{"product_id":"i-love-kit-63547-us-army-m53-155mm-self-propelled-howitzer-1-35-scale","title":"I LOVE KIT 63547 US Army M53 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer  1\/35 SCALE","description":"\u003cp\u003eI LOVE KIT 63547 US Army M53 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer  1\/35 SCALE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUS M53 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer, 1950s-60s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the late 1940s the US military tendered for a new postwar atomic era 155mm self-propelled gun capable of operating independently in areas contaminated by nuclear fallout for brief periods of time. The Sherman-derived M40 155mm large-calibre artillery piece was mounted on a reversed and much-modified M46\/M47 Patton tank chassis. The sprocket wheel was at the front and idler wheel at the rear lowered to ground level. Designated T97 and built by Pacific Car \u0026amp; Foundry, an 8in (203mm) variant was also specified, designated T108. The T97\/T108 were renamed M53\/M55 respectively. A relatively large enclosed turret housing the crew of six was located at the rear with the driver's forward-facing gyroscopically-stabilised seat mounted front-left of the turret. At the rear a recoil spade helped transmit the massive kickback to the ground. M53 production was from 1952 until 1955. After 1956 most M53s were converted to M55 with the larger M47 howitzer. A total of 550 M53s and M55s were built. They were incredibly powerful vehicles and saw service in Vietnam. M53\/55s were replaced by open-top M107\/M109\/M110 types.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9 sprues, lower hull \u0026amp; turret. L: 266.2mm, W: 105.5mm, Total parts 850+.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1:35 scale plastic model kit from I Love Kit, requires paint and glue.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"I Love Kit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58135712072064,"sku":"9580208635477","price":72.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0294\/0547\/9011\/files\/pklk63547usm53155mmself-propelledhowitzer_1950s-60s-41704-large.jpg?v=1779440021","url":"https:\/\/youngstersworld.com\/products\/i-love-kit-63547-us-army-m53-155mm-self-propelled-howitzer-1-35-scale","provider":"Youngsters World","version":"1.0","type":"link"}