76 mm gun M1
| 76 mm gun M1 | |
|---|---|
 An M18 Hellcat armed with a 76 mm gun | |
| Type | Tank gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | United States |
| Wars | World War II, Korea |
| Production history | |
| Designer | US Ordnance Department |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,141 lb (517.55 kg) |
Barrel length | 52 calibres |
| Caliber | 76.2 millimetres (3.00 in) |
The 76 mm gun M1 was an American World War II–era tank gun developed by the U.S Ordnance Department in 1942 to supplement the 75 mm gun on the basic Medium tank M4. It was also used to arm the M18 Hellcat tank destroyer.
Although the gun was tested in early August 1942 and classified on August 17, 1942,[1] it was not until August 1943[2] that the Ordnance Department developed a mounting for the M4 tank that the tank forces would accept. It was not accepted for combat until July 1944.[3] In January 1943, the decision was made to mount the 76 mm on the vehicle that would become the M18.[4] By May 1944, it was being combat tested as the T70.[5]
Contents
1 Design and development
2 Acceptance by the tank destroyers
3 Acceptance for production by the tank forces
3.1 Muzzle blast
3.2 High-explosive capacity
3.3 Smoke ammunition
3.4 Round size
4 Variants
5 Ammunition
6 Alternatives to the 76 mm M1
7 US service
8 British service
9 Russian service
10 Post-war service
10.1 Korea
10.2 Middle East
10.3 Balkans
10.4 Indo-Pak wars
10.5 Uganda
11 Vehicles mounted on
12 Towed variant
13 Performance
14 See also
14.1 Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
15 Notes
16 References
17 Further reading
18 External links
Design and development
The development of a better weapon than the 75 mm gun was foreseen before the U.S. had combat experience with well-armored German tanks. The original Military specifications of 11 September 1941 for the M4 tank allowed for the mounting of numerous weapons including the 3 inch gun.[6] The first specimens of the weapon that was to become the 76 mm Gun M1 were being evaluated in August 1942 while the U.S. did not enter the ground war in the European/Africa region until Operation Torch in November 1942.
The 3 inch gun was considered too heavy[6] at about 1,990 lb (900 kg).[7] New stronger steels [8] were used to create a weapon weighing about 1,200 lb (540 kg).[9] It was a new gun with a breech similar to that of the 75 mm M3 Gun but with a new tube (barrel and cartridge chamber) design to accommodate a new cartridge.[6] It fired the same projectiles as the 3-inch (76 mm) M7 gun mounted on the 3in Gun Motor Carriage M10 tank destroyer and towed 3-inch Gun M5 anti-tank gun, but from a different cartridge case.[6] The "76-mm" designation was chosen to help keep the supply of ammunition from being confused between the two cannon.[10] The 76 mm also differed in that successive models received a muzzle brake and faster rifle twist.
Aberdeen Proving Grounds began evaluations of the first test guns designated the T1 around August 1, 1942.[11] The first test guns had a bore length of 57 calibers and when tested on an M4 Sherman tank, it was then found that the long barrel caused balance problems.[6] Another T1 test gun was produced with the barrel shortened and a counterweight added to the breech to improve balance.[11] The reduction in length by 15 inches (38 centimetres) did not reduce performance; penetration was the same as the 3 inch gun.[12]
By August 17, the Ordnance Department had classified the test gun with the shorter barrel as the 76-mm M1 [13] and set up the precedent for the designation of M4 tanks armed with the gun to include "(76M1)".[1]
Tests of production M1 guns revealed that the cannon with its counterweight had issues with binding when trying to rotate the turret when the tank was resting at a steep angle. An 800 lb (360 kg) storage box was added to the turret rear to improve balance,[1] with evaluations held in early 1943 and the final report tendered April 1943.[14] This worked but was rejected by the Armored Forces due to the turret being cramped.[14]
A more satisfactory mounting was found in August 1943 by utilizing the turret design of the T23 tank on the M4 chassis to carry the 76 mm gun.[15] The 76 mm M1A1 version of the cannon was created, having a longer recoil surface to also help with balance by permitting the placement of the trunions further up front.[15]
Acceptance by the tank destroyers
The new M18 Gun Motor Carriage armed with the 76 mm was the result of the Tank Destroyers' request for such a vehicle and as such they accepted them.
