G.I. Joe Mountain Howitzer (1984)

 

Overview

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The G.I. Joe Mountain Howitzer was released in 1984 as part of Hasbro’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line under the smaller Battle Stations series.

Unlike futuristic jets or giant tanks, the Mountain Howitzer focused on realistic battlefield artillery support. The set represented a compact deployable field cannon designed for mountain warfare and long-range bombardment missions. It quickly became popular among kids and collectors because of its authentic military appearance and strong playability.

The Mountain Howitzer helped expand the grounded military side of G.I. Joe during the legendary 1984 lineup that also introduced the Rattler, Water Moccasin, Sky Hawk, and V.A.M.P. Mark II.

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Key Features

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1. EX-700 Howitzer Cannon

The centerpiece was the EX-700 series howitzer, a detailed artillery cannon inspired by real military field guns. It featured:

• adjustable elevation

• rotating artillery positioning

• movable support legs

• realistic battlefield styling

The barrel could raise incrementally up to 45 degrees for simulated long-range bombardment.

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2. Spring-Loaded Shell Firing

The Mountain Howitzer included removable artillery rounds that could be loaded into the breech and launched during play.

It came with:

• 3 removable EX-700 anti-tank shells

• additional molded ammunition storage

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3. 50x Magnification Binoculars

The set included field binoculars for spotting Cobra targets before firing artillery strikes. This added a realistic military reconnaissance feel.

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4. Compact Battle Station Design

Unlike large vehicles, the Mountain Howitzer worked as a portable battlefield support unit that fit easily into:

• convoy scenes

• mountain missions

• defensive outposts

• Joe base displays

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5. Highly Compatible With Joe Vehicles

Collectors often pair the Mountain Howitzer with:

• V.A.M.P.

• Slugger

• H.A.L.

• APC

• Sky Hawk

Its realistic scale made it perfect for dioramas and troop deployments.

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Fun Facts

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Box Art Characters Were Not Included

The original package artwork showed Recondo and Zap operating the cannon — but neither figure came with the set.

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One of the Most Realistic Joe Accessories

Collectors often praise the Mountain Howitzer because it feels closer to real-world military hardware than many later G.I. Joe releases.

Its grounded artillery design aged extremely well.

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Part of the “Battle Stations” Mini-Line

The Mountain Howitzer belonged to Hasbro’s 1984 Battle Stations range alongside:

• Bivouac

• Watch Tower

These smaller sets focused on expanding battlefield realism rather than oversized gimmicks.

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Surprisingly Difficult to Complete

Because of its small removable parts, loose examples often miss:

• artillery shells

• binoculars

• stabilizers

• ammunition pieces

Complete examples are much rarer today than many collectors realize.

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Real Soldiers Appreciate It Too

One Reddit collector shared that hearing a real military howitzer fire during Army training immediately reminded him of the toy:

“Talk about getting scared!”

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Why Collectors Love It

The Mountain Howitzer captures the realistic military spirit that made early G.I. Joe special:

• authentic battlefield equipment

• grounded military design

• compact playability

• excellent display potential

It may not be as flashy as the Rattler or HISS Tank, but many longtime fans consider it one of the best artillery pieces ever released in the vintage G.I. Joe line.