105 mm Howitzer M3

Infobox Weapon
name=105 mm Howitzer M3


caption=A M3 howitzer outside the Army Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii.
origin=United States
type=Light Howitzer
is_ranged=1
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=1
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=1943 - ?
used_by=United States
wars=Second World War
designer=
design_date=1941
manufacturer=
production_date=1943-45
number=2,580
variants=
weight=2,495 lb (1,130 kg)
length=155 inches (3.94 m)
part_length=bore: 1.68 m / 16 calibers overall: 1.88 m / 17.9 calibers
width=67.5 inches (1.70 m)
height=49.75 inches (1.26 m)
crew=
cartridge=105x372R
caliber=105 mm
action=
rate=4 rounds per minute burst 2 rounds per minute sustained
velocity=1,020 ft/s (311 m/s)
range=
max_range=HE: 8,300 yards (7,600 m)
feed=
sights=
breech=Horizontal block
recoil=Hydropneumatic, constant
carriage=split trail
elevation=-9° to 30°
traverse=45°
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=

The 105 mm Howitzer M3 was a U.S. light howitzer designed for use by airborne troops. The gun utilized a barrel of the 105 mm Howitzer M2, shortened and fitted to a slightly modified split trail carriage of the 75 mm pack howitzer.

The howitzer was used by U.S. Army during the Second World War. It was issued to airborne units and to cannon companies of infantry regiments.

Development and production

The process of building airborne forces led in 1941 to a requirement for an air portable 105 mm howitzer. The weapon, initially designated T7, featured a barrel of 105mm Howitzer M2, shortened by convert|27|in|mm and combined with recoil system and carriage of the 75 mm field howitzer. A prototype reached trials at Aberdeen Proving Ground in March 1942.Zaloga - "US Field Artillery of World War II", p 13-14.]

The howitzer was designed to fire the same ammunition as the longer M2. It turned out, however, that shorter barrel resulted in incomplete burning of the propelling charge. The problem could be solved by use of faster burning powder. Otherwise the design was considered acceptable and was standardized as 105mm Howitzer M3 on Carriage M3. The carriage was soon succeeded by M3A1, which had trails made from thicker plate. Even stronger tubular trails were designed, but never reached production.

The production started in February 1943 and continued until May 1944; an additional bunch was produced in April-June 1945.

Notes

References

*cite book
last = Hunnicutt
first = R. P.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank.
publisher = Presidio Press
series =
date = 1992
isbn = 0-89141-462-2
*cite book
last = Hunnicutt
first = R. P.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Half-Track: A History of American Semi-Tracked Vehicles
publisher = Presidio Press
series =
date = 2001
isbn = 0-89141-742-7
*cite book
last = Zaloga
first = Steven J.
authorlink = Steven Zaloga
coauthors =
others = illustrated by Brian Delf
title = US Field Artillery of World War II
publisher = Osprey Publishing
series = New Vanguard 131
date = 2007
isbn = 978-1-84603-061-1
*cite book
last = Zaloga
first = Steven J.
authorlink = Steven Zaloga
coauthors =
others =
title = US Airborne Divisions in the ETO 1944-45
publisher = Osprey Publishing
series = Battle Orders 25
date = 2007
isbn = 1-84176-118-2
*cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Technical Manual TM 9-1326, 105 mm Howitzer M3 and Howitzer Carriages M3 and M3A1
publisher = War Department, 1944
series =
date =
isbn =
*cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Technical Manual TM 9-1901, Artillery Ammunition
publisher = War Department, 1944
series =
date =
isbn =
*cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Technical Manual TM 9-1904, Ammunition Inspection Guide
publisher = War Department, 1944
series =
date =
isbn =