United States' T48 Gun Motor Carriage
Photos
T48 57 mm Gun Motor Carriage: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
Design
It was ordered to be developed by the Ordnance Committee in April 1942. It was only to be temporary until a more powerful design could be developed.
Originally designed for US and British service but none saw service with US forces.1 Production for Britain was initiated on October 18, 1942.
Placed on an M3 half-track. The gun was mounted in the center of the vehicle behind the front bulkhead. A gunner's seat pivoted independently of the main gun.
| Weight | Muzzle Velocity | |
|---|---|---|
| HE | 6.25 lb1 | 2,720'/sec1 |
| AP | 2,700'/sec1 |
M1 gun could penetrate 55 mm armor at 1,000 yards. Muzzle velocity of 2,800 ft/sec. Gun was positioned between the 2 windshields and placed in a quick release traveling lock.
Prototype
Production
- T48:
- Production: 1942
- Manufacturer: Diamond T, Autocar1
Variants
Usage
British Service
Was equipped with British Wireless Set, No. 19.
Russian Service
Re-armed with more powerful Russian 57 mm anti-tank gun.
Specifications
| T48 Gun Motor Carriage | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, gun crew (3) 51 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 19,000 lb, 21,000 lb1 |
| Length w/gun | 20' 3.5"1, 21' 5/8" |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7', 8' (approximate)1 |
| Width | 7' 1"1 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 11 3/16"1 |
| Ground contact length | 3' 10.75"1 |
| Ground pressure | 12.3 psi1 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 57 mm M1 gun1 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | 5: .30 cal Rifles (British) Grenades |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 501, 99 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | Grenades: 22 |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 0.5"@0°1, 6 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 6 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.25"@0°1, 6 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 6 |
| Hull Rear | 0.25"@0°1, 6 |
| Hull Top | 6 |
| Hull Bottom | 6 |
| Turret Front | |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | While 160 AX1 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water1 |
| Cylinders | I-61 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 1471 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Dual range synchromesh1 8 forward, 2 reverse1 |
| Steering | Cam and twin lever1 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline1 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 60 gallons1 |
| Road consumption | 3.6 mpg1 |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 27.5° both ways |
| Speed - Road | 45 mph1 |
| Speed - Cross Country | |
| Range - Road | 200 miles, 220 miles1 |
| Range - Cross Country | |
| Turning radius | 30'1 |
| Elevation limits | -5° to +15° |
| Fording depth | 2' 8"1 |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | 1'1 |
| Climbing ability | 30° slope1 |
| Suspension (Type) | Front: Semielliptic spring1 Rear: Vertical volute spring1 |
| Wheels each side | Front: 11 Rear: 2 sets of articulated four-wheeled bogies1 |
| Return rollers each side | 11 |
| Tracks (Type) | Endless band1 |
| Length | |
| Width | 12"1 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | 4"1 |
| Tire tread | |
| Tire size | 8.25 x 201 |
| Track centers/tread | 63 3/16"1 |
| Wheel centers | 64.5"1 |
| Wheel base | 135.5"1 |
Sources:
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
