Roleheavy mobile field artillery
Main weapon / system155 mm GPF-derived gun
Platform / layoutM3 medium-tank-derived chassis with rear open gun mount
MediaPrimary image integrated
Development and design
The design combined a tank-derived chassis with an older but still formidable 155 mm gun. Because the weapon and crew occupied an open rear platform, ammunition and additional personnel were supported by the companion M30 cargo carrier. 1, 2
Operational use
Modernized M12s were deployed to Europe in 1944 and proved useful against fortified positions and for long-range counterbattery fire during the drive across France and Germany. 1, 2
Role and significance
The M12 validated the heavy gun motor carriage concept and directly informed the more refined M40/M43 family that followed at the end of the war. 1, 2
Sources and further reading
Representative source set used for this profile. Primary image source and reuse terms are listed with the image.
- U.S. Army, Field Artillery Museum collection including the M12
- U.S. Army Ordnance Corps, Carl Hansen and M12 development