T30 Howitzer Motor Carriage

The T30 Howitzer Motor Carriage (HMC) was a United States Army self-propelled gun used in World War II. Its design was based on requirements for an assault gun issued by the Armored Force in 1941 and it was built as an interim solution until a fully tracked design was complete.

T30 Howitzer Gun Motor Carriage
A sketch of the T30 Howitzer Motor Carriage
TypeSelf-propelled artillery
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1942–50s
Used byUnited States
France
WarsWorld War II
First Indochina War
Production history
DesignerOrdnance Department
Designed1941
ManufacturerWhite Motor Company
ProducedFebruary–April 1942
November 1942
No. built500
Specifications
Mass10.3 short tons (9.3 t)
Length20 ft 7 in (6.28 m)
Width7 ft 3 in (2.22 m)
Height8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
ArmorUp to 0.375 in (9.5 mm)
Main
armament
M1 Pack Howitzer
EngineWhite 160AX, 386 in3 (6,330 cc), 6-cylinder, gasoline engine, compression ratio 6.3:1
147 hp (110 kW)
Power/weight15.8 hp/ton
SuspensionVertical volute springs for tracks, leaf springs for the wheels
Fuel capacity60 US gal (230 l)
Maximum speed 40 mph (64 km/h)

Produced by the White Motor Company, the vehicle was simply a 75 mm Pack Howitzer M1 mounted on a modified M3 Half-track. It was first used in combat in the North African Campaign in November 1942. It later served in Italy and France, and possibly in the Pacific. Some were later leased to French forces and the type was used as late as the First Indochina War in the 1950s.

Specifications

Based on the M3 Half-track, the T30's specifications were similar to its parent vehicle. It was 20 ft 7 in (6.28 m) long, 7 ft 3.5 in (2.22 m) wide,[1] 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) and high, and weighed 10.3 short tons (9.3 t).[2] The suspension consisted of vertical volute springs for the tracks and leaf springs for the wheels, while the vehicle had a fuel capacity of 60 US gallons (230 l). It had a range of 150 mi (240 km) and had a speed of 40 mph (64 km/h),[3] and was powered by a White 160AX, 147 hp (110 kW),[2] 386 in3 (6,330 cc), six-cylinder, gasoline engine, with a compression ratio of 6.3:1. It had a power-to-weight ratio of 15.8 hp/ton.[3]

Gun specifications
Main article: M116 howitzer

The T30's main armament was a short barreled 3.0 in (75 mm) pack howitzer. The 75 mm Pack Howitzer M1 as mounted could depress nine degrees, elevate 50 degrees, and traverse 22.5 degrees to each side. The vehicle had stowage for sixty rounds of 75 mm ammunition and, although it was not designed for anti-tank use, it had a high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shell that could penetrate 3 in (76 mm) of armor. The gun shield had 0.375 in (9.5 mm) thick armor, designed to stop a .30 cal (7.62 mm) bullet from 250 yards (230 m) away.[4]

Development

The T30 HMC was originally conceived in 1941 as an interim design to fulfil the Armored Force's requirement for an assault gun to equip tank and armored reconnaissance units.[5][6] The Ordnance Department design was based on the M3 Half-track in order that it could be brought into service quickly. A prototype vehicle was authorized in October 1941 armed with an M1A1 75 mm Pack Howitzer and a mount that was designed to fit on a simple box structure in the back of an M3 Half-track.[7][8]

Authorization for the production of two prototypes was given in January 1942;[9][lower-alpha 1] first deliveries of the vehicle were made the following month from the White Motor Company.[11] As it was seen as a temporary solution it was never given type classification.[7] In September 1942, the T30 was partially replaced by the Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 (the same gun on an M5 Stuart). After that, it was declared as "limited standard".[12] A total of 500 were produced,[13] all by the White Motor Company.[8]

Production of T30[14]
Month T30
February 1942 50
March 1942 94
April 1942 168
May 1942
June 1942
July 1942
August 1942
September 1942
October 1942
November 1942 188
Total 500

Service history

The T30 HMC entered service in November 1942, seeing action for the first time in the North African Campaign. In the 1st Armored Division, each armored regiment was issued twelve T30s. Of these, three were used in each battalion headquarters platoon and three were used in each regimental reconnaissance platoon. In addition, the 6th and 41st Armored Infantry Regiments were each issued with nine T30 HMCs, with three of them being allocated to the headquarters platoon in each armored infantry battalion.[7]

