Difference between revisions of "M6 (75 mm)"

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{{About
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| about = the tank cannon '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other uses
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| link = M6 (Disambiguation)
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[[File:Weapon M6 (75 mm).png|thumb|right|x250px|The 75 mm M6 on the M24 gun mantlet. ]]
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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell about the history of the devekopment and combat using of the weaponry and also about it's features. Make a air or ground vehicles list on which this weapon is installed in our game.''
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<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' -->
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The M6 is an American 75 mm tank cannon mainly used on the [[M24 (Family)|M24 Chaffee]]. It was developed from the aircraft-mounted [[T13E1 (75 mm)|75 mm T13E1]], which was itself a derivative of the [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm M3]] tank gun.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
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<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
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* {{Specs-Link|us_m24_chaffee}}
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* {{Specs-Link|us_m24_chaffee_tl}}
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* {{Specs-Link|jp_m24_chaffee}}
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* {{Specs-Link|cn_m24_chaffee}}
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* {{Specs-Link|it_m24_chaffee}}
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* {{Specs-Link|fr_amx_13_chaffee}}
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
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<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' -->
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The M6 cannon was equipped with a vertically sliding semi-automatic breech block which was tapered to facilitate quick loading. The standard 75 mm calibre allowed this gun to be compatible with existing single-piece ammunition already developed for the M2, M3, and T13E1 cannons. The barrel is rifled to induce spin on fired shells which assists in accuracy. From the rear of the breech to the muzzle, the M6 is 116.38 inches long.<ref name="ShermanTankSite75mmGun">Jeeps_Guns_Tanks, p.1</ref>
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Due to the lightening efforts leftover from the T13E1 program, the M6 weighed a mere 410 lbs, compared to the 893 lb total weight of the 75 mm M3.<ref name="ShermanTankSite75mmGun"/> One of these efforts was implementing a thinner barrel. While still retaining the accuracy and ballistic properties of the original, the barrel had a shorter service life than the M3 due to its decreased durability.
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The M6 featured a T33 concentric recoil system which prevented the gun from recoiling too far, allowing it to be used in confined spaces such as the turret of the M24 Chaffee. In the M64 combination gun mount, it was paired with the 7.62 mm [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|M1919A4]] medium machine gun.
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=== Available ammunition ===
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<!-- ''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).'' -->
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'''M72 AP:''' The usual default AP shell. Decent penetration and post-penetration damage but lacks explosive filler. It is recommended to trade in for better shells once they are unlocked.
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'''M48 HE:''' Useful for demolishing very lightly armoured and open-topped targets such as SPAAs and SPGs. Not recommended for use against targets with little more than very thin armour, so 2-3 shells are usually taken if needed. This shell will blow an aircraft out of the sky if it connects. Due to the mass of the explosive, it will fly slower and have a higher firing arc than AP shells.
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'''M61 APCBC:''' The penultimate shell for use by the M6 cannon, it has good penetration and amazing post-penetration damage due to the high explosive mass. This shell has a reputation of destroying enemy vehicles in one shot on a decent hit. It is recommended to use this shell nearly exclusively when unlocked, for destroying enemy armoured vehicles.
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'''T45 APCR:''' Useful for piercing armour that cannot be penetrated by any other armour-piercing shell. To achieve this, however, the shell trades off post-penetration damage which it limits its ability to destroy enemy vehicles quickly and effectively. Currently only available for the M6 cannon mounted on the [[M24 (TL)]].
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'''M64 Smoke:''' This shell is used more defensively, fired toward enemy sniper positions to blind them or fired over or ahead of friendly forces to conceal movements. This shell is not recommended for offensive use unless in an emergency against an unarmoured target. Due to the mass of the smoke, it will fly slower and have a higher firing arc than AP shells. The smoke screen takes about 5 seconds to fully deploy and lasts around 20 seconds. Take this into consideration when using it, and try not to get caught out in the open when the smoke clears.
  
