Guide to the third level medium tank M2 Medium Tank WoT from aces.gg

Good day and welcome to aces.gg! Tankers and tankmen, now we will talk about a vehicle with a very extravagant appearance, an American medium tank of the third level and here is the M2 Medium Tank guide

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This device is at the origins of the development branch of American heavyweights, in addition, after it comes the no less fancy M3 Lee, so it’s better to start getting used to the peculiar appearance now. But jokes aside, aside from the oddities of the M2 Medium Tank WoT

has a number of truly worthy advantages that will definitely be used on the battlefield.

Performance characteristics of M2 Medium Tank

To begin with, I would like to say that our American, even by the standards of third-party technology, has a small margin of safety, but at the same time it has a magnificent and incredibly chic base viewing radius of 370 meters.

Once again I would like to draw your attention to the fact that M2 Medium Tank World of Tanks

has huge, even gigantic dimensions and a very tall silhouette. This fact cannot be called an advantage, because due to such a “shed” our stealth is greatly impaired, you can hit us from a helicopter at a distance of 300 meters and simply hiding behind any obstacle will be very difficult.

Speaking of survivability, M2 Medium Tank characteristics

I received reservations that were inconsistent with my “important” appearance.
Let's start with the frontal projection of the body, and here only the VLD can boast of a good thickness of metal, where, thanks to the inclination, the reduction flows from 43 to 54 millimeters. At the same time, the NLD has a thickness of only 35 millimeters, which is very bad, because behind it there is a transmission and getting here, the enemy will often criticize our engine. But if you pay attention to all the orange and yellow areas, including the “Cheburashka ears”, the American M2 Medium medium tank
has from 18 to 22 millimeters of armor, which is nailed down by even the most shabby machine guns.

When riding this monster into battle and getting to the top of the list, it makes sense to play from the turret, because here we have a 38 mm cone-shaped gun mantlet, behind which there is another 25 mm of armor at an angle, as well as small cheeks located at rational angles. That is, the forehead of the M2 Medium Tank WoT

He can tank, but mainly while at the top. Well, there’s nothing to say about the side projection; here the armor is made of cardboard and you can’t rely on it.

No matter how strange it may sound, but with such dimensions and some kind of armor, this unit received quite decent mobility. This pleasant oddity is explained by the presence of a powerful engine, so the M2 Medium tank

boasts a good top speed, as well as really good dynamics and maneuverability.

With tower and casemates

In 1935, the wheeled-tracked medium tank Convertible Medium Tank T4 . In total, the Rock Island Arsenal in Davenport built 16 of these vehicles, as well as three Convertible Medium Tank T4E1, which had a wheelhouse instead of a turret, along the perimeter of which machine guns were located. The car turned out to be controversial.

On the one hand, it was the first American medium tank, produced in quantities of more than ten copies. On the other hand, the characteristics of the car turned out to be extremely strange. Even on wheels, it was still slightly inferior in mobility to the Light Tank M2A1, although it had similar armament and armor. Considering that the Convertible Medium Tank T4 cost twice as much as its light counterpart, the doubts of the American military are easy to understand. Unlike the Light Tank M2A1 and Combat Car M1, this medium tank was not developed. It was obvious that a new type of machine was required.

In addition to the struggle between supporters of purely tracked and wheeled-tracked designs, there was a fierce debate in the Armaments Department about exactly how the weapons should be located in the tank. It is not without reason that both the Convertible Medium Tank T4 and the Combat Car T5 existed in two versions (with a turret and with a wheelhouse). An attempt to reconcile the warring parties was made by Captain George H. Rarey of the Infantry Department. In April 1934, he developed the concept of a medium wheeled-tracked tank, which simultaneously used both the “fire hedgehog” principle and a circular rotation turret. It was proposed to place sponsons with machine guns around the perimeter of the tank's fighting compartment, and a turret with a 47-mm cannon was installed in the center. The driver was in a separate cabin.

Captain Reri's concept of a medium wheeled-tracked tank, April 1934

The car was not developed in this form. Tests in the 67th Regiment, which included the Light Tank M2A1 and Convertible Medium Tank T4, clearly showed that the concept of a tank on the Harry Knox chassis looked clearly more advantageous. At the same time, Captain Reri's tank project was by no means a waste of paper.

The fact is that he worked in the experimental department, which was located at Fort Benning. When the Armaments Committee decided to launch the Medium Tank T5 program on May 16, 1936, the development of the vehicle was largely under the control of experimental management. And if the Light Tank M2 concept was taken as the basis for the chassis, then the general layout of the fighting compartment and control compartment migrated to the new project from the very concept of Captain Reri.

This is how the Medium Tank T5 entered its first tests

The designers took the need to use the Light Tank M2 concept literally when creating the Medium Tank T5. To speed up the process, many components and assemblies were used virtually unchanged. This included the Continental R-670–3 engine, gearbox, drive wheels, road wheels, idlers and tracks. The suspension still had to be strengthened; it was simply not possible to copy it. Since the overall length of the vehicle, designated Medium Tank T5 Phase I, has grown by almost a meter, the number of bogies has increased to three per side, and the road wheels have become six.

The general layout of the Light Tank M2 has been preserved, but the driver’s position has been moved to the center. As a result, the shaft from the engine to the gearbox went right between the legs of the driver.

Reri's turret and gun mount design, which later formed the basis for a new turret for the Medium Tank T5

The maximum use of ready-made units had a beneficial effect on the speed of development and the production time of the first prototype. The American engineers had a lot of time to hurry: the growing tension in Europe, which began after the Nazis came to power in Germany, was felt overseas. Since 1936, light tanks of a new generation began to arrive en masse in the American infantry and cavalry. Work was underway on other types of armored vehicles and weapons, including anti-tank ones.

The American military was well aware that it would not be possible to fight well with light tanks alone, so the development of a medium tank was a high priority. So high that on November 16, 1937, a machine that was half a mock-up went out for testing. Its fighting compartment, turret and weapons were made of wood: at that time, customers and creators were more interested in how the chassis would behave. Nevertheless, the design of the car still clearly reflected the concept of Captain Reri. Moreover, the turret from his project was transferred to the new tank almost unchanged.

The main difference was the weapons. Realizing full well that the 47 mm caliber gun was rather weak, the Armaments Department ordered the installation of another 37 mm caliber gun. It was a tank version of the anti-tank gun, which was developed by Gladeon Barnes, using design features of the German 3.7 cm Pak gun. As a result, he got the most powerful 37 mm caliber gun, but at the time of testing the prototype of the new medium tank, it was still in development.

Heavily rebuilt Medium Tank T5 Stage I, February 1938. In addition to the redesigned “top,” fins are visible in the area of ​​the final drives

After the first stage of sea trials, which lasted until December 29, 1937, the vehicle returned to the Rhode Island Arsenal. To begin with, amendments were made to the design of its chassis. Since the weight of the car increased to 13.5 tons, the load on the gearbox increased by more than one and a half times. In principle, it coped with its task, but the final drives overheated, so special fins were installed that helped cool them.

The designers completely replaced what was located above the chassis. The tank began to resemble Reri's concept even more. Since the original tower was supposed to be conditionally uninhabited (the gunner sat below), and according to the new requirements it had to be made double, Reri created a new design. The tower became larger, and its sides became inclined, and a hatch appeared in the stern. The tower itself was of welded construction.

The driver-mechanic of this tank felt almost like a king. One problem is the shaft turning between the legs from the engine to the gearbox

The control department has also changed significantly, which received sheets at rational angles of inclination. The driver received three inspection hatches, which in the open position provided excellent visibility. True, the load included two frontal machine guns installed in the upper frontal plate of the hull. The fighting compartment has also changed somewhat, although the general concept with machine guns placed in sponsons at the corners of the fighting compartment has been preserved. The shape of the engine compartment has also changed.

Since the vehicle was experimental, non-armored steel was used to build the hull. The thickness of the sheets in the frontal part reached 25 mm, which was supposed to reliably protect the tank from heavy machine guns.

