M2 Light Tank

Prewar training exercise.

The T2E1 was produced after the trials of the T2 and T5 in April 1934. It now had the better vertical volute suspension. It was armed with a .30 and .50 caliber Browning MGs in the turret, which was the width of the hull. An additional .30 MG was installed in the front of the hull. This vehicle was standardized in late 1935 and put into production at the Rock Island Arsenal and designated the M2A1.

The T2E2 had 2 turrets installed, with each containing an MG. This was standardized as the M2A2 and put into production in 1938.

As a result of the war starting in September 1939, the Ordnance Department rushed to have the M2A4 built. The American Car & Foundry was selected in October 1939 to produce 329 vehicles. The first were delivered in April 1940. The order was increased to 365 and the final vehicles were delivered in March 1941.

The M2, M2A1, M2A2, and M2A3 were considered obsolete by 1940 and used only in training.

The M2A4 saw some action in the early Pacific battles in the Philippines.¹ Also saw combat on Guadalcanal.⁵ They were plagued by ammunition shortages and shortages of spare parts. Were in service in some areas of the Pacific until 1943.

M2 Light Tank

It had a riveted hull with the engine in the rear.

M2A1 Light Tank

Single fixed turret.

M2A2 Light Tank

Twin turrets.¹ Nicknamed "Mae West."

M2A2E3 Light Tank⁶:

Some were used in Burma.⁶

The .50 cal had a muzzle velocity of 2,840'/sec when firing a 710 grain shell.⁶

M2A3 Light Tank

Aberdeen Tank Museum

Aberdeen Tank Museum

Twin turrets.¹ Improved suspension, thicker armor, increased gear ratios, better engine cooling.

The .50 cal had a muzzle velocity of 2,840'/sec when firing a 710 grain shell.⁶ It could fire 400-500 rounds/minute.⁶ The .30 cal could fire 500 rounds/minute.⁶

M2A4 Light Tank

Aberdeen Tank Museum

Standardized in 1939.¹ 37 mm gun.¹ Hand traverse. Fired an 1.9 lb AP shell at a velocity of 2,900'/sec.⁷

The .30 cal MG filed a shell at 2,800'/sec.⁷

Was delivered in April 1940 by the American Car and Foundary Company.⁵

Few late production vehicles had Guiberson T1020 diesel.

Issued to the US Marine Corps.⁷

United Kingdom:

Some were supplied to Britain and were used for training.¹

M2A4s were supplied.⁷

Australia:

Various models were supplied under Lend Lease.³

Russia:

M2A4s were supplied.⁷

	M2	M2A1	M2A2
Crew	Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner 41	Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner.2 42,3	Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner.2 42,3
Physical Characteristics
Weight	10.26 tons1, 10.5 tons4 10,432 kg1	18,790 lb2,3	19,100 lb2,3
Length w/gun	14' 7"1 4.42 m4, 4.45 m1	13' 7"2,3	13' 7"2,3
Length w/o gun
Height	8' 3"1 2.49 m4, 2.52 m1	7' 4"2, 7' 5"3	7' 4"2, 7' 9"3
Width	8' 4"1 2.46 m4, 2.53 m1	8' 1.25"2, 7' 10"3	8' 1.25"2, 7' 10"3
Width over tracks
Ground clearance
Ground contact length
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm1	37 mm 3: MG3	37 mm 3: MG3
Secondary	(.30 cal) MG1
MG	4: 7.62 mm MG1	.50 cal	.50 cal
Side arms
Quantity
Main
Secondary
MG	2,137 7,185	2,1372	2,1372
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	251 Front: 254	62, 162 0.5" - 5/8"3	62, 162 0.5" - 5/8"3
Hull Front, Upper
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear
Hull Top
Hull Bottom
Turret Front
Turret Sides
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	Continental W-6701	Continental W-6702 Continental Radial3	Continental W-6702 E3: Guiberson T10202 Continental Radial3
Bore / stroke
Cooling		Air3	Air3
Cylinders
Capacity
Net HP	2504	2503	2503
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Manual	Manual	Manual
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)
Octane
Quantity
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°	360°2	360°2
Max speed	25-30 mph, 34 mph1 50 kph4, 55 kph1	25-30 mph2, 45 mph3	25-30 mph2, 45 mph3
Cross country speed	18 mph	18 mph2, 20 mph3	18 mph2, 20 mph3
Road radius	130 miles1 209 km1	130 miles2	130 miles2
Cross country radius
Turning radius
Elevation limits	+20° to -10°	-10° to +20°2	-10° to +20°2
Fording depth	3' 8"	3' 8"2	3' 8"2
Trench crossing	6'	6'2	6'2
Vertical obstacle	2'	2'2	2'2
Climbing ability
Suspension (Type)	Vertical volute	Vertical volute.2	Vertical volute.2
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width	7 5/8"	7 5/8"2	7 5/8"2
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	6' 1"	6' 1"2	6' 1"2
Production			1935- : 19

