The IBM 5440 removable disk pack was introduced in 1969 for use with the IBM 5444 disk drive that was an optional component of the new IBM System/3 mid-range computer system.
The IBM 5440 contained a single 14-inch double-sided platter in a cartridge, with a removable base that kept dust from getting inside. The maximum formatted capacity in the IBM 5444 disk drive was 2.46 MB. The IBM System/3 was marketed by IBM until 1985.
The IBM 5440 disk pack design was also used in at least three other systems.
The first was the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) RL01 and RL02 drives. The RL01 drive was introduced in 1976 and could store 5 MB on the disk pack, while the RL02 was introduced in 1978 and could store 10 MB by using twice as many tracks. These drives were used with the DEC PDP-8 and PDP-11 minicomputers.
The second was Control Data Corporation’s Cartridge Disk Drive 9427H. This used the CDC 847 or CDC 848 disk packs. The CDC 848 offered twice as many tracks per inch. The manual specifies that any approved equivalent IBM 5440 cartridge could also be used.
Lastly, it was used in the Diablo Series 40 disk drive; the Diablo 43 offering 6.25 MB, or the Diablo 44 with twice the track density offering 12.5 MB. The manual specifies a ‘Type 5440’ top loading disk cartridge.
There may well have been other cartridge disk drives using the IBM 5440 disk pack design, including systems by NCR.