Accession Number:
AD1045347
Title:
The 76-MM Gun M1A1 and M1A2: An Analysis of U.S. Anti-Tank Capabilities During World War II
Descriptive Note:
Technical Report,01 Jan 1939,31 Dec 1945
Corporate Author:
ARDEC, METC, RDAR-MEM-M Picatinny Arsenal United States
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
2018-01-01
Pagination or Media Count:
58.0
Abstract:
This report provides an analysis of the U.S. anti-tank technology during World War II. A ballistic analysis is used to corroborate the battlefield history and gain an understanding of the physical and technological factors that spurred the development of the M1 series 76-mm Gun and family of ammunition. The technical manual TM 9-1907 was published 23 September 1944, but it was missing performance data for the 76-mm hyper-velocity, armor-piercing HVAP shell and any information for performance of the U.S. anti-tank capabilities against the German Panther tank. Battle history indicates there was a technological capability gap against upgraded Panzer armor. This report attempts to use hand calculations and modeling and simulation PRODAS to fill in the information that is missing in TM 9-1907. The analysis offers the reader a greater engineering comprehension of the challenges faced between June 1944 and May 1945 and the circumstances necessitating the rapid fielding of the 76-mm HVAP shell after German capability upgrades were encountered in the European Theater of Operations from Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge June to December 1944.