Place of origin USA Wars World War II | Used by USA Produced 1939–? | |
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Type Anti-aircraft autocannon Designer John M. Browning and the Colt company | ||
The 37mm Gun M1 was an anti-aircraft autocannon developed in the United States. It was used by the US Army in World War II.
Contents
In addition to the towed variant, the gun was mounted, 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.
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.
Components
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.
Ammunition
The M1 utilized fixed ammunition. Projectiles were fitted with a 37×223mmSR cartridge case.