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United States' M2A4 light tank

M2A4 Light Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum	M2A4 Light Tank on a training exercise in the southern United States:	M2A4 Light Tank:	M2A4 Light Tank:
M2A4 Light Tank:

Design

The M2A4 Light Tank was the main production version of the series.⁸ Was developed at the Rock Island Arsenal.⁸

Standardized in 1939.¹ 37 mm gun mounted in the single turret.^1,8 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 Few late production vehicles had Guiberson T1020 diesel.

Prototype

 

Production

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

Variants

Usage

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.

Issued to the US Marine Corps.⁷

	M2A4
Crew	Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner.2 42,3,7,8
Physical Characteristics
Weight	11.5 tons3 23,000 lb2,8, 24,125 lb7 10,433 kg8
Length w/gun	14' 6"2,8, 14' 7"3,7 4.42 m8
Length w/o gun
Height	8' 2"8, 8' 2.5"3,7, 8' 8"2 2.489 m8
Width	8' 1.25"2,8, 8' 4"3,7 2.47 m8
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	14.5"7
Ground contact length	97"7
Ground pressure	13.75 psi7
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm3,4,8 37 mm M57
Secondary
MG	4: MG3 .50 cal
MG - coaxial	1 :.30 cal MG4,8
MG - hull	1: .30 cal MG4, 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG7
MG - sponsons	2: .30 cal MG4,8, 2:.30 cal M1919A4 MG7
MG - anti-aircraft	1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG7
Side arms
Quantity
Main	1032,4,8, 1047
Secondary
MG	2,1372, 7,1848, 7,9007
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	62, 252 3/8" - 1"3 Front: 258 Front: 0.98"8
Hull Front, Upper	1"@0°7
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper	1"@0°7
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear	0.375"@0°7
Hull Top
Hull Bottom
Turret Front	1.5"@0°7
Turret Sides	1.25"@0°7
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	Continental W-6702 Continental3 Continental WG707
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Air3,7
Cylinders	R-73,7
Capacity
Net HP	2503,7,8
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Manual Syncromesh7 5 forward, 1 reverse7
Steering	Controlled differential7
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline7
Octane
Quantity	54 gallons7
Road consumption	1.5 mpg7
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	270°2, 360°7 Manual7
Max speed	25 - 30 mph2,8, 34 mph3, 35 mph7 40 - 48 kph8
Cross country speed	18 mph2,8, 25 mph3 29 kph8
Road radius	78 miles7, 130 miles2,8 209 km8
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	26° slope7
Suspension (Type)	Vertical volute2, Vertical volute spring7
Wheels each side	2 double wheel bogies7
Return rollers each side	27
Tracks (Type)	Steel rubber bushed pins, rubber pads7
Length
Width	7 5/8"2,8, 11 5/8"7 0.1937 m8
Diameter
Number of links	667
Pitch	5.5"7
Tire tread	Rubber7
Track centers/tread	6' 1"2,7,8 1.854 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. 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
8. Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977

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