37 mm Gun M1

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.

• Name — 37 mm gun M1A2 on carriage M3 • Type — Anti-aircraft autocannon • Is Artillery — yes • Used By — USA • Wars — World War II Rhodesian Bush War • Designer — John M. Browning and the Colt company • Production Date — 1939–July 1943 • Number — At least 7,278 • Weight — 2780 kg • Part Length — bore: 2 m (6.56 ft) / 54 calibers • Width — 1.7 m • Height — 1.8 m • Cartridge — Fixed QF 37×223mmSR • Cartridge Weight —.61 kg • Caliber — 37 mm (1.45 in) • Rate — 120 rounds per minute • Velocity — 792 m/s (2,598 ft/s) • Range — 3,200 m (3,499 yds) • Max Range — 8,275 m (9,049 yds) • Breech — vertical block • Carriage — four-wheeled trailer • Elevation — -5° to + 90° • Traverse — 360°

One or 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, but it was only usable up to 25 degrees of elevation.

The M1 utilized fixed ammunition. Projectiles were fitted with a 37×223mmSR cartridge case. Available ammunition • Type — Model — Weight (round/projectile) — Filler — Muzzle velocity — Range horizontal/vertical • APC-T — APC-T M59A1 Shot — 1.44/0.87 kg (3.17/1.91 lbs) — - — 625 m/s (2,050 ft/s) — 5,290/3,660 m (17,355/12,007 ft) • HE-T — HE-T SD M54 Shell — 1.21/0.61 kg (2.66/1.34 lbs) — 792 m/s (2,598 ft/s) — 8,275/5,760 m (27,149/18,897 ft) Armor penetration table • Ammunition / Distance — 457 m (500 yds) — 914 m (1000 yds) — 1,371 m (1,500 yds) — 1,828 m (2,000 yds) • APC-T M59A1 Shot (homogeneous armor, meet angle 30°) — 23 mm (.90 in) — 18 mm (.70 in) — 15 mm (.59 in) — 13 mm (.51 in) • APC-T M59A1 Shot (face-hardened armor, meet angle 30°) — 25 mm (.98 in) — 18 mm (.70 in) — 15 mm (.59 in) — 13 mm (.51 in)

• The 37 mm M9 autocannon was a derivative of the M1A2 anti-aircraft gun. It had a 74 in barrel, weighed 405 lb (the barrel alone weighing 120 pounds), had a muzzle velocity of 3,000 ft/s, and had a rate of fire of 150 rounds per minute. It was used on PT boats around 1944 in the Pacific theater during World War II, replacing the M4 autocannon.

• Country — Gun model — RPM — Projectile weight • 37 mm gun M1 — 120 —.61 kg • Nazi Germany — 3.7 cm SK C/30 — 30 —.74 kg • Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925 — 15-21 —.72 kg • Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) — 60-120 —.82 kg • Nazi Germany — 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 — 150 —.64 kg • 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) — 80 —.73 kg • QF 2-pounder naval gun — 115 —.91 kg • Bofors 40 mm gun — 120 —.9 kg