M65 Atomic Cannon

Infobox Weapon
name=M65 Atomic Cannon


caption=Surviving M65 at the Virginia War Museum
origin=USA
type=Towed artillery
is_vehicle=no
is_ranged=yes
is_artillery=yes
length=84 ft
width=16.1 ft
height=12.2 ft
weight=83.3 tons (gun and carriage)
cartridge=
caliber=280 mm
barrels=
action=
rate=
velocity=
range= approximately 20 miles cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m65.htm|title=M65 Atomic Cannon|accessdate=2008-10-11|first=|last=|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org]
max_range=
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=
traverse=
suspension=
speed=
vehicle_range=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
armour=
engine=
crew=5-7
engine_power=
pw_ratio=

The M65 Atomic Cannon, often called Atomic Annie, was a towed artillery piece built by the United States and capable of firing a nuclear device. It was developed in the early 1950's and fielded by 1953 in the European and Korean theaters.

Picatinny Arsenal was tasked to create a nuclear capable artillery piece in 1949. Robert Schwartz, the engineer who created the preliminary designs, essentially scaled up the 240mm shell (then the maximum in the arsenal) and used the German K5 railroad gun as a point of departure for the carriage. (The name "Atomic Annie" likely derives from the nickname "Anzio Annie" given to a German K5 gun which was employed against the American landings in Italy.) The design was approved and a three-year developmental effort was begun. The project proceeded fast enough to produce a demonstration model to participate in Dwight Eisenhower's inaugeral parade in January of 1953.

The cannon was transported by two specially designed trailers, both capable of independent steering in the manner of some extra-long fire engines. Each of the tractors was rated at 375 hp, and the somewhat awkward combination could acheive speeds of 35 miles an hour and negotiate right turns on 28 ft wide, paved or packed roads.cite web|url=http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_atomic.php3|title=280mm Atomic Annie Artillery|accessdate=2008-10-11|first=|last=|publisher=OliveDrab.com] The artillery piece could be unlimbered in 15 minutes and then returned to travelling cofiguration in 15 minutes more.

On May 25, 1953 at 8:30am local time, the Atomic Cannon was tested at Nevada Test Site (specifically Frenchman's Flat) as part of the Upshot-Knothole series of nuclear tests. The test--codenamed Grable--was attended by then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Arthur W. Radford and Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson; it resulted in the successful detonation of a 15 kt shell (warhead W9) at a range of 7 miles. This was the first and only nuclear shell to fired from a cannon.

Subsequent to the successful test, there were at least 20 of the cannons manufactured at Watervliet and Watertown Arsenals, at a cost of $800,000. They were deployed overseas to Europe and Korea, often continuosly shifted around to avoid being detected and targeted by opposing forces. Due to the size of the apparatus, their limited range, the development of nuclear shells compatible with existing artillery pieces (the W48 for the 155mm and the W33 for the 203mm), and the development of rocket and missile based nuclear artillery, the M65 was effectively obsolete soon after it was deployed. However, it remained a prestige weapon and was not retired until 1963.

urvivors

Of the twenty examples of the M65 produced, at least 8 survive on display. Most no longer have their "prime movers".
*United States Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen, Maryland (still has the two large "prime movers" attached)
*National Atomic Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico
*Fort Sill Museum, Oklahoma
*Freedom Park, Junction City, Kansas
*Rock Island Arsenal, Memorial Field, Rock Island, Illinois
*Virginia War Museum, Newport News, Virginia
*Watervliet Arsenal, Watervliet, New York -- where they were all manufactured.
*Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Arizona

External Links

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6gy_krPau8&feature=related Video of Grable Test on YouTube]

References