M53/M55
This article requires additional modification. The design and/or content of this article do not conform to wiki standards.
|
M53/M55
Mouse over "
[Client Values; Actual values in
3,550,000 Cost |
45090 HP Hit Points |
44.61/44.735.21/48 t Weight Limit |
- Commander (Radio Operator)
- Driver
- Gunner
- Gunner
- Loader
- Loader
770810 hp Engine Power |
56.3/14 km/h Speed Limit |
2224 deg/s Traverse |
17.2623 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio |
YesYes Pivot |
// mm Hull Armor |
HE/HE
HE/HE Shells |
1120/1320/1290
1870/2310/2190 Shell Cost |
600/750/420900/1100/600 HP Damage |
39/49/28252/65/314 mm Penetration |
r/m ▲
2.14 r/m Standard Gun ▲
1.43 Rate of Fire Standard Gun |
▲
Standard Gun ▼
Standard Gun ▲
1284 Standard Gun
▲
Standard Gun ▼
Standard Gun ▲
1287 Damage Per Minute Standard Gun
|
m ▲
0.63 m With 50% Crew: 0.78 m ▲
0.75 Accuracy With 50% Crew: 0.929 m |
s 4.5 s 5.2 Aim time |
1010 deg/s Gun Traverse Speed |
60° Gun Arc |
-5°/+65°-5°/+65° Elevation Arc |
4020 rounds Ammo Capacity |
2012 % Chance of Fire |
m 300 m 300 View Range |
m 500 m 750 Signal Range |
IX
3550000
The M53/M55 is an American tier 9 self-propelled gun.
SPG on a modified chassis of the M47 medium tank. The prototype was produced in 1952, and in 1956 the SPG entered service in two variants: the M55 for the Army and the M53 for the Marines.
The M53/M55 leads to the T92 HMC.
Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables
Modules
Tier | Engine | Engine Power (hp) |
Chance of Fire on Impact (%) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ()
| |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X | Continental AV-1790-7B | 810 | 12 | 1171 | 100000 | |
VIII | Ford GAC | 770 | 20 | 839 | 59000 |
Tier | Suspension | Load Limit (т) |
Traverse Speed (gr/sec) |
Rmin | Weight (kg) |
Price ()
| |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIII | T97/T108 | 44.7 | 22 | 0 | 23000 | 31000 | |
IX | M53/M55 | 48 | 24 | 0 | 23000 | 64000 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very wide firing arc, gun is mounted on a "pseudo-turret" much like the GW Panther
- Very good speed and acceleration, though still doesn't compete with french artillery
- Decent traverse rate
- High alpha gun
- Has a tractor blade attached to the back of it, allowing it to not only look awesome, could serve a purpose impaling scouts
Cons:
- Large profile
Gallery
Historical Info
The M55 was an American fully enclosed and armored self-propelled artillery based on the M53 155 mm assault gun. It had a 203.2 mm howitzer which could traverse 30° left or right, carrying only 10 rounds of ammunition. The gun had a maximum range of 16,916 meters (10.51 miles) with a rate of fire of one round every two minutes. The M55 armor was light, 25 mm maximum, but sufficient to protect the crew from indirect artillery hits or small arms fire.
Development history
M53 & M55 self-propelled howitzers were quite unique vehicles. While borrowing the chassis, hull and automotive components of the M46/M47 Patton tanks, its internal arrangement was reversed to accommodate a rear-set fully-enclosed turret emplacement. The engine and transmission were now fitted to the front of the hull (as opposed to the rear) with the driver being relocated to the front-left of the turret (as in the M53). The track-and-wheel system involved seven double-tired road wheels per side along with the drive sprocket which was mounted at the front of the hull. One notable feature of the running gear was its lack of a track idler at the rear which gave the track link system of the M55 a very identifiable quality. Three track return rollers guided the upper track sections. The gunner crew operated under the protection of an enclosed armored structure which provided security against small arms fire or artillery spray as the steel armor protection was 25mm at its thickest. The complete crew numbered six and included the driver, vehicle commander, gunner and at least two loaders. The primary design characteristic of the M55 was its boxy turret emplacement, which was a turret in name only. Traverse was limited to 30-degrees to the left or right and little else, requiring the vehicle to be itself turned in the direction of fire more often than not. The 203mm M47 howitzer was of good strategic value, able to lob all manner of shells at the enemy position up to 17,000 meters. However, due to the large projectiles, the rate-of-fire was limited to just one round per two minutes and stowage aboard the vehicle meant that only 10 rounds could be carried - thusly limiting its tactical value (the M53 managed 20 x 155mm shells). Defense was through a Browning .50 caliber M2HB anti-aircraft/anti-infantry heavy machine gun mounted on a pintle at the commander's cupola. Power for the M55 vehicle was served through a Continental AV-1790-5B 12-cylinder gasoline-fueled engine outputting at 810 horsepower. This was mated to an Allison CD-850-4 transmission system that featured two forward and one reverse gears. The vehicle, therefore, could manage up to 30 miles per hour on ideal surfaces and featured an operational range out to 160 miles. As improvements were brought into the Patton tank lines, the M53 and M53 vehicles adopted some of these measures including the AV-1790-7B engines and CD-850-4B transmissions. Similarly, the original stick steering control arrangement later gave way to a conventional steering wheel design. Some M55s were utilized operational during the American involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) though they were eventually removed from inventory within time. The M53 and M55 shared some commonality of parts themselves, able to utilized the same ammunition racks and M86 gun mounts which made for some logistical friendliness. Beyond its use in the United States military, the Belgian Army became the only other notable operator of the M55 vehicle. The last M55 was retired from active service (with the Belgian Army) in the 1970s.
Historical Gallery
Sources and External Links
USA | IIT1 HMC • IIIT18 HMC • IIIM7 Priest • IVT82 HMC • IVM37 • VM41 HMC • VIM44 • VIIM12 • VIIIM40/M43 • IXM53/M55 • XT92 HMC |
UK | IILoyd Gun Carriage • IIISexton II • IIISexton I • IVBirch Gun • VBishop • VIFV304 • VIICrusader 5.5-in. SP • VIIIFV207 • IXFV3805 • XConqueror Gun Carriage |
Germany | IIG.Pz. Mk. VI (e) • IIISturmpanzer I Bison • IIIWespe • IVPz.Sfl. IVb • IVSturmpanzer II • VGrille • VIHummel • VIIG.W. Panther • VIIIG.W. Tiger (P) • IXG.W. Tiger • XG.W. E 100 |
France | IIRenault FT 75 BS • IIILorraine 39L AM • IVAMX 105 AM mle. 47 • VAMX 13 105 AM mle. 50 • V105 leFH18B2 • VIAMX 13 F3 AM • VIILorraine 155 mle. 50 • VIIILorraine 155 mle. 51 • IXBat.-Châtillon 155 55 • XBat.-Châtillon 155 58 |
USSR | IISU-18 • IIISU-26 • IVSU-5 • VSU-122A • VISU-8 • VIIS-51 • VIISU-14-1 • VIIISU-14-2 • IX212A • XObject 261 |
China | |
Japan | |
Czechoslovakia | |
Sweden | |
Italy | |
Poland |