| 37 mm gun M1A2 on carriage M3 | |
| Origin: |  |
| Type: | Anti-aircraft autocannon |
| Is Artillery: | yes |
| Used By: | USA |
| Wars: | World War II Rhodesian Bush War |
| Designer: | John M. Browning and the Colt company |
| Production Date: | 1939–July 1943 |
| Number: | At least 7,278 |
| Weight: | 2780kg (6,130lb) |
| Part Length: | bore: 2 m (6.56 ft) / 54 calibers |
| Width: | 1.7m (05.6feet) |
| Height: | 1.8m (05.9feet)[1] |
| Cartridge: | Fixed QF 37×223mmSR |
| Cartridge Weight: | 0.6kg (01.3lb) |
| Caliber: | 37 mm (1.45 in) |
| Rate: | 120 rounds per minute |
| Velocity: | 792 m/s (2,598 ft/s) |
| Range: | 3,200 m (3,499 yds) |
| Max Range: | 8,275 m (9,049 yds) |
| Breech: | vertical block |
| Carriage: | four-wheeled trailer |
| Elevation: | -5° to + 90° |
| Traverse: | 360° |
The 37 mm gun M1 was an anti-aircraft autocannon developed in the United States. It was used by the US Army in World War II.
The gun was produced in a towed variant, or mounted along with two M2 machine guns on the M2/M3 half-track, resulting in the T28/T28E1/M15/M15A1 series of multiple gun motor carriages.
In early World War II, each Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Auto-Weapons battalion was authorized a total of thirty-two 37 mm guns in its four firing batteries, plus other weapons.[2]
During World War II the 37 mm gun M1 was deployed in coast defense anti-motor torpedo boat batteries (AMTB) alongside 90 mm guns, usually four 90 mm and two 37 mm guns per battery. Some AMTB batteries consisted of four 37 mm guns, but most sources have little information on these batteries. In the later part of the war the 37 mm gun was typically replaced by the 40 mm Bofors gun M1.[3]
One or two gun units were coupled to the M5 gun director using the M1 remote control system. The system was powered by the M5 generating unit. If the remote system was inoperative the M5 sighting system was used, but it was only usable up to 25 degrees of elevation.
The M1 utilized fixed ammunition. Projectiles were fitted with a 37×223mmSR cartridge case.
| +Available ammunition | ||||||
| Type | Model | Weight (round/projectile) | Filler | Muzzle velocity | Range horizontal/vertical[4] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APC-T | APC-T M59A1 Shot | 1.44/0.87 kg (3.17/1.91 lbs) | - | 625 m/s (2,050 ft/s) | 5,290/3,660 m (17,355/12,007 ft) | |
| HE-T | HE-T SD M54 Shell | 1.21/0.61 kg (2.66/1.34 lbs) | 792 m/s (2,598 ft/s) | 8,275/5,760 m (27,149/18,897 ft) |
| +Armor penetration table[5] | |||||
| Ammunition / Distance | 457 m (500 yds) | 914 m (1000 yds) | 1,371 m (1,500 yds) | 1,828 m (2,000 yds) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APC-T M59A1 Shot (homogeneous armor, meet angle 30°) | 23 mm (.90 in) | 18 mm (.70 in) | 15 mm (.59 in) | 13 mm (.51 in) | |
| APC-T M59A1 Shot (face-hardened armor, meet angle 30°) | 25 mm (.98 in) | 18 mm (.70 in) | 15 mm (.59 in) | 13 mm (.51 in) |
| Country | Gun model | RPM | Projectile weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 mm gun M1 | 120 | 0.6sp=usNaNsp=us | ||
| 3.7 cm SK C/30 | 30 | 0.74sp=usNaNsp=us[6] | ||
| Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925 | 15-21 | 0.72sp=usNaNsp=us[7] | ||
| Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) | 60-120 | 0.82sp=usNaNsp=us[8] | ||
| 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 | 150 | 0.64sp=usNaNsp=us[9] | ||
| 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) | 80[10] | 0.73sp=usNaNsp=us[11] | ||
| QF 2-pounder naval gun | 115 | 0.91sp=usNaNsp=us[12] | ||
| Bofors 40 mm gun | 120 | 0.9sp=usNaNsp=us[13] |