	M2A2E3	M2A3	M2A4
Crew	46	Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner.2 42,3,6,7	Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner.2 42,3,7
Physical Characteristics
Weight	10.6 tons6	19,460 lb7, 20,000 lb2 9.5 tons3, 10 tons6	11.5 tons3 23,000 lb2, 24,125 lb7
Length w/gun	12.1'6	14' 6"2,6, 14' 6.5"3, 14' 7"7	14' 6"2, 14' 7"3,7
Length w/o gun
Height	6.9'6	6' 6"7, 7.4'6, 7' 4"2, 7' 5"3	8' 2.5"3,7, 8' 8"2
Width	8.1'6	7' 9.25"3, 8' 1.25"2, 8.2'6, 8' 4"7	8' 1.25"2, 8' 4"3,7
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	16"6	14.5"6	14.5"7
Ground contact length	126.5"6	97"6,7	97"7
Ground pressure	7.3 psi6	9 psi6, 13.75 psi7	13.75 psi7
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	Left Turret: .50 cal M2 MG6	37 mm 3: MG3 Left turret: .50 cal MG6 Left turret: .50 cal HB M5 MG7	37 mm3,4 37 mm M57
Secondary	Right Turret: .30 cal M1919A4 MG6	Right turret: .30 cal M1919A4 MG6,7
MG	.30 cal M1919A4 MG, hull6	.30 cal M1919A4 MG, hull6,7	4: MG3 .50 cal 4: .30 cal MG, coaxial, hull, sponsons (2)4 4: .30 cal M1919A4 MG, hull, AA, sponsons (2)7
Side arms
Quantity
Main	2,1376	.1,5796	1032,4, 1047
Secondary	7,1856	2,3806
MG		7,1852	2,1372, 7,9007
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	Front: 1"6 Side: 0.6"6	62, 162 5/8" - 7/8"3 Front: 0.9"6 Side: 0.6"6	62, 252 3/8" - 1"3
Hull Front, Upper		0.875"@0°7	1"@0°7
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper		0.625"@0°7	1"@0°7
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear		0.375"@0°7	0.375"@0°7
Hull Top
Hull Bottom
Turret Front	0.6"6	0.9"6, 0.875"@0°7	1.5"@0°7
Turret Sides	0.25"6	0.625"@0°7	1.25"@0°7
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	G.M.6	Continental W-6702 Continental Radial3 Continental WG706,7	Continental W-6702 Continental3 Continental WG707
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water6	Air3,6,7	Air3,7
Cylinders	66	R-76,7	R-73,7
Capacity
Net HP	165@2,000 rpm6	2503,7, 250@2,400 rpm6	2503,7
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio	16:16	6:16
Transmission (Type)	Fully automatic6 4 forward, 1 reverse6	Manual Synchromesh6,7 5 forward, 1 reverse6,7	Manual Syncromesh7 5 forward, 1 reverse7
Steering	Controlled differential6	Controlled differential6,7	Controlled differential7
Steering ratio
Starter		Hand electric inertia, direct electric, and cartridge starter6
Electrical system		12-volt6
Ignition	Injection6	Magneto6
Fuel (Type)		Gasoline6,7	Gasoline7
Octane
Quantity	75 gallons6	54 gallons6,7	54 gallons7
Road consumption	3.12 mpg6	1.5 mpg7, 2.4 mpg6	1.5 mpg7
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	Hand6	360°2 Each turret 180°6 Hand6	270°2, 360°7 Manual7
Max speed	30 mph6	25-30 mph2, 38 mph3,6,7	25-30 mph2, 34 mph3, 35 mph7
Cross country speed	5-20 mph6	18 mph2, 25 mph3, 25.7 mph6	18 mph2, 25 mph3
Road radius	234 miles6	125 miles7, 130 miles2,6	78 miles7, 130 miles2
Cross country radius
Turning radius
Elevation limits		-10° to +20°2	-10° to +20°2
Fording depth		3' 6"7, 3' 8"2	3' 6"7, 3' 8"2
Trench crossing		6'2	6'2
Vertical obstacle		2'2	2'2
Climbing ability	22° (40%) slope6	25° slope7 26° (50%) slope6	26° slope7
Suspension (Type)	Vertical volute6	Vertical volute2, Volute spring6, Vertical volute spring7	Vertical volute2, Vertical volute spring7
Wheels each side	46	46 , 2 double wheel bogies7	2 double wheel bogies7
Return rollers each side	36	26,7	27
Tracks (Type)	Rubber block, double pin shoe (T16E4)6	Dry pin, double pin per shoe, rubber cleat6 Steel rubber bushed pins, rubber pads7	Steel rubber bushed pins, rubber pads7
Length
Width	11.5"6	7 5/8"2, 11.6"6, 11 5/8"7	7 5/8"2, 11 5/8"7
Diameter
Number of links	726	666,7	667
Pitch	5.5"6	5.5"6,7	5.5"7
Tire tread		Rubber7	Rubber7
Track centers/tread	6.4'6	6.1'6, 6' 1"2,7	6' 1"2,7
Production	Rock Island Arsenal6	19387 Rock Island Arsenal6,7	1936-1941 : 365 3755 (365: American Car & Foundary, 10: Baldwin Locomotive)1 1940: 373, ACF7

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. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
4. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
5. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
6. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
7. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969

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