203mm M115
8-inch Howitzer M1
Overview
8-inch Howitzer M1
US Army 8-inch Howitzer M1 being towed by a M4 High Speed Tractor in France in 1944.
Source: PhotosNormandie -
© CC BY-SA 2.0
Origin
United States
Type
Towed howitzer
Entered service
1942
Status
Limited service
Development
1919 - 1939
Developer
United States
Production
1942 - 1945
Producer
United States
Number produced
1.006
Designations
8-inch Howitzer M1 (original name)
M115 (1962 redesignation)
M115 (1962 redesignation)
Notable users
United States
Taiwan
Turkey
Taiwan
Turkey
Details
Facts
203mm M115
General
Origin
United States
Type
Towed howitzer
Crew
14
Dimensions
Weight
14.5 t (travel configuration)
Length
10.97 m (travel configuration)
Width
2.5 m (travel configuration)
Height
2.7 m (travel configuration)
Ordnance
Type
203mm 25-caliber howitzer
Barrel length
5.11 m
Muzzle brake
No
Muzzle velocity
587 m/s
Elevation
-2° to +65°
Traverse
60° in total
Firepower
Rate of fire
30 rounds per hour sustained
3 shells per 2 minutes briefly
Range
16.8 km for M106 HE shell
Carriage
Type
8 wheel twin-axle split-trail carriage
Limber
2 wheel limber
Gun shield
No
Mobility
Towing vehicle
Mack NO 6x6 truck
M4 High Speed Tractor
Autonomous mobility
Too heavy for manhandling
APU
No
Media
203mm M115
Taiwanese 203mm M115 on public display in 2012.
Source: Gen Shio
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
203mm M115
203mm M115 towed howitzer on display at the Daejeon National Cemetery, photographed in 2019.
Source: Exj
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
203mm M115
Italian army 203mm M115 towed howitzer seen firing a shell during an exercise.
Source: Italian DoD
Copyright: Public domain
8-inch Howitzer M1
US Army 8-inch Howitzer M1 in a firing position in Korea in 1951.
Source: US Army
Copyright: Public domain
8-inch Howitzer M1 with M4 High Speed Tractor
8-inch Howitzer M1 with M4 High Speed Tractor on public display in a museum.
Source: Peeters Ben
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
203mm M115
203mm M115 towed howitzer on public display.
Source: Larry D. Moore
Copyright: CC BY 4.0
203mm M115
Iranian army 203mm M115 seen during a parade at the 2014 Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day parade in Isfahan, Iran.
Source: Ali Khodaei - Tasnim News Agency
Copyright: CC BY 4.0
Related articles
M110
The original short barrel M110 features the ordnance of the M115. Later a longer barrel was introduced in the M110A1/A2.
155mm M59 Long Tom
The 155mm M59, nicknamed Long Tom, uses the same chassis as the M115. It has a longer barrel with smaller 152mm caliber.