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=== Available shells ===
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{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|M72 shot, M48 shell, M61 shot, T45 shot, M64}}
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''Describe the shells that are available for the cannon and their features and purpose. If it iconcerns autocanons or machine guns, so write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''
 
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
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''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns, that have firepower equal to these type of weapons.''
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<!-- ''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
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* [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm M3]]: The grandfather of the M6, both use the same ammunition with identical ballistic properties. The M6 has a shorter recoil length than the M3 due to its concentric recoil mechanism. The M3 is mainly mounted on the [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4 Sherman]] family of medium tanks. The M6, mounted on the [[M24 (Family)|M24 Chaffee]], has a slightly longer reload due to the cramped turret.
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* [[T13E1 (75 mm)|75 mm T13E1]]: The derivative father of the M6 and derived from the M3 for use as an aircraft gun, it uses the same M61 APCBC and M48 HE shells with identical ballistic properties. This gun is mainly mounted on the B-25G, B-25H, and the [[PBJ-1H]]. Compared to the M6 mounted in the M24, the T13E1 mounted in the PBJ-1H is able to reload more than twice as fast.
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* [[KwK40 L43 (75 mm)|75 mm KwK40 L43]] & [[KwK40 L48 (75 mm)| L48]]: The German 75 mm KwK40 L/43 and L/48 cannons are mainly mounted on the long-gun members of the [[Pz.IV (Family)|Pz.IV family]]. Both KwK40 variants shoot the PzGr 39 shells at higher velocity than the M6 does with its M61, so the KwK40 will outshoot the M6 at range. The KwK40 gun will also be able to reload slightly faster than the M6.
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* [[F-34 (76 mm)|76 mm F-34]]: The Soviet 76 mm F-34 is the standard WWII tank gun of Soviet tanks, and is mounted mainly on the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]] medium tank family. The F-34's BR-350A/B APHEBC and BR-350SP APBC shells have a slightly higher muzzle velocity than the M61 APCBC shell, but have inferior armour penetration. T-34 mounted F-34 guns have a longer reload than M24 mounted M6 guns due to the T-34 turrets being even more cramped than the Chaffees'.
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* [[OQF Mk.V (75 mm)|75 mm OQF Mk.V]]: The British 75 mm OQF Mk.V is virtually identical to the 75 mm M3 and the M6, being a re-bored [[6pdr OQF Mk.III (57 mm)|57 mm OQF 6-pounder]], and uses the same ammunition as the American guns. The only difference is that the OQF Mk.V has a slightly lower muzzle velocity when using the M61 shell. The OQF Mk.V is mainly mounted on the [[Cromwell V]] cruiser and [[Churchill VII]] heavy tanks. Cromwell Vs armed with the OQF Mk.V can reload faster than the M24s with the M6.
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* [[Type 3 (75 mm)|75 mm Type 3]]: The Japanese 75 mm Type 3 is the [[Chi-Nu]] and [[Ho-Ni III]]'s weapon of choice. It has very similar armour penetration to the M6 but keeps more power behind it at longer ranges. Type 1 APHE has a higher muzzle velocity than M61 APCBC and combined with the higher armour penetration at range means that the Type 3 will outperform the M6 at longer ranges. The Chi-Nu and Ho-Ni III are able to reload faster than the M24 Chaffee.
  
