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M1 (Light Tank, M1 / M1 Combat Car)

1933 WORLD WAR 2

History of M1 (light tank, M1/???M1 combat vehicle)

The M1 combat vehicle represents a rather humble beginning of the development of American tanks in WWII. It was a tracked-only machine gun platform with a crew of 4, its compact size and managed a total output of 113 troops through the renowned Rock Island Arsenal facility. The vehicle had a short lifespan as all major armies equipped their armoured units with vehicles that did not carry cannons - the US was no exception.

The M1 combat vehicle was in service from 1937 to 1943 before being scrapped.

Like many armies during World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945), the U.S. Army pursued a policy of light main battle tanks designed to support infantry operationsalbeit to circumvent Time-limited, these vehicles are called "combat vehicles". A 9.4-ton design was accepted, including engines in its stern, a 360-degree traverse turret in the middle, and a fuselage superstructure on a vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS) system for off-road cruising. Armor protection up to 16mm thick.

The 5 crew consisted of driver, crew leader, gunner and loader. The main armament is a 1 x .50 caliber heavy machine gun and a 1 x .30 caliber medium machine gun, placed side by side in the turret. Power comes from an air-cooled 7-cylinder radial Continental R670 engine with 250 hp. Road speeds reach 45 miles per hour, with a road range of 100 miles.

Dimensions include a length of 13.5 feet, a height of 7.4 feet, and a width of 7.9 feet.

Rock Island Arsenal released 89 original M1 production models. They were followed by 17 newer M1A1 models with a new octagonal turret design and redesigned landing gear. The M1A1E1 was a developmental, short-run production version that installed a Guiberson T1020 diesel engine over the original gasoline-powered version.

The brand produced a total of seven vehicles. It was followed by the final diesel-powered model, the M2, with 34 eventually produced.

The M1 was used for combat missions in the early days of World War II when all types of armored vehicles were required. Some stocks fought (and fell) in the 1941-1942 Philippine Campaign, operated by the Philippine military.

The name "Leichter Panzer M1A2" has been in use since 1940, replacing the name "Kampfwagen" and the classification of the series. This has since led to the entire "M" series of tanks used by the US Army - the M2 Light Tank, followed by the M3 Lee/Grant, and finally the M4 Sherman.

Today's M1 Abrams main battle tank reuses the "M1" designation.