Medium Tank T5 Stage I in final configuration. The idea of ​​pairing 37-mm guns was later rejected

The vehicle, which received registration number USA W-30369, returned for testing on February 16, 1938. The tank accelerated to 49.6 km/h, which was quite enough for a middle-class car. As work continued on the armament, a dummy gun was installed in the turret. Later it was replaced by a pair of 37-mm M2A1 cannons, but such a two-gun scheme did not advance beyond the experiment. Also, special armor plates appeared at the rear, acting as a kind of fire cutoff from the rear machine guns. Using them, machine gunners could direct machine-gun fire into “blind” zones if enemy infantry came close to the rear of the tank.

In general, the US military was satisfied with the prototype Medium Tank T5. After the Aberdeen Proving Ground, the tank went to Fort Benning, where it was tested by tank crews of the 67th Regiment. It became obvious that the new combat vehicle was clearly superior to the Combat Car T4. With comparable mobility, the Medium Tank T5 won in terms of protection, firepower, and ease of operation for the crew. It is not surprising that on June 2, 1938, the Armaments Committee issued an order to standardize the tank under the designation Medium Tank M2. As for the first prototype of the tank, it is now located at the National Museum of Infantry and Cavalry at Fort Benning.

gun

As you all know, the gun is the main asset of any tank, and in our case the weapon also deserves close attention, if only because there are two barrels to choose from.

First of all, I want to draw your attention to the M2 Medium Tank gun

with a caliber of 75 millimeters, that is, a high-explosive weapon, the advantage of which is a powerful alphastrike. It is noteworthy that this gun has a high rate of fire, which in total gives very terrible damage per minute - almost 2300 units.

However, the problem is that breaking through the M2 Medium Tank WoT

in such a configuration it has a funny thing, that is, it will not always be possible to cause full damage, even when shooting at your cardboard classmates, and this is a huge minus.

In addition, for large one-time damage you have to pay with disgusting accuracy. We are talking about the American medium tank M2 Medium Tank

with a high-explosive weapon, it gets a huge spread, long-term convergence and practically no stabilization.

Our second gun is ordinary, its caliber is 37 millimeters, and I would like to say right away that it has a weak alpha strike, and even the high rate of fire does not allow it to deal M2 Medium Tank World of Tanks

per minute more than 1050 units of pure damage per minute.

The second problem is mediocre penetration. Of course, this indicator is higher than that of a high explosive, but you can still fight normally mainly against classmates, and for battles of levels 4-5 the M2 Medium tank

must carry 20-30 premium sub-calibers with him.

The accuracy in this configuration is also somewhat higher, but the main asset can only be considered really fast mixing. At the same time, the spread is still large, and stabilization is still almost absent.

The main advantage of WoT M2 Medium Tank

in terms of weapons, they are incredibly comfortable, one might even say fabulous vertical aiming angles, because both guns are capable of lowering down 20 degrees, just think about this figure!

To summarize everything that has been said in this section, I would like to note that you are free to choose your own gun, depending on your playing style and preferences. We will continue our M2 Medium Tank review

taking into account the installation of a high explosive, since with it the potential of the tank can increase significantly, although this depends on the FBG and the situation.

Laggard in the arms race

The end of the 30s was a time of rapid development of armored vehicles.
The Second World War, which began in September 1939, gave the flywheel of military progress even greater acceleration. Those developments of designers that had recently been cutting-edge suddenly found themselves among the laggards. It became common for tanks to become obsolete as soon as they left the assembly line. Medium Tank M 2
is one of these losers . Although one can often hear ridicule about this combat vehicle, in fact they are unfounded. American engineers have created far from the worst medium tank. But by the time it was launched into production, other vehicles were needed, more protected and with more powerful weapons.

With tower and casemates

In 1935, the wheeled-tracked medium tank Convertible Medium Tank T4 was adopted by the American infantry. In total, the Rock Island Arsenal in Davenport built 16 of these vehicles, as well as three Convertible Medium Tank T4E1, which had a wheelhouse instead of a turret, along the perimeter of which machine guns were located. The car turned out to be controversial.

On the one hand, it was the first American medium tank, produced in quantities of more than ten copies. On the other hand, the characteristics of the car turned out to be extremely strange. Even on wheels, it was still slightly inferior in mobility to the Light Tank M2A1, although it had similar armament and armor. Considering that the Convertible Medium Tank T4 cost twice as much as its light counterpart, the doubts of the American military are easy to understand. Unlike the Light Tank M2A1 and Combat Car M1, this medium tank was not developed. It was obvious that a new type of machine was required.

In addition to the struggle between supporters of purely tracked and wheeled-tracked designs, there was a fierce debate in the Armaments Department about exactly how the weapons should be located in the tank. It is not without reason that both the Convertible Medium Tank T4 and the Combat Car T5 existed in two versions (with a turret and with a wheelhouse). An attempt to reconcile the warring parties was made by Captain George H. Rarey of the Infantry Department. In April 1934, he developed the concept of a medium wheeled-tracked tank, which simultaneously used both the “fire hedgehog” principle and a circular rotation turret. It was proposed to place sponsons with machine guns around the perimeter of the tank's fighting compartment, and a turret with a 47-mm cannon was installed in the center. The driver was in a separate cabin.

Captain Reri's concept of a medium wheeled-tracked tank, April 1934

The car was not developed in this form. Tests in the 67th Regiment, which included the Light Tank M2A1 and Convertible Medium Tank T4, clearly showed that the concept of a tank on the Harry Knox chassis looked clearly more advantageous. At the same time, Captain Reri's tank project was by no means a waste of paper.

The fact is that he worked in the experimental department, which was located at Fort Benning. When the Armaments Committee decided to launch the Medium Tank T5 program on May 16, 1936, the development of the vehicle was largely under the control of experimental management. And if the Light Tank M2 concept was taken as the basis for the chassis, then the general layout of the fighting compartment and control compartment migrated to the new project from the very concept of Captain Reri.

This is how the Medium Tank T5 entered its first tests

The designers took the need to use the Light Tank M2 concept literally when creating the Medium Tank T5. To speed up the process, many components and assemblies were used virtually unchanged. This included the Continental R-670–3 engine, gearbox, drive wheels, road wheels, idlers and tracks. The suspension still had to be strengthened; it was simply not possible to copy it. Since the overall length of the vehicle, designated Medium Tank T5 Phase I, has grown by almost a meter, the number of bogies has increased to three per side, and the road wheels have become six.

The general layout of the Light Tank M2 has been preserved, but the driver’s position has been moved to the center. As a result, the shaft from the engine to the gearbox went right between the legs of the driver.

Reri's turret and gun mount design, which later formed the basis for a new turret for the Medium Tank T5

The maximum use of ready-made units had a beneficial effect on the speed of development and the production time of the first prototype. The American engineers had a lot of time to hurry: the growing tension in Europe, which began after the Nazis came to power in Germany, was felt overseas. Since 1936, light tanks of a new generation began to arrive en masse in the American infantry and cavalry. Work was underway on other types of armored vehicles and weapons, including anti-tank ones.

The American military was well aware that it would not be possible to fight well with light tanks alone, so the development of a medium tank was a high priority. So high that on November 16, 1937, a machine that was half a mock-up went out for testing. Its fighting compartment, turret and weapons were made of wood: at that time, customers and creators were more interested in how the chassis would behave. Nevertheless, the design of the car still clearly reflected the concept of Captain Reri. Moreover, the turret from his project was transferred to the new tank almost unchanged.

The main difference was the weapons. Realizing full well that the 47 mm caliber gun was rather weak, the Armaments Department ordered the installation of another 37 mm caliber gun. It was a tank version of the anti-tank gun, which was developed by Gladeon Barnes, using design features of the German 3.7 cm Pak gun. As a result, he got the most powerful 37 mm caliber gun, but at the time of testing the prototype of the new medium tank, it was still in development.

Heavily rebuilt Medium Tank T5 Stage I, February 1938. In addition to the redesigned “top,” fins are visible in the area of ​​the final drives

After the first stage of sea trials, which lasted until December 29, 1937, the vehicle returned to the Rhode Island Arsenal. To begin with, amendments were made to the design of its chassis. Since the weight of the car increased to 13.5 tons, the load on the gearbox increased by more than one and a half times. In principle, it coped with its task, but the final drives overheated, so special fins were installed that helped cool them.

The designers completely replaced what was located above the chassis. The tank began to resemble Reri's concept even more. Since the original tower was supposed to be conditionally uninhabited (the gunner sat below), and according to the new requirements it had to be made double, Reri created a new design. The tower became larger, and its sides became inclined, and a hatch appeared in the stern. The tower itself was of welded construction.

