M10 3" Gun Motor Carriage:

Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

Patton Museum in Ft Knox, Kentucky

Chris Bobo

Imperial War Museum

Aberdeen Tank Museum

Based on the events in Europe, in 1940 a Tank Destroyer Board and a Tank Destroyer Commander were founded.¹

U.S. Army intelligence reports in April 1942 led to a specification for a more powerful tank destroyer. The need was urgent so the design and development was rushed and the design was accepted in September 1942 and put into production.

Prototype produced by Fisher Body Co.

General Motors and Ford produced them.¹

Was first used in action in North Africa in 1942.¹ In the Pacific they were used at Kwajalein, Okinawa, and the Philippines.¹

Since the turret was open topped, the crews were vulnerable to grenades, shell bursts, and small arms.¹ To help with this, some tanks were fitted (typically at divisional level) with armored covers.¹

Russian Service: Received 52, 10¹.

Free French: Used many of the M10s and M10A1s.¹

T24 (M9):

Used a M3 chassis but was too tall.¹

T35:

Used a M4A1 chassis with an open welded turret.¹ In trials it proved to be unsatisfactory.¹

T35E1:

Used a M4A2 chassis.¹ This prototype became the M10.¹

M10:

A M4A2 medium hull had a semi-open turret added. The top of the hull was shortened and the armor was reduced to save weight.

The chassis was from the M4A3 Medium Tank with the upper hull and turret were unique to the M10.⁵ The hull had bosses on it that could have additional armor attached.⁵

Later, during production, due to the 76 mm gun, counterweights had to be mounted on the rear of the turret.^1,5

A wading trunk could be fitted to protect the engine, and other waterproofing of the M10 could make it usable during amphibious assaults.¹

M3 gun could penetrate 100 mm at 1,000 yards. Velocity 2,600 ft/sec⁵, range 16,100 yards. The AP round weighed 15 lb.⁵ The .50 cal fired at a muzzle velocity of 2,900'/sec.⁵

Used M4A2 tank chassis.

M10A1:

Used M4A3 chassis and were only used for training or converted to M35 prime mover. Had larger engine grills than the M10.¹

Full Track Prime Mover M35:

M10A1 with turret removed and adding air compressor for towing 155 mm and 240 mm artillery pieces. Crew: 6, 55,000 lb.

T72:

Attempt to produce a lighter M10, but was cancelled when the M18 was selected.¹

British Service:

Used in Italy and France.

Wolverine:

M10 and M10A1.

Archilles Mk IC:

M10 with 17 pdr.⁵ Late 1944.

Archilles Mk IIC:

M10A1 with 17 pdr. Used in early 1945 with 21st Army Group.

	M10	M10A1
Crew	Commander, driver, gun crew (3).2 51,2,3,5	Commander, driver, gun crew (3).2 52
Physical Characteristics
Weight	59,600 lb5, 66,000 lb2,3 28.6 tons1, 30 tons4 29,028 kg1, 29,937 kg3	64,000 lb
Length w/gun	19' 7"1,2, 19' 7 1/8"5, 22' 5"3 5.97 m1,4, 6.83 m3	19' 7"2
Length w/o gun
Height	8' 1.5"2, 8' 1 5/16"5, 8' 2"1, 8' 5"3 2.46 m4, 2.49 m1, 2.57 m3	8' 1.5"2
Width	10'1,2,3,5 3.05 m1,3,4	10'2
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	17 1/8", 17 3/8"5	17 1/8"
Ground contact length	12' 3"5	12' 3"
Ground pressure	12.3 psi, 13.5 psi5	12.3 psi
Turret ring diameter	5' 9"	5' 9"
Armament
Main	3" (76 mm) M71 3" M72,4,5 76.2 mm M73	3" M72
Secondary
MG	M2 .50 cal Browning M1919A4, AA 12.7 mm (.50 cal) MG1 .50 cal MG AA2 12.7 mm (.50 cal) Browning MG3 .50 cal HB M2 MG, AA5	M2 .50 cal Browning M1919A4, AA .50 cal MG AA2
Side arms	M3 .50 cal tripod mount 5: M1 carbines Grenades Smoke pots	M3 .50 cal tripod mount 5: M1 carbines Grenades Smoke pots
Quantity
Main	542,5 (HE, AP, APC, Canister, Smoke)	542 (HE, AP, APC, Canister, Smoke)
Secondary
MG	3002, 3505	3002
Side arms	.30: 450 Grenades: 12 Smoke pots: 4	.30: 450 Grenades: 12 Smoke pots: 4
Armor Thickness (mm)	122, 372 (Actual thickness at horizontal) Front: 504 Side: 254	122, 372 (Actual thickness at horizontal)
Hull Front, Upper	1.5"@0°5, 0.5-2" (3.25")	0.5-2" (3.25")
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper	0.75-1""@0°5, (1-1 3/8")	0.75-1" (1-1 3/8")
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear	0.375"@0°5, 1-1.5"	1-1.5"
Hull Top	3/8-0.75"	3/8-0.75"
Hull Bottom	0.25"	0.25"
Turret Front	2.25"@0°5, 2.5" (4.5")	2.5" (4.5")
Turret Sides	1""@0°5, (1 1/8-1.75")	1" (1 1/8-1.75")
Turret Rear	1" (1 1/8-1.75")	1" (1 1/8-1.75")
Turret Top	0.75	0.75
Engine (Make / Model)	Twin GM S6-711,2 2: General Motors3 GMC Twin Diesel5	Ford GAA2,5
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water5	Water5
Cylinders	63, 125	V-85
Capacity
Net HP	3754, 4005 375 each3	5005
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Synchromesh5 5 forward, 1 reverse5
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Diesel3,5	Gasoline5
Octane
Quantity	164 gallons5	192 gallons5
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°2,5 Manual5	360°2
Max speed	26 mph5, 30 mph1,2, 32 mph3 48 kph1, 50 kph4, 51 kph3	30 mph2
Cross country speed	20 mph2	20 mph2
Road radius	200 miles1,2,3,5 322 km1,3	155 miles5, 160 miles, 200 miles2
Cross country radius
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-10° to +19°2	-10° to +19°2
Fording depth	3'2,3,5 0.91 m3	3'2
Trench crossing	7' 5"3,5, 7' 6"2 2.26 m3	7' 6"2
Vertical obstacle	1' 6"3,5, 2'2 0.46 m3	2'2
Climbing ability	25° slope5
Suspension (Type)	Vertical volute2 Vertical volute springing5	Vertical volute.2
Wheels each side	6 3 two wheel bogies5	6
Return rollers each side	35	3
Tracks (Type)	Steel, rubber pads, rubber bushed track pins5
Length
Width	12 1/16"5, 16.5"2	16.5"2
Diameter
Number of links	795
Pitch	6"5
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	6' 11"2,5	6' 11"2
Production	Grand Blanc Arsenal 11/1942 - 12/ 1943: 4,993 11/1942 - 12/1942: 4,9933 1942: Fisher Tank Div. (GMC)5	Ford 10/1942 - 9/ 1943: 1,038 Grand Blanc 9/1943 - 11/1943: 675

Sources:

1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
2. British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
4. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
5. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969

Want to learn about a new vehicle? Select the random picture to learn about the vehicle.

Other M10 Links
Main Page Photos

| | |

---

Web WWIIVehicles