The M2 light tank was an American armored combat vehicle, which was developed and produced between 1934 and 1942. Since they saw it was not a match for the German Panzers at the outbreak of hostilities, it did not see combat action in the European theater of operation. Therefore, they were fielded by the US Marines and Army on the Pacific islands, such as Guadalcanal, and in the jungle of New Guinea by the Australian Army. It was made in three different variants, all of them weighing about 10 tons. It would be replaced by the M3 Stuart and the M4 Sherman.
Below, the American M2 light tank, here the M2A2 version, driving up the steep ramp onto a train flat car to be transported.
The M2A2 was the first vehicle of this series of light tanks, which had been designed as the T2 prototype. It was characterized by its twin turret, one featuring a .50-caliber Browning machine gun, and the other a .30-caliber machine gun. This entered into service in 1935, with limited production. Around 1937, they increased the thickness of its frontal armor, producing the M2A3 version. However, when WW2 broke out, they realized that it was equipped with underpower armament; thus, the American engineers replaced the small two towers for a bigger stronger one which was equipped with a 37-mm gun and five .30 machine guns. This new variant was called the M2A4, which would be widely produced.
Specifications:
Weight: 10.5 tons
Length: 4.4 m
Width: 2.4 m
Height: 2.6 m
Power Plant: a Continental W670, 7-cylinder gasoline engine, delivering 250 HP
Armor: 25-mm steel on turret front and 15-mm on hull glacis.
Below, three M2A2 light tanks driving over obstacle on the training field.
The M2A4 variant featured only one turret, with a 37mm gun.
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