The M24 Chaffee was a light tank in service with the US Army during the Second World War and the Korean War. Designed by Cadillac in 1943, it was introduced into active service in 1944, replacing the M5 Light Tank. Although it did not see combat action in Normandy, as it arrived in Europe in November 1944, it did take part in the Battle of the Bulge, which began the following month. It was the last light tank built by United States during the Second World War.
The main asset of the M24 Chaffee was its 75-mm gun. For such a powerful weapon, the engineers had to design an entirely new turret to accommodate it. The turret was drastically different from the M5's and other previous tank turrets. The Chaffee was powered by two Cadillac Model 44T24, V-8 gasoline engines, which were mounted at the rear of tank. Each of them produced 220 horsepower. The 24-volt generators were mounted in front of engines block, with a driveshaft under the intake manifold. This shaft drove the radiator fan. The engines were tied together with a two-speed transfer case located on the floor under the rear of turret.
Below, front view of the M24 Chaffee light tank
The driver and assistant sat in front, on each side of the differential, with dual driving controls. The assistant driver operated a .30-caliber machine gun in a ball socket-type bow mount. The hull of the Chaffee was of all-welded steel plate. On the hull front (glacis), there was a large access steel plate hatch, which served as an access to service or replace the differential. The hull rode on five dual-tired sets of road wheels per side, with torsion bar suspension. The drive sprocket was located at the front, with the adjusting idler wheel at the rear. The tracks were single-pin steel, with a 16-in-wide center guide.
Specifications
Type: light tank
Weight: 18.37 tons
Hull Length: 5 m (16 ft, 4.5 in)
Full Length (with gun): 5.49 m (18 ft)
Width: 2.95 m (9 ft, 8 in)
Height: 2.48 m (8 ft, 1 in)
Power Plant: two Cadillac Model 44T24, V-8 gasoline engines.
Maximum Speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)
Range: 161 km (100 miles)
Armament: one 75-mm T13E1 gun; one .30-caliber machine gun in front hull and a 12.7-mm (.50-cal) machine gun on turret.
Crew: 5
Below, an US Army's armor unit composed of M24 Chaffee tanks in Europe in December 1944.
A color photo of the Chaffee. Rear andside view.
Below, the hull glacis showing the location of the .30-caliber machine gun operated by the assistant driver.
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