90 mm M1 gun
The 90 mm M1 gun and its variants were American anti-aircraft guns , combat vehicle guns and anti-tank guns of the Second World War . The anti-tank variant of the gun was given the designation M2 , the variant for use in armored vehicles was listed as the M3 .
history
Since the 1930s, the US Army used cannons with a caliber of 76.2 mm as the heaviest artillery in air defense . In 1938 the army was looking for a gun that was significantly more powerful, had a larger caliber of at least 90 mm or even 120 mm, and yet should be relatively easy to transport and operate. Two prototypes were presented. The army decided to adopt the 90mm variant. From 1940 these guns were put into service as the M1 . After around 400 M1 guns were produced , improvements were made to the series, such as an improved aiming mechanism and an improved loading mechanism. These guns were given the designation M1A1 . They formed the standard in air defense in the US Army. During the fighting it turned out that the guns had similar qualities as the dreaded German eight-eight . They were also suitable for anti-tank tasks. Another modification to optimize it as an anti-tank gun was called the M2 . The last version was the M3 gun . It had to be lifted completely out of its bedding. New trunnions and brackets were installed and this gun was installed as the main cannon in the M26 Pershing and the M36 Jackson tank destroyer , just as the German 8.8 cm anti- aircraft gun was installed in the VI Tiger armored car. The M1A1 , M2 and M3 remained in service until the 1950s and were still used in the Korean War , but were subsequently retired when the anti-aircraft and tank hunt became more and more missiles.
technology
The 90 mm guns were on a simple four-wheeled cross mount. The pivot pin was placed behind the bottom piece for easier loading. With the M1A1 version , the side and height adjustment was controlled via an electrical control station. By using a radar, the rough approach direction of enemy aircraft could be set up. The fine adjustment was done again by the gunner, who then had far less work and could fire more efficiently. In addition, the control stand was located away from the gun, so that the crew was divided into two and fallen crew members could be replaced if necessary so that the gun could continue to be used. In addition, the loading mechanism was improved, which enabled a higher rate of fire. The M2 gun received an improved barrel return mechanism and a protective shield. This guaranteed a higher speed of the projectile. New grenades were also specially developed for the M2 anti-tank guns, which guaranteed a higher penetration rate. The M3 was developed directly from the M2 and actually only removed from the cross mount in order to be able to be installed in vehicles. High-explosive shells, each weighing 10.61 kg, were fired. To make the loaders' work easier, a spring-actuated rammer was attached. This should also lead to an increase in the rate of fire. However, it turned out to be faulty and the operating teams simply dismantled the device in many cases.
Technical specifications
- Caliber: 90 mm
- Weight: 8,618 kg
- Pipe length: 4.73 m
- Elevation range: 0 ° to + 80 °
- Side straightening range: 360 °
- Muzzle velocity: 823 m / sec
- Shot rate: 20 rounds / min
- Max. Shot height: 10,300 m
- Max. Firing range as an anti-tank gun: 17,823 m
literature
- Ian Hogg : 20th Century Artillery. Gondromverlag, Bindlach 2001, ISBN 3-8112-1878-6 .
- Alexander Lüdeke : Weapons technology of the Second World War. Parragon Verlag, Cologne 2007, ISBN 978-1-4054-8584-5 .
