155mm M1918A1 GUN

155mm M1918A1 GUN
Image: 155mm M1918A1 Gun (US Army Photo)
Year1941
Weapon Type[@type]
Origin & Designer[@designer]
Numbers Produced598
CrewSergeant/Section Chief + .30 cal M1 Rifle.
Corporal/Gun Layer + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
Pvt/Gunner + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
Pvt/Assistant Gunner.
2 x Pvts/Loaders + .30 cal M1 Carbines.
2 x Pvts/Ammunition Bearers + .30 cal M1 Carbines.
Corporal/Ammunition + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
4 x Ammunition Bearers + .30 cal M1 Carbines.
Pvt/Driver (Towing Vehicle) + .30 cal M1 Rifle w/M7 Grenade Launcher.
Calibre155mm
Elevation-0° to +35°
Traverse60°
BreechInterrupted Screw
RecoilHydropeumatic
Gun SightM8
Gun Mount[@gun_mounts]
CarriageM1819A1: Split Trail
Trailers[@trailers]
Gun Shield[@gun_shield]
Armoured Plate[@armoured_plate]
Barrel Length5.915m (L/38.2)
Overall Length9.44m
Width[@width]
Height[@height]
WeightWeight in Transit: 11.589 kg
Weight in Action: 9.117 kg
Round WeightHE (M101) 43.1 kg.
Muzzle Velocity735 m/s
Feed[@feed]
Magazine Capacity[@magazine_capacity]
Practical Rate of Fire[@practical_rate_of_fire]
Rate of Fire2 r.p.m.
Maximum Rate of Fire[@maximum_rate_of_fire]
Maximum Ceiling[@maximum_ceiling]
Maximum Ground Range[@maximum_ground_range]
Maximum Range19.500m
Armour Penetration[@armour_penetration]
TractionMotorised (M4 Tractor)
Variants[@variants]
NotesIn WW1 the US army decided to replace their heavy 6in M1906 guns with the more modern French GPFs. After the war the army built their own under licence resulting in the M1918M1 gun. In 1940 the US army had 973 of these heavy guns which made it the most numerous gun in service. In 1937 a new high speed carriage had been developed for mechanized towing and the army decided to up-grade the M1918. This was a slow progress and only 598 were modernised between 1941 and 1942. The M1918A1 saw action in the early phases of WW2 but when the more modern 155mm M1A1 Gun came into use in 1942 it was gradually used as a coastal Gun and was deployed in this role in the Pacific theatre until 1945.