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M1 Armored Car

1934

History of the M1 Armored Vehicle

The U.S. Army was slow to recognize armored vehicles as a viable battlefield tool during the fighting in World War I (1914-1918), and U.S.-origin vehicles were used by nationals during World War I Guards and local security forces use America for World War. It was the U.S. Marine Corps that paved the way for the purchase of eight "Kings" (details elsewhere on this site), and future Army General George S. Patton, who supported mechanized warfare as early as 1916, was looking for The Mexican punishing expedition at Villa Pancho.

By the end of the war and into the 1920s, the Army had developed little in this area.

Some experiments even took place during World War I, but most of these ended in "one-off" or limited production efforts, donated or sold to local armed forces across the country. In the end, all suffered from the same constraints: built on a commercial truck or car chassis, dragged down by armored bodies and weapons, and lacked off-road mobility due to slender tires and overall weight. It wasn't until the 1930s that the Army's design and development of armored vehicles was back on the agenda, with one effort resulting in the short-lived "M1 Armored Vehicle."

This vehicle was originally a "T4 Medium Armored Vehicle" and was primarily built by son and company James Cunningham in Rochester, New York. A new four-wheel bogie arrangement is used to better equip the rear axle.

On a six-wheeled chassis was laid an angular armored superstructure, characterized by a cab amidships and a turret above the rear (the engine was mounted in the bow as usual). The turret was imported by engineers at Iwashima Arsenal, designated "T5", and was armed with a .50 caliber M1921 heavy machine gun (HMG) and a coaxially mounted 0.30 caliber M1918 medium machine gun (MMG).

Another .30 cal MMG mount is optional as an anti-aircraft measure on top of the turret.

The car is driven by four people and is powered by an 8-cylinder petrol engine with up to 133 hp. The suspension is arranged through a 4x6 wheel, in which drive is transmitted to the two rear axles and steering is handled by the front axle. Under ideal conditions (i.e. ready paved roads), the vehicle can reach road speeds of 55 mph and have a range of up to 250 miles. The spare tire is located on the front side of the fuselage and is raised for ground clearance. Dimensions include a barrel length of 15 feet, a width of 6 feet, and a height of 6.9 feet.

It weighs just over 5 tons.

Two T4 "Pilot" (prototype) vehicles were built and evaluated at the prestigious Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland before being delivered to the Fort Riley (Kansas) Cavalry Commission. From there they were handed over to the men of 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron A of Fort Bliss. Tests eventually spanned from 1931 to 1933/1934, when the type officially entered service as the "M1 Armored Vehicle" - the first standardized armored vehicle design adopted by the U.S. Army.

Twenty of these cars were contracted, but due to natural Army budget constraints and the pressure of the Great Depression, only 12 were completed, most of which were supplied by Rock Island Arsenal.

The M1 armoured vehicle, although a promising attempt, was not entirely successful: it still lacked the necessary off-road capability, as its front axle was non-driven, and the sheer weight of the vehicle meant it could easily jam in the floppy In the terrain. Its overall length also requires a large turning radius, and the armor protection is only able to withstand small arms fire. The car is also large, making it an attractive target on the horizon, especially for enemy tanks, artillery and machine gunners.

The armored superstructure also limited the crew's visibility, as did the driver's long nose section.

Nonetheless, the M1 armored vehicle was an important stepping stone to better army design in World War II (1939-1945), and also helped to flesh out the near-future of the American doctrine of mechanized warfare, which would be powerful in the coming wars to appoint. The era of "classic" WWI-era armored vehicles is more or less over, and the M1 armored vehicle remained in service until 1939 - the beginning of the war in Europe.