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    8 Inch Gun M1 Wiki

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    alanbrooke1
    The 8-inch gun M1 was a 203mm towed heavy gun developed in the United States during World War II with the longest range of any US field artillery at over 32,000 meters. It required transportation in two loads on separate wagons and a crane for setup, but could be emplaced within two hours. Only 139 were produced before ending production in 1945, though some were also used by the British Army. It saw action against fortifications in both the European and Pacific theaters.

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    8 Inch Gun M1 Wiki

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    alanbrooke1
    32 views4 pages
    The 8-inch gun M1 was a 203mm towed heavy gun developed in the United States during World War II with the longest range of any US field artillery at over 32,000 meters. It required transportation in two loads on separate wagons and a crane for setup, but could be emplaced within two hours. Only 139 were produced before ending production in 1945, though some were also used by the British Army. It saw action against fortifications in both the European and Pacific theaters.

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    The 8-inch gun M1 was a 203mm towed heavy gun developed in the United States during World War II with the longest range of any US field artillery at over 32,000 meters. It required transportation in two loads on separate wagons and a crane for setup, but could be emplaced within two hours. Only 139 were produced before ending production in 1945, though some were also used by the British Army. It saw action against fortifications in both the European and Pacific theaters.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    32 views4 pages

    8 Inch Gun M1 Wiki

    Uploaded by

    alanbrooke1
    The 8-inch gun M1 was a 203mm towed heavy gun developed in the United States during World War II with the longest range of any US field artillery at over 32,000 meters. It required transportation in two loads on separate wagons and a crane for setup, but could be emplaced within two hours. Only 139 were produced before ending production in 1945, though some were also used by the British Army. It saw action against fortifications in both the European and Pacific theaters.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 4

    8-inch gun M1

    The 8-inch gun M1 was a 203 mm towed heavy gun developed in the
    8-inch gun M1
    United States. At 32,584 m (35,635 yd), it had the longest range of any US
    Army field artillery weapon in World War II. It was also used in small
    numbers by the British Army.

