U.S. Army 1944 Firing Test No. 2 by 1st U.S.

Army 12-30 July 1944 in Normandy

Firing Tests conducted 12-30 July 1944 by 1st U.S. Army in Normandy.
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF OFFICERS
Organization: Headquarters, First U.S. Army.
Place: APO 230, U.S. Army.
Proceedings of a board of officers which convened at Headquarters, First U.S. Army, pursuant
to Special Order No.196, Headquarters, First U.S. Army, 19 July 1944, a copy of which is
attached as Exhibit A1.
The board met pursuant to the foregoing order at Headquarters, First U.S. Army, APO 230, at
1400 on 12 July 1944 and on subsequent dates to conduct the firing tests. The final meeting
was held on 30 July 1944.
Present: All Members.
Purpose: To conduct tests to determine the effectiveness of tank and anti-tank weapons in First
U.S. Army, against the German Mk V Panther and Mk VI Tiger tanks.
1a. Firing was conducted on terrain permitting 1500 yards maximum range with zero angle of
site. All guns and types of ammunition, suitable for anti-tank purposes, available to First U.S.
Army were defeated on targets whose armor plate was slightly burned. Upon determination of
critical ranges, all penetrations were proven against the armor plate of a German Mk V
Panther Tank with armor undamaged and in excellent condition. All firing was conducted
normal to the target. No firing was conducted against the German Mk VI Tiger Tank as there
were none available.
1b. The following normal types of tank and anti-tank weapons and ammunition were tested;
WEAPON AMMUNITION
Launcher, Rocket, AT, 2.36 Rocket, AT, 2.36, M6A1
Launcher, Grenade, M8 Grenade, AT, M9A1
37mm Gun, M6, Mounted on Light Tank, M5A1 APC M51
40mm Gun, M1, AA AP M58
57mm Gun, M1 (ATG) APC M86, and Sabot {British supplied APDS.}
75mm Gun, M3, mounted on Medium Tank, M4 APC M61 and HEAT M66 (Special) {Same
roundas the 75-mm howitzer; perhaps even howitzer ammunition.}
3-inch Gun, M5, mounted on Motor Carriage, M10 APC M62 with BDF M66A1, and AP M79
90mm Gun, M1A1, AA AP M77
105mm Howitzer, M4, mounted on Medium Tank, M4 HEAT M67

1c. The board assumed that the effect of hollow charge ammunition is not dependent on
terminal velocity but the effect does vary with the angle at which the projectile strikes. Hits
approaching 90 angle of impact give better penetration.
2. Record of firing with Photographs. See Exhibit B1.
Findings: The board having carefully considered the evidence before it, finds that:
1) Launcher, Rocket, AT, 2.36
Rocket, AT, 2.36, M6A1 will penetrate the side of the turret and the side and rear armor plate
of the Panther Tank at 100 yards. On the basis of the assumption in paragraph 1c it follows
that as the range increases, thereby reducing the angle of impact against the side of the turret
and side armor plate, the possibility of penetration will materially decrease.
2) Launcher, Grenade, M8
Grenade, AT, M9A1, will penetrate the side of the turret and the side and rear plate of the
Panther Tank at 60 yards. On the basis of the assumption in paragraph 1c it follows that as
the range increases, thereby reducing the angle of impact against the side of the turret and side
armor plate, the possibility of penetration will materially decrease.
3) 37mm Gun, M6, Mounted on Light Tank, M5A1
APC, M51 will penetrate the sides and rear of the Panther Tank at 600 yards.
4) 40mm Gun, M1, AA
AP, M58 will penetrate the sides and rear of the Panther Tank at 600 yards.
5) 57mm Gun, M1 (ATG)
a) APC, M86 will penetrate the sides and rear of the Panther Tank at 1500 yards.
b) Sabot fails to penetrate front glacis slope plate and gun shield at 200 yards. Due to difficulty
experienced in obtaining hits no conclusion as to the effectiveness of this ammunition was
reached.
6) 75mm Gun, M3, mounted on Medium Tank, M4
a) APC M61 will penetrate the sides and rear of the Panther Tank up to 1500 yards. APC M61
at 200 yards will not penetrate the front armor of the Panther Tank.

b) HEAT M66 (Special) will not penetrate the front glacis slope plate at 500 yards (see
assumption made in paragraph 1c).
7) 3-inch Gun, M5, mounted on Motor Carriage, M10
a) APC M62 w/BDF M66A1 will not penetrate front glacis slope plate at 200 yards. Will
penetrate gun mantlet at 200 yards and penetrate sides and rear of the Panther Tank up to
1500 yards.
b) AP M79 will not penetrate the front slope plate or the mantlet at 200 yards. It holds no
advantage over APC M62 ammunition w/BDF M66A1.
8. 90mm Gun, M1A1, AA
AP M77 will penetrate front glacis slope plate up to 600 yards, the gun mantlet up to 1,000
yards and the turret up to 1,500 yards.
9) 105mm Howitzer, M4, mounted on Medium Tank, M4
HEAT M67 will penetrate front glacis slope plate and gun mantlet at 500 yards (see assumption
made in paragraph 1c).
In addition to testing the normal types of tank and anti-tank weapons and ammunition,
additional types were tested with the following results:
A) 75mm Gun, M3, mounted on Medium Tank, M4
WP M64 Three rounds were fired at 500 yards for the purpose of obtaining an incendiary or
blinding effect. The results were unsatisfactory.
B) 75mm Gun, M3, mounted on Medium Tank, M4
HE M48 w/fz T105 Three rounds were fired at the front glacis slope plate at 500 yards to
determine its armor penetrative characteristics. The rounds failed to penetrate, ricocheting
from the plate and bursting in the air.
C) 90mm Gun, M1A1, AA
HE M71, w/fz M48 One round was fired at 1500 yards as a ranging shot. No perceptible effect
was obtained beyond cracking the welds between the glacis and nose plate and the glacis and
side plate for a distance of approximately 12 inches. The corner of the glacis slope plate
appeared to have a slight depression as a result of this round.
Recommendations: In view of the above findings the board recommends:

1. That steps be taken by the Ordnance Department to develop armor piercing ammunition of
materially higher muzzle velocity and penetrative characteristics for the 3-inch, 76mm, and
90mm Guns, accepting, if necessary, a gun tube life as low as 200 rounds.
2. That upon availability of 90mm APC M82 ammunition in this theater, tests be conducted to
determine the effectiveness of this ammunition against the Panther Tank.
3. That consideration be given by the Ordnance Department to the development of a liquid
filled incendiary shell capable of igniting the target adjacent to the point of impact, for the
75mm Gun and the 105mm and 155mm Howitzers.
The board adjourned at 1630 on 30 July 1944.
Peter C. Hains III, Colonel, Cav (Armd), President.
Charles E. Hart, Colonel, F.A., Member.
Mason D. Salisbury, Captain, F.A. (Armd), Recorder.