Acceptance for production by the tank forces
By August 1943, the Ordnance Department M4 tank armed with 76 mm in the modified T23 turret was finally ready for production. A proposal was made by the tank forces for a test run of 1,000 tanks for combat trials and, if that was successful, then all of the M4 tank manufacturing capacity would be devoted to the 76 mm gun,[2] but this was changed to a rate that would equip 1/3 of the M4 tanks with the 76 mm gun.[16]
The production proposal was part of a memo in September 1943 pointing out various flaws of the gun that made it less desirable for tank use: muzzle blast, the high explosive shell, ammunition handling, and ammunition storage. Summed up, the 76 mm offered about 1 inch (25 millimetres) of added armor penetrating power for a possible loss of some ground attack fire-power.[17] In a meeting in April 1944 held to discuss the assignment of the first production M4(76M1) tanks received in Britain to units, a presentation comparing the 76 mm to the 75 mm went over similar points, adding that the 76 mm was more accurate and did not have an appropriate smoke round.[18]
Muzzle blast
The 76 mm obscured the target with smoke and dust. This could prevent the gunner from seeing where the projectile struck.
The Ordnance Department reduced the amount of smoke by using a long primer that gave a more complete burn of the propellant before it exited the barrel.[19] The revised ammunition began to be issued for use in August 1944.[20]
Later production guns were threaded for a muzzle brake to redirect the blast left and right (M1A1C and M1A2).[19] This was tested in January 1944, authorized in February 1944 with production starting June 1944. The threads of those without a brake were covered by a protector (visible in many pictures).[21]
For those vehicles that did not have a muzzle brake, once the Armored Force began to accept M4s, it was recommended that tank commanders stand outside the tank and "spot" the strike of rounds to guide the gunner.[18]
High-explosive capacity
The situation with the high-explosive shell was that the 3 inch M42 projectile for the 76 mm gun carried a filler of about 0.9 lb (0.41 kg) of explosives while the 75 mm gun M48 high explosive projectile carried 1.5 lb (0.68 kg).[22] Far more high explosive ammunition was used by tankers than armor penetrating types, the ratio being about 70% HE, 20% AP and 10% smoke overall,[23] The ratio could vary by unit: From August 3 to December 31, 1944 the 13th Tank Battalion fired 55 rounds of M62 APC-T armor piercing versus 19,634 rounds of M42 high explosive.[24]
Smoke ammunition
The M88 smoke round for the 76 mm provided a "curtain" of smoke.[25] The tankers found the 75 mm M64 WP (White Phosphorus) smoke projectile useful not only for providing smoke coverage but also attacking targets including enemy tanks.[26] Some units equipped with the 76 mm preferred to maintain a 75 mm armed tank on hand to provide the M64 WP projectile.[27]
Round size
It was thought that the longer and heavier 76 mm might hamper handling inside the tank's turret, slowing the rate of fire.[17] This may have been more of a concern than was warranted: on April 22, 1945 an M4 76-mm tank came suddenly onto a strange vehicle and the "...76 roared twice in rapid succession..." adding a friendly British scout car (waiting to ambush passers-by) to the tank's kill tally before (as the British gunner stated) "...I could lay my hand on the trigger."[28]
It was also thought that the longer 76 mm would reduce ammunition capacity.[17] The 76 mm was first tested on the M4A1 series tank which carried 90 rounds of 75 mm ammunition,[29] while most other models carried 97 rounds of 75 mm.[30] The 76 mm cartridge reduced this to 83 rounds.[1] By late 1943, the Army had adopted the wet storage system to reduce fires and for the 76 mm gun this provided 71 rounds of ammunition, while the 75 mm could carry 104 rounds.[31] Storage depended on organization: The 76-mm T72 Gun Motor Carriage, designed to mount the 76-mm on the M10 GMC chassis in a T23 turret lightened for the job, carried 99 rounds (but not in wet storage).[32]
Variants
