155mm Self-propelled Howitzer M441-8

M44: General
Date of first acceptance 1952 Total acceptances 250+
Manufacturer Massey Harris Co. Crew
7 men:
  • Chief of section in cab right rear
  • Gunner in turret right
  • Driver in cab left front
  • Assistant gunner in cab right rear
  • Three cannoneers in cab left
M44: Dimensions
Combat weight 64,000lbs
29,000kg		 Height over canvas top 122.5"
311.2cm
Length without howitzer 242.5"
616.0cm		 Howitzer overhang forward 0"
Width 127.5"
323.9cm		 Tread 102.5"
260.4cm
Ground clearance 18.8"
47.8cm		 Fire height ~84"
~210cm
Turret ring diameter 65¼"
165.7cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 10.2psi
.716kg/cm²
M44: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Max traverse rate Elevation Max elevation rate
155mm Howitzer M45 M80 in turret 24 rounds 60°
(30° left or right;
manual and hydraulic)		 10°/sec +65° to -5°
(manual and hydraulic)		 15°/sec
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible on mount 6580030 on ring assembly 7345651 900 rounds 360°
(manual)		 -- Manual --
Aiming equipment
Panoramic telescope M12A7K and telescope M93 for gunner
M44: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front .5"
1.3cm		 52° and 81°
Lower front .5"
1.3cm		 40° and 66°
Sides .5"
1.3cm		 0°
Rear .5"
1.3cm		 0°
Top Open
Floor .375"
.953cm		 90°
Gun shield .5"
1.3cm		 0°
M44: Automotive
Engine Continental AOS-895-3; 6 cylinder, 4 cycle, opposed, supercharged gasoline
Horsepower Net: 446@2,400rpm
Gross: 500@2,800rpm		 Torque Net: 890 ft-lb@2,200rpm
Gross: 955 ft-lb@2,400rpm		 Fuel capacity 150gal
570L
Transmission Allison CD-500-3, 2 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Steering Mechanical, T-bar
Brakes Multiple disc
M44: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 5 individually sprung dual/track 4 dual/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
12-tooth front drive Trailing at rear of track On first, second, and fifth road wheels/track
M44: Track
T91E3
Center guide, single pin, steel with detachable rubber pad
Width 21"
53cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track Left side: 74
Right side: 75		 Ground contact length 149.4"
379.5cm
M44: Performance
Max level road speed 35mph
56kph		 Max trench 72"
180cm
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 30"
76cm
Min turning diameter Pivot Max fording depth 42"
110cm
Cruising range ~75mi, roads
~120km, roads

The M44 was based on components of the 76mm gun tank M41, and its designation was changed from a "howitzer motor carriage" to "self-propelled howitzer" on 30 April 1951. The howitzer was mounted in a limited-traverse turret inside an open-topped fighting compartment surrounded by a demountable, partly-armored cab, and all crew members were in this superstructure as well. The driver's position was at the front of the cab to the left of the howitzer. Its automotive and suspension layout was similar to that of the 105mm SPH M52, with the power train at the front driving through front sprockets, and a trailing idler at the rear. The trailing idler was larger than the standard road wheels by 2.5" (6.4cm), and the rear track return roller was larger than the others as well.

When powered by the AOSI-895-5 engine, which was an AOS-895-3 fitted with fuel injection kits, the M44 was known as M44A1. The M44A1's road range increased to around 82 miles (130km).

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Sheridan: A History of the American Light Tank, volume 2. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1995. Reprinted with permission from Sheridan, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1995, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
  2. TM 9-7004 Self-propelled 155-mm Howitzer T194. Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 25 January 1954.
  3. TM 9-7005 Ordnance Maintenance: Self-propelled 155-mm Howitzer M44 (T194): Final Drive Assemblies, Universal Joint Assemblies, Turret Bearing Assembly, Recoil Spade Mechanism, Shifting Control Assembly, and Rammer Hydraulic System. Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 31 March 1955.
  4. TM 9-7205-2 Ordnance Maintenance Elevating and Traversing Systems for Self-propelled 155-mm Howitzer T194, 155-mm Gun T97, 105-mm Howitzer T98E1, and 8-inch Howitzer T108. Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 17 February 1954.
  5. ORD 9 SNL G-279 List of All Service Parts of Howitzer, Self-propelled, Full Tracked: 155-mm, M44 (T194). Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 22 December 1955.
  6. FM 6-92 155-mm Howitzer M44, Self-propelled. Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 4 April 1962.
  7. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. USA: Motorbooks International, 1992.
  8. TM 9-500 C3 Data Sheets for Ordnance Type Materiel. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 12 October 1966.
Last updated 1 Sep 2024.
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