75MM RECOILLESS RIFLE, M20

As a result of rapid advances in armor technology during WWII, infantry units and other lightly armed units were extremely vulnerable to armor attack. This spawned a demand for a weapon light enough to be carried by infantry units but powerful enough to be effective against armor at medium ranges. In 1943 the Ordnance Department Small Arms Division began development of the recoilless rifle. In 1944, the first pilot models of the 75MM recoilless rifle were being tested. In March of 1945, full production began and guns were delivered to the European as well as the Pacific theatre. The advantage of recoilless guns lies in their light weight and relatively high performance. Their light weight characteristic descends from the absence of a recoil when the weapon is fired. By design, the breach expels propellant gasses rearward thereby balancing the forces caused by the projectile accelerating out of the gun tube. This eliminates the need for heavy gun mounts which are a significant part of the weight of a typical artillery piece. A jeep or weapons carrier can easily carry the M20 recoilless rife using the standard M1917A1 .30 caliber machine gun tripod mount. See U.S. Infantry Weapons of WWII by Bruce Canfield for more detailed information on recoilless guns.

                       ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL DATA  75 MM RECOILLESS RIFLE, M20

                       Length..................6 ft. 10 in.
                       Weight..................114.5 lbs.  
                       Rifling.................Uniform, right hand, 1 turn in 25
                       Breech..................Interrupted screw
                       Range...................7000 yards (HEAT round)
                       Muzzle Velocity.........1000 ft./sec. (HEAT round)
                       Projectile Weight.......3.19 lbs. (HEAT, shaped charge)
                       Armor penetration.......4 inches

Copyright 1995 Charles C. Roberts, Jr

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