#t92

Ambientazioni per lo scorrere inconscio (Environments for the unconscious flow)

I.S.A.

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The T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage.

When it became apparent that the 240mm Howitzer M1 was difficult to use due to it’s weight and size, designers looked to the M12 GMC (seen below) for a solution. After suggesting use the Heavy Tank T26E3 chassis (which was formally named "Heavy Tank M26 Pershing" in March 1945) in a similar configuration of the M12 GMC, the outcome was the T92 HMC. 

After a small amount of modification to the T26E3 chassis, including the chassis needed to be lengthened with addition of an extra road wheel, to give seven each, while the drive sprocket being moved to the front. The vehicle featured torsion bar suspension, a Ford GAF 8 cylinder engine delivering 470 horsepower. The vehicle was protected by 25mm of front armor and had a top speed of 15 mph. With a fire rate of one round a minute, it was rather slow but powerful impact due to the size of the gun. Each vehicle was to be served by eight crew members including a commander, a driver, a co-driver, and five gun crew. It was given the designation T29 in March of 1945. 

With the T92′s armament being the 240mm Howitzer M1, another design (Designated T93) was built and used the 8-inch gun M1 (203mm). Other than the armament, there was little to no difference between the T92 and T93. 

The trials of the T92 and T93 showed that they would be useful in Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland. Due to combat experiences, special fuses for the shells were developed so they could be used against concrete. The T92s and T93s were being readied for sending to the Pacific War but the Japanese surrender occurred on 14 August 1945.

A limited production run ("limited procurement") of four pilot vehicles was ordered in March 1945, and the first was finished in July of that year, only five would be built in total. Two T93 were completed by September. All contracts were terminated with the end of the hostilities.

As an added bonus, here is an example of how large the 240mm Howitzer M1 was: