 |
| M2 Light Tank |
The Light Tank M2 was an American pre-World War II light tank that saw combat with the US Marine Corps 1st Tank Battalion on Guadalcanal in 1942, during World War II. Its service with the 1st Tank Battalion during the Pacific War was its only U.S. combat use during the war; however, it is believed that M2A4′s served in Burma and India with the British 7th Hussars and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment during their engagements with the IJA 14th Tank Regiment.
| Type | Light tank |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 11.6 tonnes (11.4 long tons; 12.8 short tons) |
| Length | 4.43 m (14.5 ft) |
| Width | 2.47 m (8 ft 1 in) |
| Height | 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) |
| Crew | 4 (Commander/gunner, loader, driver, co-driver) |
| Armor | 6–25 mm (0.24–0.98 in)(Hull:Front-25mm Sides-25mm Rear-25mm)(Turret:Front-16mm Sides-16mm Rear-16mm) |
| Main armament | 1x 37 mm Gun M5 103 rounds / .50 cal Gun MG HB M2 1800 rounds |
| Secondary armament | 5x .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns 8,470 rounds |
| Engine | Continental W-670-9A, 7 Cylinder 245–220 hp (183–160 kW) |
| Suspension | Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) |
| Operational range | 320 km (200 mi) |
| Speed | 58 km/h (36 mph) |
- M2A1 (1935). .50 MG in a single turret. 10 units were produced.
- M2A2 (1935). Twin turrets. Dubbed "Mae West". 239 units produced.
- M2A3 (1938). Twin turrets, Thicker armor, improved suspension. 72 units produced.
- M2A4 (1940).
Single turret with 37mm gun. Thicker armor. 375 units produced.
This variant was the immediate predecessor of the M3 Stuart light tank.
M2A4 Light Tank
 |
| Fitters are at work assembling an M2A4 light tank which has just arrived at a British ordnance depot. |
First photo is an M3 Stuart. The big difference is the Stuart's idler wheel sits on the ground.
ReplyDelete