The driver-mechanic of this tank felt almost like a king. One problem is the shaft turning between the legs from the engine to the gearbox

The control department has also changed significantly, which received sheets at rational angles of inclination. The driver received three inspection hatches, which in the open position provided excellent visibility. True, the load included two frontal machine guns installed in the upper frontal plate of the hull. The fighting compartment has also changed somewhat, although the general concept with machine guns placed in sponsons at the corners of the fighting compartment has been preserved. The shape of the engine compartment has also changed.

Since the vehicle was experimental, non-armored steel was used to build the hull. The thickness of the sheets in the frontal part reached 25 mm, which was supposed to reliably protect the tank from heavy machine guns.

Medium Tank T5 Stage I in final configuration. The idea of ​​pairing 37-mm guns was later rejected

The vehicle, which received registration number USA W-30369, returned for testing on February 16, 1938. The tank accelerated to 49.6 km/h, which was quite enough for a middle-class car. As work continued on the armament, a dummy gun was installed in the turret. Later it was replaced by a pair of 37-mm M2A1 cannons, but such a two-gun scheme did not advance beyond the experiment. Also, special armor plates appeared at the rear, acting as a kind of fire cutoff from the rear machine guns. Using them, machine gunners could direct machine-gun fire into “blind” zones if enemy infantry came close to the rear of the tank.

In general, the US military was satisfied with the prototype Medium Tank T5. After the Aberdeen Proving Ground, the tank went to Fort Benning, where it was tested by tank crews of the 67th Regiment. It became obvious that the new combat vehicle was clearly superior to the Combat Car T4. With comparable mobility, the Medium Tank T5 won in terms of protection, firepower, and ease of operation for the crew. It is not surprising that on June 2, 1938, the Armaments Committee issued an order to standardize the tank under the designation Medium Tank M2. As for the first prototype of the tank, it is now located at the National Museum of Infantry and Cavalry at Fort Benning.

Tendency to get heavier

The verdict on the adoption of the Medium Tank T5 did not mean that work on it was completed. The development of the machine continued, as tests revealed not only the positive aspects of its design. It was necessary to strengthen the chassis, rework the power plant and transmission, and also strengthen the armor. The weight limit for the creators of the tank was 20 short tons (18.14 metric tons).

Medium Tank T5 Phase III, November 1939. From this angle the changes are not so visible, but the design of the car has been greatly changed

In November 1938, the tank, designated Medium Tank T5 Phase III, entered testing. This was the second prototype: the car with the Phase II index was never built. Externally, the car was not very different from its predecessor, but this impression is deceptive. The creators of the tank went a little too far, as a result of which its combat weight increased to 19 metric tons. To begin with, the designers somewhat strengthened its side armor.

The engine compartment was redone, as were the mufflers with bullet stoppers.

The engine and transmission group has undergone a complete redesign. The tank was equipped with a much more powerful and larger 9-cylinder Wright R-975 Whirlwind engine. In aviation version, it developed a power of more than 400 horsepower, but for use in a tank it was reduced to 346 horsepower. With the new engine, the maximum speed of the car increased to 52.6 km/h.

The transmission also had to be redone. A new gearbox was installed in the tank, and the design of the final drives was also changed. The shaft sticking out in the center forced the driver's position to be shifted to the left, and his place was taken by front-line machine guns. The design of the drive wheels has changed, and the tracks have been expanded from 295 to 406 mm.

The ideas of a driver's cabin shifted to the left and a removable section of the upper frontal plate in the area where the coaxial machine gun was installed looked very controversial

The tower has also undergone noticeable changes. It was made cast, the wall thickness reached 25 mm. An anti-aircraft machine gun was mounted on the right side. The most important change was the installation of a 37 mm T3 anti-tank gun. The gun was installed virtually unchanged, using the swinging part of the towed gun. To prevent bullets and shell fragments from getting inside, armor was installed in front.

37-mm T3 cannon, which in its original configuration was almost no different from the swinging part of a towed gun

Tests of the tank showed not only slightly better dynamics, but also a significant increase in fuel consumption. If the T5 Phase I travels 200 kilometers on one fill, then the T5 Phase III only covers 168 kilometers, and this with a larger fuel reserve. As a solution to the problem, it was proposed to install a Guiberson diesel aircraft engine. Like the Wright R-975, it was air-cooled and star-shaped. The conversion was approved on September 20, 1938, and the tank was renamed Medium Tank T5E1.

Medium Tank T5E2, view from the starboard side

The tank underwent much greater changes in the spring of 1939. The driver's cabin shifted to the left gave the American military the idea of ​​installing a more powerful weapon in the front hull. On April 20, 1939, a converted tank entered testing and was designated Medium Tank T5E2. The place of the standard turret was taken by a modified Light Tank M2A3 commander's turret, which received a range finder. A 75-mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 howitzer was installed in the hull. The installation itself was exactly the same as the one that was armed with the prototype of the Howitzer Motor Carriage T3 light self-propelled gun.

The installation of the howitzer looked as if the tank was originally designed for it

In a light self-propelled gun, working with a howitzer caused a headache, but on the T5E2, which had a much more spacious fighting compartment, no such problems arose. True, we had to get rid of the machine gun in the right front corner. The tests, which continued at the Aberdeen Proving Ground until February 8, 1940, ended with a positive verdict. Subsequently, experiments with the Medium Tank T5E2 had a direct impact on the development of the American medium tank program, taking it a little away from global trends.

Unlike the Gun Motor Carriage T3 self-propelled guns, there were no problems with lack of space in the T5E2 tank

While experimental work on the Medium Tank T5E2 continued, preparations for mass production of the Medium Tank M2 were in full swing. The Rock Island Arsenal was chosen as the manufacturer of the production vehicles. The first car, registered USA W-30444, left Davenport in the summer of 1939. It took into account the shortcomings discovered during tests of the second prototype.

The combat weight of the tank was reduced to 17.3 tons, which increased the specific power. True, the maximum speed of the car was reduced to 42 km/h. Reducing the maximum engine speed and speed made it possible to increase the power reserve to 208 kilometers. Because the final drives overheated a little, fins appeared on their casings.

The designers also returned the driver and directional machine guns to their place. The track width was reduced to 337 mm, and the bogies of the locked suspension were also strengthened. The armor also underwent changes: the thickness of the front plate increased to 28.5 mm, and the thickness of the sides was slightly increased.

The first example of the Medium Tank M2 on display, Aberdeen Proving Ground, autumn 1939

Once again the weapons and turret were redesigned. The general configuration of the turret remained the same as on the T5 Phase III, but instead of casting they returned to the riveted design familiar to American tanks. The 37-mm cannon remained as a weapon, which was adopted under the designation M3. They placed it in a new gun mount, where the cannon was paired with a Browning M1919A4 machine gun. In total, the tank had eight of these same machine guns: two frontal, four in sponsons, one coaxial with a cannon, and one anti-aircraft.

A copy of the factory drawing. You can clearly see how anti-aircraft machine guns were mounted on the turret.

According to the first order, in 1939 the Rock Island Arsenal produced 18 Medium Tank M2. The second production vehicle went to the Aberdeen Proving Ground, where it became a test laboratory. Thanks to this status, the tank has survived to this day, albeit in a slightly modified form. During 1940, it was planned to produce another 54 cars, but the foreign policy situation began to change rapidly. And with it, the plans of the American military also changed.

No big series

The great war that began in Europe became the object of close attention from the United States. As at the beginning of the First World War, the Americans adhered to a policy of neutrality, but were well aware that this would not last long. American intelligence closely monitored information coming from Poland in the fall of 1939, which not least influenced the further development of the Medium Tank M2. In addition, the units also received reports on the operation of new machines, which were carefully studied.

Second production model of the Medium Tank M2, Aberdeen Proving Ground, August 1939

One of the complaints that American tankers had about the new tank was the design of its turret. It turned out that the solution with rational angles of inclination of the sides noticeably “ate up” the internal volume. However, all conical towers suffered from this. A new tower was hastily developed. Its base remained the same as that of the M2, but the sides were set at right angles. The designers abandoned the hatch in the stern, replacing it with a large single-leaf hatch in the roof.

