- Yes
- No
- (independent) BeNeLux tree
- France: BeNeLux subtree
- other
- no/negative
TL;DR: The Belgian M55, a heavy 203 mm tracked self-propelled gun, supplied by the US and fielded from 1958 to 1972.
History & Service
History
The M55 self-propelled howitzer was developed in the United States during the early 1950s as a companion to the M53 155 mm SP gun. Both designs shared a modified chassis derived from the M47 Patton tank, with the engine and transmission placed at the front and the fighting compartment at the rear. Unlike the open-topped M53, the M55 featured a fully enclosed turret mounting a massive 203 mm M47 howitzer.
Belgium acquired 10 M55s from the United States under NATO cooperation programs in the late 1950s. Deliveries began in 1958, and the vehicles were integrated into the artillery units of the Belgian Army. Initially, the 20th Artillery Battalion (20A) and the 3rd Artillery Battalion (3A) each operated a mixed structure of towed 8-inch howitzers and Honest John rocket batteries. In 1962, the 20A replaced its towed 8-inch battery with four M55s, while in 1964 the 3A did the same.
A major reorganization in 1969 saw the M55s of the 3A transferred to the 20A, which was then elevated to an Army Corps-level artillery unit. The M55 remained in service until 1972, when it was superseded by the more modern M110 203 mm howitzer, and the surviving Belgian M55s were transferred to the reserve.
Though their service life in Belgium was relatively short, the M55s represented a significant leap in mechanized firepower and demonstrated the shift from towed heavy artillery to self-propelled systems capable of rapid deployment and protection for their crews.
Transfer Data (SIPRI)
Recipient Supplier Designation Description Weapon Category Order Year Number Ordered Delivery Years Belgium United States M55 203 mm Self-propelled gun Artillery 1957 10 1958 Technical Description
Design & Features
The M55 was built by Pacific Car and Foundry Co. and weighed approximately 44 tons in combat configuration. Its chassis was based on the M47 Patton tank, but inverted in layout, with the Continental AV-1790-5B V12 gasoline engine placed at the front. This powerplant produced 704 hp, giving the vehicle a top speed of 48–50 km/h on roads.
The fully enclosed turret housed a 203 mm M47 (L/25) howitzer, capable of firing a 90 kg shell up to 17 km. Traverse was limited to 30° left or right, with elevation from –5° to +65°. Rate of fire was slow—about one round every two minutes—owing to the size and weight of the ammunition.
The crew consisted of six men (commander, driver, gunner, and three loaders). For secondary armament, a .50 cal Browning M2HB machine gun was mounted on the turret roof for close-in defense.
Armor was thin, ranging between 10–25 mm, designed only to protect against small arms fire and shrapnel, but still sufficient for the indirect-fire support role the vehicle was intended for.
Specifications
Characteristic Data Origin United States (supplied to Belgium) Manufacturer Pacific Car and Foundry Co. Chassis Modified M47 Patton (inverted) Weight ~44 tons Dimensions L: 7.9 m / W: 3.6 m / H: 3.6 m Crew 6 (commander, driver, gunner, 3 loaders) Engine Continental AV-1790-5B, 12-cyl. gasoline V-engine Power 704 hp Speed ~48–50 km/h Range ~260 km (160 miles) Primary Armament 203 mm M47 (L/25) howitzer Ammunition ~10 rounds carried Shell Weight ~90 kg (M106 HE shell) Rate of Fire ~1 round every 2 minutes Maximum Range ~17 km Elevation –5° to +65° Traverse ±30° Secondary Armament 1 × 12.7 mm M2HB Browning machine gun (900 rounds) Armor 15–25 mm (RHA)
Place in War Thunder
The Belgian M55 would provide a distinctive Cold War heavy artillery piece for the BeNeLux subtree or a potential independent BeNeLux tree. Its extremely powerful 203 mm gun, albeit with a very slow rate of fire and limited traverse, would make it a glass-cannon support vehicle—somewhat comparable to the Soviet 2S3 Akatsiya concept.
While not designed for direct tank duels, in War Thunder it could serve as a devastating ambush platform or area denial vehicle at higher battle ratings, complementing lighter and more mobile Belgian vehicles.
Sources
Sources
- Army.mil. (2019, July 18). RIA self-guided tour: M55 8-inch heavy howitzer. U.S. Army. https://www.army.mil/article/222492/ria_self_guided_tour_m55_8in_heavy_howitzer
- Tank-AFV.com. (n.d.). M55 self-propelled howitzer. https://tank-afv.com/coldwar/US/M55-Self-Propelled-Howitzer.php
- Wikipedia contributors. (2024, August 21). M55 self-propelled howitzer. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M55_self-propelled_howitzer
- Everything Explained Today. (n.d.). M55 self-propelled howitzer. https://everything.explained.today/M55_self-propelled_howitzer/
- Toadman’s Tank Pictures. (n.d.). M55 8-inch self-propelled howitzer. http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/m55_8inch.htm