Most infantry divisions in the North African Campaign deployed a "cannon company"[15] equipped with six T30s and two 105 mm T19 HMCs. In one encounter in North Africa, the T30 was used in an attempt to destroy German tanks. Although the T30s fired several volleys, the German tanks were barely damaged and the T30s were ordered to retreat under the cover of smoke to prevent losses. After several similar experiences, U.S. forces ceased the practice of employing self-propelled howitzers or mortars in direct combat with tanks.[16]

The T30 also served during the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, the war in Italy in 1944,[17] and possibly in the Pacific.[18] It was removed from infantry division use in March 1943, following changes in the organization of US infantry battalions, and was replaced by towed howitzers. The T30 was eventually replaced by the M8 HMC, which was based on the M5 Stuart light tank, and which began entering service around the same time as the T30. Only 312 T30 HMCs were delivered in their original configuration, as the last 188 were converted back into M3 Half-tracks before they were delivered. Later on, the U.S. leased several to French forces and some were used as late as the First Indochina War before the vehicle was retired from service in the 1950s.[7][19]

See also

References

Notes
  1. Initially, the prototype vehicles lacked a gun shield. The Ordnance Department added them after its authorization.[10]

Citations
  1. Ness (2002), p. 207.
  2. Bishop (1998), p. 81.
  3. Berndt (1993), p. 152.
  4. Yeide (2008), p. 40.
  5. Hoffman & Staary (2013), p. 149.
  6. Torriami & Dennis (2014), p. 45.
  7. Zaloga (1994), pp. 36–37
  8. Hunnicutt (2001), pp. 118–121
  9. Chamberlain & Ellis (1969), p. 189.
  10. Mesko (1996), p. 27.
  11. Doyle (2011), p. 393.
  12. Green & Green (2000), pp. 45–46
  13. Ness (2002), p. 193.
  14. Official Munitions Production of the United States, by Months, July 1, 1940 - August 31, 1945 (War Production Board and Civilian Production Administration, 1 May 1947) p. 232
  15. Zaloga (2011)
  16. Zaloga (1999), pp. 21–22.
  17. Zaloga (2013), p. 21
  18. Hunnicutt (1992), p. 321.
  19. Green (2014), p. 298.

Bibliography
  • Berndt, Thomas (1993). Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles, 1940–1965. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-223-0.
  • Bishop, Chris (1998). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of WWII. London, UK: Orbis Publishing and Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 0-7607-1022-8.
  • Chamberlain, Peter; Ellis, Chris (1969). British and American Tanks of World War II. New York, NY: Arco Publishing Inc. ISBN 0-668-01867-4.
  • Doyle, David (2011). Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles (Second ed.). Iola, WI: Krause Publications. ISBN 1-4402-2572-9.
  • Green, Michael; Green, Gladys (2000). Weapons of Patton's Armies. Minnesota, MN: MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7603-0821-7.
  • Green, Michael (2014). American Tanks & AFVs of World War II. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-78200-931-0.
  • Hoffman, George F.; Starry, Donn A. (2013). Camp Colt to Desert Storm: The History of U.S. Armored Forces. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2878-1.
  • Hunnicutt, R. P. (1992). A History of the American Light Tank: Stuart. Navato, CA: Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-462-2.
  • Hunnicutt, R. P. (2001). Half-Track: A History of American Semi-Tracked Vehicles. Navato, CA: Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-742-7.
  • Mesko, Jim (1996). M3 Half-tracks in Action. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 0-89747-363-9.
  • Ness, Leland L. (2002). World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles. London, UK: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-711228-9.
  • Torriami, Massimo; Dennis, Peter (2014). Armies of the United States. Bolt Action. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-958-0.
  • Yeide, Harry (2008). Steeds of Steel. St. Paul, MN: Zenith Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-3360-0.
  • Zaloga, Steven J. (1994). M3 Infantry Half-Track 1940–1973. New Vanguard. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-467-9.
  • Zaloga, Steven J. (1999). M3 and M5 Stuart Light Tank 1940–1945. New Vanguard. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-911-5.
  • Zaloga, Steven J. (2011). U.S. Field Artillery of World War II. New Vanguard. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-78096-205-3.
  • Zaloga, Steven J. (2013). M7 Priest 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-78096-024-7.

Further reading
  • Hogg, Ian V.; Perrett, Bryan (1989). Encyclopedia of the Second World War. Harlow, UK: Longman. ISBN 978-0-582-89328-3.
  • Hunter, Kenneth E. (1951). The War Against Germany and Italy: Mediterranean And Adjacent Areas. United States Army in World War II. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. ISBN 0-16-087289-8.
  • Yeide, Harry (2006). Weapons of the Tankers. St. Paul, MN: Zenith Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-2329-8.
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