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== Usage in the battles ==
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* [[Ansaldo 75 L/34 (75 mm)|Ansaldo 75 L/34]]: The Italian 75 mm 75 L/34 is a tank gun mounted on the [[P40]], [[P40 "G.C. Leoncello"]], medium tanks and the [[75/34 M43]] tank destroyer. The Granata Preforante 75/32 APCBC shell is significantly inferior to the M61 and even the M71 shell in terms of armour penetration. The 75 L/34 is not as accurate as the M6, but is able to reload a lot faster than it.
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''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against the main opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''
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* [[SA49 (75 mm)|75 mm SA49]]: The French 75 mm SA49 is carried by the [[AMX-13 (FL11)]] light tank. The AMX-13 (FL11) also gets access to the M61 APCBC shot with identical properties. The French PCOT-51P APCBC shell has a higher muzzle velocity than the M61 shot but has no explosive filler. Accuracy of the SA49 is poor at longer ranges so the M6 has a slight advantage. The AMX-13 (FL11) is able to reload slightly faster than the M24 Chafee.
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* [[Kan m/41 (75 mm)|Kan m/41]]: The Swedish 75 mm Kan m/41 is mounted to the [[Ikv 72]] self-propelled gun and the [[Ikv 73]] and [[Strv m/42 EH]] medium tanks. The slpprj m/40B APBC shell is inferior compared to the M61 shot in terms of armour penetration and muzzle velocity. The M6 will be able to outperform the Kan m/41 at medium to long ranges. Vehicles armed with the Kan m/41 are able to reload faster than vehicles armed with the M6.
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== Usage in battles ==
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<!-- ''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.'' -->
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The 75 mm M6 is an excellent anti-tank weapon at Rank II-III where it is usually utilized, and is able to still perform decently far above its tier. As with any gun, knowing your enemy's strong points and weak spots will allow you to use this gun effectively. Good muzzle velocity, armour penetration, and post-penetration damage with the M61 APCBC shell allows this gun to defeat many enemies in one shot, especially medium and light tanks. Check "Available Ammunition" for recommendations on what shells to use with this gun and how.
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'''M24 Chaffee:'''
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When mounted in an M24 Chaffee turret, the 75 mm M6 has access to a vertical stabilizer. This means that the M24 is able to vertically stabilize the gun for accurate firing very quickly. Depending on the circumstances, a stabilized M6 cannon can outperform on the move any other tank gun previously mentioned which does not have a stabilizer.
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It not recommended to turn off the vertical stabilizer when using this vehicle.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarize and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' -->
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'''Pros:'''
  
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'''Pros:'''
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* Compatible with an wide variety of shell options, including the excellent M61 APCBC shell
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*
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* Decent muzzle velocity
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* Good accuracy
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* Good penetration with AP shells
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* Slightly smaller barrel and breech assembly: has a moderate to slightly low chance of taking damage if the carrier vehicle is hit
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* Shorter recoiling system than the 75 mm M3
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* Benefits from a vertical stabilizer (when mounted on the M24 Chaffee)
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
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*
 
  
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== Historical part ==
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* Slightly longer-than-average reload
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''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be big one, take it into a separate article and add a link to it by using the "main" template. In the end be sure to include references to sources.''
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* Lower accuracy and armour penetration at long ranges
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* APCR is only available for the [[M24 (TL)]]
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* Can struggle against vehicles with heavy or significantly angled armour
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* No HEAT or APDS ammunition
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== History ==
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<!--''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''-->
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Development of a new light tank for the US Army began in 1943 with the focus of improving the light tanks' firepower from a 37 mm to a 75 mm gun. The new light tank design, designated T24 on 29 April 1943, required a lighter-weight and shorter-recoiling 75 mm gun than that seen on the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]'s [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm M3]].<ref name="ZalogaChaffeepg1">Zaloga 2003, p.6-8</ref>
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[[File:M24 Chaffee in Italy 1945.jpg|right|thumb|none|x250px|A M24 Chaffee and its 75 mm M6 gun.]]
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Rock Island Arsenal was tasked with the development of the new lightweight 75 mm gun.<ref name="ZalogaChaffeepg2">Zaloga 2003, p.8</ref> The basis of the new gun was the [[T13E1 (75 mm)|75 mm T13E1]], which had seen use as an aircraft mount as the 75 mm M5 on the G and H variants of the [[B-25 (Family)|B-25 Mitchell]] and the [[PBJ-1H|PBJ-1]].<ref name="ZalogaChaffeepg2" /><ref name="StuartHunnicuttpg1">Hunnicutt 1992, p.220-221</ref> The 75 mm M3 and T13E1 shared ballistic performances, but the T13E1 had thinner barrel walls which shortened barrel life and caused the gun to overheat more easily. The T13E1 utilized a T19 concentric recoil mechanism, which shortened the recoil length than the M3.<ref name="ZalogaChaffeepg2" /><ref name="StuartHunnicuttpg1" /> These design changes allowed the T13E1 to achieve a weight of just over 410 lb, compared to the 75 mm M3's 893 lb. weight.<ref name="ShermanTankSite75mmGun"/><ref name="StuartHunnicuttpg1" /> The design was worked on with a new T33 concentric recoil mechanism in a T90 combination gun mount to fit within a light tank turret.<ref name="ZalogaChaffeepg2" /><ref name="StuartHunnicuttpg1" /> This new gun configuration and mount was tested in Summer 1943, and proved that the gun can work inside a tank with a turret ring down to 60 inches in diameter.
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When the T24 was accepted into service as the [[M24]] Chaffee on 22 June 1944, the modified 75 mm T13E1 was standardized as the '''75 mm gun M6''' in a M64 combination gun mount.<ref name="StuartHunnicuttpg2">Hunnicutt 1992, p.228-229</ref>
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An attempt was made to improve the 75 mm M6 gun in early 1945 with the 75 mm gun T21. The new gun featured a stronger breech assembly, improved firing mechanism, a fixed breech operating handle, and a hand cocking lever for the gun that was accessible to every turret crew member. The gun also featured a T13 single-baffle muzzle brake. The gun was eventually accepted as the 75 mm gun M17, but the war had ended by that point and so did the M24 production lines.<ref name="StuartHunnicuttpg3">Hunnicutt 1992, p.230</ref>
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
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== Read also ==
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;Images
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''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
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<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
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File:M24, Steel Generals.png|<small>M24 Chaffee equipped with the 75 mm M6</small>
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</gallery>
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== See also ==
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<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
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* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
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* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
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''ETC.''
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* [[T13E1 (75 mm)]]- Aircraft cannon the M6 was derived from
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* [[M3 (75 mm)]] - Tank cannon the T13E1 was derived from
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== External links ==
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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===References===
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;Citations
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<references />
  
