Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnews!military From: matt@amsaa-seer.brl.mil (Matt Rosenblatt) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Atomic Cannon Message-ID: <1990Aug31.030634.23799@cbnews.att.com> Date: 31 Aug 90 03:06:34 GMT References: <1990Aug29.014355.7169@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: U.S. ARMY MATERIEL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS ACTIVITY (AMSAA), APG, MD. Lines: 144 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Matt Rosenblatt In article <1990Aug29.014355.7169@cbnews.att.com> G_AHRENDT@VAXA.CC.UWA.OZ.AU (Gunter Ahrendt) writes: >I was wondering if anyone might be able to give me some (any!) information or >references to the Atomic Cannon the US Army was testing in the Desert in the >late 40's or early 50's? [Gunter Ahrendt] I'd like to thank Dr. William Atwater, curator of the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and his staff for providing me the following information: >From the Museum's description of the weapon: "A significant advancement in Army Ordnance and land warfare, this new weapon is a formidable, strategic piece of military equipment because of its ability to fire both atomic and conventional types of projectiles. "Added to this feature is its accuracy at long range, its tactical mobility, and the speed with which it can be readied for action. "Mounted on a welded steel carriage -- a complex assembly containing mechanisms for aiming the gun and cushioning its recoil -- the gun is transported by two tractor-type units. One unit is attached to the front and one to the rear of the carriage. "Two recoil motions absorb the terrific shock when the gun is fired. The primary recoil takes care of the barrel's 'kick.' The secondary recoil -- an innovation in artillery -- absorbs the forces created by the primary recoil. Secondary recoil is accomplished by travel of the entire weapon on the turntable slides. "Hydraulic power elevates and depresses the barrel, the mechanism being controlled by a single lever. If power is not available, this can be done manually. A hydro-pneumatic equilibrator makes the action almost effort- less. Horizontal traverse of the entire carriage, mounted on a turntable is performed with a hand wheel and gear train. Shells and powder charges are loaded by a hydraulic power rammer. "In compliance with instructions from the Chief of Staff, U. S. Army, design changes in a weapon already in the development stage, so that it could accomodate an atomic charge, were ordered by the Chief of Ordnance in November 1949." The staff could find only the first page of a contemporaneous newspaper article: New 280 mm Gun Demonstrated Public Sees Weapons Capable of Firing Atomic Projectile 20 Miles "Newspapermen and members of Congress witnessed a demonstration of the Army's largest-caliber artillery piece, having complete mobility, last month when the new T131 280 mm gun, carriage and transporter were unveiled to the public at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds [sic]. Both conventional and atomic shells can be fired by the piece. "Unlike the air-delivered atomic bomb, this weapon can deliver an atomic shell on target in all kinds of weather, day or night. It can fire with accuracy comparable to conventional artillery in the shorter ranges and is considered to be much more accurate at long ranges than any mobile artillery piece developed prior to World War II. "It is carried suspended between two engine cabs, which can transport their load on highways at a speed of about 35 miles an hour. Telephonic communi- cation is provided between front and rear cabs and the leading transporter driver has control of throttle and brakes for both cabs, although they can be operated independently. "The complete unit, ready for traveling, weighs about 85 tons, but is not much larger than the heaviest field piece now in service and can cross bridges that can be used by a division with standard equipment. It can also travel cross-country, as well as on the highways, and can fit into a landing ship designed for amphibious operations. It can be emplaced and put into action with greater speed than any other heavy field artillery piece now in use. "The gun is so balanced in the vertical that a man can elevate or depress it by exerting a pressure of not more than 30 rounds on a handwheel, in case of a failure of the power unit normally provided. A gear train, operated by a handwheel on which no more than 10 pounds pressure need be exerted, traverses the weapon. "The projectile and powder charge are loaded into the weapon's breech by a hydraulic power rammer. This operation can also be performed by hand. "The gun can give a type of accurate and devastating close support to ground troops never before available in the history of warfare. It has a range of about 20 miles, fires high explosive and other conventional types of ammuni- tion in addition to the atomic shell, elevates from 0 to 55 degrees, traver- ses 360 degrees, weighs about 85 tons and has an overall length . . ." [end of page] >From a description prepared by the Dravo Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Kenworth Motor Truck Corporation of Seattle, Washington: Highlights of Assembly "The coordinated efforts of Army Ordnance and the gun's manufacturers have resulted in the production of this weapon. Considering the complexity of its design, the numerous new production techniques involved, and the difficult problems of materiel procurement, the first assembly-line unit was produced in record time. The pilot model was produced at Army Ordnance's Watertown Arsenal, Watertown, Mass. The barrel and breech were manufactured by Ordnance's Watervliet Arsenal, Watervliet, N.Y., which continues to make these items for all units. "The first production model of carriage and mount assembly was produced by Dravo Corporation on a prime contract with the Pittsburgh Ordnance District. For this assembly alone, the combined facilities of Dravo's structural steel fabricating, heavy and light machining, heat treating, electrical, piping and welding shops are required. Nearly 2200 blueprints govern the assembly. Work is performed to 86 different standard military, government and civilian specifications. Huge machine tools are used to cut, bore and plane many different kinds of metal, and unique jigs and fixtures had to be designed and fabricated. "The T-10 transporter units are manufactured by Kenworth Motor Truck Cor poration of Seattle, Washington, largest and longest established truck manufacturer in the western half of the United States. In the modern Kenworth factury are manufactured some of the world's most highly special- ized motor vehicles. For each carriage there are two 4x4 transporters, one with the cab forward, as in conventional trucks, and one with the cab at the rear. Especially engineered hydraulic hoisting equipment picks up and lowers the carriage and mount assembly. The carriage can be trans- ported at speeds up to 35 miles an hour. The unit as a whole can move forward, backward or sideways since either tractor unit can pull while the other pushes, or they can turn at right angles to the center section and proceed parallel to one another. Gross vehicle weight rating of the T-10 transporter is more than 85 tons. Length is 84 feet, 2 inches. Each tractor unit is powered by an Ordnance-Continental air-cooled gasoline engine which develops 375 gross horsepower. "Recoil mechanisms, manufactured by R. Hoe & Company, New York, N.Y., are shipped to Dravo for installation in the assembly. In recoil, the entire carriage slides back on its central turntable and rear pan. A hydro-pneumatic mechanism connected to the carriage brings it back to normal position. The carriage slides on stainless steel guides riding on bearing pads. "Months of painstaking research and testing were required in the develop- ment of this weapon, and completion of the first production models has written another chapter in the history of American military and industrial teamwork." Hope this helps. Remember, the U. S. Army Ordnance Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 12 PM to 4:45 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 4:45 PM, closed Mondays and National Holidays expect Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. The outside exhibits, including the mile-long tank collection in the median strip of Maryland Boulevard and the 25 Acre tank/artillery park of 225 items (including the Atomic Cannon), are open every day during daylight hours. -- Matt Rosenblatt (matt@amsaa.brl.mil) Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD