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United States' M3A1 medium tank14

M3A1 Medium Tank:
United States' M3A1 Medium Tank
Aberdeen Tank Museum
M3A1 Medium Tank:
United States' M3 Medium TankU.S. Ordnance Dept.
M3A1 Medium Tank:
USA's M3 Medium Tank
 
  Shell Type Weight Muzzle velocity
75 mm M211,12 AP11,12 14.4 lb11,12 1,290'/sec12, 1,850'/sec11
37 mm M611,12 AP11,12 1.9 lb11,12 2,600'/sec11, 2,900'/sec12
.30 Cal MG     2,800'/sec12
Was first model to be used by British against the Germans at Sidi Rezeg, Libya in November 1941.11

Produced by American Locomotive Company.1

Cast hull.8,12,14 Cast upper hull.1,14 Late models had escape hatch in hull floor instead of side doors.

Diesel version

Had Guiberson diesel engine.8

  M3A1 medium tank14, Lee II
Crew Commander, driver, loaders(2), gunners(2).4
64,5,10,12,14, 711
Radio SCR-50814
Radio - command SCR-50614
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 32 tons11
60,000 lb5,10,14, 63,880 lb12
27,900 kg
Length w/gun 18' 6"4,5,10,11,12,14
5.64-6.12 m
Length w/o gun  
Height 10' 3"4,5,10,12,14, 10.25'11
Width 8.95'11, 8' 11"4,5,10,12,14
Ground clearance 17 1/8"10,12,14, 17.1"11
Ground contact length 147"11,12,14
Ground pressure 12.9 psi, 13.25 psi12, 13.36 psi10,14, 13.5 psi11
Turret ring diameter 57"10,12
Armament  
Main 75 mm M24,14
75 mm5
75 mm M2, L/3111
75 mm M2, gyrostabilized12
OR 75 mm M34,14
Secondary 37 mm M54,14
37 mm5
37 mm M6, L/5311
37 mm M612
OR 37 mm M64,14
MG 3-4: .30 cal Browning MGs4
3: MG5
3: .30 cal M1919A4 and M1919A5, coaxial, hull, cupola11
MG - cupola 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG12
1: .30 cal M1919A4 Browning MG14
MG - coaxial 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG12
1: .30 cal M1919A4 Browning MG14
MG - hull 1: .30 cal M1919A4 Browning MG14
2: .30 cal M1919A4 MG12
Side arms Hand grenades12,14
.45 cal submachine gun14
Quantity  
Main 464,12,14, 5011
Secondary 1784,11,12,14
MG 9,2004,11,12,14
Side arms Grenades: 1212,14
.45: 1,90014
Armor Thickness (mm) 124, 374, 1.5" - 2"5
Front: 2"11
Side: 1.5"11
Hull Front, Upper 2"14, 2"@0°12
Hull Front, Lower 1.5"14
Hull Sides, Upper 1.5"14, 1.5"@0°12
Hull Sides, Lower 1.5"14
Hull Rear 1.5"14, 1.5"@0°12
Hull Top 0.5"14
Hull Bottom 0.5" - 1"14
Turret Front 2"11, 2.25"14, 2.25"@0°12
Turret Sides 2"11, 2.25"14, 2.25"@0°12
Turret Rear 2.25"14
Turret Top 7/8"14
Engine (Make / Model) Continental R-975-EC210,15, Continental R-975-C110, Continental R-9755, Guiberson Diesel11, Wright Whirlwind (gasoline)11, Continental R975-EC112, Guiberson T-140012
OR Continental R-975-EC114
Cooling Air10,11,12,14
Cylinders 95,10,11, R-912,14
Wright: R-911
Net HP 3405, 340@2,400 rpm10,14
Diesel: 34512, 350@2,400 rpm11
Gasoline: 34012
Wright: 420@2,000 rpm11
Transmission (Type) Synchromesh12,14
5 forward, 1 reverse12,14
Steering Controlled differential12
Starter Electric11
Electrical system 24-volts11,14
Ignition Diesel: Injection11
Gasoline: Magneto11
Gear ratio - 1st gear 7.56:114
- 2nd gear 3.11:114
- 3rd gear 1.78:114
- 4th gear 1.11:114
- 5th gear 0.73:114
- Reverse gear 5.65:114
Fuel (Type) Gasoline10,11,12
Diesel11,12
Octane 8010,14
OR 9210,14
Capacity 175 gallons10,12,14
796 liters
Gasoline: 185 gallons11
Diesel: 175 gallons11
Fuel consumption - Road Gasoline: 0.6 mpg11
Diesel: 0.8 mpg11
Fuel consumption - Cross country  
Power to Weight Ratio  
Performance  
Traverse 37 mm: 360°4,12,14, power or manual12
75 mm: 15° left, 15° right4,12,14
Hydraulic or hand11
Max Speed 25 mph11,12, 26 mph4,5,10,14
34 kph
Cross Country speed 4-20 mph11, 16 mph4
Road radius 120 miles4,10,14
193 km
Gasoline: 120 miles11,12
Diesel: 140 miles11,12
Cross country radius  
Turning Radius 37'10,14
18.9 m
Elevation Limits 75 mm: -9° to +20°4,12,14
37 mm: -7° to +60°4,12,14
Fording depth 3' 4"4,10,12,14, 42"11
Trench crossing 6.2'14, 6' 2"10,12, 6' 3"4, 7.6'11
Vertical Obstacle 2'4,10,11,12,14
Climbing ability 30° slope12, 31° (60%) slope11, 60%14
Suspension (Type) 3: Vertical Volute bogies8,11
Vertical volute springing12,14
Wheels each side 3x211, 3 two wheeled bogies12
Wheel size 20" x 9"14
Wheel size - idler 22" x 9"14
Return rollers each side 311,12
Tracks (Type) Rubber block or rubber bushed, double pin shoe11,14
Steel blocks with rubber pads, rubber bushed track pins12
Length  
Width 16"11,12, 16.5"4, 16 9/16"14
Number of Links 7911,12,14
Pitch 6"11,12,14
Tire Tread Rubber12
Track centers/tread 81"12, 6' 11"4,10,14, 6.9'11

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. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
  3. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
  4. 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
  5. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  6. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  7. -
  8. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  9. Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
  10. AFV 11: M3 Medium (Lee/Grant), Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis
  11. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  12. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
  13. Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
  14. The American Arsenal, 1996
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