The M1931 is an experienced 1930s light wheeled caterpillar tank . It was developed by J. Christie as an improved version of his M1928 , designed for the U.S. Army . In 1931, 7 tanks of this type were manufactured, tested by infantry under the designation Medium Tank T3 [sn 3] ( Eng. Medium Tank T3 ). Four of the tanks released in 1932 were transferred to the cavalry , which in a modified version, distinguished by weapons, used them under the designation Combat Vehicle T1 [sn 4] ( Eng. Combat Car T1 ). The tank was not adopted by either infantry or cavalry, but was actively used by the latter in various experiments until 1936, when the T1 and T3 were sent for scrapping due to deterioration and the appearance of new, more advanced tanks.
| M1931 | |
|---|---|
 Combat Car T1 at Fort Knox test, still retaining 37mm T3 tank gun | |
| Combat Car T1 | |
| Classification | light tank |
| Combat weight, t | 10.0 |
| Layout diagram | classic |
| Crew | 2 |
| Story | |
| Manufacturer |  US Wheel and Track Layer Corporation |
| Years of production | 1931 |
| Years of operation | 1931 - 1936 |
| The number of issued, pcs. | 7 |
| Key Operators | |
| Dimensions | |
| Body length mm | 5490 |
| Width mm | 2240 |
| Height mm | 2290 |
| Reservation | |
| Type of armor | steel rolled, 13-16 mm |
| Board of the case, mm / city. | 16 + 5 [sn 1] |
| Armament | |
| Machine guns | 1 × 12.7 mm M2 HB 1 × 7.62 mm |
| Mobility | |
| Engine type | V-shaped 12- cylinder liquid-cooled carburetor |
| Engine power, l with. | 338 |
| Speed on the highway, km / h | 43/74 [sn 2] |
| Specific Power, l s / t | 33.8 |
| Wheel formula | 8 × 2/2 |
| Suspension type | individual on vertical springs , such as Christie |
| Ground pressure, kg / cm² | 0.7 |
| The overcome wall, m | 0.9 |
| The overcome ditch, m | 2,5 |
Content
Modifications
- Medium Tank T3 - an option for the infantry, had weapons from a twin installation of a 37 mm M1916 gun and 7.62 mm machine gun.
- Combat Car T1 - an option for cavalry, differed in armament from the coaxial installation of 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns.
- Combat Car T1E1 - a converted version of one of the tanks for the cavalry, characterized by the replacement of chain final drives with gears.
- Combat Car T1E2 - an unrealized project for the conversion of a cavalry tank, characterized by the replacement of a carbureted engine with a diesel engine with a capacity of 120 hp
Notes
Footnotes
- ↑ 16 mm outer armor plates and 5 mm inner non-armored steel sheets, between which suspension elements were located.
- ↑ Tracked and wheeled, respectively.
- ↑ The designation of it as a medium tank was caused only by the peculiarities of the national classification, according to which tanks weighing more than 5 tons, too heavy for transportation by tank conveyor , belonged to medium ones .
- ↑ From 1928 to 1940, cavalry tanks were designated as “combat vehicles” to circumvent the limitations of the National Defense Act of 1920 , according to which only infantry had the right to use tanks.
Sources
Literature
- RP Hunnicutt. Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank Volume I. - 1st ed. - Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1992 .-- 512 p. - ISBN 0-89141-462-2 .
- P. Chamberlain, C. Ellis. Tanks of the World 1915-1945. - 2002 edition. - London: Arms and Armor Press, 1972 .-- 256 p. - ISBN 0-30436-141-0 .
Links
- Christie M1931 Medium Tank . World War II Vehicles . Archived on August 29, 2013.