The new turret also had a modernized gun mount, designated 37 mm gun mount M19. The same installation was developed in parallel for the Light Tank M2A4. After its installation, the gunner was able to rotate the gun in a horizontal plane without rotating the turret. The experimental turret was installed on the second production Medium Tank M2, and tests confirmed the success of its design.

The seventh serial Medium Tank M2 on maneuvers. This vehicle, like the second production tank, became a test laboratory

The next step was to strengthen protection. It turned out that the internal valves of the pistol ports were vulnerable, and a proposal was made to replace them. Finally, the battles in Poland demonstrated that side armor needed to be strengthened, since tanks being hit from the sides turned out to be a widespread phenomenon.

Column of Medium Tank M2 from the 67th Infantry Regiment, 1940. In July 1940, these tanks became part of the 2nd Armored Division

The result of all the changes was the specification for the modernized tank, designated Medium Tank M2A1. It was equipped with a 400-horsepower Continental R-975E-C2 engine, which was a licensed version of the Wright R-975. The combat weight increased to 18.7 tons, for this reason the chassis had to be modernized. In particular, the track width was increased to 362 mm. The maximum speed remained at the level of the Medium Tank M2. The transmission has also changed: it received a hydraulic control system, which significantly simplified the work of the driver.

Second production Medium Tank M2 with a new turret. In this form the car has survived to this day.

In addition to the highly visible new turret, the Medium Tank M2A1 featured various innovations that were less obvious. The M19 gun mount received advanced armor for the gun's recoil mechanisms. The armor protection of machine gun mounts in sponsons has been strengthened, and special bumpers have appeared on the front plate. The thickness of the side armor increased to 32 mm, so firing at the tank from small-caliber automatic cannons even from the flank became a useless exercise. They did not strengthen the frontal armor, since it was already enough. The designers changed all the inspection hatches: now they were attached from the outside and were more reliable.

Serial Medium Tank M2A1, Aberdeen Proving Ground, September 1940

Meanwhile, the situation in Europe was developing according to an extremely unpleasant scenario for the United States. Despite their neutrality, the Americans actively helped France. For example, the second most popular fighter of the French Air Force was the American Curtiss Hawk 75. Trucks and other military products were supplied en masse to France. On May 10, 1940, the Germans began their push through the Benelux countries, ending up in France less than a week later. By the end of the month it became clear: the French would not hold out for long. The British also suffered, losing most of the tanks of their Expeditionary Force.

The positional scenario of the First World War did not repeat itself; the time for the United States to enter the war was significantly closer. From the point of view of organizing mass production of the tanks necessary in such a situation, the problem was that the main assembler of tanks was the Rock Island Arsenal, which also dealt with artillery.

Reworking the tower significantly improved the working conditions of its crew

On May 29, 1940, the head of the automobile giant General Motors, William Knudsen, was appointed by President Roosevelt to head the Office of Production Management, which was responsible for organizing the production of military products. Knudsen’s choice was explained simply: it was he who introduced conveyor production, first at Ford, and then at Chevrolet.

Quickly getting his bearings, on June 7 Knudsen summoned Kaufman Keller, president of Chrysler Corporation, to a meeting in Detroit. They knew each other well, since Keller had worked for General Motors for quite some time. There was no longer any talk about competition: a world war was going on, and no one knew at what point the United States would be drawn into it. The problem was aggravated by the fact that in June 1940 the American army had only 18 medium tanks of modern design. As for the Medium Tank M2A1, at that moment the Rock Island Arsenal was only building the first three vehicles.

Wooden model of hull and turret made from Rock Island Arsenal drawings at Chrysler

Knudsen's proposal turned out to be extremely simple: Chrysler Corporation needed to build a tank factory. Keller agreed, and already on June 17, a complete set of technical documentation arrived in Detroit. Using the received drawings, Chrysler built a wooden model of the tank's hull. On August 15, 1940, an agreement was concluded with Chrysler to build a tank assembly plant. At the same time, an agreement was signed to produce 1000 Medium Tank M2A1. The first three tanks were manufactured in September 1941, and production gradually expanded to 100 vehicles per month. The customer expected to receive the last tanks in August 1942.

Serial production of the Medium Tank M2A1 at the Rock Island Arsenal, late 1940. It is clearly noticeable that the arsenal had to build several types of tanks at once, and this is not counting artillery

Plans to produce thousands of Medium Tank M2A1s were very short-lived. The fact is that the American military very carefully studied the reports from France. It quickly became clear that the most dangerous enemy for Allied tanks were the German Pz.Kpfw.IV medium tanks. The American military was especially impressed by the short-barreled 75 mm gun in the German vehicle. One could only guess that it has very limited armor penetration.

One way or another, by June 13, 1940, the appearance of the new tank had taken shape. The Medium Tank M2A1 base had no alternatives, since developing a new tank from scratch meant wasting precious time. The military demanded that the armor be strengthened and that a 75 mm cannon be installed on the tank. This is how the Medium Tank M3 was born.

Medium Tank M2A1 from the 2nd Armored Division goes on maneuvers, June 14, 1941

On August 28, 1940, the order for 1,000 Medium Tank M2A1s was officially canceled and replaced by a contract for the production of the Medium Tank M3. However, so that the Rock Island arsenal would not be idle, the task of producing the M2A1 was not canceled. An agreement was concluded for the production of 126 tanks of this type, the first of which were ready in December 1940. True, the production volume gradually decreased, since the Medium Tank M3 turned out to be a higher priority. The arsenal delivered its last M2A1s in August 1941, while simultaneously producing the Medium Tank M3. In total, the American army received 94 M2A1 medium tanks.

Shielding developed for the Medium Tank M2A1. After weighing the pros and cons, the US military refused such modernization

It’s difficult to say that the Medium Tank M2A1 was definitely bad. American engineers created a completely adequate combat vehicle, which was not inferior in characteristics to the Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.E and was definitely superior to the British cruising tanks of the pre-war design. Moreover, it was the Medium Tank M2 platform that became the basis for the creation of the main American medium tanks and self-propelled guns of the war period. The problem with the M2A1 was that the American military soberly assessed the prospects and decided to use a good tank to make an even better vehicle. And such motives were completely justified.

As for the M2 family of tanks, they served in the army, but as training vehicles. There was, however, an attempt to strengthen their reservation. Shields were developed for the M2A1, increasing the thickness of their armor to 76 mm. At the same time, the combat weight increased by 4.3 tons.

Experimental installation of the E2 flamethrower, summer 1942

The last attempt to send the Medium Tank M2 to the battlefield occurred in the summer of 1942. An E2 flamethrower was installed on the tank, replacing it with a cannon. Tests showed that the firing range was short, while the tank lost the ability to fire at a greater distance from the cannon. The experiments were continued on the Medium Tank M3, although with similar results. These experiments were not fruitless: based on their results, a flamethrower was later developed, which was later installed on the Light Tank M3A1.

As for the original M2 and M2A1 medium tanks, they continued to be used as training tanks until the end of 1942. Time has not been kind to them: only one production Medium Tank M2A1 has survived to this day, now located at Fort Benning, and its gun mount was replaced with a later one.

Sources:

• NARA materials.
• Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank, R. P. Hunnicutt, Presidio Press, 1994.
• Materials from the author's photo archive.
• Materials from the archive of Don Moriarty.

Advantages and disadvantages

As you may have noticed, the car in our hands is indeed very unusual and extraordinary. But despite all this, the American has potential, but to fully realize it, you must clearly understand the strengths and weaknesses of the M2 Medium Tank World of Tanks

, so it’s worth highlighting them separately: Pros: • Very long viewing range; • Good armor on the front of the turret; • Decent mobility (dynamics, maneuverability, maximum speed); • Powerful one-time damage; • Stunning elevation angles. Cons: • Huge dimensions and poor camouflage; • Poor booking in general; • Frequent engine crits due to the front transmission; • Frankly weak penetration; • Poor accuracy (spread, convergence, stabilization).

Modules

Equipment for M2 Medium Tank

It is not surprising that the selection and installation of additional modules must be taken seriously. Yes, the choice must be made correctly, taking into account the pros and cons of the vehicle, but in our case the set will be standard, that is, the equipment for the M2 Medium tank

It’s better to set this: 1. – will speed up reloading, thanks to which you will be able to use your lethal land mine more often and the DPM will increase. 2. is the most important module in our case, since the American’s accuracy is poor and needs to be improved by all available means. 3. – with such a good basic overview, this option will allow you to easily surpass most opponents.