    Development and production


    In 1919, the Westervelt Board
    described the ideal heavy gun for
    future development having a bore of 8-inch gun at the U.S. Army Field Artillery
    194 mm to 8 inches, a projectile of Museum, Fort Sill, OK
    about 200 lbs in weight, and a range Type Heavy gun
    of 35,000 yards. More striking was
    Place of origin United States
    the requirement that it be road
    transportable. At this time no other Service history
    An 8-inch US Army field gun in
    country had such a road- Used by United States
    action during the bombardment of transportable field gun.[1] Low- United Kingdom
    Brest. priority design work occurred until
    1924. Serious development began in Wars World War II
    June 1940 of an 8-inch (203 mm) Production history
    gun that would have a range of 33,500 yards (30,600 m), be transported in Designed 1939–1942
    two loads weighing no more than 44,000 lb (20,000 kg) at a road speed of
    up to 25 mph (40 km/h), and also be suitable for rail movement. The gun Produced 1942–1945
    used the same projectile as the 8-inch coastal gun and the US Navy's 8-inch Specifications
    cruiser gun.[2] Using the same carriage as the 240 mm howitzer M1 eased Mass Combat: 69,300 lb
    development, but the gun was very troublesome and was not standardized
    (31,400 kg)
    until January 1942. The main problems were excessive bore wear and poor
    accuracy, but it was felt that nothing better could be produced in a timely Barrel length 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
    manner. Thus it entered production at a low rate and in small numbers. The L/50
    gun tube was produced by Watervliet Arsenal, and the recoil system was
    produced by Hannifin Manufacturing. Watertown Arsenal, Bucyrus-Erie, Shell separate-loading,
    and the S. Morgan Smith Company manufactured the carriage. Only 139
    bagged charge
    weapon systems were produced before production ceased in 1945.[3]
    Caliber 203 mm (8.0 in)
    In the quest for greater tactical mobility, the Ordnance Department Breech Interrupted screw
    experimented with a self-propelled version. Like the 240 mm howitzer, it
    was mounted on a stretched Heavy Tank T26E3 chassis that had an extra Recoil Hydro-pneumatic
    bogie wheel per side as the 8in Gun Motor Carriage T93, but the war Carriage Split trail
    ended before they could be used, and they were later scrapped. Elevation +10° to +50°
    Traverse 30° (initially), post-
    Transport war 40°
    Muzzle velocity 2,840 ft/s (870 m/s)
    One of the requirements during development was that the gun be easy to
    emplace. Given the weight of the gun and carriage, this was a challenge. Effective firing range 12.5 mi (20.1 km)
    Eventually, a pair of three-axle, six-wheeled transport wagons were (minimum)
    developed – one for the barrel and recoil mechanism, and one for the Maximum firing range 20.24 mi (32.57 km)
    carriage. These transport wagons were also used with the 240 mm howitzer.
    These were standardized as the M2 and M3. The M2 wagon carried the
    carriage and the M3 wagon carried the barrel and recoil system as shown to the left. This separate configuration required the use
    of the 20-ton M2 truck-mounted crane for setup. The crane also included a clam-shell bucket that was transported on a trailer
    and used to dig the recoil pit for the gun. In spite of the weight and being transported in two pieces, the gun could be emplaced
    in as little as two hours.[4]
    The transport wagons were initially intended to be towed by the Mack NO 7+1⁄2-ton
    heavy truck. Because the truck was a wheeled vehicle, it had problems in soft ground
    such as mud because its ground pressure was high. The M6 High Speed Tractor, a
    tracked vehicle which was explicitly designed for towing the 8-inch gun and 240 mm
    howitzer was standardized in June 1943 but would not enter production until February
    1944, so the Ordnance Department improvised in the meantime. Surplus M3 Lee-based
    M31 and M32B1 tank recovery vehicles and M10A1 tank destroyers were quickly
    modified and tested. These proved to be satisfactory and were adopted for use as the
    M33, M34, and M35 Prime Movers, respectively.[2]
    Barrel and recoil system of the M1
    prepared for transportation, on
    display in the US Army Ordnance
    Variants
    Museum 8in Gun Motor Carriage T93 - prototype

    Service
    The gun was assigned to non-divisional battalions, eight of which were eventually organized, trained and equipped. Each
    consisted of six guns, organized into three batteries of two gun sections each. Five battalions saw service in Europe or Italy
    (153rd, 243rd, 256th, 268th, and 575th) and three in the Pacific (570th, 573rd, and 780th).[5] They first saw action in Italy in
    April 1944 at the Anzio beachhead when Battery B of the 575th Field Artillery Battalion was attached to the 698th Field
    Artillery Battalion.[6] Battery A of the 575th also went to the Cassino front attached to the 697th Field Artillery Battalion, and
    was used in the counter-battery role against long-range German 170 mm guns. By September 1944, the 8-inch guns of the
    575th had been withdrawn from Italy, and soon saw action in Europe where they were particularly effective against fortified
    targets and in counter-battery fire against German long-range artillery. At St. Malo, France, two battalions of 8-inch guns
    participated in the siege. The 8-inch guns scored direct hits on the walls of the ancient citadel.[7] In the Siegfried Line campaign,
    the 8-inch guns, adjusted by aerial observers, knocked out two bridges over the Roer River.[7] At the end of the war, the
    battalions were deactivated and the guns moved into storage; however, they were never again used in action and eventually
    disposed.

    Seventeen guns were supplied to Great Britain.[8]

    Ammunition
    The gun fired separate loading ammunition with two increments. M9 Green Bag propellant was used for medium ranges and
    was preferred for improved accuracy and reduced barrel erosion. M10 White Bag was used for long- and extreme-range firing.
    Only two fuses were used: M51A3 point detonating (and delay), and M67A3 mechanical time. Range and muzzle velocity
    below are for maximum charge of M10 White Bag.

