M20 Recoilless Rifle

M20 Recoilless Rifle - 75mm Rocket

The M20 recoilless rifle was a U.S. 75 mm calibre recoilless rifle used during the last months of the Second World War and extensively during the Korean War. It could be fired from an M1917A1 .30 caliber machine gun tripod, or from a vehicle mount, typically a Jeep. Its shaped charge warhead, also known as the HEAT, was capable of penetrating 100 mm of armor. Although the weapon proved ineffective against the T-34 tank during the Korean War, it was used primarily as a close infantry support weapon to engage all types of targets including infantry and lightly armored vehicles. The M20 proved useful against pillboxes and other types of field fortifications.

Specifications

• Length: 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
• Weight: 114.5 lb (52 kg)
• Rifling: uniform right hand twist, 1 turn in 25
• Range: (HEAT) 7000 yards (6.4 km)
• Muzzle velocity: (HEAT) 1000 ft/s (300 m/s)
• Cartridge: 75 × 408 mm. R
• Caliber: 75 mm. (2.95 inches)
• Round weight:
• HE: 21.86 lb (9.92 kg)
• HEAT: 20.54 lb (9.32 kg)
• Smoke: (T40, WP): 22.61 lb (10.26 kg)
• Armor penetration: 4 inches (100 mm)

Film

• Fixed Bayonets! (1951)
• Tae Guk Gi (2004)