However, having such a high basic viewing range, the last module can be neglected and installed instead, which will also slightly improve “vision”, but in addition will provide an increase in firepower and shooting comfort.

Double-headed ease

, Light Tank T2E1, arrived at Fort Benning for military testing . This vehicle was the result of nine years of trial and error, beginning with the development of the Light Tank T1 . During this time, the concept of a light tank changed radically. Instead of a two-seater vehicle with a front engine and a 37-mm cannon as the main armament, the designers got a 4-seater tank with a rear-mounted engine, a front-mounted transmission and machine gun armament in a two-seater turret. Based on the results of the tests, it was decided to accept the Light Tank T 2 E 1 into service as the Light Tank M 2 A 1
.

Two heads are better

On the way to mass production, the Light Tank T2E1 became noticeably heavier. In its original form it weighed 6803 kg, and various modifications designed to improve performance increased its weight to 8618 kg. This exceeded the limit set by the Secretary of War for light tanks in the spring of 1933 by more than a ton. However, there was nowhere to go. Based on the test results, the tank reached such a level of reliability that they simply turned a blind eye to the excess weight.

One of the first Light Tank M2A1, registration numbers not yet applied

The first nine M2A1 Light Tanks were produced by the Rock Island Arsenal in 1935. Since the prototype, Light Tank T2E1, had serial number 1, these vehicles were assigned numbers in the range 2–10. The production vehicles also received registration numbers USA W 30101–30109.

The production tank turned out to be a little lighter - 8523 kg, while its armor protection and dynamic characteristics remained unchanged. The design took into account all the wishes for improving the experimental tank, based on the test results.

One of the complaints about the T2E1 was insufficient visibility, this problem was solved by installing a commander's cupola. But now another problem appeared - it was possible to get out of the tower only from the commander’s place. This problem, by the way, was widespread on many American light and medium tanks.

The tower itself has also changed noticeably. The designers abandoned the bevels in its upper part, while the frontal part was made sloping. The body has also changed somewhat. Its rear part was redesigned: according to the requirements, the mufflers were removed from the engine compartment and moved outside. Another significant change was the appearance of a radio station, the antenna port of which was located in the left rear corner of the roof of the building.

Combined installation T7, which was installed on the tank

There were no changes in weapons. Two machine guns, 12.7 and 7.62 mm in caliber, were placed in a combined T7 machine gun mount, which was covered from the outside with a massive shield. At that time, such weapons were quite enough to fight armored cars and most tanks.

It should be noted here that armament was provided for in the prototype T2 light tanks, but was never installed. It did not appear in all Light Tank M2A1: some tanks were operated without turret armament almost until the end of their service. For crew training, which was the main task of the new light tank, it was not at all necessary to install weapons.

M2A1 in training. This vehicle had no weapons in the turret

The armament was partly the reason why the Light Tank M2A1 was produced in quantities of only nine units. The fact is that the production vehicle inherited one drawback from the Light Tank T2, which was almost impossible to eliminate. It consisted in the fact that the shaft from the engine to the transmission, covered with a casing, was located at a fairly high height and greatly interfered with the calculation of the turret when turning it. Potentially, the problem could have been solved, but American engineers did not reduce the height of the shaft by introducing mechanisms that complicated the system. The path they took turned out to be simple and ingenuous.

To solve the high shaft problem, the designers looked again at the Vickers Mk.E, which had largely served as the basis for the development of the Light Tank T2. This time, the Americans decided to borrow the idea of ​​two single-man turrets from English tank builders. To be fair, we note that the Vickers Mk.E Type A had two turrets for completely different reasons. He needed them to effectively fulfill the role of “trench cleaner.” The Americans were more interested in the convenience of the crew. For the first time, they tested the two turrets on the experimental light cavalry tank Combat Car T5, obtaining quite satisfactory results.

Light Tank T2E2 prototype

In the same year, 1935, another experimental tank was tested, which received the designation Light Tank T2E2. There were no major design changes to the chassis compared to the M2A1 light tank. It turned out that the roof of the turret box was replaced, and instead of one double turret, two single turrets were installed on it. The turret in which the commander was located was largely identical in configuration to the two-man turret of the Light Tank M2A1. It still contains a Browning M2HB machine gun in an M9 mount. The right turret, which was slightly smaller in size, housed a Browning M1919A3 machine gun in an M12E1 mount. Both installations had telescopic sights.

The antenna port has moved to the center of the hull roof, behind the towers. By the way, this solution was also seen on the Vickers Mk.E Type A.

During testing, the tank, which received registration number USAW30114, showed quite satisfactory results. The weight increased to 8660 kg, which had almost no effect on the dynamic characteristics. Due to the installation of two towers, the ability to maneuver fire increased dramatically. There was no talk about clearing out the trenches: in the theater of operations where light tanks were supposed to be used, there were relatively few trenches. On the other hand, in those years cavalry units were still very numerous, and the ability to hit two targets at the same time seemed useful.

This photo clearly shows the antenna installation. Without thinking twice, the Americans borrowed it from the Vickers Mk.E

The Light Tank T2E2 was adopted almost simultaneously with the Light Tank M2A1. The new vehicle was designated Light Tank M2A2. During 1935, 9 tanks were built with serial numbers 11–19 and registration numbers USAW30110–30119.

During comparative tests carried out among the troops, it became obvious that the design with two single-man turrets was better. The American infantry received a fast vehicle with high fire maneuverability, which was excellent for raids like the hunt for Pancho Villa. With the same armament as the Medium Tank T4 and greater maneuverability, the Light Tank M2A2 was 2 times cheaper. It is not surprising that, based on the results of comparative tests, this particular machine was chosen for a large series expected in 1936.

Basis of pre-war forces

1936 proved to be a much busier year for the Rock Island Arsenal. The US Army ordered 125 Light Tank M2A2, serial numbers 20–144. Such a volume of orders has not been seen since the First World War. A year later, an order was received for another 104 tanks. The vehicles produced received USAW registration numbers ranging from 30120 to 30368.

Three tanks produced in 1937 were experimentally equipped with Guiberson T-1020 diesel engines. Like the standard Continental W-670, this engine had aviation roots and was air-cooled. Compared to the aircraft version of the A-1020, its power was reduced from 340 to 250 horsepower. The tanks equipped with diesel engines were designated Light Tank M2A2E1. Military operation of tanks with diesel engines showed that in low temperatures they start poorly.

Personnel of the 11th Tank Regiment along with materiel

The impressive volume of vehicles produced made it possible to finally begin re-equipping infantry units equipped with tanks with new equipment. The Light Tank M2A2 became, in a sense, a symbol of the American army in the second half of the 30s. These cars often appeared in newspapers and were featured in newsreels. In units, these tanks replaced the completely obsolete M1917 Light Tank.

In addition to the continental United States, these tanks also ended up in Hawaii. Here, on the island of Oahu, the Pearl Harbor naval base was located since 1908, and the Schofield Barrex Army base was located nearby. The 11th Tank Regiment, stationed at Schofield Barrex, initially fielded M1917 Light Tanks. This unit was also rearmed with the Light Tank M2A2, and reports from the maneuvers of this regiment in the American media were quite common.

Joint exercises between tank crews and sappers often took place. At such exercises, both tank crews trained to overcome obstacles and sappers were trained to create insurmountable anti-tank obstacles. In a word, new tanks did not stagnate.

The last Light Tank M2A2 produced, serial number 248 and registration number USAW30368, went to Aberdeen Proving Ground in July 1937. The arriving vehicle, designated Light Tank M2A2E2, was noticeably different from its counterparts. The thickness of its armor was increased to 25 mm, and its combat weight increased to 9675 kg. The engine compartment of this tank was also redone. The car became a test bench on which various technical solutions were tested. In particular, new types of transmissions were tested on it, the chassis, brakes and other mechanisms were redesigned. At the same time, various technical solutions were tested and implemented during the development of the experimental T5 Medium Tank.

