M52A1 – Photos et vidéos

Photo galery of a M52A1, This was the first U.S. self-propelled artillery piece to have a fully enclosed turret. The beginning of the Cold War with the Soviet Union drove the Army to require overhead protection for the crew from enemy artillery and small arms fire, as well as nuclear and chemical warfare.

Source: Wikipedia

The M52A1 Howitzer was a self-propelled artillery vehicle developed by the United States in the 1950s. It was based on the chassis and running gear of the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank, but with a larger turret ring and a modified 105mm howitzer. The M52A1 had an enclosed turret that provided some protection for the five-man crew and the driver, who was located at the front-left of the hull. The howitzer had a maximum range of 14.6 km and could traverse 60 degrees from center. The commander’s cupola at the rear-right of the turret had a 0.50 caliber machine gun for self-defense. The M52A1 was powered by a Continental AOS-895-3 gasoline engine that gave it a top speed of 35 mph and a range of 100 miles. The M52A1 was intended to replace the M41 Howitzer Motor Carriage, but it had some problems with poisonous fumes and recoil. It was produced from 1951 to 1956, with a total of 584 units built. The M52A1 saw service in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was also exported to several countries, including West Germany, Italy, Turkey and Taiwan.