- T1: Originally 57 calibers long gun,[6] reduced to 52 calibers after tests in effort to improve balance[11]
- M1: 52 calibers long version of gun adopted for use [1]
- M1A1: M1 with longer recoil surface to allow it to be mounted on trunions placed 12 inches further forward[15]
- M1A1C: M1A1 threaded for muzzle brake [19]
- M1A2: M1A1C with rifling twist changed from 1:40 calibers to 1:32 calibers[33]
A muzzle brake was tested in January 1944, authorized in February 1944 with production starting June 1944. Not all guns received them. The threads of those without a brake were covered by a protector visible in many pictures.[21]
Ammunition
While the 76 mm had less High Explosive (HE) and smoke performance than the 75 mm, the higher-velocity 76 mm gave better anti-tank performance, with firepower similar to many of the armored fighting vehicles it encountered, particularly the Panzer IV tank and StuG assault gun vehicles. Using the M62 APC round, the 76 mm gun penetrated 109 mm (4.3 in) of armor at 0° obliquity at 1,000 m (3,300 ft), with a muzzle velocity of 792 m/s (2,600 ft/s). The HVAP round was able to penetrate 178 mm (7.0 in) at 1,000 m (3,300 ft), with a muzzle velocity of 1,036 m/s (3,400 ft/s).[34]
| Projectile | Complete round | Projectile weight | Filler/core | Muzzle velocity | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M42A1 HE | 22.11 lb (10.03 kg) | 12.87 lb (5.84 kg) | 0.86 lb (0.39 kg) | 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s) | 14,650 yd (13,400 m) |
| M62A1 APC | 24.55 lb (11.14 kg) | 15.43 lb (7.00 kg) | 0.144 lb (0.065 kg) | 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s) | 16,100 yd (14,700 m) |
| M79 AP | 24.24 lb (11.00 kg) | 15 lb (6.8 kg) | None | 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s) | 12,770 yd (11,680 m) |
| M88 Smoke | 13.43 lb (6.09 kg) | 7.6 lb (3.4 kg) | 3.3 lb (1.5 kg) | 900 ft/s (270 m/s) | 2,000 yd (1,800 m) |
| T4 (M93) HVAP (APCR) | 7.6 lb (3.4 kg) | 3.9 lb (1.8 kg) | 3,400 ft/s (1,000 m/s) |
The M42A1 High Explosive shell contained a 0.86 lb (0.39 kg) explosive filler of TNT or a 0.85 lb (0.39 kg) mixture of 0.08 lb (0.036 kg) of cast TNT and 0.77 lb (0.35 kg) 50/50 Amatol.[35] A reduced charge load existed with a velocity of 1,550 ft/s (470 m/s) and range of 8,805 yd (8,051 m).[36]
The standard M62A1 Armor Piercing Capped projectile was of the APCBC design.[35]
The substitute standard M79 Armor Piercing solid monobloc shot had no filler, windscreen, or penetrating cap.[35]
The M88 H.C. B.I. Smoke Shell contained a filler of H.C.[35] Based on a British design, it was intended to provide a slow-release "curtain" of smoke versus the exploding white phosphorus shell available to the 75-mm and other cannon originally designed for artillery spotting but which could also cause damaging burns.[25]
The M26 brass cartridge case was used for all loaded rounds, with a weight of 5.28 lb (2.39 kg) and length of 21.3 in (54 cm).[37] It was an entirely different case from the 3-inch MKIIM2 case used for the 3-inch M3 anti-aircraft gun and 3-inch M5, M6, and M7 guns used on the a towed anti-tank gun, M6 heavy tank, and M10 Gun Motor Carriage.[38] The 76-mm chamber capacity varied by projectile (also given is the capacities for similar 3-inch rounds to illustrate the size differences):
| Gun | M42 HE | M62 APC | M79 AP | M88 H.C. B.I. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76-mm M1[35] | 140.5 cu in (2,302 cc) | 142.6 cu in (2,337 cc) | 143.66 cu in (2,354.2 cc) | 143.6 cu in (2,353 cc) |
| 3-inch M3/5/6/7[39] | 203.5 cu in (3,335 cc) | 205.585 cu in (3,368.93 cc) | 203.5 cu in (3,335 cc) | None |
The 3 inch cartridge was not completely filled by the propellants used; a distance wad was used to keep the propellant pressed against the primer end.[38] By way of comparison the 75 mm M3 gun had a chamber capacity of about 88 cu in (1,440 cc) for the M61 armor piercing projectile and about 80 cu in (1,300 cc) for the M48 high explosive projectile [40] and the British 17pdr 300 cu in (4,900 cc).[41]
Alternatives to the 76 mm M1
The 76 mm M1 was a project initiated by the Ordnance Department itself.[2] Various entities suggested other weapon options which were not pursued.