Light Tank M2A2E2 in its original configuration at Aberdeen Proving Ground. August 1937

In August 1938, the tank returned to the Roy Island Arsenal, where it underwent another round of alterations. It was decided to simultaneously test both the new power plant and the redesigned chassis. Unlike the previous design, the carts remained unchanged compared to the production car, but the sloth was completely redesigned. It became significantly larger in diameter, in addition, it was lowered to ground level, which significantly increased the supporting surface of the caterpillar. This was done for a reason: rather short and at the same time tall, the Light Tank M2A2 and other vehicles from this family had a tendency to sway longitudinally.

The power plant of the modernized tank was an in-line 6-cylinder General Motors 6–71 engine. This diesel engine with a volume of 7 liters and a power of 188 hp, unlike the Guiberson T-1020, was water cooled. The new engine required a larger volume of the engine compartment, which resulted in a slightly longer car.

During testing, the bogies were widened to increase the length of the supporting surface, and a reinforcement beam was installed between them

Testing of the converted tank, designated Light Tank M2A2E3, began in early July 1939. As a result of the alterations, the weight of the tank reached 10.5 tons. As a result, neither the engine nor the new chassis were used in production vehicles, but their tests did not pass without a trace. Later, a twin version of the General Motors 6-71 engine was used on American medium tanks, and the sloth, in a slightly modified form, went on to the Combat Car M2 and Light Tank M3.

Light Tank M2A2E3 being tested. Lengthening its rear section led to modifications to the tank's chassis.

Further development of light tanks of the M2 family continued, oddly enough, along the line of developing a fighting vehicle for cavalry. In the summer of 1937, the Combat Car M1E2 entered testing. Its main difference from the previous car was the redesigned chassis with an increased distance between the bogies. Thanks to this modification, the length of the supporting surface increased from 2184 to 2464 mm, and the longitudinal stability of the tank increased significantly. At the same time, the body was slightly redesigned. The engine compartment has undergone a particularly strong redesign, with access to the engine noticeably improved. The converted car went into production as the Combat Car M1A1.

Light Tank M2A3. It is clearly noticeable how not only the turrets have changed, but also the engine compartment

Then the military made a completely reasonable decision to take the Combat Car M1E2 as a basis and make an infantry tank on its basis. This is how the Light Tank M2A3 appeared. Unlike the cavalry tank, which had one double turret, the infantry tank received two single turrets. Compared to the M2A2, the design of the turrets was simplified: bent sheets were abandoned and they were now assembled from flat sheets.

Like previous vehicles, the Light Tank M2A3 was assembled using the riveting method. Due to the fact that the rivets had flat heads, they are almost invisible, and in the images this creates the illusion of welding. In fact, welding began to be used on American tanks much later.

The tank's combat weight increased to 9,450 kg, while the maximum speed decreased to 58 km/h. On the other hand, the thickness of the frontal plate of the hull and turret increased to 22 mm. Last but not least, this was the result of studying the experience of battles in Spain, which showed that tanks needed reliable protection from heavy machine gun fire.

The diesel version, Light Tank M2A3E1, can be distinguished externally by the extended pipelines to the air filters

The first production Light Tank M2A3 began to enter service with the troops in the summer of 1938. In total, the Rock Island Arsenal produced 73 tanks of this type. The vehicles received serial numbers 249–321, as well as USAW registration numbers in the range 30368–30441. The tanks were equipped with Continental W-670 series 9 engines with power increased to 250 horsepower. Also, 8 tanks, designated Light Tank M2A3E1, received Guiberson T-1020 series 3 diesel engines, later replaced by 4th series engines.

Timken Electric Transmission Installation

During operation, gearboxes with sliding gears were replaced by gearboxes with synchronizers. In addition, the Light Tank M2A3 became the first American tank to test an electric transmission. One of the production tanks turned out to be converted to an electric transmission developed by Timken. Two electric motors and other equipment were placed in front. In general, the electric transmission turned out to be more cumbersome than the standard one. For this reason, the tank, designated Light Tank M2A3E2, remained experimental. However, American engineers later returned to the idea of ​​electric transmission more than once.

Light Tank M2A3E3 during testing, January 1941. The main changes have undergone the rear part of the hull, as well as the chassis

Despite the fact that the Guiberson T-1020 engines did not perform at their best, the American military did not give up attempts to install diesel engines on tanks. On February 21, 1940, the US Army Ordnance Corps approved the installation of a General Motors V-4-223 V-4-cylinder diesel engine in the Light Tank M2A3.

In fact, now the work was no longer aimed at improving the characteristics of the M2A3 tank, but rather to modernize the Light Tank M2A4. The engine compartment of the experimental vehicle was redesigned based on the model of this tank. An engine with a capacity of 250 horsepower fit into it, but it turned out to be heavier than the standard engine. This forced, as in the case of the Light Tank M2A2E3, to install an enlarged sloth on the tank, thereby lengthening the supporting surface of the tracks.

V-4–223 engine in all its glory

The converted tank, designated Light Tank M2A3E3, entered testing in January 1941. The modifications raised its combat weight to 10,800 kg. Based on the test results, the new engine was never accepted for use in light tanks. On the other hand, the chassis used on the Light Tank M2A3E3 was used virtually unchanged on the production Light Tank M3.

First tank in Antarctica

Unlike the Light Tank M2A4, its older brothers never saw action. The American military soberly assessed the capabilities of their machine-gun tanks. On the other hand, it is completely incorrect to say that the Americans were not ready for war, citing the light tanks of the M2 series as an example of this. These vehicles were created for a completely different theater of operations than Europe, and they were quite suitable for it. In total, by September 1, 1939, the American army had a little less than 450 completely modern light tanks armed with heavy machine guns that easily penetrated bulletproof armor.

At that time, the concept of light, fast cars was very popular in a number of countries. For example, the basis of the tank forces of the British army by September 1, 1939 were the 1002 Light Tanks Mk.VI, which were inferior in all respects to American vehicles. In terms of characteristics, the light tanks of the M2 family most closely matched the German Pz.Kpfw.II, being slightly inferior to them in firepower and superior to them in mobility. It is worth recalling that by September 1, 1939, Pz.Kpfw.IIs accounted for more than 40% of the total number of German tanks. And another 38% were Pz.Kpfw.I, which had practically no chance in battle against American vehicles.

Light Tank M2A3 in obstacle course training, Fort Belvoir, April 1942

Exercises became the destiny of American light vehicles with machine gun armament. Numerous maneuvers that have been carried out by the American army since the late 30s could not do without these tanks. Until 1942, the M2 family continued to serve. Without fighting, they served another important cause. These tanks became a training desk for thousands of American tankers. Equally important, the Light Tank M2A1 was the starting point for the development of the T5 medium tank, which later became the Medium Tank M2.

Time and active service have done their job. Not a single M2A1 has survived, and only one M2A2 and M2A3 remain in museums. One Light Tank M2A2E3 also survived.

The story could have ended here, if not for one “but”. There is one forgotten episode in the fate of the Light Tank M2A2 that makes the career of this tank unique. The fact is that this is the first and so far the last tank used in Antarctica. This happened in 1939, when Admiral Richard Byrd set out on his third expedition. Officially, it was called the United States Antarctic Service Expedition. It is famous largely due to the “Snow Cruiser”, a huge, advanced, but largely useless device that got stuck after 150 kilometers of travel. In fact, the story with him is just one episode of the expedition. Its main task was to create the “Eastern Base”, located on Stonington Island, in Marguerite Bay, and the “Western Base” (Little America) on the Ross Glacier. It was there that three Light Tanks M2A2 went.

Light Tank M2A2 on Stonington Island. A T3E4 Tracked Light Tractor can be seen in the background.

Even before being sent to Antarctica, the tanks were lightened by removing their weapons and part of the armor. However, it quickly became clear that this was not enough. The turrets were also removed from the tanks on site, the pressure on the snow decreased, but operation showed that it needed to be reduced by another third. The towers were not left idle: they were used to make extenders for caterpillar tracks. Thanks to them, the tanks began to move on loose snow much more confidently. Also, in order to stop the tank from being thrown with snow, extended wings were installed in front.

The operation of the tank units in low temperatures also caused a lot of trouble. However, the vehicles were actively used at both bases as sleigh tractors. On one of the trips, a tank with a load of 2 tons on a sled trailer was able to cover about fifty kilometers, moving in 2nd gear. The tanks were not returned to the United States. To this day, one Light Tank M2A2 has survived on Stonington Island.

