World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe T5 design was based on the M2 Light Tank, developed by the United States Army Rock Island Arsenal in the state of Illinois. In Jun 1939, the design was given the designation of M2 Medium Tank. In Aug 1940, it was decided that 1,000 units were to be constructed at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, Michigan, United States which was operated by the manufacturing firm Chrysler. They were equipped with 37-millimeter Gun M3 as their primary armament. Each tank also included up to nine .30-06 Browning M1919 machine guns, although the typical configuration was reduced to seven in later models (two fixed frontal glacis, one coaxial, four in ball mounts in sponsons; two optional in sloped turret in anti-aircraft configuration, limited to earlier models only). Interior storage compartments stored 12,250 rounds for ammunition for the machine guns. Careful observation of the war in Europe, however, soon revealed that the M2 Medium Tanks were already obsolete in modern tank warfare, thus the contract was modified so that Chrysler would manufacture M3 Lee/Grant tanks instead. Their armor was deemed too thin and the main armament was considered too weak. Rock island Arsenal built 94 M2A1 Medium Tanks before production ceased, and they were used for training purposes only per recommendation of the US Army Ordnance office in 1942.

SPECIFICATIONS

M2A1

Machinery	One Wright R975 EC2 air-cooled supercharged gasoline radial engine rated at 400hp
Suspension	Vertical volute spring suspension
Armament	1x37mm M3 gun (200 rounds), 7x7.62mm Browning M1919 machine guns
Armor	6.4-32mm
Crew	6
Length	5.38 m
Width	2.59 m
Height	2.82 m
Weight	18.7 t
Speed	42 km/h
Range	210 km

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