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== Sources ==
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;Bibliography
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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* Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank.'' Presidio Press, 1992
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* ''topic on the official game forum''
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* Jeeps_Guns_Tanks. "75mm Gun M2, M3, & M6 Specification Booklet". ''The Sherman Tank Site''. WordPress, [https://www.theshermantank.com/wp-content/uploads/75mm-M3-spec-booklet-MK-VI.pdf PDF]. Accessed on 23 Nov. 2021 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20211123191034/https://www.theshermantank.com/wp-content/uploads/75mm-M3-spec-booklet-MK-VI.pdf Archive]).
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* ''page on the Wikipedia''
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* Zaloga, Steven. ''M24 Chaffee Light Tank 1943-85.'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2003
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* ''page on aircraft or gorund forces encyclopedia''
 
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* ''other literature''
 
  
 
{{USA tank cannons}}
 
{{USA tank cannons}}
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{{Japan tank cannons}}
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{{China tank cannons}}
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{{Italy tank cannons}}
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{{France tank cannons}}
  
 
[[Category:Tank cannons]]
 
[[Category:Tank cannons]]

Latest revision as of 13:32, 6 February 2024

This page is about the the tank cannon M6 (75 mm). For other uses, see M6 (Disambiguation).
The 75 mm M6 on the M24 gun mantlet.

Description

The M6 is an American 75 mm tank cannon mainly used on the M24 Chaffee. It was developed from the aircraft-mounted 75 mm T13E1, which was itself a derivative of the 75 mm M3 tank gun.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

The M6 cannon was equipped with a vertically sliding semi-automatic breech block which was tapered to facilitate quick loading. The standard 75 mm calibre allowed this gun to be compatible with existing single-piece ammunition already developed for the M2, M3, and T13E1 cannons. The barrel is rifled to induce spin on fired shells which assists in accuracy. From the rear of the breech to the muzzle, the M6 is 116.38 inches long.[1]

Due to the lightening efforts leftover from the T13E1 program, the M6 weighed a mere 410 lbs, compared to the 893 lb total weight of the 75 mm M3.[1] One of these efforts was implementing a thinner barrel. While still retaining the accuracy and ballistic properties of the original, the barrel had a shorter service life than the M3 due to its decreased durability.

The M6 featured a T33 concentric recoil system which prevented the gun from recoiling too far, allowing it to be used in confined spaces such as the turret of the M24 Chaffee. In the M64 combination gun mount, it was paired with the 7.62 mm M1919A4 medium machine gun.

Available ammunition

M72 AP: The usual default AP shell. Decent penetration and post-penetration damage but lacks explosive filler. It is recommended to trade in for better shells once they are unlocked.