- In October 1942, the Aberdeen-based Ballistics Research Laboratory suggested that research begin into two options: (1) arming the M4 medium tank with the 90 mm gun (if need be by altering the cartridge case and gun) and (2) designing a 3-inch gun firing a 15 lb (6.8 kg) shot at 915 m/s (3,000 ft/s).[42]
- The Armored Board (the Armored Forces evaluation center at Fort Knox)[17] suggested the production of 1,000 M4 medium tanks armed with 90-mm guns in the fall of 1943.[42]
- The British expressed interest in mounting their 17-pounder on the M4 in August 1943, offering a monthly allotment of 200 weapons and ammunition, which could begin three months following acceptance.[43] By the time that the US took this up in 1944, the British were too busy with their own conversions resulting in the Sherman Firefly.[3] Some conversions destined for the US Army were performed in 1945 but did not see combat.[44]
US service
The 76-mm gun saw first use in a test batch of M18 Hellcat gun motor carriages in Italy in May 1944, under their development number T70.[45] Only the US used the M18. The moderate performance of the 76-mm cannon by 1944 standards was one of three reasons the plans for M18 production were cut from 8,986 to 2,507, of which 650 were converted to unarmed utility vehicles.[46] An experiment was performed mounting the 90-mm armed M36 turret on an M18 to provide more firepower than the 76-mm.[47]
The first M4 tanks armed with 76-mms intended for combat were produced in January 1944.[48] Tanks equipped with the cannon began arriving in Britain in April 1944.[18] The issue with muzzle blast had not been addressed and higher level commanders had doubts about the use of, let alone need for, the new weapon.[18] The medium-velocity 75 mm M3 gun, which first armed the standard M4 Sherman, was quite capable of dealing with most of the German armored fighting vehicles met in 1942 and 1943 and had better ground fire capability and fewer issues with muzzle blast. It was not until July 1944 that a call for M4s armed with 76s was put out in France after unexpectedly high losses by US tank units and the arrival of numerous Panther Tanks on the US sector of the front.[3]
Deliveries of the 76-mm armed tanks lagged such that by January 1945 they made up only 25% of the tanks in Europe. Plans were made by field units to directly replace the 75s on some tanks using a weight welded to the turret rear to balance it. A prototype was built, but the supply of ready-made tanks increased and that project ended.[49]
The 75-mm armed M4 tanks were never completely replaced during the war with some units in Europe still having about a 50/50 mix.[50] Units in Italy readily accepted the 76-mm,[51] but were never shipped as many as desired.[44] The US units in the Pacific Theater relied mainly on the 75-mm gun.[52] The 76-mm armed M18 did see use in the Pacific late in the war.[53]
British service
The UK had developed a more effective anti-tank cannon before the 76 mm gun became widely available. Although only slightly longer at 55 calibers, their Ordnance QF 17 pounder (76.2 mm) anti-tank gun had a much larger 76.2×583mmR cartridge case, which used about 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) more propellant. The anti-tank performance of the 76mm was inferior to the British 17 pounder, more so if the latter was using APDS discarding sabot rounds, though with that ammunition the 17-pdr was less accurate than the 76mm. The 17-pounder was also much larger and had a longer recoil than the 76mm, which required a redesign of the turret and despite this, made the turret very cramped. The 17-pounder also had a less effective HE round.
The 76 mm gunned Shermans supplied to the British were only used in Italy or by the Polish 1st Armoured Division in North-West Europe. The British and Commonwealth units in north-west Europe supported their 75 mm gunned Shermans with 17 pdr armed Sherman Fireflies.
