203mm M55 self-propelled ILK-63548

Description

The M55 Howitzer Self-Propelled was an American development that emerged in the 1950s.
This vehicle was designed to share automotive parts with the M46 and M47 Patton medium tanks, which were part of U.S. inventories during the Cold War.
The M55 was similar in function and purpose to the M53 self-propelled assault gun, which was armed with a 155 mm main gun.
However, the M55 was fitted with a much larger 203.2 mm M47 howitzer, which limited the total amount of ammunition it could carry due to the size of the projectiles.
Production of the M55 was carried out by the Pacific Car & Foundry Company during the 1950s.
Several U.S. Army M53 systems were upgraded to the M55 standard.
Some M55s were used during the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975), although they were eventually withdrawn from service.