    Propelling Charges[9]
    Model Weight Components

    34.47 kg
    M9 Base charge and one increment
    (76 lb)

    48.12 kg
    M10 Base charge and one increment
    (106.1 lb)
    Projectiles[9]
    Type Model Weight Filler Muzzle Velocity Range

    108.86 kg TNT, 9.52 kg 868 m/s 32,584 m


    HE
    HE M103
    Shell
    (240 lbs) (21 lbs) (2,850 ft/s) (35,635 yd)

    108.86 kg
    Dummy
    Drill
    M13 (240 lbs)

    Existing examples
    Only three examples are known to have survived. They are located at:

    45th Infantry Division Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma


    US Army Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
    US Army Ordnance Museum, Fort Lee, Virginia

    See also
    List of U.S. Army weapons by supply catalog designation SNL D-33
    M6 Tractor
    M115 howitzer
    M110 howitzer

    References
    1. A Board of Officers (1919). The Report of the Westervelt Board. Morris Swett Library: The War Department.
    p. 30.
    2. Schreier, Konrad F. (1994). Standard guide to U.S. World War II tanks & artillery. Krause Publications. p. 104.
    ISBN 0873412974. OCLC 31007442 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/31007442).
    3. Williford, Glen M. (2016). American breechloading mobile artillery 1875-1953 : an illustrated identification
    guide. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. p. 176. ISBN 9780764350498. OCLC 927401960 (https://www.worldcat.org/ocl
    c/927401960).
    4. Steven J., Zaloga (2007). U.S. Field Artillery of World War II. Osprey Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 9781846030611.
    OCLC 123895340 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/123895340).
    5. Stanton, Shelby L. (1984). Order of battle, U.S. Army, World War II (https://archive.org/details/orderofbattleusa0
    0stan/page/401). Presidio. pp. 401, 404, 405, 414 (https://archive.org/details/orderofbattleusa00stan/page/401).
    ISBN 978-0891411956. OCLC 10727063 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/10727063).
    6. Williams, Captain Colin J. (July–August 2003). "Saved by Artillery: How MG Lucas Lost the Initiative at Anzio
    and the Allied Artillery Regained It". Field Artillery Journal.
    7. Mayo, Lida (1991). The Ordnance Department: On Beachhead and Battlefron. Washington, DC: Center of
    Military History United States Army. pp. 266–267, 326.
    8. Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). U S field artillery of World War II. Osprey Pub. p. 37. ISBN 9781846030611.
    OCLC 123895340 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/123895340).
    9. Technical Manual TM9-1901 Artillery Ammunition. War Department. 1944. pp. 312–313, 206–207, 376.

    Bibliography
    Hogg, Ian V. (1998). Allied Artillery of World War Two. Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-478-8.
    Hogg, Ian V. The Guns, 1939-45. New York: Ballantine Books, 1970 ISBN 0019067100
    Schreier Jr., Konrad F. – Standard guide to U.S. World War II Tanks & Artillery (1994) Krause Publications,
    ISBN 0-87341-297-4.
    Williford, Glen M (2016). American Breechloading Mobile Artillery 1875-1953. Thomas D. Batha. Schiffer
    Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-5049-8.
    Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). US Field Artillery of World War II. New Vanguard 131. illustrated by Brian Delf.
    Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-061-1.
    Technical Manual TM9-2300 Standard Artillery and fire Control Material. (dated February 1944)
    Technical Manual TM9-336 8-inch Gun M1 and Carriage M2. War Dept. Nov. 1943
    Field Manual FM6-95 Service of the Piece 8-Inch Gun M! and 240-MM Howitzer M1. War Department. Feb
    1946

    External links
    British Artillery in World War II (http://members.tripod.com/~nigelef/gunsintro.htm)
    United States. War Dept.. Service of the piece, 8-inch gun M1 and 240-MM howitzer M1 (https://digital.library.u
    nt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc11813/).. Washington, D.C.. UNT Digital Library. Retrieved on 2012-08-17.

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=8-inch_gun_M1&oldid=1112329951"

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