75 MM GUNMa-ST

D FOR TANKS

75 mm GUN, M3, SHOWING

TUBE BREECH RING, COCKING

LEVER, CLOSING

SPRING

CYLINDER

AND

OPERATfNG

HANDLE

he 75 mm Gun, M3, a development from the Tank Gun, M2, was standardized by O.C.M. 17018, dated 24 July 1L941. The M2 gun is now designated as Limited Standard.
1

The M3gun is a single-shot, flat-trajectory weapon differing from the M2 only in having the tube lengthened by 26.6, with a higher muzzle velocity and greater range as a result, It is equipped with a drop-type breechblock automatically opened. This weapon is mounted in lMedium Tanks, M4, M4A1, M4A2, Wr4A3, M4A4, and in Medium Tank, M7, using Mounts, M34, M34Al and M47. The alloy steel tube screws into the breech ring, where it is locked into position with a key. The breech ring contains the vert,ical sliding breechblock assembly and the principal operating parts of the gun. The breech mechanism is composed of the breechblock assembly, firing mecharlism, extractors, spline shaft, breechbXock crank, operating crank, closing mechanism and related parts. A hole bored through the center of the breechblock houses the percussion mechanism.

The breech may be opened by means of an operating handle secured to the spline shaft. Manual loading of each round automatically closes the block. The gun can be fired either manually or by means of a solenoid. During counterrecoil after firing, the gun is cocked, the block is opened, the cartridge case is extracted and the breechblock is locked in an open position for insertion of the next round. The gun recoils in the mount, which consists of a horizontal rotor upon which is mounted the elevating mechanism and traversing mechanism; the hydraulic recoil mechanism, supported by trunnions which rotate in the trunnion seats of the horizontal rotor; an elevating shield, bolted to the trunnions of the recoil mechanism and projecting through an opening in the rotor; two recoil cylinders, held by the cradle and trunnion assembly upon which are mounted the solenoid, firing lever link, and firing lever of the firing mechanism; and a shoulder guard, bolted to the cradle, covering the firing mechanism and extending beyond the rear face of the breech.

CHARACTERlSTlCS
Weight of gun, recoil mechanism and elevating shield at trunnion.. . . . I . . . .I,763 lb. Weight of gun ....................... .910 lb. Length of gun .................... .118.38 ins. Muzzle velocity, A.P. shell (weight 14.92 tb.). .............. .P,O30 F./s. Muzzle velocity, H.E. shell (weight 14.60 lb.). .............. .I,515 C./s. Maximum powder pressure ... -38,000 Ib./sq. in. Rateoffire ....................... eOrds./min. Maximum range, A.P. shell. ...... .l4,000 yds. Maximum elevation ................... .1914 Maximum depression ................... .748 Traverse, left. ........................... .14 Traverse, right ........................... .14*

Sighting

Equipment

Periscope, MlO, or M4Al Telescape, M38Al Azimuth Indicator, Ml 9

Ammunition
Ammunition is in the form of complete, fixed rounds. It consists of A.P.C. shell, M61, with tracer, and B.D. fuze, M66A1; H.E. shell, M48, normal charge, with P.D. fuze, M48. REFERENCES-FM 23-95; TM 9-307; TM g-2005, v.5; Oldsmobile Training Manual, 75 mm, M3, Tank Gun.

BREECH END OF 75 mm GUN, M3, WiTH RECOIL MECHANISM

AND

SHOULDER

GUARD

W,bASSlFIED

76 MM TANKGUN N(IA2--STANDARD

76 MM TANK GUN, MlAl. THE MIA2 DIFFERS FROM THE MlAl ONLY IN HAVING OF A MUZZLE BRAKE THE MUZZLE END THREADED FOR ATTACHMENT

he 76 mm Gun, MlA2, is a modification of the Ml Gun of the same caliber. The original 76 mm Gun, Ml, was designed to provide tank weapons of greater power and armor penetration than were possible with 75 mm armament. 76 mm GUN, M+-This gun was designed to use the 3 H.E. Shell or A.P.C. Projectile with a different cartridge case. The gun tube and extractors were constructed to accommodate the redesigned cartridge, but the breech ring and breech mechanism were similar to those used on the 75 mm Gun, M3. This 76 mm Gun, Ml, is now Limited Standard. 76 mm GUN, MlAI-h order to better adapt the Ml Gun to USC with various tanks and gun motor carriages, the contour of the tube was changed, and the recoil slide surface on the tube was

lengthened 12 inches, thus permitting the trunnion position to be set farther forward to obtain better balance. The Ml gun with these modifications was designated 76 mm Gun, MlAl, and is classified as Limited Standard. 76 mm GUN, MlAI-In the 76 mm Gun, MlA2, the rifling twist is one turn in 32 calibers instead of one turn in 40 calibers as in the Ml and MIA1 Guns. All tubes are threaded at the muzzle to allow assembly of a muzzle brake, and a ring is provided to cover the threaded portion of the tube when the muzzle brake is not in place. This gun is classified as Standard.

