New Vanguard 077 - M24 Chaffee Light Tank 1943-85 (Single)

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CONTENTS THE LIGHT TANK OIL MMA

3

DEVELOPING TH

6

T24

INTO COMBAT STEVEN J ZA1.OCA _

In

1~

bam

rec:efwd his 8A ...

"tory " - UnIoft College.

• COml;t;lllbe III IndO( Illn",

....... MAo '""" CobnbU

• Other coml..11

....

~

9

• lend-LeaS(' \121 1.1I1~ • Comballll Kon• Imenl.lliOlla! t" pun ,~

,...~

_ _ boob ...... rtic~

6edntl with lI'IOdfom ",...,. Wd>'11'1W • .., _ _ ........111111 ,

t. HIs IR8In ~

_ef

REJUVINATION AND RETIREMENT

36

M24 TANK VARIANTS

38

. " . . In the _ _ SoIIloet

• \12 • .Jnlller) ''3rUJll.'~

LWon -e:I I!.-*-" ~ In h SecOftCI WotW w...... he

BIBLIOGRAPHY

43

COLOR PLATE COMMENTARY

44

INDEX

48

hIs.-o wrm.. .........,..,_

...

~~*-

JIM U.UFll£R ... rultlve of

PMw HIomP8hl,... He gqdUolll1ed wlth honof'S tTom th. P.I..... $ehoo$ of Nt, ConnectIcut, In "78 8nd ha. worbd" • ~nce 111....tnIlor_

.Ince. comP/ettng auignments

".rtety

In • wide or fkold... .11m n.. • u.n Int.ereel 1ft mlll18". M1bjKta. boItl ."I.lIon .nd _ .

end,.. Feno.

- * - ' of chi Aonerie8n SOGIety of A.don AItkb. the .... yortl. SocJet)t of

Illustrators ..... the ""'-~ Aghtw

ae- .&Noell8tlon.

New Vanguard. Tl

M24 Chaffee Light Tank 1943-85

Steven J Zaloga . Illustrated by Jim Laurier

OSPREY PUBLISHING

Author'. not.

n. ....... .-... -... __ ""'cI ....... "-' ... -

. . . . . - . . - "PM !
--"/>a

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.-.y,• .-....g

••

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lot h

..... II-. C
e...- ....

1_.nttlWl~"'~ro-rbe~_iII b,.-.r ....... - - - . .....

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Of ..

~

..... -'~opIlI:*,~ -.tng ..

. . . . . . . . pnor _ _

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CII'I1'Nt

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...,.,wt ~ bll'QW:llng fNnIq ..... Cha"- L...- _ CendAOI f

.. "'-'*' ............ fO'l ~ ~. let IIIeIr

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WIlO.dd

..w ~

WI:!*'

...... ~ _ ~ h _... _M2~Ilghl . . . n.nks-'-ogo • lie . . . Of . . ...., ..em. CIlMclion b'a'c/I oll!'e US,."",

......, ~ _ _ 'lOtHlI • tile us MIty w. ~ e.tIit 8an'a::I
-,....

...•••I=. . _

...... o l h U S ~ ~ _ ~ ~

Wh~.

Artist's note

------

alIII"'rI_._

AIatn ...,ca.to _ _ IM
~

...... _

IhIcd:Ir

~ . . . . boal_~. . . . . . . . Ior""". . - . " . ~

E6!or': a...I 80Nr

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lO9171~~31

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~ ~ UM,dflloI8 PI-...g. P.O Ib I, 13 ~ " -

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e-.,DiPwtUIC.p.o Baa l«l. .............""'It\,...,."I
--E........ :;

""'to1Ql,

... ~c..._I'\lQIIO.... _

The~~

.. CtiN - . . ·/JI.:IrIIf ....... Lm.

03:),105011 07

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oI"a.tdt.

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~"....o.....k ..

_ b , . .....

