American light tank M24 Chaffee

Light tank M24 “Chaffee” was developed in 1943. It was mass-produced since 1944. It was in service with the armies of the USA, Canada, Great Britain; after 1945 it was delivered to France, Italy, Turkey, Iran, Japan. Used in battles of the Second World War and post-war conflicts.

American light tank M24 Chaffee, tank museum, Kubinka, 2007 photo, archives.

Performance characteristics

Weight – 18 tons
Crew – 5 people
Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 5490 x 2845 x 2462 mm.
Armament:
gun – 1 pc.
caliber – 75 mm., ammunition – 48 shots
machine gun – 2 pcs.
caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 3750 cartridges
machine gun – 1 pc.
caliber – 12.7 mm., ammunition – 440 cartridges
Armor protection
case front – 25 mm.
turret – 38 mm.
Engine power – 220 (110 x 2) horsepower
Maximum speed – 56 km / h
Cruising on the highway – 130 km.
The depth of water obstacles surmounted ford – 1 meter

Design features

The base is original.

The overall layout – the power plant and transmission are located in the stern of the tank; steering mechanisms and final gears in the bow.

Armament – the gun is stabilized in a vertical plane; electrohydraulic targeting mechanisms.

Protection – body welded, with rational tilt angles of armor plates; installed manual fire system.

Chassis – two eight-cylinder automobile engine of liquid cooling; transmission – planetary gearboxes, turning mechanisms are connected to the power plant with a cardan shaft; individual suspension, torsion bar, with hydraulic shock absorbers; communications equipment similar to the tank M5A1 “Stuart”.