M2 Light Tank

Prewar training exercise.
USA's M2 Light Tank

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:

USA's M2A2E3 Light Tank

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

USA's M2A3 Light Tank
Aberdeen Tank Museum

USA's M2A3 Light Tank
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

USA's 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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