United States' M2 light tank

Photos

A father and son on a M2A2 or M2A3? light tank at Aberdeen:

A M2A2 or M2A3? light tank: Fort Knox (Mark Holloway)

Design

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 machine guns 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 M2A1.⁸

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

Production

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.

• M2:
• M2A1: 19⁸
  • Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal
• M2A2: 19
  • Production: 1935 -
• M2A2E3:
  • Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal⁶
• M2A4:
  • Production: 1938⁷
  • Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal^6,7
• M2A5: 365, 373⁷, 375^1,5
  • Production: 1936 - 1941, 1940⁷
  • Manufacturer: American Car & Foundary^1,7 (365)¹, Baldwin Locomotive (10)¹

Variants

• M2 Light Tank: It had a riveted hull with the engine in the rear.
• M2A1 Light Tank:
• M2A2 Light Tank:
• M2A2E3 Light Tank⁶:
• M2A3 Light Tank:
• M2A4 Light Tank:

Usage

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

United Kingdom:

Some were supplied to Britain and were used for training.^1,8

M2A4s were supplied.^7,8

Australia:

Various models were supplied under Lend Lease.³

Russia:

M2A4s were supplied.⁷

Specifications

	M2
Crew	Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner 41
Physical Characteristics
Weight	10.26 tons1 10,432 kg1
Length w/gun	14' 7"1 4.45 m1
Length w/o gun
Height	8' 3"1 2.52 m1
Width	8' 4"1 2.53 m1
Width over tracks
Ground clearance
Ground contact length
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm1
Secondary	(.30 cal) MG1
MG	4: 7.62 mm MG1
Side arms
Quantity
Main
Secondary
MG	2,137 7,185
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	251
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
Bore / stroke
Cooling
Cylinders
Capacity
Net HP
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Manual
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)
Octane
Quantity
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°
Speed - Road	25-30 mph, 34 mph1 55 kph1
Speed - Cross Country	18 mph
Range - Road	130 miles1 209 km1
Range - Cross Country
Turning radius
Elevation limits	+20° to -10°
Fording depth	3' 8"
Trench crossing	6'
Vertical obstacle	2'
Climbing ability
Suspension (Type)	Vertical volute
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width	7 5/8"
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	6' 1"