Main Menu

United States' M3A4 medium tank14

M3A4 Medium Tank:
United States' M3A4 Medium Tank
M3A4 Medium Tank:
United States' M3A4 Medium Tank
Aberdeen Tank Museum
   

Riveted hull.1,14 Side doors eliminated. Due to shortage of tank engines Chrysler combined 5 car engines together to provide power.1 These were nicknamed "The Eggbeater".9 The hull was lengthened and the bogie wheels spread to accommodate the 5 engines.1

Then engines were placed in a star configuration.12

  M3A4 medium tank14, Lee VI
Crew Commander, driver, loaders(2), gunners(2).4
64,5,10,12,14
Radio SCR-50814
Radio - command SCR-50614
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 64,000 lb5,10,14, 67,280 lb12
29,000 kg
Length w/gun 19' 8"4,5,10,12,14
6.15-6.63 m
Length w/o gun 6.15 m
Height 10' 3"4,5,10,12,14
Width 8' 11"4,5,10,12,14
2.64 m
Width over tracks  
Ground clearance 17 1/8"10,12,14
Ground contact length 160"10,12,14
Ground pressure 12.9 psi10,12,14, 13.36 psi
Turret ring diameter 57"10,14
Armament  
Main 75 mm M24,14
75 mm5
75 mm M2, gyrostabilized12
OR 75 mm M34,14
Secondary 37 mm M54
37 mm5
OR 37 mm M64,12,14
MG 3-4: .30 cal Browning MGs4
3: MG5
MG - cupola 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG12
1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG14
MG - coaxial 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG12
1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG14
MG - hull 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG14
2: .30 cal M1919A4 MG12
Side arms .45 cal submachine gun14
Hand grenades12,14
Quantity  
Main 464,12,14
Secondary 1784,12,14
MG 9,2004,12,14
Side arms .45 cal: 1,20014
Grenades: 1212,14
Armor Thickness (mm) 124, 374
1.5" - 2"5
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 2.25"14, 2.25"@0°12
Turret Sides 2.25"14, 2.25"@0°12
Turret Rear 2.25"14
Turret Top 7/8"14
Engine (Make / Model) 5: Chrysler A-57 Multibank 5,6,8,10, Chrysler A-57 Multibank12,14, Chrysler Multibank13
Bore / stroke  
Cooling Liquid14, Water10,12
Cylinders 30 (5x6)10, 305,12,14
Capacity  
Net HP 3705,6,12,13, 370@2,400 rpm10,14
Power to weight ratio  
Compression ratio  
Transmission (Type) Synchromesh12,14
5 forward, 1 reverse12,14
Steering Controlled differential12
Steering ratio  
Starter  
Electrical system 24 volt14
Ignition  
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) Gasoline10,12,14
Octane 8010,14
Quantity 160 gallons10,14, 175 miles12
Fuel consumption - Road  
Fuel consumption - Cross country  
Performance  
Traverse 37 mm: 360°4,12,14, power or manual12
75 mm: 15° left, 15° right4,12,14
Max speed 25 mph12, 26 mph4,5,10,14
34 kph
Cross country speed 16 mph4
Road radius 120 miles4,10,12,14
193 km
Cross country radius  
Turning radius 39'10,14
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
Trench crossing 6.2'14, 6' 2"10,12, 6' 3"4
Vertical obstacle 2'4,10,12,14
Climbing ability 30° slope12, 60%14
Suspension (Type) 3: Vertical Volute bogies8
Vertical volute springing12,14
Wheels each side 3 two wheeled bogies12
Wheel size 20" x 9"14
Wheel size - idler 22" x 9"14
Return rollers each side 312
Tracks (Type) Steel blocks with rubber pads, rubber bushed track pins12, Rubber block14
Track length  
Track width 16"12, 16 9/16"14, 16.5"4
Number of links 8312,14
Pitch 6"12,14
Tire tread Rubber12
Track centers/tread 81"12, 6' 11"4,10,14

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
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill