|
M44 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer |
|
The M44 self-propelled howitzer was based on the chassis of the M-41 Walker Bulldog, although it was modified to place the engine at the front of the vehicle to leave the rear free to accommodate the fighting compartment.
The hull featured torsion bar suspension with 6 road wheels per side (the rearmost road wheel also served as the idler), front drive sprockets, and four return rollers. The M44 was powered by a 500hp 6-cylinder air-cooled supercharged gasoline engine, and had a rear-mounted spade to stabilize the vehicle when it fired.The gun was mounted in an open topped superstructure and could be covered with a tarpaulin. The gun itself had an elevation of -5 to +65 degrees, and could traverse 30-degrees left and right of center. In addition to firing conventional munitions, the 155mm howitzer could also fire chemical and tactical nuclear weapons; it had an effective range of 14.6 km.The M44 served in Bundeswehr divisional artillery regiments and was eventually replaced by the M-109 155mm self-propelled howitzer.
|
Site Home 
= Ad with Photo
