EXHIBIT#3 USA

M5 3-INCH ANTI-TANK GUN

In late 1942, the U.S. made an attempt to produce an indigenous anti-tank gun to replace the 57-mm M1. The result was a combination of existing components of other guns. The barrel came from the 3-inch anti-aircraft tube T9, part of the 3-inch anti-aircraft gun M3, and the breech mechanism from the M2A1 105-mm howitzer. The carriage and recoil mechanism also came from the 105-mm howitzer and became the 3-inch gun carriage M1, later modified into the M5. The result was a large and rather cumbersome weapon; but like other wartime improvisations, it was all that was available and did work. It was used in all theaters of World War II and was a popular weapon. Fitted, in a modified form as the M7, to the M10 motor gun carriage, it was an effective tank destroyer. Another great thing about the M5 was the fact that it could, with two rounds hitting the same spot, destroy the ever-feared PzKpfw Tiger tank! No other anti-tank gun produced in the USA could do that before! Despite these positive characteristics, the M5 3-inch AT (anti-tank)-gun, as you could see, had thin armor on either side of the barrel. It worked very well protecting the crew from small-arms fire, but any main gun ammunition on any enemy tank could penetrate it and hit the crewmen. But, as always, it simply depended on who fired first. According to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (the Desert Fox), whoever fired first had the favor of winning on their side. And guess what: he was right! A total of 2,500 M5s were produced, and 6,824 guns were produced for the M10.

DATA

Length: 13 ft, 2 inches

Traverse: 46 degrees

Weight: 5,850 lbs

Muzzle Velocity: 2,600 ft per second

Armor penetration: 3.85 inches at 1,000 yds.