World War 2 In Review: 240mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T92/8-inch Gun Motor Carriage T93: American Self-propelled Howitzer/Gun "King Kong"

T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage.

The 240 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T92 was a self-propelled howitzer developed by the United States of America during World War II. The same mounting with the 8-inch Gun M1 was developed as the T93. Neither were built in significant numbers and the war ended before they could be used

The towed 240 mm M1 howitzer was difficult to use due to its weight. Experience with the 155mm howitzer on the M4 chassis suggested it might be possible to mount it on the Heavy Tank T26E3 (which was formally named “Heavy Tank M26 Pershing” in March 1945) chassis, and that the 8-inch gun could also be mounted as part of a planned “Heavy Combat Team” using the same chassis. The latter was given the designation T93 Gun Motor Carriage.

The chassis needed to be lengthened with addition of an extra road wheel, to give seven each side. The drive sprocket was also moved to the front.

A limited production run (“limited procurement”) of four pilot vehicles was ordered in March 1945, and the first was finished in July of that year, only five would be built in total. Two T93 were completed by September. All contracts were terminated with the end of the hostilities.

The trials of the T92 and T93 showed that they would be useful in Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland. To this end, special fuses for the shells were developed so they could be used against concrete. The T92s and T93s were being readied for sending to the Pacific War but the Japanese surrender occurred on 14 August 1945.

A surviving T92 is preserved at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, MI.

A similar vehicle was also built in conjunction with the T92, the T93 Gun Motor Carriage which mounted the longer 8-inch (203 mm) M1 gun instead of the 240 mm howitzer.

Specifications

Weight: 127,000 lb (58 t)

Length: 384 in (9.8 m; 32 ft 0 in)

Width: 133 in (3.4 m; 11 ft 1 in)

Height: 125 in (3.2 m; 10 ft 5 in)

Crew: 8 (Commander, driver, co-driver, 5x gun crew)

Rate of fire: 1 round/min

Maximum firing range: 25,255 yd (23.093 km)

Armor: 25 mm (0.98 in)

Main armament: T92: 240 mm howitzer M1; T93: 8-inch Gun M1

Engine: Ford GAF; 8 cylinder, gasoline, 470 hp (350 kW)

Power/weight: 8.1

Suspension: torsion bar

Operational range: 50–80 mi (80–129 km)

Speed: 24 km/h (15 mph)

240mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T92 firing at a demonstration.

T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage on M25 Tank Transporter.

T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage.

First T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage pilot vehicle.

T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage.

M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage, M41 155mm Howitzer Motor Carriage, M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage, M43 203mm Howitzer Motor Carriage, T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage, with their crews.