Russian service
The first 76-mm-armed Shermans started to reach Red Army units in late summer 1944. In 1945, some units were standardized to depend mostly on them, transferring their T-34s to other units. Parts of the Polish First Army also briefly used M4A2 (76 mm) tanks, borrowed from the Red Army after heavy losses in the conquest of Danzig.
Post-war service
Korea
By the end of 1950, more than 500 76mm gun M4A3E8 tanks were in Korea. These 76-mm armed Shermans served well in the Korean War and, having better crew training and gun optics, had little problem piercing the armor of North Korean manned T34/85 tanks when firing HVAP rounds, which were amply supplied to units.[54] Some 76-mm armed M4s [55] and M18s were distributed around the world and used by other countries post-war.[56] The 76-mm gun was sometimes replaced by a more powerful weapon.[6][54][56]
Middle East
Some 76mm gun Sherman tanks were used by Israel and Arab countries.
Balkans
Some M4A3E4, retrofitted with the M1A1 76 mm gun, were used during the 1990s conflict in former Yugoslavia.
Indo-Pak wars
Pakistan bought 547 M4A1E4(76)s during the 1950s and used them in 1965 and 1971 wars.
Uganda
Uganda purchased a few ex-Israeli M4A1(76)W and used them during the Idi Amin regime.
Vehicles mounted on
A T23 turret used on 76 mm gunned Shermans, here without the muzzle brake
With British Commonwealth designations in parentheses:
- 76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18
Medium Tank M4A1(76)W (Sherman IIA)
Medium Tank M4A1(76)W HVSS (Sherman IIAY)
Medium Tank M4A2(76)W (Sherman IIIA)
Medium Tank M4A2(76)W HVSS (Sherman IIIAY)
Medium Tank M4A3(76)W (Sherman IVA)
- Medium Tank M4A3(76)W HVSS
T23 medium tank- T72 experimental Gun Motor Carriage[32]
Towed variant
From 1943, at the instigation of the head of the Armored Force General Jacob Devers, US Ordnance worked on a towed anti-tank gun based on the barrel of the M1, known as "76 mm gun T2 on carriage T3". Later interest in the project declined and the program was officially cancelled in 1945.[57]
Performance
| Ammunition | 500 m | 1,000 m |
|---|---|---|
| Armour-Piercing Capped (APC), US M62 | 93 mm[9] | 88 mm[9] |
| Armour-Piercing (AP), US M79 | 109 mm[9][58] | 92 mm[9] |
Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped (APCBC)[59] | 98–93 mm[60] | 88 mm[60] |
High-Velocity Armour-Piercing (HVAP)[60] | 139 mm[59] | 127 mm[59] |
| High-Velocity Armour-Piercing M93[9] | 157[9] | 135[9] |
| High-Velocity Armour-Piercing T-4[58] | 147 mm | 120 mm |
| Ammunition type | Muzzle velocity (m/s) | Penetration (mm) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 250 m | 500 m | 750 m | 1000 m | 1250 m | 1500 m | 1750 m | 2000 m | 2500 m | 3000 m | ||
| M62 versus FHA | 792 m/s (2,600 ft/s) | 124 | 123 | 122 | 119 | 116 | 113 | 110 | 105 | 101 | 92 | 83 |
| M62 versus RHA | 792 m/s (2,600 ft/s) | 125 | 121 | 116 | 111 | 106 | 101 | 97 | 93 | 89 | 81 | 74 |
| M79 versus FHA | 792 m/s (2,600 ft/s) | 132 | 124 | 112 | 101 | 92 | 83 | 75 | 68 | 62 | 50 | 41 |
| M79 versus RHA | 792 m/s (2,600 ft/s) | 154 | 145 | 131 | 119 | 107 | 97 | 88 | 79 | 72 | 59 | 48 |
| M93 | 1,036 m/s (3,400 ft/s) | 239 | 227 | 208 | 191 | 175 | 160 | 147 | 135 | 124 | 108 | 88 |
See also
- List of U.S. Army weapons by supply catalog designation
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
- British Ordnance QF 17 pounder
- German 7.5 cm KwK 40
- German 7.5 cm KwK 42
- Soviet 85mm D-5T
Notes
^ abcde Hunnicutt 1978, p. 200
^ abc Zaloga 2003, p. 6
^ abc Zaloga 2003, p. 16
^ Zaloga 2004, p. 7
^ Zaloga 2004, p 14
^ abcdefg Hunnicutt 1978, p. 198
^ Hunnicutt 1978, p.563
^ Green 1955, p. 237
