U.S. M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage

U.S. M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage. . With the great success of the M12 155mm Gun Motor Carriage (GMC) in Western Europe, by 1944 the Army was convinced that a new self-propelled gun was needed as the supply of old 155m guns used on the M12 had been exhausted. The new vehicle used the M4A3E8 Sherman tank chassis and could mount either the M1 155mm Gun or the M1 8-inch Howitzer. The M40 is the self-propelled version of the legendary 155mm "Long Tom". The first prototype was produced in July 1944. Tests were very successful with both gun and howitzer mounted. Production began in early 1945 with a total of 418 M40s manufactured by the Pressed Steel Car Company before production ended in late 1945. Two of the prototypes saw service during the attack on Cologne, Germany, but none of the production M40s made it into service during World War II. The M40 did see significant action during the Korean War where it proved to be an effective and powerful weapon., Caliber - 6.1 in. - 155 mm , Weight - 80,000 lb. - 40,640 kg , Range - 25,715 yd. - 23,514 m , Shell Weight - 94.7 lb. - 42.96 kg , Muzzle Velocity - 2,899 ft/sec. - 883 m/sec. , Elevation - (-5 to + 45 degrees) - (-89 to + 800 mils) , Traverse - 36 degrees - 640 mils , Rate of Fire - 1 rpm - Crew 8 , Maximum Speed - 24 mph - 38.6 kph , Cruising Range - 100 miles - 161 km , Engine - Continental R975 9-cylinder radial gasoline, 960 hp , CCN# 454827