T34 Calliope
T34 Calliope was a rocket launcher of the US Army in World War II . The 60 launch tubes for the 114 mm (4.5 inch) M8 missiles were mounted on a Sherman tank , the turret being retained. Thus the tank could theoretically be used like any other Sherman after the missiles were fired. In practice, on the other hand, the structure of the tank made it easier to detect than the basic version, and after a hit by the launch tubes it may no longer be possible to use it as a rocket launcher in the near future. The tank was used in small numbers by various associations between 1944 and 1945. The name Calliope ( steam organ ) is derived from the musical instrument because of its appearance.
variants
Rocket launcher T34 (Calliope) - basic variant with 114 mm rockets in an arrangement of 36 launch tubes above and two groups of 12 below.
Rocket launcher T34E1 (Calliope) - variant with 64 instead of 60 launch tubes .
Rocket Launcher T34E2 - The caliber of the rockets has been increased to 183 mm (7.2 inches). The combat set was still 60 pieces as in the T34 version. This version was used in combat.
literature
- David Hunting: The New Weapons of the World Encyclopedia. Diagram Visual Information Ltd., New York 2007. ISBN 0-312-36832-1
- Mike Green: American Tanks and AFVs of World War II. Osprey Publishing , 2014, ISBN 978-1-78200-979-5 , pp. 310-312 [1]