M3 (75 mm)
| This page is about the tank cannon M3 (75 mm). For other uses, see M3 (Disambiguation). |
.png)
Contents
Description
The 75 mm M3 gun is an American tank cannon used in World War II. It is most well known for being the main cannon armament of the M4 Sherman medium tank prior to its transition to the 76 mm M1 gun.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
| Vehicles equipped with this weapon | |
|---|---|
| Medium tanks | |
| M4 | M4 · Calliope · ▄Sherman I Composito · Sherman III/IV |
| M4A1 | M4A1 · Sherman II · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ▄M4A1 |
| M4A2 | M4A2 · ▀M4 748 (a) |
| M4A4 | ␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ▄Sherman V · ▄M4A4 |
| Heavy tanks | T14 · Churchill NA75 |
| M4A3E2 | M4A3E2 · Cobra King · ▄M4A3E2 |
| Tank destroyers | M8A1 GMC |
General info
The 75 mm M3 gun in tanks such as the M4 Sherman boast a good mix between muzzle velocity and armour-piercing power around Rank II matches. A good amount of explosive filler in the M61 shell ammunition also allow penetrations to devastate the interiors of enemy tanks, to the point that a good placement of the ammunition can reliably destroy enemy targets in one shot.
A variety of shells allow the 75 mm M3 to stay competitive even in instances where the AP and APCBC round will have trouble, such as the T45 APCR ammunition and the M89 smoke shell.
Available ammunition
| 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) |
| M89 | 259 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 50 |
Comparison with analogues
Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.
Usage in battles
The 75 mm M3 provides a good mix between armour-piercing power and rate of fire for players, and so it is best if the 75 mm M3 has a crew with maximum loading skill to maintain a high rate of fire against the enemies. The explosive filler of the M61 shell is also sufficient to incapacitate enemy tanks quickly with a shell penetration, especially if the gun is fired at the enemy's side armour, so it is best to employ the vehicle mounting the 75 mm M3 in a manner where the player can attack the enemy's sides, making use of the rate of fire to methodically pick the enemies off one-by-one.
Even in events when the 75 mm M3 AP and APCBC rounds are not sufficient against an enemy at close encounters, such as when using the M4A3E2 and fighting Panther tanks, the 75 mm M3 in higher ranking vehicles could have the T45 APCR rounds available for use. These APCR rounds if used properly can provide the necessary firepower advantage to use the 75 mm M3 gun to attack through the enemy's armour.
The 75 mm M3 gun also comes with a HE shell, which can be useful against thin-skinned enemy vehicles such as certain tank destroyers and SPAAGs. The gun, in select vehicles, can also come with a M89 smoke shell to allow a player to make a smoke screen if no such devices are installed in the tank itself.
The 75 mm M3's flaws come at longer ranges. A noticeable shell drop can be spotted when fighting at long distances, which would require careful aiming of the range to not shoot too high or low on the target. It certainly is possible to fight enemies at a long range with the 75 mm M3, but the gun handling would be disadvantageous when compared to a tank with a higher-velocity cannon. Knowing the range an enemy is at can negate this disadvantage slightly, but a larger lead would be necessary if the enemy is moving at the farther range, let alone if the enemy employs evasive manoeuvres.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good penetrating M61 round in lower ranks, especially when its explosive filler can lead to potential knock-outs
- Access to smoke rounds
- Higher ranked vehicles with this gun have access to high-penetrating APCR rounds
Cons:
- Noticeable shell drop when fighting at long-ranges
History
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: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
- M2 (75 mm) - Preceding variant with a shorter barrel.
- M6 (75 mm) - Lightweight variant for light tanks, with a longer reload time.
