M3A5 Medium Tank


Aberdeen Tank Museum

USA's M3A5 Medium Tank
Aberdeen Tank Museum

USA's M3 Medium Tank


Aberdeen Tank Museum

Riveted hull.1,8,11 Late production models had longer M3 75mm gun.

The 37 mm gun could fire a 1.91 lb shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,600'/sec.11 The 75 mm gun could fire a 14.4 lb shell at 1,850'/sec.11 The 75 mm gun's stabilizer was made by Westinghouse.11

  M3A5, Grant II
Crew Commander, driver, loaders(2), gunners(2).4
64,5,10,11,12
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 32.5 tons11
64,000 lb5,10, 65,000 lb12
Length w/gun 18' 6"4,5,10,11,12
Length w/o gun  
Height 10' 3"4,5,10,11,12
Width 8' 11"4,5,10,12, 8.95'11
Width over tracks  
Ground clearance 17 1/8"10,12, 17.1"11
Ground contact length 147"10,11,12
Ground pressure 12.9 psi, 12.25 psi12, 13.36 psi10, 13.6 psi11
Turret ring diameter 57"10
Armament  
Main 75 mm M2 or M34
75 mm5
75 mm M2, L/3111
75 mm M2, gyrostabilized12
Secondary 37 mm M5 or M64
37 mm5
37 mm M6, L/5311
37 mm M612
MG 3-4: .30 cal Browning MGs4
3: MG5
3: .30 cal MGs11
4: .30 cal M1919A4 MG, coaxial, cupola, fixed in hull (2)12
Side arms Hand grenades12
Quantity  
Main 464,11,12
Secondary 1784,11,12
MG 9,2004,11,12
Side arms Grendades: 1212
Armor Thickness (mm) 124, 374
1.5" - 2"5
Front: 2"11
Side: 1.5"11
Hull Front, Upper 2"@0°12
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper 1.5"@0°12
Hull Sides, Lower  
Hull Rear 1.5"@0°12
Hull Top  
Hull Bottom  
Turret Front 2"11, 2.25"@0°12
Mantlet: 1"11
Turret Sides 2"11, 2.25"@0°12
Turret Rear  
Turret Top  
Engine (Make / Model) Twin GM 6-715
Twin GM 6-71 604610,12
GM 11
Bore / stroke  
Cooling Water10,11,12
Cylinders 2x611, 12 (6x2)10, 125, I-1212
Capacity  
Net HP 3755,12
375@2,100 rpm10, 420@2,000 rpm11
Power to weight ratio  
Compression ratio  
Transmission (Type) Synchromesh11,12
5 forward, 1 reverse11,12
Steering Controlled differential11,12
Steering ratio  
Starter Electric11
Electrical system 24-volt11
Ignition Injection11
Fuel (Type) Diesel10,11,12
Octane 5010
Quantity 174 gallons11, 175 gallons10,12
796 liters
Fuel consumption - Road 0.7 mpg11
Fuel consumption - Cross country  
Performance  
Traverse 37 mm: 360°4,12
75 mm: 15° left, 15° right4,12
Hydraulic or manual11, Manual or power12
Max speed 25 mph11, 26 mph4, 29 mph5,10, 30 mph12
40 kph
Cross country speed 4 - 20 mph11, 16 mph4
Road radius 120 miles11, 160 miles4,10,12
241 km
Cross country radius  
Turning radius 37'10
18.9 m
Elevation limits 75 mm: -9° to +20°4,12
37 mm: -7° to +60°4,12
Fording depth 3' 4"4,10,11,12
Trench crossing 6'11, 6' 2"10,12, 6' 3"4
Vertical obstacle 2'4,10,11,12
Climbing ability 30° slope12, 31° (60%) slope11
Suspension (Type) 3: Vertical Volute bogies8
3: two-wheeled bogies on vertical volute springs11
Vertical volute springing12
Wheels each side 2x311
3 two wheeled bogies12
Return rollers each side 311,12
Tracks (Type) Rubber block, rubber bushed, double pin shoe11
Steel blocks with rubber pads, rubber bushed track pins12
Track length  
Track width 16"11,12, 16.5"4
Number of links 7911,12
Pitch 6"11,12
Tire tread Rubber11,12
Track centers/tread 6.9'11, 81"12, 6' 11"4,10

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. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  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
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