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M24 Chaffee



Overview


M24 Chaffee

A well preserved M24 Chaffee light tank seen with reenactors in 2006.
Source: Armchair Aviator (D. Miller) - © GNU Attribution - Share Alike license

Origin
United States
Type
Light tank
Entered service
1944
Status
Obsolete
Development
April 1943 - October 1943
Developer
United States - Cadillac division of General Motors
Production
1944 - August 1945
Producer
United States - General Motors
Number produced
A total of 4.731 built, production complete
Designations
Light Tank T24 (prototype)
Light Tank, M24 (US service)
Chaffee (British designation)
Notable users
United States
France

Description


Introduction

The M24 Chaffee is a World War 2 era light tank of US origin. It was developed during the later stages of World War 2 to replace the M3 Stuart with a vehicle that was better armed, better armored and more mobile. The US designation is "Light Tank, M24" and the British designation "Chaffee", which resulted in the M24 Chaffee being a common designation at the end of World War 2.

Design

The M24 was designed to be as light as possible in order to have a good mobility. A crew of 5 operates the M24. The driver and bow gunner are seated in the front hull. The fighting compartment is in the middle and the engine is at the rear, although the drive sprocket is located at the front. The commander, gunner and loader are seated in the turret.

Firepower

The main armament of the M24 is the 75mm M6 L/39 cannon, which was derived from the gun used on the B-25 Mitchell bomber. This allowed the M24 to engage most German combat vehicles. Two .30 M1919A4 machine guns were fitted, one in the bow and the other coaxially with the main armament. An 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun was fitted on a pintle mount on the turret roof for use against aircraft and ground targets.

Protection

The steel armor is 25mm at the hull front, 19mm at the sides and rear and 38mm on the turret. This protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters. Over the frontal arc heavier munitions can be stopped, such as 20mm autocannon rounds. Virtually all cannon and anti-tank weapons will penetrate the armor. There are no NBC system or smoke grenade dischargers.

Mobility

For a World War 2 era vehicle the M24 Chaffee has a good mobility. The maximum speed is 56 km/h on land and 40 km/h off road. The M24 mounts the same twin Cadillac engines as the M5 Stuart, providing about 300 hp.

Users

The M24 Chaffee was widely used by US forces during World War 2 and also saw limited service with UK forces. After World War 2 many vehicles were gifted to European nations and other US allies around the world. The M24 was also used in later conflicts such as the Korean War, Indo-China war and 1971 Indo-Pakistani war. In these conflicts the M24 proved useful for reconnaissance, but were no match for more modern tanks and anti-tank weapons. In US service the M24 was replaced by the M41 Walker Bulldog.

Media


Details


Facts M24 Chaffee
General
Origin
United States
Type
Light tank
Crew
5 (commander, driver, gunner, bow gunner, loader)
Dimensions
Weight
18.4 t combat load
Length
5.53 m gun forward
5.03 m hull
Width
3.0 m
Height
2.77 m including machine gun
Main armament
Type
76mm M6 cannon
Mount
Main gun in turret
Ammunition
48 rounds
Elevation
-10° to +15°, manual
Traverse
360° traverse, powered
Traverse rate
24°/s
Stabilizer
Elevation only
Coaxial armament
Type
.30 M1919A4 machine gun
Mount
Coaxial with main gun
Ammunition
3.750 rounds in total
Traverse
Traverse and elevation as main armament
Bow armament
Type
.30 M1919A4 machine gun
Mount
Bow mount in hull front
Ammunition
3.750 rounds in total
Traverse
Forward arc
Secondary armament
Type
12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun
Mount
Pintle mount on turret roof
Ammunition
440 rounds, 110 ready to fire
Traverse
Manual traverse and elevation
Chassis
Chassis type
Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels
Layout
Drive sprocket front, idler rear
Ground pressure
0.79 kg/cm²
Track width
0.41 m
Track on ground
2.85 m
Tread
2.4 m
Suspension
Torsion bar
Automotive
Engine model
2x Cadillac Series 44T24
Engine type
4-stroke V8 gasoline
Power output
296 hp combined
Transmission
Hydramatic, 8 forward, 4 reverse
Fuel
420 L
Mobility
Speed
56 km/h on road
40 km/h off-road
Range
160 km on road
Turn radius
14 m
Power to weight ratio
16.1 hp/t
Obstacle crossing
Ground clearance
0.46 m
Wall
0.9 m
Trench
2.4 m
Gradient
60 %
Fording
1.0 m
Protection
Armor type
Steel
Armor thickness
38 mm turret front
25 mm hull front
19 mm hull sides and rear
NBC system
No
Smoke system
No
Equipment
Night vision
No
Fire control
No
Radio
Yes

Subcomponents


Browning M1919

The .30 Browning M1919A4 machine gun is used both as a bow machine gun and as a coaxial machine gun.

Browning M2HB

The .50 Browning M2HB is fitted on a pintle mount on the roof. This provides a degree of protection against aircraft and is useful against light armored vehicles and infantry emplacements.

Vehicles based on the M24 Chaffee chassis


M37 Howitzer Motor Carriage

Self-propelled howitzer based on a lengthened M24 Chaffee chassis. Instead of a turret a 105mm howitzer is fitted in an open roof casemate superstructure.

M41 Gorilla

Self-propelled howitzer based on the M24 light tank chassis. Armed with a 155mm howitzer in an open rear compartment.

M19 MGMC

Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the M24 light tank chassis. Armed with two 40mm Bofors L/60 autocannon in an open turret.