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United States' M24 light tank9, Chaffee

M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
US Army
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States' M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
Imperial War Museum
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee at the Patton Museum in Ft Knox, Kentucky
United States M24 Light Tank, Chaffee at the Patton Museum in Ft Knox, Kentucky
Chris Bobo
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
Mark Holloway
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee:
United States M24 Light Tank, Chaffee
Mark Holloway
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee's coaxial machine gun:
United States M24 Light Tank, Chaffee's coaxial machine gun
Mark Holloway
M24 Light Tank, Chaffee's radio and a M3 sub machine gun "Grease Gun":
United States M24 Light Tank, Chaffee's radio and M3 sub machine gun 'Grease Gun'
Mark Holloway
 
1/72 Armor
Hobby Master
3601:
3602:

Design

In April 1943 the US Ordnance Department and Cadillac begin work on a new light tank with a 75 mm gun to replace the M5 Light Tank.8

Was named after US Army tank pioneer General Adna R. Chaffee.6

The armor was welded. The track was center guided and the tank used a torsion bar suspension. The engines were mounted on rail for easy maintenance. Each engine was identical and were interchangeable. The engines were the same engines as used in Cadillac automobiles.6 There was a bulkhead between the fighting compartment and the engine.6

There was a Cletrac controlled differential installed in the front of the hull for steering and braking.6 A synchronizer was incorporated in the transfer unit and the M24 was capable of 8 speeds forward and 4 reverse.9 In reverse the M24 could get up to 18 mph.9

Armament

The M24 used the same 75 mm gun that was originally designed for mounting in the B-25 Mitchell bomber for anti-ship use.8 It had a concentric recoil system which saved turret space.1 The gun and a .30 cal MG were mounted in a Combination Gun Mount, M64.9 Ammo was stored in water protected containers in the floor.9

The AA machine gun could be fire manually or electronically.6 The 75 mm used a hydraulically operated stabilizer.6 It could fire a 14.4 lb shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,050'/sec.7

The antiaircraft gun was mounted on a pintle at the rear of the turret. The 2" mortar was located on the right front side of the turret.

Crew

At the left front sat the driver and the assistant driver / radio operator on the right.6 Both had driving controls.6 In the turret the gunner and loader were on the right and the commander on the left.6 Originally it was intended to have only a four man crew with the assistant driver moving to the turret to load the gun.6 The M24 had no turret basket, as the seats for the crew were suspended from the base ring.6,9

The hatches for the driver and assistant driver could be opened regardless of the turret position.1 There was an escape hatch placed in the floor of the hull.9

Prototype

Two pilot models (T24) were delivered in October 1943 by the Cadillac Motor Division.

Production

The Ordnance Department immediately ordered 1,000 before service tests had begun and then raised to 5,000 vehicles.1,8

Was Standardized in May 19448 / July 1944.1,9 First delivered in late 1944.

Variants

Usage

First delivered to Western Europe in November 1944.1 First saw action in Italy.

It was used in the crossing of the Rhine.

