Front view of a 240 mm howitzer firing into German held territory. Mignano area, Italy. January 30, 1944
Type
Howitzer
Place of origin
United States
Service history
In service
1943–1959 (United States) 1958–Present (Taiwan)
Used by
United States United Kingdom Philippines Taiwan
Wars
World War II Korean War Second Taiwan Strait Crisis
Production history
Designed
1940–1943
Produced
November 1942–1945
No. built
315 manufactured by 1945
Specifications
Mass
64,700 lb (29,300 kg) (in action)
Barrel length
27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) L/35
Width
9 ft 2 in (2.79 m)
Crew
14
Shell
360 lb (160 kg) separate loading, bagged charge
Caliber
240 mm (9.4 in)
Breech
Interrupted screw
Recoil
Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage
Split trail with 2 transport wagons
Elevation
+15° to +65°
Traverse
22.5° right and left.
Rate of fire
1 round per minute (maximum) 30 rounds per hour (sustained)
Muzzle velocity
2,300 ft/s (701 m/s)
Maximum firing range
14.3 mi (23.1 km)
The 240 mm howitzer M1, popularly nicknamed the "Black Dragon",[1] was a towed howitzer used by the United States Army. The 240 mm M1 was designed to replace the World War I era 240 mm howitzer M1918, which was based on a 1911 French design and was outdated by World War II.
The project to replace the M1918 began in 1941.[2] The 240 mm howitzer was the most powerful weapon deployed by US field artillery units during World War II, able to fire a 360 lb (160 kg) high explosive projectile 25,225 yards (23,066 m).[3] It was the largest field piece used by the US Army during the war except for naval ordnance adapted into railway guns.[4] The weapon addressed the requirement for super-heavy field artillery capable of attacking heavily reinforced targets, like those likely to be found along Germany's Siegfried Line.
The 240 mm howitzer M1 was designed together with the longer-ranged 8-inch gun M1, and they shared a related carriage.[3] While use of the 8-inch gun was limited due to excessive bore wear and poor accuracy, the howitzer saw considerable action during World War II in Europe due to its effectiveness against difficult targets such as heavy concrete fortifications. It was also used in the Pacific campaign, notably in the recapture of Manila in 1945, but few targets there were fortified heavily enough to justify its use.[5]
The US Army retained the 240 mm howitzer after World War II, and later deployed it in the Korean War. The howitzer remained in US service until ammunition stocks were exhausted in the late 1950s.[4]
The 240 mm howitzer M1 is still in service with Taiwan, stationed in hardened bunkers of the frontline Kinmen and Matsu Islands.
^"'Black Dragon' Italian Success" Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, T-Patch 36th Infantry Division News, Army times., Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
^The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare, Vol 7, page 779, editor Bernard Fitzsimons, Purnell & Sons Ltd 1967/1969
^ abZaloga, Delf – US Field Artillery of World War II, p 34.
^ ab"M1 240 mm Howitzer", Globalsecurity.org, Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
^Schreier – Standard guide to U.S. World War II Tanks & Artillery, p 105.
and 26 Related for: 240 mm howitzer M1 information
The 240mmhowitzerM1, popularly nicknamed the "Black Dragon", was a towed howitzer used by the United States Army. The 240mmM1 was designed to replace...
The 240mmHowitzer Motor Carriage T92 was a self-propelled howitzer developed by the United States during World War II. The same mounting with the 8-inch...
The M1918 240mmhowitzer was an American heavy howitzer system manufactured in the U.S. to specifications of the U.S. Army. When the United States entered...
175 mm self-propelled gun on the same chassis Sholef – Israeli 155 mm self-propelled howitzer T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage – a 240mmhowitzerM1 fitted...
Howitzers are one of two primary types of field artillery. Historically, howitzers fired a heavy shell in a high-trajectory from a relatively short barrel...
was used to tow heavy artillery pieces, such as the 8-inch Gun M1 and 240mmhowitzerM1. Its G-number was (G-184). Although in the late 1930s the US Army...
models of the M1 were armed with a 105 mm M68 gun, while later variants feature a license-produced Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44 designated M256. The M1 Abrams was...
States joined the war and started actively supporting the Allies' campaign. M1 Rocket Launcher (Bazooka) Boys anti-tank rifle M18 recoilless rifle M20 recoilless...
part of the Second Army. At Fort Bragg, the 267th converted to the 240mmhowitzerM1, the largest field artillery piece excluding railway guns fielded...
gun for tanks and 7.62 mm fire power on light armored vehicles. The M240 is part of the secondary armament on the U.S. Army M1 series Abrams tank, M2/M3...
Dragons (gang), a Chinese/American criminal organization 240mmhowitzerM1, a towed howitzer used by the United States Army, popularly nicknamed "Black...
In December 1942, work began on a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer based on the newly introduced M1 155 mmhowitzer and the chassis of an M5 Stuart light...
Produced by the White Motor Company, the vehicle was simply a 75 mm Pack HowitzerM1 mounted on a modified M3 Half-track. It was first used in combat...
worked in logistics, conducting installation and operations of the 240mmhowitzerM1. Meese completed active duty in 1956 and continued in the U.S. Army...
155 mm Towed Howitzer M-46 155 mm Towed Howitzer G5 155 mm Towed Howitzer Al-Jaleel 82 mm Mortar Al-Jaleel 120 mm Mortar M43 160 mm Mortar M240 240mm Mortar...
M1 and 240-MMhowitzerM1. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved 31 August 2021. 60砲的部落格 (11 April 2018). "M1240榴砲(砲兵口述歷史)"...
[M114] 155 mmHowitzer: American 155 mmhowitzerM1240mmHowitzer: American 240mmhowitzer M2 105 mmHowitzer: American 105 mmhowitzer M2 155 mm Gun: American...
weapons including the M1 Garand, M1 carbine, M14 rifle, and M16 rifle. The Australian and New Zealand forces employed the 7.62 mm L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle...
factory-produced with a 105 mmhowitzer and a new distinctive mantlet in the original turret. The first standard-production 76 mm gun Sherman was an M4A1...
cubic feet. The M4 Howitzer was a modified version of the M2A1 used with the M4A3 Sherman Assault Support tank. R1QBA = 2 × 105 mm HE M1 with M48 or M48A2...
Propelled Howitzer based on BMP-2 L & T Self-propelled howitzer – 155 mm Self-propelled howitzer based on Korean K9 Thunder Kalyani Self-propelled howitzer –...
Global Information