M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage
The 8-inch Howitzer Motor Carriage M43 was an American self-propelled artillery vehicle built on a widened and lengthened medium tank M4/M4A1 chassis, with a Continental engine and HVSS that was introduced at the end of World War II. The M43 shared the same chassis as the more widely produced M40 Gun Motor Carriage, which instead mounted a 155 mm gun, and were designed by the Pressed Steel Car Company. A production run of 576 was planned originally, but in the end only 24 were produced and another 24 were converted from M40 hulls. The M43 went on to serve in the Korean War, and was retired after its conclusion.
Also recorded as 8-inch Howitzer Motor Carriage M43
M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage
[1] · Public domain
- Name
- M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage
- Field
- self-propelled gun · self-propelled artillery
- Region
- United States
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Documentary summary
The 8-inch Howitzer Motor Carriage M43 was an American self-propelled artillery vehicle built on a widened and lengthened medium tank M4/M4A1 chassis, with a Continental engine and HVSS that was introduced at the end of World War II. The M43 shared the same chassis as the more widely produced M40 Gun Motor Carriage, which instead mounted a 155 mm gun, and were designed by the Pressed Steel Car Company. A production run of 576 was planned originally, but in the end only 24 were produced and another 24 were converted from M40 hulls. The M43 went on to serve in the Korean War, and was retired after its conclusion.
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wikidata · Q6713811 · wikipedia · M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Is Vehicle — yes • Is Ranged — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Name — M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage • Type — Self-propelled artillery • Service — 1945 – 1953 • Wars — World War II Korean War • Designer — Ordnance Department • Design Date — 1944 – 1945 • Manufacturer — Pressed Steel Car Company • Production Date — 1945 • Number — 24 (+ 24 converted from 155 mm GMC M40) • Crew — 8 (Commander, driver, 6 gun crew) • Cartridge — separate loading, bagged charge • Rate — Sustained: • Range — Conventional: • Max Range — 16,800 m • Feed — hand • Sights — M13 or M6 • Suspension — HVSS (Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension) • Primary Armament — 8-inch Howitzer M2 • Engine — Continental R-975-C4
History
History
Equipped with a M115 203 mm (8-inch) howitzer, it was designed to replace the earlier M12 gun motor carriage. Its prototype designation was the T89, but this was changed to the M43 in March 1945. The 41.5-ton vehicles struggled to keep up with mechanized formations, but were successful when employed in more stationary roles.
Operational service
Operational service
A single pilot vehicle was deployed in Europe before the end of World War II and was used in action by the 991st Field Artillery Regiment, first seeing action as part of Zebra Force in February 1945 in the capture of Cologne. M43s were used in action in the Korean War, where they were well suited to the static fighting there, their high angle of fire permitting them to hit the rear slopes of hills.
Variants
Variants
• 8-inch Howitzer Motor Carriage M43 – HMC, standardized August 1945; 48 were built. • Cargo Carrier T30 – a few built before cancellation in December 1944 to make more chassis available for GMCs. • The Army planned to use the same T38 chassis for a family of SP artillery.
Surviving vehicles
Surviving vehicles
• Illustration — M43 Howitzer at Ft. Sill, OK. • one at the Fort Sill museum, OK • one in Wyoming, MI • one in The American Military Museum, South El Monte, CA
In popular culture
In popular culture
Despite its small production run, the M43s are featured in the computer games World of Tanks and R.U.S.E.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- United States
External links and references
External links and references
• Tech Manual TM9-747 • Surviving M40 and M43 • SNL G232
8 inch Howitzer Motor Carriage M43.
US War Department. · US War Department Technical Manual TM-9-335 8-Inch Howitzer M2, May 1947.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
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References
Citations
References
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Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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