Skip to main Skip to content Skip to menu

Com-Central.net

`±`Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

`±`User Info-big

Welcome Anonymous

Membership:

Latest: HighestAce

New Today: 0

New Yesterday: 0

Overall: 6648

People Online:

Members: 0

Visitors: 768

Total: 768

Who Is Where:

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!

Forum FAQ

Moderators

M44 Howitzer faster backwards?
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.

Forum Index › AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author

Message

silviop15
Power User

Offline
Joined: Oct 03, 2015
Posts: 415

Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:04 pm Post subject: M44 Howitzer faster backwards?
So I am looking at some pictures of the M44 SPG. It appears to have been mounted backwards on a M41 Chassis, similar to the British Archer. Did the vehicle go faster backwards than forwards?

Rick_Eshleman
Power User

Offline
Joined: Apr 26, 2011
Posts: 909
Location: Lewes, Delaware, USA

Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: M44 Howitzer faster backwards?
The M41 light tank, of which the M44 155mm SPG was derived, maxed out at 45mph, while the M44 had a top speed of 35mph. Like the M52 105mm SPG (35mph) it was slower. The M42 twin 40mm SPAAGs, also based on the M41 light tank, had maximum speed of 45mph. It must have been something to do with both the M44 and M52 facing backwards, and the trailing idler is now on the ground.

ED_GILBERT
Power User

Offline
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 6

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:57 am
Post subject: Re: M44 Howitzer faster backwards?

The lower speed was due to heavier chassis loading. The SP gun was mechanically reconfigured so that backwards was now forward, i.e. driver controls and drive train were designed to be driven engine-end first. The Archer as a SPAT was an ambush weapon, where driving away at full speed was something of an advantage. It was not mechanically reconfigured; it retained the driver at the old "front" end. The real issue for the M44 was chassis loading. The parent tank weighed 23.5 tons, the SPH 31 tons. Range was also reduced.

silviop15
Power User

Offline
Joined: Oct 03, 2015
Posts: 415

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 2:47 am Post subject: Re: M44 Howitzer faster backwards?
Alright, thanks guys.

Forum Index › AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 1

All times are GMT - 6 Hours

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Com-Central.net

Select Language

Login

`±`Recent Visitors

`±`User Info-big

Com-Central.net

Select Language

Login

±Recent Visitors

±User Info-big

`±`Recent Visitors

`±`User Info-big