0) II-. ~ N

..... _

THE M24 CHAFFEE LIGHT TANK 1943-85

he: M24 Chdffee light lallk h-,15 one of the fint.'S( CS la.nk designs of World War II. h5 conlJibuuon to !.he LS war effort "'....\ limited b\' iu late a.rrival in comb...t and the diminishing role oflighl t.-mks in the final ~ean; of the war. ~~"enhcless. il.~ modemi(\' ensured its continuing \;ahilin on lhe bauldie1d. It ....-as exported around the world in ..ignific.&nt numbers. Indeed. it i!o probabh octlcr km)\'on for its use in po"'l"'-dr conflicts in Korea. Indochina, and PalJ5tan.

1M MZ4 pt'OV" to Ia on. of the fllftMt us tank deslsln. of World w., n, but It. _ r In the US .......y WII .hort. WIth thl Ml...nt .f the M41 tank \n HI01, thl MZ4 wu dec:1arec:I Il.Il1lJ",. Ind ~ed to .tIled Irmle. lround 1M 8~. Th.. M24 n_ _

.....adal'ko I, ,"n 1'1..,. ,tln In -.ok, wtU! tIM .'It R-.::_ ..-.unc.. "t ArTllorecl DIv'-lon, . . af'I _ _ .elM

In H_ Me..lco 'n

1M2. IUS Army)

THE LIGHT TANK DILEMMA When the United Slate' clllt.'rcd World War II ill !kccmhlT 1941. iL" tallk force:' was compo<.erl almu~l (·mirely of 1i~ht t.'lnk.~. principall)' the 1\13 light lank famih. As tht: newer M3 and Mol II1cdiulll t::lnk.~ Ix.
3

tanks. Anllored doctrine espected the light tanls 10 ,ern: ill the \(lllgu;trd 01 the
t.h~

importance 01 thcil" :.pccd

and mobilit)· 10 kt't'p Ih<: enem)' off batancc. C.omb.lI expellenel.-"

In

TUIIISi.1 woule! shm\ the dOClnlU," tv ht-- lanciful :l.lld til(' lij:;ht (allks LO he unc;uitable to moo.,w bauletidd conditions. B}' 1942. the ~13 liglll tank was beginning to sho" it.:. age. 1\'111.11 was nfll surpri'iing a.__ it was o\\'cr-plant. bUi the S
4

comings of the M3 were f"(:co~ni1.ed by the US .-\ml\'. and the dt'\'(:lopl11cnl of a Ile\" light llmk, the T7. began ill Fcb1"Utln' 1911. The design of the T7 \\mpromised by the rapidly changing ll·qllirCllll'llL-. for lIghl tanks amI e\'olving taCtical dOClrin~" Prior to WOlld War II, US lighl umks were primarily irHcndcd 10 serve as infalllry suppol't weapol1s, and lhe T7 design was he!alllwd I I lUllS to 27 Ions, ami ;1' I"calit\ il wa.~ closer LO 29 to'u whC"n ,om b."" l(l.I(kd. \\11
The une.lpoKtecl mu~ion of the T7 light b1nk ;"to the M7 medium t .... c~3ted the ne
\\'hen the T7E:j pll"l II •• C,II1(1.11,llltd III JOr:.!. il was designated as the 1\17 mediulII l....l1lk. OI'I~ &<"t"1 I rt1"lllflloli 1.1I1ks were accepted b~· lhe US Arm)' befon' it w.\ (.uH~ 11, d II, ~Lllth I~ tS. the Armored Force n:jcclt'd the design as !>ellIS Inl 110110 the CX1SlIllg ~14 mediulTl lank in nearly all TeSp«l:i. The :\n light lank fiasco ~uggt'.slcd th;u the lcdmical branches of Lhe US Army had rcc:ogniF.led lhat a Iiglu lank could not fulfill the role emisioned for it in l.hc existing Allll(lrcd Force doctrine. The armor of lighllanks could not wilhslaud cOIlLcmpomr)' ami-lank gUllS. ami unless anned with the same ""capon as the medium tallls. thq' had link' chance of defeating enem)' tanb. This "'~l.~ onh [ul" recognized by lite Armored "'orces after the Tunisian campaign. E\cn the newel' :'II.~) liglll tank \\'as found wanting in perfomlancc. The commander of the 70th Tank B;l1lalion reponed thai:

