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M55 self-propelled howitzer
The M55 is an American fully enclosed and armored self-propelled howitzer based on the M53 155 mm self-propelled gun and with components taken from the M47 Patton. DescriptionIt has a 203.2 mm (eight-inch) howitzer which can traverse 30° left or right, carrying 10 rounds of ammunition when fully combat loaded. The gun has a maximum range of 10.51 miles (16.92 kilometers) with a rate of fire of one round every two minutes. A .50 caliber machine gun was mounted on top of the turret. The crew consists of six - a driver, commander, gunner, and three loaders.[1] The M55 is lightly armored, 25 mm maximum, but sufficient to protect the crew from indirect artillery hits and small arms fire. The M53 has a 155mm gun, while the M55 uses the 203.2mm gun.[2] The M55 uses components of the M47 Patton tank, but the automotive aspects are reversed. The engine is mounted in the front and is driven through a front-drive sprocket capable of a top speed of 30 mph (50 km/h). The driver's cupola is visible on the front left of the turret, and spare track blocks are stored on the turret front. Because the driver's seat is in the turret, a special seat is used to keep the driver facing forward, independent of the turret facing. ServiceThe M53 was produced from 1952 to 1955, being replaced with the M55 in 1956. [2]The M55 first saw service in 1956 with the US army[1] and was used during the Vietnam War until around 1969, and subsequently withdrawn from service in the US military in favor of the M110 howitzer.[3][4] Other NATO countries also received some. The last M55 in service was withdrawn from the Belgian Army in the 1970s.[5] OperatorsFormer operators
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