T1 Light Tank (Series)

History of the T1 light tank (series)

The U.S. road to a viable homegrown MBT is a long and slow process. World War I (1914-1918) provided the U.S. Army with the necessary battlefield presence to appreciate the type that served with cavalry and infantry, but these in-game examples were foreign-born British and French models.

What was needed was a homegrown solution that was combat-ready, economical, and ready for mass production should another war break out in Europe.

As a result, various automotive designers put their talents to work to meet the continuing needs of the US Army. Perhaps the most famous of the group was J. Walter Christie, who during the war was interested in several tracked designs of self-propelled guns by the Ordnance Department. This led to a series of medium tanks, but it wasn't until the mid-1920s that military authorities became popular.

Walter made a name for himself with his Christie suspension system, which was used on a variety of tanks in the 1920s and 1930s.

Harry A. Knox, another automotive designer that caught the attention of the Army, was employed by Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) to develop a new vehicle based on his (and his company's) experience in car and truck manufacturing. Tanks are used for war.

Knox began the "T1 light tank" project to replace the French Renault FT-17 in service with the United States - redesignated by the Army as the M1917 6 ton. At the time, the FT-17 was a revolution in tank design as its primary armament was mounted on a movable turret. The crew of two consisted of operators of this light tank system and proved themselves in the ensuing battle. Knox's goal was to produce a similar light combat vehicle, but with better reliability and improved focused firepower, so the T1 was designed around those features.

In addition, Knox is also trying to develop a base chassis that will/can be used for the entire family of related vehicles - thus providing such an economical measure for the Army.

The proposed weapons are a 37mm M1916 main gun and a coaxial .30 caliber machine gun - both mounted on the front of the turret. One of the main differences of the T1 compared to previous American tank designs was the engine, which was located in the bow (rather than the stern) of the hull.

This forced the crew cabin and turret to sit aft. The sides of the vehicle consist primarily of track and wheel arrangements and armor up to 10mm at the thickest point.

The Pilot T1 vehicle was tested in 1927-28, and the results proved so promising that the Army commissioned the James Cunningham Company of Rochester, NY to build another six tanks in both forms: at least four of them became the "T1E1 Light" Tanks" standard, the other two were built according to cargo ship designs. The T1E1 differed from the original T1 in that its fuselage was shortened and its fuel tanks were relocated. Dimensions of the T1E1 include a length of 12.7 feet, a width of 5.9 feet and a height of 7.1 feet.

The weight reaches 7.8 tons. A 110 hp Cunningham petrol engine is used to power the track wheel unit and the vehicle can reach speeds of 17 mph on prepared roads.

The quartet was thoroughly tested in 1928 and found to be quite reliable. This allowed the T1E1 to be standardized under the name "Light Tank, M1", but the type didn't go into mass production as expected (some disputed the rear position of the engine, and there were concerns that dangerous fumes could enter the fighting compartment). The "T1E2" was then introduced in 1929, which provided additional armor (nearly 16mm thick), but this change came at the expense of weight, so an improved engine (132 hp) was installed.

Even so, the speed was barely 16 mph.

"T1E3" became the next branch of the T1 series, a modification of the early 1930's T1E1. It brings the high velocity guns and heavier armor of the T1E2, but more or less physically embodies the T1E1. At speeds in excess of 34 km/h, an all-new suspension system provides even more driving comfort.

"T1E4" appeared in 1932, which in turn was based on the earlier T1E1 product. The engine room is now moved to the rear of the hull and the turret is located above the midship. An all-new suspension system guarantees a better ride, and a 37mm Type 1924 gun (fed from a 5-round magazine) replaces the original weapon.

While the T1E1's engine was first used when testing the T1E4, it was eventually replaced in time by an upgraded 140-horsepower Cunningham engine and achieved speeds of nearly 20 mph.

The "T1E5" features a new control scheme with braking system and is powered by a Cunningham 140 hp engine that expresses a certain sound quality. This was followed by the "T1E6" based on the T1E4 prototype in 1932. The engine is V12 gasoline from American-LaFrance and Foamite Corp. It has 244 horsepower, but the weight of the vehicle increases to over 9 tons.

However, the new tank's power output and combined power-to-weight ratio provide the necessary propulsion to keep the vehicle's speed within the 20 km/h range.

The T1 light tank and all its siblings are used by the U.S. Army for limited duty operations and only as a test bed for various qualities associated with mechanized warfare.

Only the T1E1 was built with one example, but the group served the Army and U.S. industry well by providing the necessary framework to pursue more complex tank designs. Until the end of World War II (1939-1945), the United States would be the world leader in tank development and production, but they must be thankful for the work done in the 1930s for their place on the world stage.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Not available.

Changes