External links
| 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) |
| Germany tank cannons | |
|---|---|
| 20 mm | KwK30 · KwK38 · Rh202 |
| 28/20 mm | s.Pz.B.41 |
| 30 mm | MK 30-2/ABM |
| 37 mm | KwK34(t) · KwK36 · KwK38(t) · PaK L/45 |
| 47 mm | Pak.(t)(Sf.) |
| 50 mm | KwK39 · KwK L/42 · PaK38 |
| 57 mm | Bofors L/70 Mk.1 |
| 75 mm | K51 L/24 · KwK37 · KwK40 L43 · KwK40 L48 · KwK42 · KwK44 · KwK44 L/36.5 · PaK39 L48 · PaK40/3 L46 · PaK42 · StuK37 · StuK40 L43 · StuK40 L48 |
| 76 mm | PaK36 (r) |
| 88 mm | Flak.37 · Flak 41 · KwK36 · KwK43 · PaK43 |
| 90 mm | BK90 |
| 105 mm | CN105-57 · Cockerill HP · FMK.4 Modelo 1L · K.18 · KwK L/68 · L7A3 · PzK M57 · StuH42 |
| 120 mm | Rh120 L/44 · Rh120 L/55 · Rh120 L/55 A1 |
| 128 mm | K.40 · KwK44 · PaK44 |
| 150 mm | s.I.G.33 · Stu.H 43 L/12 |
| 380 mm | RW61 |
| Foreign: | |
| 30 mm | Bushmaster 2 Mk.44 (USA) · HSS 831L (Britain) |
| 57 mm | 6pdr OQF Mk.V (Britain) |
| 73 mm | 2A28 (USSR) |
| 75 mm | M3 (USA) |
| 76 mm | F-32 (USSR) · F-34 (USSR) · M32 (USA) |
| 90 mm | M36 (USA) · M41 (USA) |
| 105 mm | GT-3 (South Africa) |
| 125 mm | 2A46 (USSR) |
| 152 mm | M-10T (USSR) · XM150E5 (USA) |
| 155 mm | M126 (USA) |
| Britain tank cannons | |
|---|---|
| 30 mm | L21A1 |
| 40 mm | QF 2-pounder |
| 47 mm | Ordnance QF 3-pounder |
| 57 mm | 6pdr OQF Mk.III · 6pdr OQF Mk.V |
| 75 mm | OQF Mk.V |
| 76 mm | OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I · OQF 3in 20cwt · QF 17-pounder |
| 77 mm | OQF Mk.II |
| 84 mm | 20pdr OQF Mk.I |
| 94 mm | 28pdr OQF · 32pdr OQF · OQF Mk.II |
| 95 mm | Howitzer, Tank No.1, Mk.I |
| 105 mm | LRF · Royal Ordnance L7A1 |
| 120 mm | Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 · Ordnance BL Tk. L11 · L11A5 · L30A1 |
| 165 mm | ORD BL 6.5in L9A1 |
| 183 mm | QF L4A1 |
| Foreign: | |
| 25 mm | M242 (USA) |
| 37 mm | M5 (USA) · M6 (USA) |
| 75 mm | M2 (USA) · M3 (USA) |
| 84 mm | kan Strv 81 (Sweden) |
| 105 mm | Sharir (Israel) |
| 120 mm | Rh120 L/55 A1 (Germany) |
| 125 mm | 2A46M-5 (Russia) |
| 155 mm | M185 (USA) |
| South Africa | |
| 20 mm | GI-2 |
| 76 mm | GT-4 |
| 90 mm | GT-2 |
| 105 mm | GT-3 · GT-7 · GT-8 |
| 155 mm | G6 L/45 |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Sweden tank cannons | |
|---|---|
| 20 mm | Akan m/47D · Pvlvkan m/40 |
| 37 mm | kan m/38 |
| 40 mm | akan m/70B |
| 57 mm | Pvkan m/43 |
| 75 mm | kan m/02 · kan m/41 · kan Strv 74 · lvkan m/37 A · pvkan m/43 |
| 84 mm | kan Strv 81 |
| 90 mm | kan Ikv 91 |
| 105 mm | kan Bofors · kan Ikv · kan m/44 · kan Strv 101 · L74 |
| 120 mm | automatkanon · CTG · kan Strv 121 · kan Strv 122 |
| 150 mm | fsthaub m/02 |
| 155 mm | kan m/60 |
| Foreign: | |
| 35 mm | Bushmaster 3 (USA) |
| 73 mm | 2A28 (USSR) |
| 75 mm | M3 (USA) |
| 88 mm | KwK43 (Germany) |
| 105 mm | L/50 (Belgium) · L7A3 (Germany) |
| 125 mm | 2A46M-1 (USSR) |
| 155 mm | CN98 (South Korea) |
| Finland | |
| 37 mm | Psv.K/36 |
| 114 mm | Psv.H/18 |
| Foreign: | |
| 30 mm | Bushmaster 2 Mk.44 (USA) |
| 45 mm | 20-K (USSR) |
| 75 mm | KwK40 L48 (Germany) |
| 76 mm | D-56TS (USSR) · F-34 (USSR) · L-10 (USSR) |
| 77 mm | OQF Mk.II (Britain) |
| 84 mm | 20pdr OQF Mk.I (Britain) |
| 85 mm | ZIS-S-53 (USSR) |
| 100 mm | D-10T (USSR) · D-10T2S (USSR) |
| 105 mm | L/50 (Belgium) |
| 120 mm | Rh120 L/44 (Germany) · Rh120 L/55 (Germany) |
| 125 mm | 2A46 (USSR) |
