The Light Tank m2 is a light tank American designed between the two world wars. It was especially used on the peaceful face and, although little used with the quickly exceeded combat because, it represented the first tank of modern design entirely American.

History

M2 were developed as from 1935 by the company Rock Island Arsenal for the Infanterie of the US Army. Its design was vaguely inspired by the Vickers 6-Tone. At the beginning, its principal armament was consisted of the machine-gun Browning m2 of 12,7 mm installed on a small turret of a place. After 10 produced specimens, it was decided to add a twin turret to it, but armed with a machine-gun of 7,62 Misters They were affectionately called " Mae West " according to the name of a film star of the time. This configuration was not very effective but widespread between the two wars with in particular the T-26 and 7TP.

With the Spanish civil war, US Army understood that it was to have better armed and protected armoured tanks. Thus in 1940, the twin turrets were replaced by only one broader and armed with the gun of 37 mm M5, the shielding passed to 25 mm, the suspensions and the transmission were improved and the system of refroississment driving changed. The consequences of the Bataille of France led the research departments to create new tanks based on the frame of m2. By increasing the shielding and the size of the hull, the m3 had been born. First m3 resembled much the M2A4 and certain combat units had the two models, the principal difference between these models was at the level of the idler roller of the caterpillars (the last bearing behind of the tank). On the M2A4, this one is larger and on m3, it touches the ground increasing the bearing pressure of the vehicle weighed down by a thicker shielding. In March 1941, the production of m2 left room to that of m3.

The importance of the project m2 is in fact in the strong foundation which it brought for the creation of m3. The mechanical reliability and the high speed of the latter, were direct concéquences of the program of m2.

Use

In December 1941, the M2A1, M2A2 and M2A3 were used for the training of of tanks. Some M2A4 nevertheless were employed by the US Marine Body during the Bataille of Guadalcanal and remained active until in 1943. The British placed order of 100 M2A4 at the beginning of 1941. After the delivery of 36 specimens, the order was cancelled with the profit of more effective m3 Stuart.

Alternatives

• M2A1 (1935).
• Machine-gun of 12,7 mm out of turret, 10 produced units.
• M2A2 (1935).
• twin Turrets Mae West . 239 produced units.
• M2A3 (1938).
• twin Turrets, shielding and suspensions improved. 72 produced units.
• M2A4 (1940).
• Only one turret with a gun of 37 mm, improvement of the shielding. 375 produced units.

References

• Steven Zaloga - m3 & M5 Stuart Light Tank 1940-45 , 1999 Osprey Publishing (New Vanguard 33), ISBN 1-85532-911-5.

External bonds

• AFV database
• WWII vehicles
• Armor penetration counts off US 37 mm guns

Random links:

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