^ abcdefgh Hunnicutt 1978, p. 564
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 4
^ abc Hunnicutt 1978, p. 199
^ Honner, David. "USA Guns 75mm and 76mm calibre". Guns Vs Armor..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Hunnicutt 1978, p. 200 picture caption
^ ab Hunnicutt 1978, p. 202
^ abc Hunnicutt 1978, p. 204
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 8
^ abcd Zaloga 2008, p. 116
^ abcd Zaloga 2003, p. 12
^ abc Hunnicutt 1978, p. 206
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 18
^ ab Zaloga 2004, p. 13
^ Ordnance Department 1944, p. 356, 359
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 7
^ Green 2007, p. 118
^ abc Leventhal 1996, p 288
^ Green 2007, p. 81 using the wrong designation "M89"
^ Zaloga 1978, p. 37-38
^ Hunnicutt 1978, p. 322
^ Hunnicutt 1978, p. 540
^ Hunnicutt 1978, p. 538, 542, 544, 549
^ Hunnicutt 1978, p. 260, 261
^ ab Hunnicutt 1978, p. 376
^ Hunnicutt 1978, p. 207
^ Zaloga, Steven. T-34-85 vs. M26 Pershing: Korea 1950. London: Osprey Publishing, 2010. pp. 32-33.
^ abcdef Leventhal 1996, p 287
^ Ordnance Department 1944, p. 128
^ Ordnance Department 1944, p. 124
^ ab Ordnance Department 1944, p. 132
^ Leventhal 1996, p 283,284
^ Hunnicutt 1978, p.562
^ Hunnicutt 1978, p.565
^ ab Hunnicutt 1978, p. 212
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 9
^ ab Zaloga 2003, p. 35
^ Zaloga 2004, p. 14
^ Zaloga 2004, p. 12
^ Zaloga 2004, p. 38
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 10
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 33
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 22
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 36
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 37
^ Zaloga 2004, p. 34
^ ab Zaloga 2003, p. 42
^ Zaloga 2003, p. 39
^ ab Zaloga 2003, p. 41
^ Zaloga 2005, p. 20
^ ab Steven J. Zaloga. and Peter Sarson (1993). Sherman Medium Tank.
^ abc Bovington Tank Museum (1975). Fire and Movement.
^ abc Harry Woodman (1991). Tank Armament in World War Two.
^ Bird, Lorrin Rexford; Livingston, Robert D. (2001). WWII Ballistics: Armor and Gunnery. Overmatch Press. p. 63.
References
Green, Constance; Thomson, Harry; Roots, Peter (1955). The Ordnance Department: Planning Munitions for War CMH Pub 10-9. Center for Military History.
Green, Michael; Brown, James (2007). M4 Sherman at War. Zenith Press. ISBN 9780760327845.
Hunnicutt, R.P. (1978). Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank. Echo Point Books and Media, LLC. ISBN 9781626548619.
Leventhal, Lionel (1996). The American Arsenal. Greenhill Books, London. Stockpile Books, Pennsylvania. ISBN 1853672548.
Ordnance Department, United States (1944). TM 9-1901 Artillery Ammunition June 1944. War Department.}
Zaloga, Steven (1993). Sherman Medium Tank 1942-45. New Vanguard 3. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 185532296X.
Zaloga, Steven (2003). M4 (76mm) Sherman Tank 1943-65. New Vanguard 73. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781841765426.
Zaloga, Steven (2004). M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer 1943-97. New Vanguard 97. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1841766879.
Zaloga, Steven (2005). US Anti-tank Artillery 1941–45. New Vanguard 107. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-690-9.
Zaloga, Steven (2008). Armored Thunderbolt: The U.S. Army Sherman in World War II. Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811704243.
Further reading
- TM 9-308
- SNL C-46
- SNL C-58
- SNL C-64
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to 76 mm gun M1. |
- USA 75 and 76mm guns
- http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/guns/76-mm.asp