M48 HE: Useful for demolishing very lightly armoured and open-topped targets such as SPAAs and SPGs. Not recommended for use against targets with little more than very thin armour, so 2-3 shells are usually taken if needed. This shell will blow an aircraft out of the sky if it connects. Due to the mass of the explosive, it will fly slower and have a higher firing arc than AP shells.

M61 APCBC: The penultimate shell for use by the M6 cannon, it has good penetration and amazing post-penetration damage due to the high explosive mass. This shell has a reputation of destroying enemy vehicles in one shot on a decent hit. It is recommended to use this shell nearly exclusively when unlocked, for destroying enemy armoured vehicles.

T45 APCR: Useful for piercing armour that cannot be penetrated by any other armour-piercing shell. To achieve this, however, the shell trades off post-penetration damage which it limits its ability to destroy enemy vehicles quickly and effectively. Currently only available for the M6 cannon mounted on the M24 (TL).

M64 Smoke: This shell is used more defensively, fired toward enemy sniper positions to blind them or fired over or ahead of friendly forces to conceal movements. This shell is not recommended for offensive use unless in an emergency against an unarmoured target. Due to the mass of the smoke, it will fly slower and have a higher firing arc than AP shells. The smoke screen takes about 5 seconds to fully deploy and lasts around 20 seconds. Take this into consideration when using it, and try not to get caught out in the open when the smoke clears.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M72 shot AP 91 88 78 67 57 49
M48 shell HE 10 10 10 10 10 10
M61 shot APCBC 104 102 93 84 75 68
T45 shot APCR 139 135 121 105 91 79
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M72 shot AP 619 6.3 - - - 47° 60° 65°
M48 shell HE 463 6.3 0.2 0.1 666 79° 80° 81°
M61 shot APCBC 618 6.79 1.2 14 63.7 48° 63° 71°
T45 shot APCR 868 3.81 - - - 66° 70° 72°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Screen radius
(m) 		Screen deploy
time (s) 		Screen hold
time (s) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
M64 603 6.9 9 5 20 50

Comparison with analogues

  • 75 mm M3: The grandfather of the M6, both use the same ammunition with identical ballistic properties. The M6 has a shorter recoil length than the M3 due to its concentric recoil mechanism. The M3 is mainly mounted on the M4 Sherman family of medium tanks. The M6, mounted on the M24 Chaffee, has a slightly longer reload due to the cramped turret.
  • 75 mm T13E1: The derivative father of the M6 and derived from the M3 for use as an aircraft gun, it uses the same M61 APCBC and M48 HE shells with identical ballistic properties. This gun is mainly mounted on the B-25G, B-25H, and the PBJ-1H. Compared to the M6 mounted in the M24, the T13E1 mounted in the PBJ-1H is able to reload more than twice as fast.
  • 75 mm KwK40 L43 & L48: The German 75 mm KwK40 L/43 and L/48 cannons are mainly mounted on the long-gun members of the Pz.IV family. Both KwK40 variants shoot the PzGr 39 shells at higher velocity than the M6 does with its M61, so the KwK40 will outshoot the M6 at range. The KwK40 gun will also be able to reload slightly faster than the M6.
  • 76 mm F-34: The Soviet 76 mm F-34 is the standard WWII tank gun of Soviet tanks, and is mounted mainly on the T-34 medium tank family. The F-34's BR-350A/B APHEBC and BR-350SP APBC shells have a slightly higher muzzle velocity than the M61 APCBC shell, but have inferior armour penetration. T-34 mounted F-34 guns have a longer reload than M24 mounted M6 guns due to the T-34 turrets being even more cramped than the Chaffees'.
  • 75 mm OQF Mk.V: The British 75 mm OQF Mk.V is virtually identical to the 75 mm M3 and the M6, being a re-bored 57 mm OQF 6-pounder, and uses the same ammunition as the American guns. The only difference is that the OQF Mk.V has a slightly lower muzzle velocity when using the M61 shell. The OQF Mk.V is mainly mounted on the Cromwell V cruiser and Churchill VII heavy tanks. Cromwell Vs armed with the OQF Mk.V can reload faster than the M24s with the M6.
  • 75 mm Type 3: The Japanese 75 mm Type 3 is the Chi-Nu and Ho-Ni III's weapon of choice. It has very similar armour penetration to the M6 but keeps more power behind it at longer ranges. Type 1 APHE has a higher muzzle velocity than M61 APCBC and combined with the higher armour penetration at range means that the Type 3 will outperform the M6 at longer ranges. The Chi-Nu and Ho-Ni III are able to reload faster than the M24 Chaffee.
  • Ansaldo 75 L/34: The Italian 75 mm 75 L/34 is a tank gun mounted on the P40, P40 "G.C. Leoncello", medium tanks and the 75/34 M43 tank destroyer. The Granata Preforante 75/32 APCBC shell is significantly inferior to the M61 and even the M71 shell in terms of armour penetration. The 75 L/34 is not as accurate as the M6, but is able to reload a lot faster than it.
  • 75 mm SA49: The French 75 mm SA49 is carried by the AMX-13 (FL11) light tank. The AMX-13 (FL11) also gets access to the M61 APCBC shot with identical properties. The French PCOT-51P APCBC shell has a higher muzzle velocity than the M61 shot but has no explosive filler. Accuracy of the SA49 is poor at longer ranges so the M6 has a slight advantage. The AMX-13 (FL11) is able to reload slightly faster than the M24 Chafee.
  • Kan m/41: The Swedish 75 mm Kan m/41 is mounted to the Ikv 72 self-propelled gun and the Ikv 73 and Strv m/42 EH medium tanks. The slpprj m/40B APBC shell is inferior compared to the M61 shot in terms of armour penetration and muzzle velocity. The M6 will be able to outperform the Kan m/41 at medium to long ranges. Vehicles armed with the Kan m/41 are able to reload faster than vehicles armed with the M6.

