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United States' M2A3 light tank
M2A3 Light Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
M2A3 Light Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
M2A3 Light Tank: |
M2A3 Light Tank: |
M2A3 light tank:  Mark Holloway |
Design
Twin turrets.1,8 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
The suspension was improved by adding a trailing idler.8
Prototype
Production
Variants
Usage
| M2A3 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner.2 42,3,6,7 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 19,460 lb7, 20,000 lb2 9.5 tons3, 10 tons6 |
| Length w/gun | 14' 6"2,6, 14' 6.5"3, 14' 7"7 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 6' 6"7, 7.4'6, 7' 4"2, 7' 5"3 |
| Width | 7' 9.25"3, 8' 1.25"2, 8.2'6, 8' 4"7 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 14.5"6 |
| Ground contact length | 97"6,7 |
| Ground pressure | 9 psi6, 13.75 psi7 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm 3: MG3 Left turret: .50 cal MG6 Left turret: .50 cal HB M5 MG7 |
| Secondary | Right turret: .30 cal M1919A4 MG6,7 |
| MG | .30 cal M1919A4 MG, hull6,7 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | .1,5796 |
| Secondary | 2,3806 |
| MG | 7,1852 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 62, 162 5/8" - 7/8"3 Front: 0.9"6 Side: 0.6"6 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 0.875"@0°7 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.625"@0°7 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | 0.375"@0°7 |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | |
| Turret Front | 0.9"6, 0.875"@0°7 |
| Turret Sides | 0.625"@0°7 |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Continental W-6702 Continental Radial3 Continental WG706,7 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Air3,6,7 |
| Cylinders | R-76,7 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 2503,7, 250@2,400 rpm6 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | 6:16 |
| Transmission (Type) | Manual Synchromesh6,7 5 forward, 1 reverse6,7 |
| Steering | Controlled differential6,7 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | Hand electric inertia, direct electric, and cartridge starter6 |
| Electrical system | 12-volt6 |
| Ignition | Magneto6 |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline6,7 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 54 gallons6,7 |
| Road consumption | 1.5 mpg7, 2.4 mpg6 |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°2 Each turret 180°6 Hand6 |
| Max speed | 25-30 mph2, 38 mph3,6,7 |
| Cross country speed | 18 mph2, 25 mph3, 25.7 mph6 |
| Road radius | 125 miles7, 130 miles2,6 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°2 |
| Fording depth | 3' 6"7, 3' 8"2 |
| Trench crossing | 6'2 |
| Vertical obstacle | 2'2 |
| Climbing ability | 25° slope7 26° (50%) slope6 |
| Suspension (Type) | Vertical volute2, Volute spring6, Vertical volute spring7 |
| Wheels each side | 46 , 2 double wheel bogies7 |
| Return rollers each side | 26,7 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin, double pin per shoe, rubber cleat6 Steel rubber bushed pins, rubber pads7 |
| Length | |
| Width | 7 5/8"2, 11.6"6, 11 5/8"7 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 666,7 |
| Pitch | 5.5"6,7 |
| Tire tread | Rubber7 |
| Track centers/tread | 6.1'6, 6' 1"2,7 |
Sources:
- 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
- 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
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- -
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
- Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
