105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T191-10

T19: General
Date of first acceptance January 1942 Total acceptances 324
(90 converted to M3A1 personnel carriers)
Manufacturer Diamond T Motor Car Co. Crew
7 men:
  • Chief of section in hull right front
  • Gunner-corporal in hull left center
  • Cannoneer in hull right center
  • 2 Cannoneers in hull left rear
  • Cannoneer in hull right rear
  • Driver in hull left front
T19: Dimensions
Combat weight 20,000lbs
9,100kg		 Height 92"
230cm
Length 242.5"
616.0cm		 Howitzer overhang forward 0"
Width over side armor 77.25"
196.2cm		 Fire height 79"
200cm
Front tread 64.5"
164cm		 Rear tread 63.8"
162cm
Wheelbase 135.5"
344.2cm		 Ground clearance 11.2"
28.4cm
Ground pressure, tires 33.5psi
2.35kg/cm²
T19: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
105mm Howitzer M2A1 Mount T2 8 rounds 40°
(20° left and right;
manual)		 +35° to -5°
(manual)
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible on pedestal mount M25 300 rounds 360°
(manual)		 +35° to -25°
(manual)
Aiming equipment
Elbow telescope M16 for cannoneer no.1 and panoramic telescope M12A2 for gunner
T19: Armor
Assembly
Bolting
Hull
Rolled face-hardened steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Howitzer shield .25"
.64cm		 N/A
Radiator louvres .25"
.64cm		 26°
Windshield cover .50"
1.3cm		 25°
Sides .25"
.64cm		 0°
Rear .25"
.64cm		 0°
Hood top .25"
.64cm		 83°
T19: Automotive
Engine White 160AX; 6 cylinder, 4 cycle, in-line gasoline
Horsepower Net: 147@3,000rpm Torque Net: 325 ft-lb@1,200rpm Fuel capacity 60gal
230L
Transmission Spicer 3461 constant mesh, 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Steering wheel
Brakes Hydraulic (Hydrovac)
T19: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Front: Semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf spring
Rear: Vertical volute spring		 Front: Steel ventilated disc
Rear: 1 bogie/track;
4 dual/bogie		 1 dual/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
18-tooth front drive Adjustable fixed at rear of track On front wheels
T19: Track
T68E1
Center guide band type
Width 12"
30cm		 Pitch 4"
10cm		 Pitches/track 58 Track ground contact length 46.75"
118.7cm
T19: Performance
Max level road speed 45mph
72kph		 Max grade 60%
Angle of approach 37° Angle of departure 45°
Max vertical obstacle 12"
30cm		 Min turning diameter 59'
18m
Max fording depth 32"
81cm		 Cruising range ~200mi, roads
~320km, roads

The T19 was based on the half-track M3, and was set up much like the 75mm GMC M3, with the upper windshield support beam removed and the windshield cover folding forward over the hood. The T2 mount involved using parts of the howitzer carriage M2, but incorporated some redesigns to spread the recoil force over a larger area. Nonetheless, the half-track's frame had to be strengthened to prevent sagging. A howitzer shield was fitted, and this was hinged in the middle to present a lower height when not in use. Early vehicles retained the large fender-mounted headlights.

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References

  1. TM 9-710 Basic Half-Track Vehicles (White, Autocar, and Diamond T). Washington, DC: War Department, 23 February 1944.
  2. Hunnicutt, R.P. Half-Track: A History of American Semi-tracked Vehicles. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 2001. Reprinted from Half-Track, R.P. Hunnicutt ©2001, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
  3. FM 17-63 Service of the Piece, 105-mm Howitzer, Self-Propelled. Washington, DC: War Department, 18 August 1942.
  4. Catalogue of Standard Ordnance Items, second edition 1944, volume I: Tank and Automotive. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Ordnance, Technical Division, 1 June 1945.
  5. TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles. Washington, DC: War Dept., 1 Sep 1943.
  6. TM 9-1325 Ordnance Maintenance--105-mm Howitzers M2 and M2A1; Carriages M2A1 and M2A1; and Combat Vehicle Mounts M3 and M4. Washington, DC: War Department, 21 September 1944.
  7. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
  8. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
  9. Sola, Samuel, Vincent Bobkowski, and Kara Crocker. Weapon Mounts for Secondary Armament. Santa Monica, CA: G. O. Noville & Associates, Inc., April 1957.
  10. Track Data. Warren, MI: Track & Suspension Laboratory, Components Research and Development Laboratories, Research & Engineering Directorate, US Army Tank-Automotive Center, 23 June 1965.
Last updated 9 Jan 2024.
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© Copyright 2001-24 Chris Conners