M1/M2 (M59 / Long Tom) Towed Field Artillery Gun System (1938)
The M1/M59 Long Tom could be found in multiple theaters of war during World War 2 and saw action in Korea and Viet Nam.
The Army placed an initial quantitative order for 20 Long Toms and several arsenals began production. The main improvements to the original French design were the L/45 modified barrel mounted on the new M1 heavy-split tail carriage using the Asbury breach. The carriage had four double-tired road wheels mounted at the front end of the carriage, two sets to either carriage side. This placement acted as the stability point between the weight of the gun and the carriage and made the firing gun more accurate. Additional upgrades to the gun required the model designation to be changed to the "M1A1" (modified breech ring) in 1941 and, by 1944, continuing production changes ultimately birthed the "M2" designation (again, modified breech ring). The M1A1E1 became a prototype with a chromium-plated bore while the M1A1E3 was another prototype featuring liquid cooling.
The M1 Carriage was redesignated to M1A1 after undergoing a process of refurbishment.
The M1/M2 shell used was a 43.1 kg (95lb. ) projectile and, when fired at a 45-degree angle, it would send a High Explosive (HE) round some 25,395 yards out - up to 15 miles away - with a high rate of accuracy. A qualified crew of 15 men could fire more than 40 rounds per hour consisting of high-explosive, chemical, smoke, or illuminating shell types. The gun elevation, up to 63-degrees, gave the crew a wide arc of fire.
The gun proved reliable in practice and became the standard heavy gun in the US Army arsenal. Its success was further driven home by its sales to allied nations around the globe. The weapon was used in large numbers during World War II, the Korean War and the Viet Nam conflict. Many nations continued to use the gun well into the 1980's. After World War II, the US Army bestowed upon the M1/M1A1/M2 the new designation of "M59" during a reorganization period.
The standard tractor used for towing the M1in World War II was the M4 High-Speed Tractor which also doubled as an ammunition carrier. By 1942, the manufacturer Allis Chalmers produced a tracked tractor that weighted 14.2 tons but offered no armor protection for the driver. The Waukesha 6-cylinder gas engine produced 210 horsepower and 14.7 horsepower per towing ton. This vehicle gave the heavy gun a means to deploy over 290 km of territory with a maximum speed of 53 km/h. Once the M4 arrived at the firing position with the Long Tom, the crew needed about 30 minutes set up time before firing the first round. Long Tom was delivered to UK and French forces via Lend-Lease in numbers totaling 184 and 25 respectively. Her combat debut occurred in North Africa in 1943 as part of the 34th Field Artillery Battalion. She saw further actions in Europe and the Pacific and was most often times transported by way of the Mack NO 6x6 7 1/2 ton utility truck until that mode of transportation gave way to the tracked M4 mentioned above.
She provided "steel rain" along many fronts and fought on in battles during the North African campaign, against the caves on Peleliu, into the numbers of North Korea and in the jungles of Viet Nam.
The Long Tom was the primary armament of the 155mm Gun Motor Carriage M40 tracked self-propelled gun. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
M1/M2 (M59 / Long Tom)
Towed Field Artillery Gun System
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: State Factories - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1938
Production: 350
Focus Model: M1/M2 (M59 / Long Tom)
Crew: 15
Overall Length: 44.98ft (13.71m)
Width: 7.97ft (2.43m)
Height: 9.97ft (3.04m)
Weight: 15.3 US Short Tons (13,880kg; 30,600lbs)
Powerplant: M4 Tractor: 1 x Waukesha 6-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 210 horsepower.
Maximum Speed: 34mph (54 km/h)
Maximum Range: 180 miles (290 km)
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Armament:
1 x 155mm main gun on M1 Carriage
Ammunition:
Dependent on ammunition carrier. Separate loading, bagged charge. 95lb projectiles available in HE, smoke, gas and illumination.
Variants:
M1920 - Prototype Designation
T4 - Prototype Designation
M1 - Appearing in 1938; initial production model designation; 20 examples produced.
M1A1 - Appearing in 1941; revised breech ring.
M1A1E1 - One-Off Prototype with chromium plated bore.
M1A1E3 - One-Off Prototype with liquid cooling system.
M2 - Appearing in 1942; revised breech ring.
155mm Gun Motor Carriage T83 / M40 - Modified M4 Sherman tank with M1/M2 main gun.
155mm Gun Motor Carriage T79 - 155mm main gun fitted to T23 tank chassis; proposed but never placed into production.
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