.",. n4 pilat took act....n'lOlI. of ~ enginHrint tal.n', . . proved to be an uo;:ell..,t ~

,....

from the OIJtNt. The

~c:ked

~

two

the vision c:up04a

of the pt'Oductlofl lanks,

lIIiw4 othlNwtse _re very .lmllar.

lI'WttGn M_1

... on occasions ",hen this (~15) compall\ was clIlplmcd as a reconnaissance unit to determine the po,iliolls of ellen1\' infantn:. the presence of \"'MtI)" superior enClm anli-Lm\.. guns were found (0 be cwr present \\;th the enemy infalltn. -111(.' c1fecti\'e r.lllge of these gllll' \\t're \-.:tStly superior to the 37lttIH gUll IIltlllllU:d 011 the ;"1:, tanks ". emplo}"lllcnt on coordinated attacks ";th infamry ex pcri"l\cC(1 tlw lialllC rcsulL~ """ the light armor of the :-'15 tanks can not \\ilhSland th~ high-powered guns... " The Gem13n tank.~ nO\,' l·mpIO)'\.'Ci cumpletcl... outcla...~ thc M3 t.U1k. 111:1\..11I1'; it impossible to cunsider clIg;lging them 10 .111\ degree ... The light armor makes Ihe ;"15 \"Cry \ulnerahlc In enemy arullel')' fire. lherdn' 11lakillK m'lllCU\'er of tanks n'll: dillicuh. Attack PtJSlliHI1~ IIlU~1 ol'(('n he

t- J

•

hll

tI \o\llhlJltl lcgnrd.!i

1.1 1.'1 IIC.II "lluatiOIl.!i in

",II," til ,"oid l'nelll)' III .1"\.1I1l1l1 .Illd artillen' I" I In ,ie" of lh~

l·u"

II j,

recommended

th.lt \I~I l.tllLs be r('pl.lCed ,,"ull I.Ulks much more ht',1\ ih armorcd and /lUll

h hC3.\icr gunned In effectivel)' c:arT)'

HHler 10

••lIt

the mi lOllS assigned

to a

1.1111..

unit.

80th Gene'.J.1 George S. Cener.&! Om:u Bnldlc-\' \'lldOBed tim f('()Or( .llld recommended thaI ill lht' Ill'lIre light tmks be rt."!ilriCted to reconnai.l.'>Olllcc mis.,iOll~, DlII'ing the smnmer of 1943, the US Anny "~dS invol\'ed in a \igornlls deb..ttc about the future configuration of its amlored uniu. based on lilt: !t',som of the :-.'onh African campaign. The c:futinction between Ughl and medium m.nk ballalions disap~ared, with •.he new ~tandard paucm being a mixed battalion \\;Ih Ihre(' comp..miC$ of medltlill 1.1I1k, :II,d iI .sillKlc Compall}' of lighl tanks, Only a h.tndfuJ of Iighl lallk b.'l.tt."lhom remained. The role of the light t."l.nk in L"S docuilll' fllllrbllll:lll.,lh' changed from being :1 n:IlI"11 weapon in t.11l1. OpCr.1\lI)ll' to being .1 ~conda~'l)-pc rntrincd W'l..UlllillK. P;:lUOI1 :1Il
Thi, ",I,w ,how, the Internal laYout of Ih, M24 as "'iewed on entering the commander', station In the len rear 01 the turnt. The 75mm iun is ''''ident

In the cllnt,r 01 the photo. aloni prominent recoil guard• The gunner's lett i......dent to

wtth the

the

I'" along with the f1un

control•• The loader ut in Ihe right .Id. 01 the turret on the . ... I 'risible at Ute •• treme right of thli ~to. lAuthorj

DEVELOPING THE T24 llle us Ann~' "~J-~ not yet \\illing to give lip on the neh' :\!jAI light mnk. h:l\;ng produced 4.000 b) 1943. The primal} shoncomin/o:' of the ~15Al \\'" fel! to be it.. PUll} 37mm gun which made it difficult to l.OT' (Jill .111\ mis.~ion. C"'en scouunK. As a result of t."arl)" complaints 110m IllI0P, III I"\orth Art;e", about the poor performance orlhe 3imll1 g-llll. ;'1 l.11l' 1~112

