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Title:	GUN, AUTOMATIC -  U.S. GUN T182E4 30MM SN# 10261
Maker/Manufacturer:	BUFFALO ARMS INC.
Date of Manufacture:
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 6557
Measurements:	OL: 62" BL: 43"

Object Description:

U.S. GUN T182E4 30MM SN# 10261
Manufactured by Buffalo Arms Corp., Buffalo, N.Y. - Gas-operated, belt-fed, electrically fired cartridge-charged weapon. May be assembled to feed from either the left of right side. Feature of the gun is a drum assembly containing five cartridge chambers parallel to its axis of rotation and mounted on a shaft within the drum cradle. The drum assembly is rotated and indexed during cycling so that each chamber is brought, in turn, into alignment with the bore at the 6 o'clock position. 16-groove rifling; right hand twist. Muzzle velocity 3000 fps. Rate of fire 3500 rpm. Weapon weighs approximately 204.25 lbs. Ammunition type: T204, T239.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 26 January 1961. At that time weapon was appraised at $14,759.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES:
HSOA, 1JAN954 - 30JUN1954 - "The transfer of the major development responsibility for the T182E2 from Oldsmobile Division, GMC, to Ford Motor Co. was initiated during the period."

Notes: "The design, development, and fabrication of the T182 30mm revolver gun began early in 1951. The initial development used low velocity ammunition and was carried out by Oldsmobile Division, GMC. Fabrication of the 30mm weapon began in February 1951 and continued through August 1954. In August 1954, Oldsmobile requested that their development contract not be continued beyond its expiration date due to other commitments within the company. At the expiration of the contract, Oldsmobile had been working on a T182E3 model using high velocity ammunition. During this period the Air Force changed its ammunition requirements from low velocity to high velocity. This ammunition incorporated a projectile of increased high explosive capacity with a muzzle velocity of 3000 feet per second.
In October 1953, Buffalo Arms Inc. was contracted for production of 300 T182E3 weapons. Requirements for use of this weapon in specific aircraft were deleted from the contract,causing a contract change during the early stages of this manufacturing program. The production program reverted to a research and development type program requiring manufacture of only 450 weapons. Under the direction of Springfield Armory, Buffalo Arms, Inc. intensified efforts to improve manufacturing techniques and methods which would eliminate weapon malfunctions attributable to manufacturing processes.
In July 1954, a Research and Development contract was placed with Ford Motor Company for the further development of this weapon. Ford, under direction of Springfield Armory, concentrated efforts on improvements in reliability and performance of the weapon using a high velocity rund but with a heavier projectile than in earlier ammunition.
This new cartridge with a longer cartridge case, a heavier projectile and a different center of gravity, necessitated redesign of many gun components to meet the requirements of the ammunition and maintain reliability of the gun.
The T182 gun development program was seriously affected by major design changes in ammunition as well as changes in mounting and feed requirements. Further complications were introduced by the unavoidable change in contractors, the premature commitment of the weapon to production, and the encumbrances attendant upon fabrication of a development weapon in limited quantities under the terms of a supply contract at Buffalo Arms, Inc.
The performance of the latest versions, the T182E4 1H and the T182E5 weapons, was reasonably good. With the exception of barrels which had to be changed every 1200 rounds, the weapon has a minimum life of 5000 rounds. This gun had a cyclic rate of 1200 to 1500 rounds per minute and was designed to function in climates that range from - 70 degrees F. to +140 degrees F. Work ceased in 1957 on these guns, with only six T182 guns in existence as of 1969.
Description and Purpose - The 30mm automatic gun T182 is a gas-operated, belt fed, electrically fired, and utilizes a high velocity cartridge. The weapon may be assembled to feed from either side. The distinguishing feature of the gun is a drumThe weapon was designed for transmission of the recoil forces through trunnions cast integrally with the steel barrel support which also houses the recoil springs.
Because of this arrangement just described, it was possible to design the receiver frame of minimum loads, and cast it from an aluminum alloy. At points where the receiver frame engages moving parts, steel ways or supporting members have been inserted. The receiver frame and barrel support assembly are held together with four studs and nuts. Alignment is attained by assembling the drum support on the receiver and inserting the barrel through the barrel support assembly into the drum support body followed by tightening and wiring of the nuts holding the barrel support assembly.
The barrel 42.5 inches long, weighs 27.25 pounds and the total weight of the gun is 204.25 pounds including the feeder and charger. The T182 is 61.7 inches long, 10.5 inches wide, 9.7 inches without the trunnions and 10.5 inches high.
Test Results - According to final test reports: "The T182E4-1A model performed unsatisfactorily but with each succeeding model performance improved. The T182E4-1H and T182E5 guns approached a reliable lever of performance at the time development of the T182 gun was halted.
The report recommended: "Should the 30mm T182 receiver-gun project be revived, particular effort should be directed toward elimination of projectile fuze damage in chambering and obtaining a general increase in parts life." - Chinn

"The 30-mm T182 revolver gun, similar to the German 30-mm gun, was designed by the Armory as a bomber tail defense gun. We had five of these guns built by Mathewson Tool Company in 1953, and later about fifty of these guns were built by Buffalo Arms Company or Buffalo, New York." - Roy E. Rayle

DISPOSITION OF T182s THAT WERE IN SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MUSEUM:
Army #7253 - U.S. GUN T182E2 SN# 4 - Transferred to Patterson on 9 February 1984.
Army #7943 - U.S. GUN T182E2 SN# 10084 - Transferred to Rock Island Arsenal on 26 April 1966.
Army #7944 - U.S. GUN T182E2 SN# 10131 - Transferred to Patterson on 7 February 1984.
Army #7945 - U.S. GUN T182E2 SN# 10110 - Transferred to Patterson on 7 February 1984.
Army #7946 - U.S. GUN T182E2 SN# 10134 - Transferred to Rock Island Arsenal on 26 April 1966.
Army #8506 - U.S. GUN T182E4 SN# 10235 - Transferred to Patterson on 7 February 1984.
Army #9061 - U.S. GUN T182E4 SN# 10228 - Transferred to Patterson on 7 February 1984.
Army #9062 - U.S. GUN T182E4 SN# 10239 - Transferred to Watervliet on 4 September 1972.

References:
Rayle, Roy E. RANDOM SHOTS: EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A WEAPONS DEVELOPER. Merriam Press. Burlington, Vt. 1997.

SA-TR7-2010.
SA-TR7-2017 - Evaluation of 30mm Automatic Gun T182 Experimental Drive Springs. 1 September 1959.