M2 Light Tank

Infobox Weapon
name=Light Tank M2A4


caption=Fitters are at work assembling an M2A4 light tank which has just arrived at a British ordnance depot.
type=Light tank
origin=United States
is_vehicle=yes
length=4.43 m (14.53 ft)
width=2.47 m (8.1 ft)
height=2.65 m (8.69 ft)
weight=11.6 tonnes (25,600 lb)
suspension=Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS)
speed=58 km/h (36 mi/h)
vehicle_range=320 km (199 mi)
primary_armament=1x 37 mm Gun M5
103 rounds
secondary_armament=5x .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns
8,470 rounds
armour=6 - 25 mm (0.25 - 1.0 in)
engine=Continental W-670-9A, 7 Cylinder
crew=4 (Commander/gunner, loader, driver, co-driver)
engine_power=245/220 hp (183/164 kW)
pw_ratio= hp/tonne

The Light Tank M2 was an American pre-World War II light tank that saw use in early battles of the Pacific War. Although only a few saw combat, it was an important development step in the line of US light tanks of World War II.

Development History

The Light Tank M2 was developed in 1935 by Rock Island Arsenal for the infantry branch of the U.S. Army. The design was somewhat inspired by the famous Vickers 6-ton. Its main weapon was one .50 machine gun, installed in a small one-man turret. After only 10 units were delivered, the Infantry branch decided to switch to a twin turret configuration, with a .30 machine gun in the second turret. These early twin-turret tanks were given the nickname "Mae West" by the troops, after the popular movie star. The twin-turret layout was inefficient, but was a common feature of 1930s light tanks derived from the Vickers, such as the Soviet T-26 and Polish 7TP.

Following the Spanish Civil War, the U.S. Army understood it needed better armed and better armored vehicles. The Cavalry branch had already opted for a single, larger turret on its nearly identical M1 combat car. By 1940 the twin machine gun turrets were replaced by one larger turret with a 37 mm gun, and armor reached 25 mm. Other upgrades included improved suspension, improved transmission, and better engine cooling.

The Battle of France gave momentum to the US tank program, and in July 1940 work began on a new light tank based on the M2 series. By adding heavier armor and a slightly longer hull, the M3 was created. The early M3 closely resembled the M2A4 and indeed the two types occasionally served in the same units; the easiest recognition feature is the idler wheel. On the M2A4, the idler is raised; on the M3 it trails on the ground, increasing the floatation of the heavier vehicle. In March 1941 light tank production switched to the M3 series.

The M2's importance lies in the sound basis it provided for US M3-series light tanks early in WW2. The M3's high speed and mechanical reliability were legacies of the M2 program.Fact|date=April 2008

Employment

By December 1941, the M2A1, M2A2 and M2A3 were used for training only. A few M2A4 saw some combat in the Battle of Guadalcanal with the U.S. Marine Corps and remained in service in some areas of Pacific until 1943.

Britain ordered 100 M2A4s in early 1941. After 36 of them were delivered, the order was canceled in favor of an improved Light Tank M3.

Variants

*M2A1 (1935).
**.50 MG in a single turret. 10 units were produced.
*M2A2 (1935).
**Twin turrets. Dubbed "Mae West". 239 units produced.
*M2A3 (1938).
**Twin turrets, Thicker armor, improved suspension. 72 units produced.
*M2A4 (1940).
**Single turret with 37mm gun. Thicker armor. 375 units produced.

ee also

*List of "M" series military vehicles

Notes

References

*Steven Zaloga - "M3 & M5 Stuart Light Tank 1940-45", 1999 Osprey Publishing (New Vanguard 33), ISBN 1-85532-911-5.

External links

* [http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/lighttankm2.html AFV database]
* [http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/tanks-light/m2.asp WWII vehicles]
* [http://gva.freeweb.hu/weapons/usa_guns2.html Armor penetration table of US 37 mm guns]