37 mm gun M1 explained

37 mm gun M1A2 on carriage M3
Origin:
Type:Anti-aircraft autocannon
Is Artillery:yes
Used By:USA
Wars:World War II
Rhodesian Bush War
Designer:John M. Browning and the Colt company
Production Date:1939–July 1943
Number:At least 7,278
Weight:2780kg (6,130lb)
Part Length:bore: 2 m (6.56 ft) / 54 calibers
Width:1.7m (05.6feet)
Height:1.8m (05.9feet)[1]
Cartridge:Fixed QF 37×223mmSR
Cartridge Weight:0.6kg (01.3lb)
Caliber:37 mm (1.45 in)
Rate:120 rounds per minute
Velocity:792 m/s (2,598 ft/s)
Range:3,200 m (3,499 yds)
Max Range:8,275 m (9,049 yds)
Breech:vertical block
Carriage:four-wheeled trailer
Elevation:-5° to + 90°
Traverse:360°

The 37 mm gun M1 was an anti-aircraft autocannon developed in the United States. It was used by the US Army in World War II.

The gun was produced in a towed variant, or mounted along with two M2 machine guns on the M2/M3 half-track, resulting in the T28/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 in coast defense anti-motor torpedo boat batteries (AMTB) alongside 90 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 the 40 mm Bofors gun M1.[3]

Components

One or two gun units were coupled to the M5 gun 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.

Ammunition

The M1 utilized fixed ammunition. Projectiles were fitted with a 37×223mmSR cartridge case.

+Available ammunition
TypeModelWeight (round/projectile)FillerMuzzle velocityRange horizontal/vertical[4]
APC-TAPC-T M59A1 Shot1.44/0.87 kg
(3.17/1.91 lbs)
-625 m/s
(2,050 ft/s)
5,290/3,660 m
(17,355/12,007 ft)
HE-THE-T SD M54 Shell1.21/0.61 kg
(2.66/1.34 lbs)
792 m/s
(2,598 ft/s)
8,275/5,760 m
(27,149/18,897 ft)
+Armor penetration table[5]
Ammunition / Distance457 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)

Variants

Comparison of anti-aircraft guns

CountryGun modelRPMProjectile weight
37 mm gun M11200.6sp=usNaNsp=us
3.7 cm SK C/30300.74sp=usNaNsp=us[6]
Canon de 37 mm Modèle 192515-210.72sp=usNaNsp=us[7]
Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda)60-1200.82sp=usNaNsp=us[8]
3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/431500.64sp=usNaNsp=us[9]
37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K)80[10] 0.73sp=usNaNsp=us[11]
QF 2-pounder naval gun1150.91sp=usNaNsp=us[12]
Bofors 40 mm gun1200.9sp=usNaNsp=us[13]

See also

Notes

  1. Book: Chamberlain, Peter. Anti-aircraft guns. 1975. 54. Arco Pub. Co. Gander, Terry. 0668038187. New York. 2000222.
  2. Web site: 385th AAA Auto-Weapons Battalion website . 2016-09-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161009195815/http://www.385th.com/ . 2016-10-09 . dead .
  3. McGovern and Smith, p. 43
  4. Shell destroying tracer limited the range to about 3,200 m.
  5. Different methods of armor penetration measurement were used in different countries / periods. Therefore, direct comparison is often impossible.
  6. Web site: Germany 3.7 cm/83 SK C/30 - NavWeaps. DiGiulian. Tony. www.navweaps.com. en. 2017-06-07.
  7. Web site: France 37 mm/50 (1.46") Model 1925 and CAIL Model 1933 - NavWeaps. DiGiulian. Tony . www.navweaps.com . en . 2017-06-07.
  8. Web site: Italy 37 mm/54 (1.5") Models 1932, 1938 and 1939 - NavWeaps. DiGiulian. Tony. www.navweaps.com. en. 2017-06-07.
  9. Web site: Germany 3.7 cm/57 (1.5") Flak M43 - NavWeaps. DiGiulian. Tony. www.navweaps.com. en. 2017-06-07.
  10. Book: Foss, Christopher. Jane's pocket book of towed artillery. 1977. Collier. 27. 0020806000. New York. 911907988.
  11. Web site: Russia / USSR 37 mm/67 (1.5") 70-K - NavWeaps. DiGiulian. Tony. www.navweaps.com. en. 2017-06-07.
  12. Web site: United Kingdom / Britain 2-pdr QF Mark VIII - NavWeaps. DiGiulian. Tony. www.navweaps.com. en. 2017-06-07.
  13. Web site: USA Bofors 40 mm/60 Model 1936 - NavWeaps. DiGiulian. Tony. www.navweaps.com. en. 2017-06-07.

References

External links