75 mm gun (US)

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The American army fielded two medium tanks in World War 2, the M3 and the M4, both of which used the 75 mm gun. The gun was also used to equip the Light Tank M24 and the B-25 Mitchell bomber. The gun was designed to have both powerful HE projectile and good anti-tank capability, however from the middle of the war it was no longer effective in the anti-tank role, due to its low muzzle velocity—especially as compared to guns such as the 76.2 mm Ordnance QF 17 pounder—and the thicker armor of the newer German medium and heavy tanks.

Contents 1 Variants 1.1 M2 1.2 M3 1.3 T13E1 / M5 1.4 M6 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Variants

[edit] M2

A version used on the early Medium Tank M3.

• Barrel length: 31 calibres
• Muzzle velocity: 588 m/s
• Shell weight (M72 AP): 6.32 kg
• Armour penetration (M72 AP shell, 457 m, at 30 degrees): 60 mm

[edit] M3

Longer derivative of the M2. Equipped American and British vehicles such as the Medium Tank M4, the later models of the Medium Tank M3 and the Churchill III/IV (scavenged from General Sherman tanks in the North African theatre). US Army also experimented with mounting of the M3 on various wheeled carriages for use as anti-tank gun, but the program was cancelled due to lack of requirement^[1].

• Barrel length: 40 calibres (3 m)
• Muzzle velocity: 619 m/s
• Shell weight (M72 AP): 6.32 kg
• Armour penetration (M72 AP shell, 457 m, at 30 degrees): 76 mm

To gain the benefits of the 75 mm gun, particularly its HE shell, the British designed their Ordnance QF 75 mm to take the same rounds giving both their main tanks, the Sherman and Cromwell the same ammunition.

[edit] T13E1 / M5

A lightweight version with thin wall barrel and different recoil mechanism. Was used in the B-25H Mitchell bomber. Same ammunition and ballistics as M3.

[edit] M6

A version derived from the T13E1 for the Light Tank M24.

[edit] See also

• Artillery

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Zaloga, Delf - US Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45, p 8-9

[edit] References

• Zaloga, Steven J., Brian Delf - US Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45 (2005) Osprey Publishing (New Vanguard 107), ISBN 1-84176-690-9.

[edit] External links

• Armor penetration table of US 75 mm guns

v • d • e United States artillery of World War II Tank guns 37 mm gun M5/M6 · 75 mm gun M2/M3/M6 · 76 mm gun M1 · 3 inch gun M7 · 90 mm gun M3 · 105 mm howitzer M4 Anti-Tank guns 37 mm M3 · 57 mm M1 · 75 mm M1897 · 3 inch M5 · 90 mm T8 Field, Medium and Heavy guns 75 mm howitzer M1 · 105 mm howitzer M2 · 105 mm howitzer M3 · 4.5 inch gun M1 · 155 mm howitzer M1918 · 155 mm howitzer M1 · 155 mm gun M1918MI · 155 mm gun M1/M2 "Long Tom" · 8 inch howitzer M1/M2 · 8 inch gun M1 · 240 mm howitzer M1 Other vehicle mounted 75 mm howitzer M2/M3 · 75 mm gun M1897 · 105 mm howitzer M2 · 155 mm gun M1918MI · 155 mm gun M2 Anti-aircraft guns 37 mm M1 · 40 mm M1 · 3 inch M3 · 90 mm M1 · 120 mm M1