8-inch gun M1

The 8-inch gun M1 was a 203 mm towed heavy gun developed in the
8-inch gun M1
United States. At 32,584 m (35,635 yd), it had the longest range of any US
Army field artillery weapon in World War II. It was also used in small
numbers by the British Army.

Development and production

In 1919, the Westervelt Board
described the ideal heavy gun for
future development having a bore of 8-inch gun at the U.S. Army Field Artillery
194 mm to 8 inches, a projectile of Museum, Fort Sill, OK
about 200 lbs in weight, and a range Type Heavy gun
of 35,000 yards. More striking was
Place of origin United States
the requirement that it be road
transportable. At this time no other Service history
An 8-inch US Army field gun in
country had such a road- Used by United States
action during the bombardment of transportable field gun.[1] Low- United Kingdom
Brest. priority design work occurred until
1924. Serious development began in Wars World War II
June 1940 of an 8-inch (203 mm) Production history
gun that would have a range of 33,500 yards (30,600 m), be transported in Designed 1939–1942
two loads weighing no more than 44,000 lb (20,000 kg) at a road speed of
up to 25 mph (40 km/h), and also be suitable for rail movement. The gun Produced 1942–1945
used the same projectile as the 8-inch coastal gun and the US Navy's 8-inch Specifications
cruiser gun.[2] Using the same carriage as the 240 mm howitzer M1 eased Mass Combat: 69,300 lb
development, but the gun was very troublesome and was not standardized
(31,400 kg)
until January 1942. The main problems were excessive bore wear and poor
accuracy, but it was felt that nothing better could be produced in a timely Barrel length 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
manner. Thus it entered production at a low rate and in small numbers. The L/50
gun tube was produced by Watervliet Arsenal, and the recoil system was
produced by Hannifin Manufacturing. Watertown Arsenal, Bucyrus-Erie, Shell separate-loading,
and the S. Morgan Smith Company manufactured the carriage. Only 139
bagged charge
weapon systems were produced before production ceased in 1945.[3]
Caliber 203 mm (8.0 in)
In the quest for greater tactical mobility, the Ordnance Department Breech Interrupted screw
experimented with a self-propelled version. Like the 240 mm howitzer, it
was mounted on a stretched Heavy Tank T26E3 chassis that had an extra Recoil Hydro-pneumatic
bogie wheel per side as the 8in Gun Motor Carriage T93, but the war Carriage Split trail
ended before they could be used, and they were later scrapped. Elevation +10° to +50°
Traverse 30° (initially), post-
Transport war 40°
Muzzle velocity 2,840 ft/s (870 m/s)
One of the requirements during development was that the gun be easy to
emplace. Given the weight of the gun and carriage, this was a challenge. Effective firing range 12.5 mi (20.1 km)
Eventually, a pair of three-axle, six-wheeled transport wagons were (minimum)
developed – one for the barrel and recoil mechanism, and one for the Maximum firing range 20.24 mi (32.57 km)
carriage. These transport wagons were also used with the 240 mm howitzer.
These were standardized as the M2 and M3. The M2 wagon carried the
carriage and the M3 wagon carried the barrel and recoil system as shown to the left. This separate configuration required the use
of the 20-ton M2 truck-mounted crane for setup. The crane also included a clam-shell bucket that was transported on a trailer
and used to dig the recoil pit for the gun. In spite of the weight and being transported in two pieces, the gun could be emplaced
in as little as two hours.[4]

Barrel and recoil system of the M1
prepared for transportation, on
display in the US Army Ordnance
Museum
The transport wagons were initially intended to be towed by the Mack NO 7+1⁄2-ton
heavy truck. Because the truck was a wheeled vehicle, it had problems in soft ground
such as mud because its ground pressure was high. The M6 High Speed Tractor, a
tracked vehicle which was explicitly designed for towing the 8-inch gun and 240 mm
howitzer was standardized in June 1943 but would not enter production until February
1944, so the Ordnance Department improvised in the meantime. Surplus M3 Lee-based
M31 and M32B1 tank recovery vehicles and M10A1 tank destroyers were quickly
modified and tested. These proved to be satisfactory and were adopted for use as the
M33, M34, and M35 Prime Movers, respectively.[2]
Variants
8in Gun Motor Carriage T93 - prototype

Service
The gun was assigned to non-divisional battalions, eight of which were eventually organized, trained and equipped. Each
consisted of six guns, organized into three batteries of two gun sections each. Five battalions saw service in Europe or Italy
(153rd, 243rd, 256th, 268th, and 575th) and three in the Pacific (570th, 573rd, and 780th).[5] They first saw action in Italy in
April 1944 at the Anzio beachhead when Battery B of the 575th Field Artillery Battalion was attached to the 698th Field
Artillery Battalion.[6] Battery A of the 575th also went to the Cassino front attached to the 697th Field Artillery Battalion, and
was used in the counter-battery role against long-range German 170 mm guns. By September 1944, the 8-inch guns of the
575th had been withdrawn from Italy, and soon saw action in Europe where they were particularly effective against fortified
targets and in counter-battery fire against German long-range artillery. At St. Malo, France, two battalions of 8-inch guns
participated in the siege. The 8-inch guns scored direct hits on the walls of the ancient citadel.[7] In the Siegfried Line campaign,
the 8-inch guns, adjusted by aerial observers, knocked out two bridges over the Roer River.[7] At the end of the war, the
battalions were deactivated and the guns moved into storage; however, they were never again used in action and eventually
disposed.