Sources and literature:

• NARA Materials
• Materials from TsAMO RF
• Stuart History of the American Light Tank, Vol. 1, R. P. Hunnicutt, Presidio Press, 1992
• https://kevinraber.com
• Materials from the author's photo archive

Crew training

When choosing the sequence of leveling up skills for this tank, you need to remember that we have at our disposal a non-standard crew of six people. Of course, this does not impose any restrictions; on the contrary, it only expands the possibilities, but the responsibility increases, and in order to avoid mistakes, perks for the M2 Medium Tank

It’s best to study in this order: • Commander – , , , . • Gunner – , , , . • Driver mechanic - , , , . • Radio operator – , , , . • Radio operator – , , , . • Charger – , , , .

Medium tanks

TTX

Description

The tank was put into mass production and adopted by the American army under the designation M2. Assembly of the first 15 examples began in August 1939 at Rock Island Arsenal. A total of 18 copies of this modification were collected.

Armament

• 37 mm M3 gun

Main weapons

• 1 cannon of 37 mm M3 caliber (200 ammunition)
• 4 machine guns of 7.62 mm M1919A4 caliber (ammunition - 12000)

Shells

Armor protection

Modules

History of creation and combat use

The popularity of the Medium Tank M2 is much less than its younger “brothers” M3 “Lee” and M4 “Sherman”, but it was its appearance that determined the further development of the middle class of American vehicles for the next few years.

The hull had a welded-riveted design and, due to the original arrangement of weapons, it turned out to be very high and was made of rolled armor plates with a thickness of 9.5 to 25 mm. The sheets at the front of the hull were the thickest. The M2 chassis consisted of six bogies with a “branded” American suspension, six support rollers, front drive and rear guide wheels. Two double support rollers were attached symmetrically to one bogie by swinging arms loaded with vertical spiral springs. The rollers supporting the track chain were mounted on a small bracket to the top of the bogies.

Design of the T5 (prototype) began in 1936, but it was not until February 1938 that the first prototype, designated T5 Phase I, was presented for testing at the Aberdeen Tank Proving Ground. Already at the initial stage, it became clear that the power plant was too weak for a tank with a combat weight of over 15 tons, and the frontal armor required strengthening. Thus, an inclined armor plate appeared in the frontal part of the hull, protecting the crew from bullets, as well as shells with a caliber of up to 37-40 mm at long distances. In the spring of 1939, the engine was replaced with a radial Wright R973 (350 hp). Other improvements included installing the front hull plates at rational angles and moving two machine guns to the starboard side.

When the United States entered the war, M2 medium tanks of all modifications were used only for training personnel. The last tanks of this type were withdrawn from service in October 1942. As you can see, the history of operation of the M2 medium tanks in the American army turned out to be absolutely peaceful. But in the fall of 1941, a sharp turn occurred in the M2’s career. After Germany’s attack on the USSR and the start of deliveries of military equipment under Lend-Lease, the American side considered it possible to offer the M2A1, which was completely outdated by that time. Exactly how many tanks of this type arrived in the Soviet Union remains unknown.

After arriving in the USSR, two M2s were placed at the disposal of the 114th Tank Brigade, the formation of which began in February 1942 in the city of Slobodskoye (Kirov region). The brigade took its first battle on May 16, 1942 in the area of ​​​​the settlements of Savintsevo, Muzorova Bayraka and Malaya Komissarovka, where, having wedged deep into the enemy’s defenses, Soviet units found themselves in a difficult situation. The relief strike made it possible to stabilize the front line for some time and remove units of rifle brigades from encirclement. A week later, German troops themselves launched a counteroffensive and by May 25, almost completely encircled the Red Army group. In these battles, the 114th Tank Brigade was used several more times to help surrounded troops, until it itself was surrounded. In the afternoon of May 27, tankers of the 114th Tank Brigade, with the support of units of the 242nd Infantry Division, launched another relief attack in the area of ​​​​Chepel, but the offensive failed due to a lack of forces and strong enemy opposition. Only in the evening of May 28 was it possible to make a hole in the German defense between the settlements of Krasnaya Gusarovka and Gusarovka, through which it was possible to withdraw two groups of encircled Soviet troops with a total number of 6,000 people from encirclement. In the same battles, the remaining American tanks of the 114th brigade were probably shot down and destroyed.

Tactics for use in the game

The M2 can be called a medium tank only by its weight, but in essence it is a large light tank. It is very mobile, has good ballistics of the 37 mm M-3 gun, which should be used first of all in the game. His tall silhouette will not be useful on a map like Kursk, but on other maps, using cover (vehicle frames, rocks, terrain folds), we can destroy single targets quite well. But when we get carried away with shooting at the enemy, we don’t forget about maneuvering and changing position.

Based on the slow, and even very slow, rotation of the tower, it is not advisable to engage in battle with a group of opponents, although the reload time could allow this. Otherwise, the crew will be completely incapacitated and will have to go to the hangar.

This tank does not feel bad among its peers. By adhering to these recommendations, you can show good results and not be a burden to the team. Good luck in random battles!

Equipment for M2 Medium Tank

Well, there will be nothing new in buying consumables; here you should adhere to generally accepted standards, that is, if you lack funds, it is preferable to travel with a set of, , . However, when there is enough silver, it is worth remembering the number of crew members and the high probability of shell shock, weak armor, etc. That is, it is safer to carry equipment on the M2 Medium Tank

in the form , , , where it is dangerous to change the last point to , because the front transmission and engine will often be damaged.

Light Tank M2A1 (Light Tank T2) Light tank M2A1 (light tank T2)

Cobat Car T5 (T5 combat vehicle)

In the spring of 1933, the Secretary of the War Department issued a directive that all new light tanks and combat vehicles not exceed a maximum weight of 7 ½ tons. In response to this directive, a new project was started on June 3, 1933. On July 10, the characteristics of the proposed design were transferred to the Artillery Committee. According to them, the combat vehicle weighed 14,000 pounds and was armed with one .50 cal and two .30 cal machine guns. Armor protection was provided against .30 cal bullets from any distance. It was supposed to have a top road speed of 30 mph and a range of 100 miles. It was necessary to consider the installation of radio equipment. The new combat vehicle was supposed to have a steering system of controlled differentials and a spring suspension. On August 9, 1933, the War Department approved the specifications recommended by the Ordnance Committee. The release of one pilot vehicle was authorized, called Combat Cat T5, 7½ ton (T5 combat vehicle, 7 ½ tons). In October, they approved the option of installing .50 cal and .30 cal machine guns each in a separate turret. Another .30 cal was used as a course gun in a ball mount in the front hull.

Due to the rules that existed at that time in America, the cavalry received combat vehicles, and the infantry received light tanks. Based on this, two pilot vehicles were manufactured within the framework of this project - the T5 combat vehicle for cavalry and the T2 light tank for infantry. In essence, it was the same vehicle, manufactured for different requirements - separately for infantry and separately for cavalry. Rock Island Arsenal made both versions.

Light Tank T2 (light Т2) at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, May 23, 1934. Machine guns not installed.

On April 23, 1934, the T2 light tank, together with the T5 combat vehicle, was shown at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. Both cars had the same powertrain. Unlike the T5, the T2 had one turret and suspension with a single-ridge track. Each track had two bogies with four rollers each, supported by leaf springs. Tests in Aberdeen revealed that this suspension was inferior to the coil spring suspension found on the T5 combat vehicle. The ride was rough and reliability was poor. So the T2 was sent back to Rock Island Arsenal to install a beefed-up version of the coil spring suspension similar to the one found on the T5.

Modified carts, like on T5.

The new suspension has a double-ridge track with rubber blocks. The design of this caterpillar was successfully used later on all American WW2 tanks. The original T16 track underwent a number of modifications. The T16E1 had rubber blocks that, to extend the life of the track, could be detached, turned over to the opposite, less worn side, and reattached. T16E2 abandoned this idea by simply increasing the thickness of the rubber on the outside of the track that touched the ground.

Light Tank T2 (light T2) at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, May 23, 1934.

After a number of modifications, the vehicle was renamed the Light Tank T2E1 and again sent to Aberdeen for testing. There the car was tested for quite a long time from October 1934 to November 1937. From January 14 to February 14, 1935, T2E1 was in Fort Benning, Georgia, where it was transferred so that the military could give their assessment of the created car.