Usage in battles

The 75 mm M6 is an excellent anti-tank weapon at Rank II-III where it is usually utilized, and is able to still perform decently far above its tier. As with any gun, knowing your enemy's strong points and weak spots will allow you to use this gun effectively. Good muzzle velocity, armour penetration, and post-penetration damage with the M61 APCBC shell allows this gun to defeat many enemies in one shot, especially medium and light tanks. Check "Available Ammunition" for recommendations on what shells to use with this gun and how.

M24 Chaffee:

When mounted in an M24 Chaffee turret, the 75 mm M6 has access to a vertical stabilizer. This means that the M24 is able to vertically stabilize the gun for accurate firing very quickly. Depending on the circumstances, a stabilized M6 cannon can outperform on the move any other tank gun previously mentioned which does not have a stabilizer.

It not recommended to turn off the vertical stabilizer when using this vehicle.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Compatible with an wide variety of shell options, including the excellent M61 APCBC shell
  • Decent muzzle velocity
  • Good accuracy
  • Good penetration with AP shells
  • Slightly smaller barrel and breech assembly: has a moderate to slightly low chance of taking damage if the carrier vehicle is hit
  • Shorter recoiling system than the 75 mm M3
  • Benefits from a vertical stabilizer (when mounted on the M24 Chaffee)

Cons:

  • Slightly longer-than-average reload
  • Lower accuracy and armour penetration at long ranges
  • APCR is only available for the M24 (TL)
  • Can struggle against vehicles with heavy or significantly angled armour
  • No HEAT or APDS ammunition

History

Development of a new light tank for the US Army began in 1943 with the focus of improving the light tanks' firepower from a 37 mm to a 75 mm gun. The new light tank design, designated T24 on 29 April 1943, required a lighter-weight and shorter-recoiling 75 mm gun than that seen on the M4 Sherman's 75 mm M3.[2]

A M24 Chaffee and its 75 mm M6 gun.

