutionary War all the way to Operation Iraq Freedom.
20Jun24
EXTERIOR ARTIFACTS
Military Museum of North Florida Quonset Hut mural.
Flag lined front lawn of the Military Museum of North Florida.
Military Museum of North Florida.
Military Museum of North Florida.
A lifeboat from the USS Benjamin Chew (0058) Liberty Ship.
Liberty Ship USS Benjamin Chew was launched on 10 August 1942. She was scrapped and removed from the fleet, 8 February 1972.
5"/38 Caliber Single Mount Dual Purpose Gun - This was unquestionably the finest Dual Purpose gun of World War II.
Originally designed to arm new destroyers being built in the 1930s, the 5"/38 (12.7 cm) wound up being used on nearly every major US warship built between 1934 and 1948 and was still being used on new construction as late as the 1960s.
These 5"/38 guns were hand-loaded, but power-rammed, which gave them a high rate of fire and a capability of being easily loaded at any angle of elevation, both of which are highly desirable qualities for an anti-aircraft weapon.
The LARC-LX (Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, 60 ton), is a welded steel-hulled amphibious cargo vehicle.
The LARK could carry up to 100 tons of cargo or 200 people, but a more typical load was 60 tons of cargo or 120 people.
The vehicle was powered by four 265 hp (198 kW) GMC diesel engines positioned in the sides of the hull, each of which drove one wheel on land.
To give you an idea of the size of this vehicle, I had my son stand next to it for a photo. He is 6ft, 4in tall for size reference.
Pairs of engines were coupled to drive each of the two 1.2 m (47 in)-diameter propellers, which propelled the vehicle in the water. Its top speed was 20 mph (32 km/h) on land, or 7.5 mph (12.1 km/h) afloat. The operator occupied a small cab on the port side at the aft end of the vehicle.
The lark was capable of transporting 40 ft (12 m) shipping containers, which could be landed from the LARC either by crane, straddle carriers, or rollers. It was the only amphibious vehicle in U.S. Army service capable of landing on a beach through surf.
M35 Duece and a Half
F4U Corsair wreck.
F4U Corsair wreck.
F4U Corsair wreck.
F4U Corsair wreck.
Dodge M37 Cargo Truck
“Jeep” U.S. Air Force truck, ¼ ton, 4x4 Command Reconnaissance
Vintage RoadRunner Camper Trailer painted in US Army olive drab with military markings.
“Jeep” U.S. Army truck, ¼ ton, 4x4 Command Reconnaissance
US Army Jeep Station Wagon
M274 Truck, Platform, Utility, 1/2 ton. Better know as the M274 Mechanical Mule.
“Jeep” U.S. Navy truck, ¼ ton, 4x4 Command Reconnaissance
“Jeep” USMC truck, ¼ ton, 4x4 Command Reconnaissance
“Jeep” U.S. Army truck, ¼ ton, 4x4 Command Reconnaissance
“Jeep” U.S. Army truck, ¼ ton, 4x4 Command Reconnaissance
General Motors M42 40 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, or "Duster," is an American armored light air-defense gun built for the United States Army from 1952 until December 1960, in service until 1988.
General Motors M42 40 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, or "Duster," is an American armored light air-defense gun built for the United States Army from 1952 until December 1960, in service until 1988.
FOR SALE - “Jeep” U.S. Army truck, ¼ ton, 4x4 Command Reconnaissance
