M5 3" Towed Tank Destroyer Platoon

The 3" Gun M5 is an anti-tank gun developed by the US from the T9 3" anti-aircraft gun. In late 1940 the US Ordnance Corps began to adapt the T9 3" Gun to the anti-tank role.

The barrel of the T9 was combined with the horizontal sliding block breech, hydropneumatic recoil system and split-trail carriage of the M2 105mm howitzer. The prototype test weapon was designated the T-10 and began trials in September 1941. Field trials soon proved the new weapon was a great improvement over existing US anti-tank guns.

A few minor problems were ironed out and it was adopted as the M5 3in Gun on carriage M1. Unfortunately at that time no branch of the army seemed interested in taking on the new gun for various reasons. The Infantry deemed it too heavy, while the Tank Destroyer command preferred self-propelled weapons.

However pressure from higher command forced some Tank Destroyer units to adopt it. Production began in December 1942. In November 1943 a slightly modified carriage was standardized as the M6. The new carriage replaced the flat shield from the 105mm howitzer with a new sloped one. In January 1944 all the existing guns were upgraded from the M1 carriage to M6 carriage. A total of 2,500 guns were built during the war.

On 31 March 1943 Army Ground Forces command (AFG) ordered the conversion of fifteen self-propelled tank destroyer battalions to towed guns. Eventually it was decided that half the TD battalions would be towed.

The M5 saw combat in the Italian Campaign and in Northwest Europe. The M5 was never popular with the troops. The large and heavy weapon was hard to manhandle into position.

In Flames Of War

The M5 3in gun gives the humble US rifleman some good anti-tank firepower.

Range 32”/80cm; ROF 2; Anti-tank 12, Firepower 3+

The Gun Shield gives it some protection under fire. Unfortunately it’s a rather heavy and cumbersome weapon and counts as Immobile.