8 inch Gun M1

Infobox Weapon
name=8 inch Gun M-1


caption=8 inch Gun at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum, Ft. Sill, OK
origin=USA
type=heavy gun
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=flag|USA
flag|UK
wars=WWII
designer=
design_date=1940-1944
manufacturer=
production_date=1944-
number=
variants=
weight= 69,300 lbs (in action)
length=
part_length=400 in. L/50
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=separate-loading, bag charge
caliber=203 mm
action=
rate=
velocity=2,840 fps
range=22,100 yards (minimum)
max_range=35,635 yards (32 km)
feed=
sights=
breech=interrupted screw
recoil=hydropneumatic
carriage=split trail
elevation=+10° to +50°
traverse=30° (initially), post-war 40°
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=

The 8 inch Gun M-1 was a 203 mm towed heavy gun developed in the United States. It was used by the US Army and the British Army in World War II.

Development

Serious development began in June 1940 of an 8 inch gun that would have a range of 33,500 yards, a road speed of 25 mph, be transported in 2 loads weighing no more than 44,000 lbs and be suitable for rail movement. Use of the carriage of the 240 mm howitzer M1 eased development, but the gun was very troublesome and wasn't standardized until January 1944. The main problems were excessive bore wear and poor accuracy, but it was felt that nothing better could be produced in a timely manner. Thus it entered production at a low rate and in small numbers.
Like the 240mm howitzer, it was mounted on a stretched Heavy Tank T26E3 chassis that had an extra bogie wheel per side as the 8in Gun Motor Carriage T93, but the war ended before they could be used and were later scrapped.

Transport

It also shared transport wagons with the 240 mm howitzer. One six-wheeled wagon carried the carriage and the other carried the barrel as shown below:

References

* cite book
last = Hogg
first = Ian V.
authorlink = Ian V. Hogg
coauthors =
others =
title = Allied Artillery of World War Two
publisher = Greenhill Books
series =
date = 1998
isbn = 1-85367-478-8
* Hogg, Ian V. "The Guns, 1939-45". New York: Ballantine Books, 1970 ISBN 345-01905-9-1

External links

* [http://members.tripod.com/~nigelef/gunsintro.htm British Artillery in World War II]