M40 (RR)

History

As more rugged Soviet tanks entered potential Cold War battlefields, the U.S. military funded numerous anti-tank weapons programs. A major development in the latter part of WWII (1939-1945) was the recoilless rifle, a relatively light weapon that attempted to counter a violent attack by ejecting some of the escaping propellant gas back as the projectile exited the barrel. recoil. front.

Many tank counters ended up being designed around this basic principle, including the world-famous classic Carl Gustaf launcher from Sweden (described in detail elsewhere on this page).

The M40 entered service with the U.S. military in the mid-1950s, missed operations in the Korean War (1950-1953), but excelled in the ensuing Vietnam War (1955-1975). Since then, the weapon has been used extensively in conflicts such as the Algerian Civil War (1954-1962), the Indo-Pakistani War (1971), the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) and more recently the Libyan Civil War.

The war (2011) and the ongoing Syrian civil war (2011). Despite its origins in the 1950s, its overall simplicity and low operating/acquisition costs made it a staple on the battlefield (especially favored by modern rebel forces in the Syrian conflict).

Manufactures Watervliet Arsenal guns in Watervliet, NY. The gun was developed from the main M27 105mm series guns, which did not perform well as frontline guns. It was primarily used in the Korean War and is remembered for its excessive handling weight and general reliability issues (the latter mainly due to its rushed development phase). Additional work on the production line led to the development of the designation "T136" until completion yielded the "M40".

As such, the new gun is an improved form of the original M27, which had its own roots in the late World War II.

The M40 is designed to fire stationary projectiles with several types: High Explosive, Anti-Armor (HEAT), HEAP (High Explosive, Anti-Personnel), APERS (Flechette) and Canister Shot (among others). The gun Designed to fire the 105x607mm R projectile, which helps differentiate it from earlier M27 recoilless rifles (the gun's 105mm projectile is not compatible with the M40). In addition to its utility in an anti-tank/anti-tank role, the M40 can also be used by specialized anti-personnel projectiles against digging enemy infantry, and as a "bunker breaker" when attempting to attack hardened structures. The weapon can be mounted on its standard tripod or mounted on a vehicle for quick, hard-hitting attacks.

The initial projectiles were valuable for armor around 400mm thick.

As a complete system, the M40 weighs 462 pounds and has an overall length of 11 feet. A heavy tripod supports the weapon in all aspects of its operation (when not mounted on the vehicle).

The operator consisted of at least two people, and the shells were loaded/reloaded through the breech of the barrel. Sighting devices allow precise shooting at long distances, but the angle of engagement is strictly limited to direct line-of-sight (DLOS). An M8. 50 caliber rifles were placed on the barrel for reconnaissance purposes. The tripod provides an inherent elevation range of -17 to +65 degrees, as well as a full 360-degree traversal of the centerline to the left or right.

The projectiles were fired at an initial velocity of 1,650 feet per second and had an effective range of 1,480 meters. The maximum range is 6,870 meters.

The M40 series achieved significant export sales/use during its service life. Operators range from Australia and Austria to Uruguay and Venezuela. Soon after, projectiles developed abroad increased armor penetration up to 700 mm thick.

The M40 recoilless rifle is the primary weapon of the American M50 "Ontos" tracked vehicle (described in detail elsewhere on this page), and six of these weapons are installed on the compact tank (although all of them must be reloaded from the outside). The Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) developed the Type 60 tank destroyer with two M40 guns mounted side by side on the right side of the hull.

The Iranian defense industry locally produces the M40 as the "106 anti-tank gun".

Many M40 systems have been phased out by the world's top militaries, especially with the increased effectiveness of anti-tank missiles (ATGMs). The U.S. Army has adopted the Hughes BGM-71 TOW series of anti-tank missiles to replace weapons such as the M40. The BGM-71 series appeared in 1970.

The production of the M40 is very extensive, with participants (whether through legal or illegal production methods) in Austria (Lohner GmbH), China (NORINCO), India (Ordnance Factory Council), Iran (Defence Industry Organization), Pakistan ( Pakistan Machine Tool Works Ltd.), South Korea (Kia Machine Tool Corporation) and Spain (Santa Barbara Sistemas).

Specification

Basics

Year of Operation

1955

Origins

United States

Categories

106mm recoilless rifle

Manufacturer

Watervilet Arsenal - USA / NORINCO - China (and others)

Operators

Angola; Australia; Austria; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Bolivia; Brazil; Burkina Faso; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Central African Republic; Chile; Colombia; Cyprus; Congo Democratic Republic; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Egypt; Ecuador; El Salvador; Estonia; France; Gabon; Guatemala; Greece; Haiti; Honduras; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Italy; Ivory Coast; Japan; Jordan; Laos; Lebanon; Liberia; Libya; Luxembourg; Madagascar; Malaysia; Mauritania; Mexico; Morocco; Myanmar; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; Norway; Pakistan; Peru; Philippines; Portugal; Rhodesia; Saudi Arabia; Singapore ; Somalia; South Africa; South Korea; Spain; Sudan; Suriname; Sri Lanka; Switzerland; Syria; Taiwan; Thailand; Tunisia; Turkey; Uruguay; United Arab Emirates; United States; Venezuela; Vietnam; Yemen; Zimbabwe

ROLLING

Anti-Tank/Anti-Tank/Anti-Material

Designed to engage at long range and defeat armored/enemy tanks.

Dimensions and Weight

Overall Length

3,400 mm

133. 86 inches

Barrel length

3,400 mm

133. 86 inches

Cured weight

462.97 lbs

210.00 kg

Attractions

Integrated optics.

Action

Single shot; reusable barrel; recoilless

Cartridges and Paper Feeds

Caliber*

105x607mmR

Circle/Feed

Single Shot

POWER

Maximum efficiency. Arrived

4,430 feet

(1,350 m | 1,477 m)

Rate of fire

12

Number of revolutions

Mile speed

1,650 ft/s

(503m/s)

Variant

M40 - Name of the base series M40A110. 6 cm rPAK M40A1 - Austrian local name; produced by Lohner GmbH. Type 75 - Chinese local name; produced by Northern Industries. CSR-106 - Local Spanish name; produces Santa Barbara Sistemas.

Panzerabwehrkanone 106 - Iranian local designation; produced by the Defense Industry Organization (DIO).