3 inch Gun M5

Infobox Weapon
name=3 inch Gun M5


caption=M5 on carriage M6 on display at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
origin=USA
type=anti-tank gun
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=1943-
used_by=US Army
wars=WWII
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=1942-1944
number=2,500
variants=
weight=combat: 2,210 kg
(4,872 lbs)
length=7.1 m (23.29 ft)
part_length=bore: 50 calibers
width=2.2 m (7.21 ft)
height=1.62 (5.31 ft)
crew=
cartridge=76.2x585R
caliber=76.2 mm (3 in)
action=
rate=12 rounds per minute
velocity=
range=
max_range=14.7 km (9.13 mi)
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal block
recoil=hydropneumatic
carriage=split trail
elevation=-5° to +30°
traverse=45°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
vehicle_range=
speed=

3 inch Gun M5 was an anti-tank gun developed in the United States during World War II, using a barrel of the 3-inch anti-aircraft gun T9 and elements of the 105 mm Howitzer M2. The gun was issued exclusively to the US Army tank destroyer battalions starting in 1943. It saw combat in the Italian Campaign and in the Northwest Europe.

While the M5 outperformed earlier anti-tank guns in the US service, its effective employment was hindered by its heavy weight and ammunition related issues. Losses suffered by towed TD battalions in the Battle of the Bulge and the existence of more mobile, better protected alternative in form of self-propelled tank destroyers led to gradual removal of the M5 from frontline service in 1945.

Development and production history

In 1940, the US Army just started to receive its first antitank gun, the 37 mm Gun M3. While it fitted the request of the Infantry for light, easy to manhandle anti-tank weapon, Artillery and Ordnance foresaw a need for a more powerful gun. This led to a number of expedient designs, such as adaptations of the 75 mm M1897 or towed variants of the 75 mm M3. [Zaloga - "US Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45", p 6, 8.]

Late in 1940 the Ordnance Corps started another project - an anti-tank gun based on the 3 inch anti-aircraft gun T9. The barrel of the T9 was combined with breech, recoil system and carriage, all adapted from the 105 mm howitzer M2. [Hogg - "Allied Artillery of World War Two", p 152; Zaloga - "US Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45", p 17.] The pilot of the weapon, named "3 inch Gun T10", was ready by September 1941. Although the subsequent testing revealed minor problems, it was clear that the gun, eventually standardized as M5 on carriage M1, presents major performance improvement over existing designs. [Zaloga - "US Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45", p 17.]

Production began in December 1942. In November 1943 a slightly modified carriage was standardized as M6. In this carriage a flat shield borrowed from the 105 mm howitzer was replaced by a new sloped one. In January 1944 AGF requested to upgrade the guns built with the early carriage M1 to carriage M6; consequently most of the guns that reached the frontline had the M6 carriage. [Zaloga - "US Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45", p 17, 18.]

Notes

References

* cite book
last = Denny
first = Bryan E.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = The Evolution and Demise of U.S. Tank Destroyer Doctrine in the Second World War
publisher = Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
series =
year = 2003
isbn = [http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA416377 PDF copy]
* cite book
last = Gabel
first = Christopher R.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Seek, Strike and Destroy - US Army Tank Destroyer Doctrine in World War II
publisher = Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
series = Leavenworth papers no. 12
year = 1985
isbn = [http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/gabel2.pdf PDF copy]
* cite book
last = Hogg
first = Ian V.
authorlink = Ian V. Hogg
coauthors =
others =
title = Allied Artillery of World War Two
publisher = Crowood Press, Ramsbury
series =
year = 1998
isbn = 1-86126-165-9
* cite book
last = Hunnicutt
first = R. P.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank
publisher = Presidio Press
series =
year = 1992
isbn = 0-89141-462-2
* cite book
last = Lee
first = Ulisses
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = The Employment of Negro Troops
publisher = US Army Center of Military History
series =
year = 1966
isbn = [http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-4/ Web link]
* cite book
last = Zaloga
first = Steven J.
authorlink = Steven Zaloga
coauthors =
others = illustrated by Brian Delf
title = US Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45
publisher = Osprey Publishing
series = New Vanguard 107
year = 2005
isbn = 1-84176-690-9
* cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Technical Manual TM 9-2005 volume 3, Infantry and Cavalry Accompanying Weapons
publisher = War Department, 1942
series =
date =
isbn =
* cite web
title=TD Battalion Attachments
url=http://homepage.mac.com/yeide/TDAttachments2.htm
accessdate=2008-07-13

External links

* [http://www.kcamps.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=4031 Photo gallery at Kansas City Armor Modeling and Preservation Society website.]