Rock Island Arsenal was tasked with the development of the new lightweight 75 mm gun.[3] The basis of the new gun was the 75 mm T13E1, which had seen use as an aircraft mount as the 75 mm M5 on the G and H variants of the B-25 Mitchell and the PBJ-1.[3][4] The 75 mm M3 and T13E1 shared ballistic performances, but the T13E1 had thinner barrel walls which shortened barrel life and caused the gun to overheat more easily. The T13E1 utilized a T19 concentric recoil mechanism, which shortened the recoil length than the M3.[3][4] These design changes allowed the T13E1 to achieve a weight of just over 410 lb, compared to the 75 mm M3's 893 lb. weight.[1][4] The design was worked on with a new T33 concentric recoil mechanism in a T90 combination gun mount to fit within a light tank turret.[3][4] This new gun configuration and mount was tested in Summer 1943, and proved that the gun can work inside a tank with a turret ring down to 60 inches in diameter.

When the T24 was accepted into service as the M24 Chaffee on 22 June 1944, the modified 75 mm T13E1 was standardized as the 75 mm gun M6 in a M64 combination gun mount.[5]

An attempt was made to improve the 75 mm M6 gun in early 1945 with the 75 mm gun T21. The new gun featured a stronger breech assembly, improved firing mechanism, a fixed breech operating handle, and a hand cocking lever for the gun that was accessible to every turret crew member. The gun also featured a T13 single-baffle muzzle brake. The gun was eventually accepted as the 75 mm gun M17, but the war had ended by that point and so did the M24 production lines.[6]

Media

Images

  • M24 Chaffee equipped with the 75 mm M6

See also

External links

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jeeps_Guns_Tanks, p.1
  2. ↑ Zaloga 2003, p.6-8
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Zaloga 2003, p.8
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Hunnicutt 1992, p.220-221
  5. ↑ Hunnicutt 1992, p.228-229
  6. ↑ Hunnicutt 1992, p.230
Bibliography
  • Hunnicutt, R.P. Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank. Presidio Press, 1992
  • Jeeps_Guns_Tanks. "75mm Gun M2, M3, & M6 Specification Booklet". The Sherman Tank Site. WordPress, PDF. Accessed on 23 Nov. 2021 (Archive).
  • Zaloga, Steven. M24 Chaffee Light Tank 1943-85. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2003


USA tank cannons
20 mm  M139
25 mm  LW25 · M242
37 mm  M3 · M5 · M6
57 mm  M1
75 mm  M2 · M2 Howitzer · M3 · M6 · M1897A4 · XM274
76 mm  M1 · M7 · M32 · T185E1
90 mm  M3 · M3A1 · M36 · M41 · M54 · T15E1 · T15E2 · T54 · T208E9
105 mm  M4 · M68 · M68A1 · M68A1E8 · T5E1 · T5E2 · T140E2 · T140E3 · XM35
106 mm  M40A1C
120 mm  M58 · M256 · T53
152 mm  M81 · M162 · XM150E5
155 mm  M185 · T7
165 mm  M135
  Foreign:
20 mm  Rh202 (Germany)
57 mm  6pdr OQF Mk.III (Britain) · ZIS-2 (USSR)
105 mm  Sharir (Israel)
120 mm  IMI MG251 (Israel)

Japan tank cannons
37 mm  Type 94 · Type 100 · Type 1
47 mm  Type 1
57 mm  Type 90 · Type 97
70 mm  Type 94
75 mm  Type 90 · Type 99 · Type 3 · Type 5 (Type I Model II · Type II Model I · Type II Model II)
90 mm  Type 61
105 mm  Type 5 (Experimental · Production) · JSW L/52
106 mm  Type 60 (B)
120 mm  Taishō Type 10 · Navy short gun · Type 90 L/44 · Type 10 L/44
150 mm  Type 38
155 mm  NSJ L/30 · JSW L/52
  Foreign:
25 mm  Oerlikon KBA B02 (Switzerland)
30 mm  Bushmaster 2 Mk.44 (USA)
35 mm  Oerlikon KDE (Switzerland)
75 mm  M6 (USA)
76 mm  M1 (USA) · M32 (USA)
88 mm  KwK36 (Germany)
90 mm  M3A1 (USA) · M36 (USA)
105 mm  L7A3 (Germany)
120 mm  Schneider-Canet 1898 (France)