Am munition
Ammunition is in the form of complete fixed rounds. It consists of Shell, H.E., 3 Inch, M42A1, with Fuze, P.D., M48Al; Projectile, 76 mm, A.P.C., M62, with Fuze, B.D., M66A1, and Shell, Smoke, M88.

CHARACTERBTICS
Diameter of bore.. . . . , . . . . I , .7&P mm (3 ins.) Length of bore..,.., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..52 cais. Overall length of gun, . . . . . . . . . . .167.75 ins. Weight of gun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,404 lb. Weight of tube. . . . . ,. . . . . . . . . ,940 lb. Capacity of chamber. . . . . . . . . . . .142.6 cu. ins. Muzzle velocity (H.E. Shell, M42Ai). 2,800 f./s. Rated maximum powder pressure.. . .43,000 p.s.i. Maximum range (H.E. Shell, M42Al). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . -14,780 yds. Type of breechblock. . . . . . . . . . . semi-automatic, vertical drop

Sighting
Telescope, Periscope, M47 A2 M4Al

Equipment

3 INCHTANKGUN MhTANDARD
/ I, , L , ___ .----.. *i^----- Y >? !>; 7: 1 \ -

.. : 1 iI . g; A ,;:: : ., ; _ s

3 INCH TANK

GUN, M7

3 Gun, M7, was designed for use 1 in Heavy Tanks, M6 and M6Al. It was also adopted as standard armament for the 3 Gun Motor Carriage, lMIO. Ammunition for this weapon is the same as that for the 3 antitank and antiaircraft guns. O.C.M. 16200, dated 24 October 1940, initiated the development of a 3 gun similar to 3 Gun, T9, for the Heavy Tank, Tl. It was designated 3 Gun, Tl2, with interior dimensions and ballistics practically identical with those of the 3 Antiaircraft Gun, M3, and the 3 Antitank Gun, M5. After firing tests, the T12 was standardized as 3 Gun, JiI7, by O.C.M. 18467, dated 9 July 1942. The 3 Gun, M7, is a high-velocity, manually loaded weapon employing a semi-automatic breech mechanism with a

1 he

vertical drop-type breechblock. The general functioning of the gun is very similar to that of the 75 mm Gun, M3. A solcnoidactuated mechanism is used for firing the gun. The recoil mechanism and mount for this gun are supplied along with the vchiclc .

CHARACTERISTICS
Diameter of bore.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 ins. Length of bore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , 50 cals. Overall length of gun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158.1 ins. Travel of projectile. , . . . . , . . . . . . + . . .128.49 ins. Weight of gun only.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,99O lb. Capacity of chamber (with A.P.C., M62) 205.58 cu. ins. Maximum powder pressure. . . . .38,000 Ib./sq. in. Muzzle velocity (A.P.C., M62). . . . . .2,600 f./s. (H.E., M42Al). . . . .2,800 f./s. Maximum range (A.P.C., M62). . . . .l6,100 yds. drop block Breech mechanism. . . semi-automatic Recoil mechanism. . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . .hydraulic for the 3 Gun, M7, varies according to the type

Ammunition
Ammunition is in the form of complete fixed rounds. It consists of A.P.C. projectile, M62, with 13.D. fuze, M66Al; R.P. with shot, M79, and H.E. shell, ll/r42Al, M.T. fuze, M43.
SIGHTING
of vehicle EQUIPMENT-Sighting in which the gun is installed. equipment

Tank or Armored
MlO, MIOAI M6, M6Al

Car

Telescope M70G
M39Al

Telescope Mount M30

-

Panoramic Telescope
Ml 2A4

Azimuth Indicator
Ml8

Periscope
ZAl

,98 ppql

D llllllllllllllliilllllllllltlllll~llllllllllilllllllllllllnllltlllllllllll!llllll~llllllllllllll lllllllllltlllil 0 FFI C E CHIEF

UNCLASSIFIED

OF ORDNANCE

llllllllltllllllllllllllll~lltJllllllllllll~lllllllll~llllllllllllllilllllllllllll~~lllll~lllllllll~llll 1 5 FAN tJ ARY f 94 4 lltllllllllll