M55 self-propelled howitzer

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}{{Infobox weapon

|name= M55

| image= M55 8 inch Self-Propelled Howitzer 3.JPG

| image_size = 300

|caption= M55 howitzer in the US Army Ordnance Museum

|origin= United States

|type= Self-propelled artillery

|is_vehicle= yes

|is_UK= yes

|service= 1952–1960s (United States)

|used_by= United States
Belgium
Turkey
Spain
West Germany
Republic of China

|wars= Vietnam War
Second Taiwan Strait Crisis

|designer=

|design_date=

|manufacturer= Pacific Car and Foundry Company

|unit_cost=

|production_date= 1950s

|number=

|variants=

|spec_label=

|weight= 44 metric tons

|length= 9.75 m

|width=

|height=

|ground pressure=

|crew= 6

|armour= 25 mm (maximum)
(Rolled homogeneous armour)

|primary_armament= 203.2 mm M47 howitzer
(10 rounds)

|secondary_armament= .50 cal M2HB machine gun
(900 rounds)

|engine= Continental AV1790-5B
(12 cylinder, 4 cycle, 90° vee gasoline)

|engine_power= 810 hp at 2800 rpm (gross)
704 hp at 2800 rpm (net)

|pw_ratio=

|transmission= Allison CD-850-4A
(two ranges forward, one reverse)

|suspension=torsion bar

|clearance=

|fuel_capacity=

|vehicle_range={{convert|160|mi|km|abbr=on}}

|speed={{convert|30|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}

}}

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.

Description

It 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.{{Cite web |title=M55 8” Self-Propelled Artillery |url=https://lewisarmymuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/m55-self-propelled-artillery.pdf |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Lewis Army Museum}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Beckett |first=Jack |date=2022-08-02 |title=The M53/55 - 203.2 mm of American Freedom - |url=https://tankhistoria.com/cold-war/the-m53-55/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Tank Historia |language=en-US}}

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.

Service

The M53 was produced from 1952 to 1955, being replaced with the M55 in 1956. The M55 first saw service in 1956 with the US army 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.{{Cite web |last=Hayot |first=Marc |date=2020-12-27 |title=Armory receives new M55 Howitzer {{!}} Siloam Springs Herald-Leader |url=https://hl.nwaonline.com/news/2020/dec/27/armory-receives-new-m55-howitzer/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Siloam Springs Herald Leader |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hayot |first=Marc |date=2020-12-29 |title=Lincoln armory to get refurbished M55 {{!}} Arkansas Democrat Gazette |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/dec/29/lincoln-amory-to-get-refurbished-m55/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Arkansas Democrat Gazette |language=en}} Other NATO countries also received some. The last M55 in service was withdrawn from the Belgian Army in the 1970s.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-28 |title=M55 SPH 203mm Self-Propelled Howitzer |url=https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=619 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Military Factory}}