A small number was supplied to Britain in 1945 and were named Chaffee.1

  M24 light tank9, Chaffee
Crew Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/radio operator.2
47,9, 4 or 51,6, 52,3,4,8
Radio SCR-5089
OR SCR-5289
OR SCR-5389
OR British No. 199
Radio - command tank SCR-5069
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 38,750 lb9, 40,500 lb2,3,8
18,370 kg8, 18,371 kg1
18 tons1, 18.37 tons4, 20.3 tons7
Length w/gun 18'1,2,3,4,8,9
5.486 m8, 5.49 m1,4
Length w/o gun 16' 3"9, 16' 4.5"2,4,8, 16.5'7
4.99 m4, 4.991 m8
Height 8' 1"1,3,9, 8' 1.5"2,4,8, 9.1'7
2.46 m1, 2.4765 m8, 2.48 m4
Width 9' 4"3,9, 9.5'7, 9' 8"1,2,4,8
2.946 m8, 2.95 m1,4
Width over tracks  
Ground clearance 1' 5"9, 1' 6"7
Ground contact length 9' 4"9, 10'7
Ground pressure 10.5 psi7, 10.7 psi9, 11.3 psi
Turret ring diameter 60"9
Armament  
Main 75 mm3,4,6
75 mm M61,2,8,9
75 mm M6, L/407
Secondary  
MG 3: MG3
2: .30 cal MG8
1: .50 cal MG8
MG - coaxial 1: .30 cal MG1,4,6
1: .30 cal Browning M1919A42,7,9
MG - hull 1: .30 cal MG1,4,6
1: .30 cal Browning M1919A42,7,9
MG - antiaircraft 1: .50 cal MG2,6
1: .50 cal Browning M2 HB9
1: .50 cal M2 MG7
1: 12.7 mm (.50 cal) MG1,4
Side arms 2" M3 Mortar, in turret9
1: M2 .30 cal Tripod mount9
4: M3 .45 cal submachine guns9
1: M1 .30 cal Carbine with grenade launcher9
Grenades
Quantity  
Main 481,2,7,8,9 (AP, APC, HE, WP, Canister, Smoke)
Secondary  
MG .30: 3,7502,7,9, 4,1258
.50: 4208, 4407,9
Side arms Mortar: 149
.45: 720
Grenades: 8 (2: smoke, 6: fragmentation)9
Armor Thickness (mm) 92, 252
12 - 384, 1" - 2.5"3
Front: 1"7,8
Front: 25.48
Hull: 2.5"6
Hull Front, Upper 1"9
Hull Front, Lower 1"9
Hull Sides, Upper 0.75"8, 0.75" - 1"9, 1"7
198
Hull Sides, Lower 0.75" - 1"9
Hull Rear 0.75"8, 0.75" - 1.25"9
198
Hull Top 0.5"9
Hull Bottom 3/8" - 0.5"9
Turret Front 1"7,9, 1.25"6, 1.5"8
388
Gunshield: 1.5"9
Turret Sides 1"7,9
Turret Rear 1"9
Turret Top 0.5"9
Engine (Make / Model) 2 x Cadillac Twin 44T241,2,4,6, 2 x Cadillac Series 429, Twin Cadillac3, 2xCadillac7
Bore / stroke  
Cooling Liquid9, Water7
Cylinders V-84, 2xV-87,9
Capacity  
Net HP 110 each3,4, 110@3.600 rpm7, 2208, 220@3,4009
Power to weight ratio  
Compression ratio  
Transmission (Type) Hydra-Matic9, 8 forward, 4 reverse9
Planetary, 4 forward, no reverse and Cadillac helical transfer case with 2 forward, and 2 reverse7
Gear ratio - 1st speed 9.19:19
- 2nd speed 5.96:19
- 3rd speed 3.62:19
- 4th speed 2.34:19
- 5th speed 4.05:19
- 6th speed 2.62:19
- 7th speed 1.59:19
- 8th speed 1.03:19
Reverse gear ratio - 1st speed 9.57:19
- 2nd speed 6.17:19
- 3rd speed 3.78:19
- 4th speed 2.44:19
Steering Controlled differential7
Steering ratio  
Starter Electric7
Electrical system 24-volts7,9
Ignition Distributor7
Fuel (Type) Gasoline7
Octane 809
Quantity 110 gallons7,9
Road consumption 0.9 mpg7
Cross country consumption  
Performance  
Traverse 360°2,9, powered9
Hydraulic and manual7
Max speed 34 mph1,7, 35 mph2,3,4,8,9
55 kph1, 56 kph4,8
Cross country speed 20-30 mph7, 25 mph2,3,8
40 kph8
Road radius 100 miles2,4,7,8, 175 miles1,9
161 km4,8, 281 km1
Cross country radius 100 miles9
Turning radius 40'9
Elevation limits -10° to +15°2,9
Fording depth 3' 4"2,4,7,9
1.02 m4
3' 4" unprepared
6' 6" prepared
Trench crossing 6' 6"9, 8'2,4, 8.25'7
2.44 m4
Vertical obstacle 3'2,4,7,9
0.91 m4
Climbing ability 31° (60%) slope7, 60%9
Suspension (Type) Torsion bar2,6,7,9
Wheels each side 57,9
Wheel size 25.5" x 4.5"9
Wheel size - idler 22.5" x 4.5"9
Return rollers each side 37
Tracks (Type) Steel-rubber bushed, single pin7,9
Length  
Width 1' 4"2,7,8,9
0.406 m8
Diameter  
Number of links 757,9
Pitch 5.5"7,9
Tire tread Rubber7
Track centers/tread 8'2,7,8,9
2.438 m8

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. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  5. -
  6. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  7. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  8. Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
  9. The American Arsenal, 1996
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