M3 37 mm gun
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The M3 37 mm gun was an American anti-tank gun which was the standard anti-tank weapon of the US Army at the outbreak of the World War II.
History
In 1937 the US Army Ordnance Department began development of a lightweight anti-tank gun. The result was a weapon very similar to the PaK 36. It was officially adopted in October 1938 and in 1940 first guns were delivered.The M3 was used successfully in the Pacific against Japanese tanks and fortifications until the end of the war. However the North African Campaign experience made evident that the gun was not powerful enough to deal with German armor. In summer 1943 the production of the M3 was terminated in favor of the M1 57 mm anti-tank gun, which was US-produced version of the British QF 6 pounder. By then, over 20,000 pieces were built.
Variants
- M3.
- M3A1 - identical to the M3 except for a thread near the end of the barrel to accept the muzzlebrake.
General characteristics
- Caliber: 37 mm
- Crew: 4
- Weight: 413.68 kg
- Length with the carriage: 3.31 m
- Width: 1.61 m
- Height: 0.97 m
- Elevation: -15 to +15 degrees
- Traverse: 60 degrees
- Rate of fire: 5-20 rounds per minute
- Projectiles: HE, AP, APCBC and cannister
- Weight of the projectile: 0.680 to 0.907 kg
- Range: APCBC: 6,850 m, HE: 11,700 m
- Muzzle velocity: 792 m/s
- Armor penetration at 457 m: AP: 36 mm, APCBC: 61 mm (at 0 degrees)
External links
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