The Medium Tank M1 is an experimental mid- wheeled tracked tank of the USA of the 1930s . It was developed by order of the cavalry as a modernized and lightweight version of the T1 tank designed by J. Christie and originally bore the designation Combat Car T4 [sn 2] ( Eng. Combat Car T4 ). The cavalry refused to mass-produce the T4, using the only prototype built only for experiments, but the tank attracted the attention of the infantry , for which an option was developed, designated as the Medium Tank T4 ( English Medium Tank T4 ), which was distinguished by enhanced armor and a number of less significant changes.
| M1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Medium Tank M1 | |
| Classification | medium tank |
| Combat weight, t | 12,2 |
| Layout diagram | classic |
| Crew | four |
| Story | |
| Manufacturer |  Rock Island Arsenal |
| Years of production | 1935 - 1936 |
| Years of operation | 1935 - 1940 |
| The number of issued, pcs. | nineteen |
| Key Operators | |
| Dimensions | |
| Body length mm | 4905 |
| Width mm | 2490 |
| Height mm | 2210 |
| Reservation | |
| Type of armor | steel rolled, 6-16 mm |
| Armament | |
| Sights | telescopic |
| Machine guns | 1 × 12.7 mm M2 HB 2 × 7.62 mm M1919A4 |
| Mobility | |
| Engine type | radial 7- cylinder carburetor air-cooled |
| Engine power, l with. | 268 |
| Speed on the highway, km / h | 38/61 [sn 1] |
| Specific Power, l s / t | 22.0 |
| Wheel formula | 8 × 2/2 |
| Suspension type | individual on vertical springs , such as Christie |
In 1935 - 1936 , a batch of 16 serial tanks of this type was released, taking into account prototypes, the number of T4 tanks reached 18 units. The T4 was the last US medium tank to be the development of the J. Christie wheeled and tracked design, and its further production was not carried out due to unacceptable cost. In March 1939, the tank was nevertheless taken into service due to the increased threat of war, but already in 1940 all tanks of this type were transferred to the category of obsolete and withdrawn from service.
Content
Notes
Footnotes
- ↑ Tracked and wheeled, respectively.
- ↑ 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. Sherman: A History of American Medium Tank. - Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1976. - 576 p. - ISBN 0-89141-080-5 .
- 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 .