Light Tank T2E1 (light T2E1)

Based on recommendations received from the infantry, a round commander's cupola was added to the roof of the tower.

During its stay in Aberdeen and constant modifications, the tank's weight increased from 15,000 to 19,400 pounds. After about a year of testing, the tank was already showing good reliability and performance. As a result, the T2E1 was standardized as the Light Tank M2A1. Nine standard tanks were manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal in 1935. Together with the pilot tank, these vehicles were numbered from 1 to 10. The greatest armor thickness was 1.5875 cm. The pilot tank was made of non-armored steel. When fully loaded, the M2A1 light tank weighed 8523 kg and reached a road speed of 72.42048 km/h.

Light tank M2A1. The commander's cupola and the emblem of the Ground Forces have been added.

The crew of the tank consisted of 4 people. It was armed with twin .50 cal and .30 cal machine guns in the turret, a .30 cal machine gun on the right in the front hull, and a .30 cal anti-aircraft gun on the roof of the turret. The turret itself was cylindrical with a protrusion in front for attaching machine guns.

Turret twin machine guns .50 cal and .30 cal

These tanks never took part in battle. Used for crew training.

Light tank M2A1, serial number 7. The turret is equipped with a T7 carriage with twin .30 cal and .50 cal machine guns. In the front plate there is an M8 ball mount for a .30 cal machine gun.

Light tank M2A1, serial number 10.

sources

R. P. Hunnicutt - Stuart. A History of the American Light Tank. Vol. I - Presidio

Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis - British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945 - 1969

Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis - Tanks of the World, 1915-1945 - 1972

Tactics for playing the M2 Medium Tank

Perhaps we have the largest vehicle in our hands at the third level, so even if you and ten allies go towards the enemy, most of the guns will be pointed in your direction. In addition, our armor is also weak, so for the M2 Medium Tank the tactics

Conducting a battle involves maximum caution.

At the same time, due to poor accuracy, it will be difficult to realize the potential of the weapons when firing at long distances, so the American medium tank M2 Medium Tank

should not be too far from the enemy.

Of course, we feel most comfortable in the battles at the top of the list, because playing from review and alpha, you can achieve very good results. This means that M2 Medium Tank World of Tanks

has the opportunity to be the first to see the enemy, stop, close down and shoot. But playing as an alpha means that as soon as you fire a shot, you need to hide somewhere as quickly as possible, so you should choose your position wisely and, most importantly, make it difficult for artillery to hit you.

In addition, having good turret front armor and excellent elevation angles, the M2 Medium tank

can and should play from the tower. The principle of operation is the same, but the point is to completely hide your huge body behind some obstacle or stick out a little from behind a hill, and after the shot, hide again.

To summarize, I want to say that M2 Medium Tank WoT

is really capable of serious achievements, but you should try to neutralize its shortcomings, use as many advantages as possible and always act carefully, because any mistake can lead to a quick departure to your hangar.

Tendency to get heavier

The verdict on the adoption of the Medium Tank T5 did not mean that work on it was completed. The development of the machine continued, as tests revealed not only the positive aspects of its design. It was necessary to strengthen the chassis, rework the power plant and transmission, and also strengthen the armor. The weight limit for the creators of the tank was 20 short tons (18.14 metric tons).

Medium Tank T5 Phase III, November 1939. From this angle the changes are not so visible, but the design of the car has been greatly changed

In November 1938, the tank, designated Medium Tank T5 Phase III, entered testing. This was the second prototype: the car with the Phase II index was never built. Externally, the car was not very different from its predecessor, but this impression is deceptive. The creators of the tank went a little too far, as a result of which its combat weight increased to 19 metric tons. To begin with, the designers somewhat strengthened its side armor.

The engine compartment was redone, as were the mufflers with bullet stoppers.

The engine and transmission group has undergone a complete redesign. The tank was equipped with a much more powerful and larger 9-cylinder Wright R-975 Whirlwind engine. In aviation version, it developed a power of more than 400 horsepower, but for use in a tank it was reduced to 346 horsepower. With the new engine, the maximum speed of the car increased to 52.6 km/h.

The transmission also had to be redone. A new gearbox was installed in the tank, and the design of the final drives was also changed. The shaft sticking out in the center forced the driver's position to be shifted to the left, and his place was taken by front-line machine guns. The design of the drive wheels has changed, and the tracks have been expanded from 295 to 406 mm.

The ideas of a driver's cabin shifted to the left and a removable section of the upper frontal plate in the area where the coaxial machine gun was installed looked very controversial

The tower has also undergone noticeable changes. It was made cast, the wall thickness reached 25 mm. An anti-aircraft machine gun was mounted on the right side. The most important change was the installation of a 37 mm T3 anti-tank gun. The gun was installed virtually unchanged, using the swinging part of the towed gun. To prevent bullets and shell fragments from getting inside, armor was installed in front.

37-mm T3 cannon, which in its original configuration was almost no different from the swinging part of a towed gun

Tests of the tank showed not only slightly better dynamics, but also a significant increase in fuel consumption. If the T5 Phase I covered 200 kilometers on one fill, then the T5 Phase III covered only 168 kilometers, and this with a larger fuel supply. As a solution to the problem, it was proposed to install a Guiberson diesel aircraft engine. Like the Wright R-975, it was air-cooled and star-shaped. The conversion was approved on September 20, 1938, and the tank was renamed Medium Tank T5E1.

The tank underwent much greater changes in the spring of 1939. The driver's cabin shifted to the left gave the American military the idea of ​​installing a more powerful weapon in the front hull. On April 20, 1939, a converted tank entered testing and was designated Medium Tank T5E2. The place of the standard turret was taken by a modified Light Tank M2A3 commander's turret, which received a range finder. A 75-mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 howitzer was installed in the hull. The installation itself was exactly the same as the one that was armed with the prototype of the Howitzer Motor Carriage T3 light self-propelled gun.

Medium Tank T5E2, view from the starboard side

The installation of the howitzer looked as if the tank was originally designed for it

In a light self-propelled gun, working with a howitzer caused a headache, but on the T5E2, which had a much more spacious fighting compartment, no such problems arose. True, we had to get rid of the machine gun in the right front corner. The tests, which continued at the Aberdeen Proving Ground until February 8, 1940, ended with a positive verdict. Subsequently, experiments with the Medium Tank T5E2 had a direct impact on the development of the American medium tank program, taking it a little away from global trends.

Unlike the Gun Motor Carriage T3 self-propelled guns, there were no problems with lack of space in the T5E2 tank

While experimental work on the Medium Tank T5E2 continued, preparations for mass production of the Medium Tank M2 were in full swing. The Rock Island Arsenal was chosen as the manufacturer of the production vehicles. The first car, registered USA W-30444, left Davenport in the summer of 1939. It took into account the shortcomings discovered during tests of the second prototype.

The combat weight of the tank was reduced to 17.3 tons, which increased the specific power. True, the maximum speed of the car was reduced to 42 km/h. Reducing the maximum engine speed and speed made it possible to increase the power reserve to 208 kilometers. Because the final drives overheated a little, fins appeared on their casings.

The designers also returned the driver and directional machine guns to their place. The track width was reduced to 337 mm, and the bogies of the locked suspension were also strengthened. The armor also underwent changes: the thickness of the front plate increased to 28.5 mm, and the thickness of the sides was slightly increased.

The first example of the Medium Tank M2 on display, Aberdeen Proving Ground, autumn 1939

Once again the weapons and turret were redesigned. The general configuration of the turret remained the same as on the T5 Phase III, but instead of casting they returned to the riveted design familiar to American tanks. The 37-mm cannon remained as a weapon, which was adopted under the designation M3. They placed it in a new gun mount, where the cannon was paired with a Browning M1919A4 machine gun. In total, the tank had eight of these same machine guns: two frontal, four in sponsons, one coaxial with a cannon, and one anti-aircraft.

A copy of the factory drawing. You can clearly see how anti-aircraft machine guns were mounted on the turret.

According to the first order, in 1939 the Rock Island Arsenal produced 18 Medium Tank M2. The second production vehicle went to the Aberdeen Proving Ground, where it became a test laboratory. Thanks to this status, the tank has survived to this day, albeit in a slightly modified form. During 1940, it was planned to produce another 54 cars, but the foreign policy situation began to change rapidly. And with it, the plans of the American military also changed.