Off the bench Dec 24, 2024. M114 155 mm howitzer (not the Long Tom)
The M114 is a towed howitzer developed and used by the United States Army. It was first produced in 1942 as a medium artillery piece under the designation of 155 mm Howitzer M1. It saw service with the US Army during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, before being replaced by the M198 howitzer. The gun was also used by the armed forces of many nations. The M114A1 remains in service in some countries.
The M1920 carriage resulting from this requirements was of the split-trail type with pneumatic equilibrators, permitting a total traverse of 60°. Unfortunately, it “gave considerable trouble due to the persistent failure of the top carriage” on the firing tests. In 1923–1925 the design was modified with the top carriage reinforced, with the result standardized as M1925. However, it was never built in steel, because after the evaluation of a wooden model the project was abandoned. Instead, two new carriages were developed and built in the following years.
In 1939 the development began anew, by spring 1941 the first specimen was ready to be test-fired and immediately after passing them it was standardized on 15 May 1941 as Howitzer M1 on the Carriage M1. The howitzer itself differed from the older model by a lengthened barrel of 20 calibers and a new breech mechanism. Uniquely it was the sole ‘slow-cone’ interrupted screw mechanism to enter US service after 1920.
Ammunition
The gun fires separate-loading, bagged charge ammunition, with up to seven different propelling charges, from 1 (the smallest) to 7 (the largest). Muzzle velocity, range and penetration in the tables below are for maximum charge in form of complete M4A1 propelling charge.
Specifications
Mass Travel: 5,800 kg (12,800 lb)
Barrel length Bore: 3.564 m (11 ft 8 in) L/23
Overall: 3.79 m (12 ft 5 in) L/24.5
Width Travel: 2.438 m (8 ft)
Height Travel: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
Crew 11
Shell Separate-loading bagged charge
Caliber 155 mm (6.1 in)
Breech Slow-cone interrupted screw
Recoil Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage Split trail
Rate of fire burst: 4 rpm
sustained: 40 rph
Muzzle velocity 563 m/s (1,847 ft/s)
Maximum firing range 14,600 m (16,000 yd)