China tank cannons
30 mm  ZPL02 · ZPZ02
73 mm  Type 86
76 mm  M32K1
85 mm  Type 56 · Type 63
100 mm  PTP86 · Type 59 · Type 69 · Type 69-II · ZPL04
105 mm  88B-105T · Type 83 · WMA301 · ZPL94 · ZPL98A
120 mm  122TM · PTZ89
125 mm  Type 88C · Type 99A · ZPT98
130 mm  PL59A Gai
152 mm  PL66 Gai
  Foreign:
20 mm  KwK30 (Germany)
37 mm  M6 (USA)
45 mm  20-K (USSR)
47 mm  Type 1 (Japan)
57 mm  Type 97 (Japan) · ZIS-2 (USSR)
75 mm  M2 Howitzer (USA) · M3 (USA) · M6 (USA)
76 mm  D-56T (USSR) · F-34 (USSR) · M1 (USA) · M7 (USA) · ZIS-3 (USSR)
85 mm  ZIS-S-53 (USSR)
90 mm  M3 (USA) · M41 (USA)
100 mm  D-10S (USSR)
105 mm  M68 (USA) · M68A1 (USA)
115 mm  U-5TS (USSR)
122 mm  A-19 (USSR) · D-25T (USSR)
152 mm  ML-20S (USSR)

Italy tank cannons
20 mm  Breda Mod.35 · Fucile Controcarri S Mod.39
25 mm  Oerlikon KBA B02
37 mm  Vickers-Terni 37/40 mod.18
47 mm  47/32 mod.35 · 47/32 mod.39 · 47/40 mod.38
60 mm  Cannone da 60/70 · OTO HVG
75 mm  75/18 mod.34 · 75/32 mod.37 · 75/34 mod.39 · Ansaldo 75 L/34 · OTO 75/43 mod.40
90 mm  90/53 mod.41 · Cannone da 90/50 M3A1 · Cockerill Mk.3
100 mm  Cannone da 100/17 Mod.1914
105 mm  Cannone Ansaldo da 105/25 · OTO Melara 105/52 · OTO Melara 105/55
106 mm  Cannone da 106 s.r.M40A1
120 mm  OTO Breda 120/44 · OTO Melara 120/45
  Foreign:
30 mm  Bushmaster 2 Mk.44 (USA)
37 mm  M6 (USA)
75 mm  KwK37 (Germany) · KwK40 L48 (Germany) · M3 (USA) · M6 (USA) · StuK40 L48 (Germany)
76 mm  M1 (USA) · QF 17-pounder (Britain)
90 mm  M3 (USA)
105 mm  L7A3 (Germany) · M68 (USA)
155 mm  M126 (USA)
  Hungary
20 mm  Solothurn QF.36M
40 mm  37/42M · MÁVAG 41.M 40/51
75 mm  41.M · 43.M
105 mm  MÁVAG 40/43M
  Foreign:
30 mm  2A72 (USSR) · MK 30-2/ABM (Germany)
88 mm  KwK36 (Germany)
120 mm  Rh120 L/44 (Germany) · Rh120 L/55 A1 (Germany)
122 mm  2A31 (USSR)
125 mm  2A46 (USSR)

France tank cannons
20 mm  20F2
25 mm  SA35 L/72
37 mm  SA18 L/21 · SA38 L/33
47 mm  SA34 L/30 · SA35 L/32 · SA37
75 mm  APX · APX Canon de 75 mm modèle 1897 · SA35 L/17 · SA44 · SA49 · SA50 L/57
90 mm  D.911 APX · CN90 F2 · CN90 F3 · CN90 F4 · D915 · DEFA F1 · SA45 · SA47
100 mm  SA47 L/58
105 mm  CN-105-F1 · Giat 105 G2 · Modele F2 · PzK M57
120 mm  GIAT CN120-25 G1 · GIAT CN120-26 F1 · SA46
142 mm  ACRA
155 mm  GCT F1 · Schneider 155 C · L'Obusier de 155 Modèle 1950
  Foreign:
15 mm  MG 151 (Germany)
20 mm  MG 151 (Germany)
30 mm  Bushmaster 2 Mk.44 (USA)
37 mm  M6 (USA)
40 mm  Bofors L/60 · QF 2-pounder (Britain)
75 mm  KwK42 (Germany) · M3 (USA) · M6 (USA)
76 mm  M7 (USA)
90 mm  M3 (USA)
105 mm  M4 (USA)

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