M18 57mm Recoilless Rifle, in action in Korea
South of 38th Parallel 31 March 1951
Near Kaoch/Eang-ni, 24 April 1951.
Weight: 45 lbs Length: 5 ft Operation: Shoulder fired; attached monopod/bipod ; or M1917A1 MG tripod. Sight: M26 Projectiles: HE, 5.3 lbs; High explosive anti tank (HEAT), 5.64 lbs; Smoke, 5.66 lbs Range: 4300 yards. Recoilless rifles are capable of firing artillery-type shells at velocities and with an accuracy comparable to those of standard guns, but almost entirely without recoil. The 57mm, shown above being used by Marines in Korea, was used about like a bazooka. Although much heavier than the M9 2.36 in. bazooka, it could nonetheless be fired from the shoulder. Much more powerful than the M9, and with significantly greater range, it was particularly effective early in the Korean War when the 3.5 inch bazooka was unavailable. Had the 57mm teams been issued sufficient HEAT projectiles, they would have stopped the T34 quite effectively. Unfortunately, our troops first in the field against the T34 had neither 3.5 in. bazookas, nor adequate supplies of HEAT projectiles for the 57mm recoilless rifles. ! Greetings: During the Korean War there was also a White Phosphorous (WP) round available, in addition to the HE, AT, and Smoke rounds, for the 57mm "reckless". I toasted many MG bunkers with them in 1950-52; as part of G/2d/8th/1st Cav Div. Regards, JT White,CWO,USA(Ret.) |
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