The Army Introduces a Heavyweight: The 3-Inch Antitank Gun M5/M6

The Army Introduces a Heavyweight: The 3-Inch Antitank Gun M5/M6. . , Responding to the battlefield realities encountered in the North African campaign against German armor, the United States Army Ordnance Department began to develop a heavier anti-tank gun to replace the diminutive 37mm M3A1 then serving on the front lines in 1942. By modifying the chamber of the barrel from the 3-inch Antiaircraft gun, (M3) and replacing the breech with that of the 105mm Howitzer (M2A1), a hybrid barrel, classified as the 3-inch Anti-tank gun (M5) was put into production. The new gun was then mounted to the M6 carriage, which was also developed out of the 105mm Howitzer’s and further modified with sloped shields to protect the crew from small arms fire. The new gun, designated the 3-inch Antitank Gun, M5/M6 was capable of penetrating armor 3.31 inches thick at 2,000 yards. Although heavy, requiring a 6x6 vehicle to haul it into combat, the 2,500 pieces produced during the war proved worthy weapons against Axis armor.,

3-Inch Antitank Gun , M5/M6. Gun: 3 Inch anti-tank , Weight: 5,580 lbs. , Length: 22.5 feet , Height: 5 feet , Range: 16,100 yards , Ammunition: AP; HE , Muzzle Velocity: 2600-2800 feet per second

, [Captions:] , Soldiers of Co. A, 772nd Tank Destroyer Bn. set up a 3-inch antitank gun in the snow covered forest near Grandmenil, Belgium. January 4, 1945., The 3-inch antitank gun with trails and spades developed for firing. Its great weight prevented this gun from being towed by a jeep.