M115 203 mm howitzer

Infobox Weapon
is_artillery=yes
name=M-115 203 mm howitzer


caption=A M-115 203 mm howitzer on display at Bastrop, Texas, United States.
origin=United States
type=Howitzer
design_date=1939
caliber=203 mm
part_length=5.14 m (17 ft)
breech=Interrupted screw
rate=30 rounds/hour
velocity=587 m/s (1,926 ft/s)
cartridge=High explosive
range=16,800 m (18,373 yds)
recoil=Hydropneumatic
weight=14,515 kg (31,780 lbs)
length=10.972 m (36 ft)
crew=14
num_built=

The M115 203 mm howitzer, also known as the M115 8 inch howitzer, was a towed howitzer used by the United States Army. Originally designated the 8 inch Howitzer M1, it was designed during the buildup to World War II as a counterpart to the German 17 cm K18 gun. The M115 could be towed by the M35 Prime Mover gun tractor or a large truck.

The M115 owes some of its origins to the British BL 8 inch Howitzer of the First World War, using the same Welin screw for the breech. The carriage was the same as used for the US 155 mm gun, and was also adopted by the British for their 7.2 inch Mark 6 howitzer

The M115 saw service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. In NATO service, its main purpose was to fire nuclear rounds, which have since been discontinued. The M115 was removed from service due to its short range, because the nuclear round yield exceeded the range of the weapon.

Operators

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* Currently deployed to the Iraqi border against Kurdish militants
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* many on DMZ

elf-propelling mounts

*The howitzer was mounted on a modified M4 medium tank chassis, in mount M17. The resulting vehicle was initially designated 8 inch Howitzer Motor Carriage T89 and eventually standardized as 8 inch Howitzer Motor Carriage M43. A total of 48 units were built.Hunnicutt - "Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank", p 353-355, 571.]
*8 inch Howitzer Motor Carriage T80 - based on T23 Medium Tank chassis, never advenced past proposal stage.Hunnicutt - "Pershing, A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series", p 158.]
*8 inch Howitzer Motor Carriage T84 - based on T26 Medium Tank chassis, a single pilot was built in 1945.Hunnicutt - "Pershing, A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series", p 159.]
*The howitzer was mounted on a purpose built tracked chassis to become the 8 inch Self-Propelled Howitzer M110. Notably accuracy and rate of fire suffered from having to lower the weapon to use the track mounted auto loader.

Ammunition

The howitzer fired separate loading, bagged charge ammunition, with seven different propelling charges, from 1 (the smallest) to 7 (the largest).

Notes

References

* cite book
last = Hunnicutt
first = R. P.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank
publisher = Presidio Press
series =
date = 1994
isbn = 0-89141-080-5
* cite book
last = Hunnicutt
first = R. P.
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Pershing, A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series
publisher = Feist Publications
series =
date = 1996
isbn = 1-112-95450-3
* cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
others =
title = Technical Manual TM 9-1901, Artillery Ammunition
publisher = War Department, 1944
series =
date =
isbn =
*cite web|work=FAS Military Analysis Network|title=M115 8 in (203 mm) howitzer|url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m115.htm|accessmonthday=May 31 |accessyear=2005
* [http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/usa/afv35s06.htm Missing Lynx]