Seventeen guns were supplied to Great Britain.[8]

Ammunition
The gun fired separate loading ammunition with two increments. M9 Green Bag propellant was used for medium ranges and
was preferred for improved accuracy and reduced barrel erosion. M10 White Bag was used for long- and extreme-range firing.
Only two fuses were used: M51A3 point detonating (and delay), and M67A3 mechanical time. Range and muzzle velocity
below are for maximum charge of M10 White Bag.

Propelling Charges[9]
Model Weight Components

34.47 kg
M9 Base charge and one increment
(76 lb)

48.12 kg
M10 Base charge and one increment
(106.1 lb)
 Projectiles[9]
Type Model Weight Filler Muzzle Velocity Range

108.86 kg TNT, 9.52 kg 868 m/s 32,584 m

HE
HE M103
Shell
(240 lbs) (21 lbs) (2,850 ft/s) (35,635 yd)

108.86 kg
Dummy
Drill
M13 (240 lbs)

Existing examples
Only three examples are known to have survived. They are located at:

45th Infantry Division Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

US Army Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
US Army Ordnance Museum, Fort Lee, Virginia

See also
List of U.S. Army weapons by supply catalog designation SNL D-33
M6 Tractor
M115 howitzer
M110 howitzer

References
1. A Board of Officers (1919). The Report of the Westervelt Board. Morris Swett Library: The War Department.
p. 30.
2. Schreier, Konrad F. (1994). Standard guide to U.S. World War II tanks & artillery. Krause Publications. p. 104.
ISBN 0873412974. OCLC 31007442 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/31007442).
3. Williford, Glen M. (2016). American breechloading mobile artillery 1875-1953 : an illustrated identification
guide. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. p. 176. ISBN 9780764350498. OCLC 927401960 (https://www.worldcat.org/ocl
c/927401960).
4. Steven J., Zaloga (2007). U.S. Field Artillery of World War II. Osprey Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 9781846030611.
OCLC 123895340 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/123895340).
5. Stanton, Shelby L. (1984). Order of battle, U.S. Army, World War II (https://archive.org/details/orderofbattleusa0
0stan/page/401). Presidio. pp. 401, 404, 405, 414 (https://archive.org/details/orderofbattleusa00stan/page/401).
ISBN 978-0891411956. OCLC 10727063 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/10727063).
6. Williams, Captain Colin J. (July–August 2003). "Saved by Artillery: How MG Lucas Lost the Initiative at Anzio
and the Allied Artillery Regained It". Field Artillery Journal.
7. Mayo, Lida (1991). The Ordnance Department: On Beachhead and Battlefron. Washington, DC: Center of
Military History United States Army. pp. 266–267, 326.
8. Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). U S field artillery of World War II. Osprey Pub. p. 37. ISBN 9781846030611.
OCLC 123895340 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/123895340).
9. Technical Manual TM9-1901 Artillery Ammunition. War Department. 1944. pp. 312–313, 206–207, 376.

Bibliography
Hogg, Ian V. (1998). Allied Artillery of World War Two. Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-478-8.
Hogg, Ian V. The Guns, 1939-45. New York: Ballantine Books, 1970 ISBN 0019067100
Schreier Jr., Konrad F. – Standard guide to U.S. World War II Tanks & Artillery (1994) Krause Publications,
ISBN 0-87341-297-4.
Williford, Glen M (2016). American Breechloading Mobile Artillery 1875-1953. Thomas D. Batha. Schiffer
Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-5049-8.
 Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). US Field Artillery of World War II. New Vanguard 131. illustrated by Brian Delf.
Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-061-1.
Technical Manual TM9-2300 Standard Artillery and fire Control Material. (dated February 1944)
Technical Manual TM9-336 8-inch Gun M1 and Carriage M2. War Dept. Nov. 1943
Field Manual FM6-95 Service of the Piece 8-Inch Gun M! and 240-MM Howitzer M1. War Department. Feb
1946

External links
British Artillery in World War II (http://members.tripod.com/~nigelef/gunsintro.htm)
United States. War Dept.. Service of the piece, 8-inch gun M1 and 240-MM howitzer M1 (https://digital.library.u
nt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc11813/).. Washington, D.C.. UNT Digital Library. Retrieved on 2012-08-17.

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