155mm M1 FIELD HOWITZER

155mm M1 FIELD HOWITZER
Image: 155mm M1 Howitzer (US Army Signal Corps)
Year1942
Weapon Type[@type]
Origin & Designer[@designer]
Numbers Produced10.600
CrewSergeant/Section Chief + .30 cal M1 Rifle.
Corporal/Gun Layer + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
Pvt/Gunner + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
2 x Pvts/Loaders + .30 cal M1 Carbines.
Corporal/Ammunition .30 cal M1 Carbine.
4 x Pvts/Ammunition Bearers + .30 cal M1 Carbines.
Pvt/Driver (Towing Vehicle) + .30 cal M1 Rifle w/M7 Grenade Launcher.
Calibre155mm
Elevation-2° to +63°
Traverse25°
BreechInterrupted Screw
RecoilHydropeumatic
Gun SightM12
Gun Mount[@gun_mounts]
CarriageM1: Split Trail
Trailers[@trailers]
Gun Shield[@gun_shield]
Armoured Plate[@armoured_plate]
Barrel Length3.79m (L/23)
Overall Length7.315m
Width[@width]
Height[@height]
WeightWeight in Transit: 5.850 kg
Weight in Action: 5.600 kg
Round WeightHE (M107) 43.14 kg.
Smoke (M116) 43.14 kg.
Bagged Charges:
M3: 2.69 kg.
M4: 6.29 kg.
M4A1: 6.31 kg.
Muzzle VelocityHE 564 m/s.
Smoke 564 m/s.
Feed[@feed]
Magazine Capacity[@magazine_capacity]
Practical Rate of Fire[@practical_rate_of_fire]
Rate of Fire4 r.p.m.
Maximum Rate of FireHE: 14.955m
Smoke: 14.955m
Maximum Ceiling[@maximum_ceiling]
Maximum Ground Range[@maximum_ground_range]
Maximum Range[@maximum_range]
Armour Penetration[@armour_penetration]
TractionMotorised (Diamond T Truck or M5 Tractor)
Variants[@variants]
NotesAfter developing a new carriage in which to mount their M1918 howitzers, the army decided to design a new howitzer instead of utilizing the older model, resulting in the M1 howitzer mounted on the M1 carriage. This same carriage was also used to mount the 4.5in gun which was to partner the new howitzer. The M1 had a longer barrel than the M1918 and had a new improved breech. The howitzer M1 was to replace the vintage M1918A3 which were still in stock, the M1 proved to be the best medium howitzer available to US forces not only in WW2 but in Korea and Vietnam. Along with the M2A1 105mm, formed the back bone of US Artillery Regiments.