76mm Gun M1
Overview
76mm Gun M1A2
Artist impression of 76mm Gun M1A2 with muzzle brake in M62 mount as depicted in a US Army manual.
Source: US Army -
© Public domain
Origin
United States
Type
Cannon
Entered service
1944
Status
Out of service
Development
1942 - 1943
Developer
United States
-
U.S. Ordnance Department
Production
1943 - ?
Producer
United States
Number produced
At least 13.500
Designations
T1 (prototype designation)
Notable users
United States
Soviet Union
Israel
Soviet Union
Israel
Variants
List of variants of the 76mm Gun M1
76mm Gun M1
Original production model adopted for service. This has the L/52 barrel instead of the L/57 of the T1 prototype.
76mm Gun M1A1
M1 modified with longer recoil surface to allow the gun to be mounted 0.3 m further forward.
76mm Gun M1A1C
Similar to M1A1 but threaded for muzzle brake. Often seen with protective ring instead of muzzle brake.
76mm Gun M1A2
Similar to M1A1C but with faster rifling twist rate.
Details
Facts
76mm Gun M1
General
Origin
United States
Type
Cannon
Barrel
Caliber
76.2x539mmR
Feed system
Manually loaded
Barrel length
3.44 m including chamber
Rifling
28 grooves, 1 turn in 40 calibers for M1/M1A1
28 grooves, 1 turn in 32 calibers for M1A2
3.39 m rifled section
Muzzle brake
No
Pressure
43.000 PSI
Muzzle velocity
792 m/s for APC M62
1.036 m/s for HVAP M93
470 m/s for HE M42A1
Operation
Breech
Semi-automatic sliding wedge
Rate of fire
20 rpm maximum
Dimensions
Weight
518 kg for Gun M1
576 kg for Gun M1A1C with muzzle brake
587 kg for Gun M1A2
Length
4.16 m for Gun M1 and M1A1
4.46 m for Gun M1A1C and M1A2
Related articles
75mm Gun M3
The 76mm Gun M1 was developed to provide much improved armor piercing capability over the 75mm Gun M3 as used on the M4 Sherman. The M1 has nearly double the propellant behind the projectile.