Ammunition
The M3 utilized fixed ammunition. Projectiles were fitted with a 37x223R cartridge case, designated Cartridge Case M16. Available projectiles included armor piercing, high explosive and canister.
| Type | Model | Weight, kg (round/projectile) | Filler | Muzzle velocity, m/s (M3&M6/M5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP-T | AP M74 Shot | 1.51 / 0.87 | - | 884 / 870 |
| APCBC-T | APC M51 Shot | 1.58 / 0.87 | - | 884 / 870 |
| HE | HE M63 Shell | 1.42 / 0.73 | TNT, 39 g | 792 / 782 |
| HE | HE Mk II Shell | 1.23 / 0.56 | TNT, 27 g | |
| Canister | Canister M2 | 1.58 / 0.88 | 122 steel balls | 762 / 752 |
| Target practice with tracer | TP M51 Shot | 1.54 / 0.87 | - | |
| Drill (simulates APC M51) | Drill Cartridge M13 | 1.45 / 0.87 | - | - |
| Drill (simulates HE M63) | Drill Cartridge T5 | 1.45 / 0.73 | - | - |
| Blank | Blank Cartridge 10-gage with adapter M2 | 0.93 / - | - | - |
| Ammunition \ Distance, yd / m | 500 / 457 | 1,000 / 914 | 1,500 / 1,371 | 2,000 / 1,828 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP M74 Shot (meet angle 0°) | 36 | |||
| AP M74 Shot (meet angle 20°) | 25 | |||
| APC M51 Shot (meet angle 0°) | 61 | |||
| APC M51 Shot (meet angle 20°) | 53 | |||
| APC M51 Shot (meet angle 30°, homogeneous armor) | 53 | 46 | 40 | 35 |
| APC M51 Shot (meet angle 30°, face-hardened armor) | 46 | 40 | 38 | 33 |
| Different methods of armor penetration measurement were used in different countries / periods. Therefore, direct comparison is often impossible. | ||||
Armor penetration of the M5 was about 3 mm less at all ranges.
Read more about this topic: 37 Mm Gun M3