37mm Gun M1

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37mm Gun M1A2 on Carriage M3
300px
37mm antiaircraft gun in the Solomon Islands.
Type anti-aircraft autocannon
Place of origin  USA
Service history
Used by  USA
Wars WWII
Production history
Produced 1939-?
Number built 7,278
Specifications
Barrel length bore: 2 m (6.56 ft) / 54 calibers

Shell 37x223SR
Caliber 37 mm (1.45 in)
Breech vertical block
Carriage four-wheeled trailer
Traverse 360°
Rate of fire 120 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity 792 m/s (2,598 ft/s)
Effective range 3,200 m (3,499 yds)
Maximum range 8,275 m (9,049 yds)

The 37mm Gun M1 was an anti-aircraft autocannon developed in the United States. It was used by the US Army in World War II.

In addition to the towed variant, the gun was mounted, with two M2 machine guns, on M2 / M3 halftrack, resulting in the T28 / T28E1 / M15 / M15A1 series of multiple gun motor carriages.

Components

Two gun units were coupled to the M5 Director (military) using the M1 remote control system. the system was powered by the M5 generating unit. if the remote system is inoperative the M5 sighting system is used.

File:M5 director.jpg
M5 gun director 1944

Ammunition

The M1 utilized fixed ammunition. Projectiles were fitted with a 37x223SR cartridge case.

Available ammunition
Type Model Weight (round/projectile) Filler Muzzle velocity Range horizontal/vertical[1]
APC-T APC-T M59A1 Shot 1.44/0.87 kg
(3.17/1.91 lbs)
- 625 m/s
(2,050 ft/s)
5,290/3,660 m
(17,355/12,007 ft)
HE-T HE-T SD M54 Shell 1.21/0.61 kg
(2.66/1.34 lbs)
792 m/s
(2,598 ft/s)
8,275/5,760 m
(27,149/18,897 ft)
 
Armor penetration table
Ammunition \ Distance 457 m
(499 yds)
914 m
(999 yds)
1,371 m
(1,499 yds)
1,828 m
(1,999 yds)
APC-T M59A1 Shot (homogeneous armor, meet angle 30°) 23 mm
(.90 in)
18 mm
(.70 in)
15 mm
(.59 in)
13 mm
(.51 in)
APC-T M59A1 Shot (face-hardened armor, meet angle 30°) 25 mm
(.98 in)
18 mm
(.70 in)
15 mm
(.59 in)
13 mm
(.51 in)
Different methods of armor penetration measurement were used in different countries / periods. Therefore, direct comparison is often impossible.

See also

Notes

  1. Shell destroying tracer limited the range to about 3,200 m.

References

  • Hogg, Ian V. (1998). Allied Artillery of World War Two. Crowood Press, Ramsbury. ISBN 1-86126-165-9. 
  • Hunnicutt, R. P. (2001). Half-Track: A History of American Semi-Tracked Vehicles. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-742-7. 
  • TM 9-2300 standard artillery and fire control material. dated 1944
  • TM 9-235
  • TM 9-1235
  • SNL A-29

External links

Template:WWIIUSGuns