Rocket Launcher T34 (Calliope) 45
To enhance firepower ahead of infantry assaults, the U.S. Ordnance Department developed tank-mounted rocket launchers during World War II. These launchers were designed to saturate enemy positions with a large volume of rockets before an attack, compensating for the relatively low accuracy of the rockets with sheer numbers. The primary rocket used for this purpose was the 4.5-inch M8 series, which was fin-stabilized and highly effective when fired en masse, despite its inability to hit point targets accurately.
The T34 rocket launcher, which was mounted on the turret of tanks, was the most common of these systems. It featured a set of plastic tubes for launching the rockets, with 60 tubes in total: 36 on top and 24 on the sides, arranged in banks. The entire assembly weighed 1,840 pounds and was mounted using an arm connected to the tank’s main gun barrel, allowing for elevation and depression of the launcher. After firing all its rockets, the T34 launcher could be jettisoned, allowing the tank to continue its normal role in combat.
The T34 was deployed in limited numbers, especially in the European Theater, with quantities sent to Britain before the D-Day landings. However, it was not popular among the troops. In its original design, the launcher prevented the tank’s main gun from being fired until the launcher was discarded. Moreover, the jettisoning mechanism often malfunctioned, further frustrating tank crews.
Field modifications were attempted to address these issues. One solution involved detaching the elevation arm from the gun barrel and attaching it to the top of the gun shield instead. This modification allowed the tank’s cannon to fire while the rocket launcher was still mounted, but it also restricted the launcher’s elevation range, limiting its effectiveness. Despite these improvements, the T34 remained unpopular due to its operational limitations.