M65 atomic cannon
| M65 atomic cannon | |
|---|---|
A preserved M65 atomic cannon | |
| Type | Heavy towed artillery |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 172,865 lb 78,410 kg; 86.433 short tons |
| Length | 85 feet (26 m) |
| Width | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Height | 12 feet 2 inches (3.71 m) |
| Crew | 5–7 |
| Caliber | 280 millimeters (11 in) |
| Breech | Welin breech block- |
| Recoil | hydro-pneumatic |
| Carriage | double recoil, ball and socket traverse |
| Elevation | 55° |
| Traverse |
|
| Muzzle velocity | 2,500 feet per second (760 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | approximately 20 miles (30 km) |
Main armament | W9 (nuclear warhead) |
The M65 atomic cannon, often called Atomic Annie, was an artillery piece built by the United States and capable of firing a nuclear device. It was developed in the early 1950s, at the beginning of the Cold War; and fielded between April 1955 and December 1962, in West Germany with the 7th US Army, South Korea with the 8th US Army, and on Okinawa, Japan.