37 mm gun M1A2 on carriage M3 | |
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![]() 37 mm antiaircraft gun in theSolomon Islands. | |
Type | Anti-aircraft autocannon |
Place of origin | ![]() |
Service history | |
Used by | USA |
Wars | World War II Rhodesian Bush War |
Production history | |
Designer | John M. Browning and the Colt company |
Produced | 1939–July 1943 |
No. built | At least 7,278 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 2,780 kg (6,130 lb) |
Barrel length | bore: 2 m (6.56 ft) / 54 calibers |
Width | 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) |
Height | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] |
Shell | Fixed QF 37×223mmSR |
Shell weight | .6 kg (1 lb 5 oz) |
Caliber | 37 mm (1.45 in) |
Breech | vertical block |
Carriage | four-wheeled trailer |
Elevation | -5° to + 90° |
Traverse | 360°[1] |
Rate of fire | 120 rounds per minute |
Muzzle velocity | 792 m/s (2,598 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 3,200 m (3,499 yds) |
Maximum firing range | 8,275 m (9,049 yds)[1] |
The37 mm gun M1 was ananti-aircraftautocannon developed in the United States. It was used by theUS Army inWorld War II.
The gun was produced in a towed variant, or mounted along with twoM2 machine guns on theM2/M3half-track, resulting in theT28/T28E1/M15/M15A1 series of multiple gun motor carriages.
In early World War II, each Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Auto-Weapons battalion was authorized a total of thirty-two 37 mm guns in its four firing batteries, plus other weapons.[2]
During World War II the 37 mm gun M1 was deployed incoast defense anti-motor torpedo boat batteries (AMTB) alongside90 mm guns, usually four 90 mm and two 37 mm guns per battery. Some AMTB batteries consisted of four 37 mm guns, but most sources have little information on these batteries. In the later part of the war the 37 mm gun was typically replaced by the40 mm Bofors gun M1.[3]
One or two gun units were coupled to the M5gun director using the M1 remote control system. The system was powered by the M5 generating unit. If the remote system was inoperative the M5 sighting system was used, but it was only usable up to 25 degrees of elevation.[citation needed]
The M1 utilized fixedammunition. Projectiles were fitted with a 37×223mmSRcartridge case.
Type | Model | Weight (round/projectile) | Filler | Muzzle velocity | Range horizontal/vertical[4] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
APC-T | APC-T M59A1 Shot | 1.44/0.87 kg (3.17/1.91 lbs) | - | 625 m/s (2,050 ft/s) | 5,290/3,660 m (17,355/12,007 ft) |
HE-T | HE-T SD M54 Shell | 1.21/0.61 kg (2.66/1.34 lbs) | 792 m/s (2,598 ft/s) | 8,275/5,760 m (27,149/18,897 ft) |
Ammunition / Distance | 457 m (500 yds) | 914 m (1000 yds) | 1,371 m (1,500 yds) | 1,828 m (2,000 yds) |
---|---|---|---|---|
APC-T M59A1 Shot (homogeneous armor, meet angle 30°) | 23 mm (.90 in) | 18 mm (.70 in) | 15 mm (.59 in) | 13 mm (.51 in) |
APC-T M59A1 Shot (face-hardened armor, meet angle 30°) | 25 mm (.98 in) | 18 mm (.70 in) | 15 mm (.59 in) | 13 mm (.51 in) |
Country | Gun model | RPM | Projectile weight |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 37 mm gun M1 | 120 | .6 kg (1.3 lb) |
![]() | 3.7 cm SK C/30 | 30 | .74 kg (1.6 lb)[6] |
![]() | Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925 | 15-21 | .72 kg (1.6 lb)[7] |
![]() | Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) | 60-120 | .82 kg (1.8 lb)[8] |
![]() | 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 | 150 | .64 kg (1.4 lb)[9] |
![]() | 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) | 80[10] | .73 kg (1.6 lb)[11] |
![]() | QF 2-pounder naval gun | 115 | .91 kg (2.0 lb)[12] |
![]() | Bofors 40 mm gun | 120 | .9 kg (2.0 lb)[13] |