Thl. oYerh,Ud view .howl _ the urfy

0'

producdon M24 lighl

tank. with the .tandard .t_~ conli9'Jratlon. The pnldUC1lon OeMgn In"'adueeel the 32 Inch diametef" D9OCI95 ",",",nd vision

cupooa. ''''' the tank coonm..... wtlich can be' ....... on the " " side 01 the twret. Thi. Is sOmHar to

•

the 311 Inch cfl.""t... Da2113

....poI;I used Oft the M4 meclh.....

tank. (P.non Mu ......""

,.,. unit 10 Ide lhe M24 In I wn Com~ny D, 140th lw* Batt.IkHI, ""'Ieh irabbed • . . . el' ~ ttlal Ilr.yed inlo 'WIll Anny herod' In Beltlhm' • .-mg the B.tlle 01 the BUlge; white on u.e way to Ihe NInth AImy. TI'tone two I.nks ""ere the ftghting 91n,t

... 'n

~1\Ill98 Pelper _unci L.. 0Ielze In I'IIOd-December

IM4. end _

i$ - . .

he~

In$pectad by troop, of ... I2nd AlrtIome DIvision In liIefteell,-, Betiium. on 1-.ry 19, 1945. IUS Army)

a projecL was SI:U"lrcl t., .Ie II ,mill{ "llIllu, Ir l\oUld be ka.. ihk 10 mOUnL a mD~ wonhwhik Will "l1lht ~l ,(10.1 ,I \n \Iii 7;;111111 hll\dt?cr mOlQr carriage was modilic·.lln 1,.lr I \ .. 7 1111111 Wllll;l.i11 lII:olcad ofiLli u:Olli~1 shorl 75mm hO'l\iLlCr, The \1. 11\1e." b..t.sfd.m the ...lI11e chassi.::, as the :\15 tight tank bUI h.ld .1 1.11);('"1' lllriet nllH bencr :Ibll,' to ,Iccommodatc the ha\;er recoil I lhe 75ml'll gUll. Tht' pilot \\'. teste."d in Janual" 1943 and pro\'L'd tltat StICh .1 Wl';IPOll could be mOllllle.'d, Ilo\l"c\'(:r. the t\nnored Force \'o':15 Illn'l'llhllj.t 10 cndon.c such an impro\isccl dt'sign. :l~ the modified M8 lacked \lIrl"el roof an1\or. machine guns, POWCI" tr;"·CI1Ie. a gun st:lbililcr. and olher feaLures llecessan in a \iabk t.,ml.. delill';l1. The Armored Force's rejection of the ~li design ill ~Iarch 19-13 pWlllpted the Ordnance CommitteI.'" to recommend Ihe de\·e\opmcIlL til :l new light tank ba.sttI around the pow~r-train of the :\1.5:\1 light t.1I11.. bllt .lnlled \\'ith a 7.1111111 gun. After the ;\Ii lalll.. fi.lsco. the annor \\.I~ I..epl light. indeed thinlle.'r t1MII the :'0.1::);\ I 111 liOllle aspects. to l:eep lile." t1t:sign \,eighl under 20 ton.... Thb \\':1.5 .5U1}porlecl b\' the Armored Force which had come to .lccept that light tanks would han= a role limited 10 I'c('onllai~"lncc. The ne....' dc~ign \\~rs designated 311lhe T21lighllanl: and the program was :rppru\'l:c1 "" .\pril 29, 1913. Dc\"eloplU('lll uf the wnl: was entrusl('d to Ihc Olly"lel :\10101' ('.
7

8

supposed to ~ the po.... cr-train from the ~l5.\1 light tank. m fael mam change "crc introduced. including the substitution of a manual Ir.mllfer unit for the troublewme autom:u.ic uan~fer afthe M5AI. and .1IM) an increased ca~cil}' fOT the en~ne radiators. While Chl)"'IleT ".b unden.tlung the design of the tank. Rod. 1~land .-\nellal ....~ dt.."ocloping lhe IightwcighL shon-rccoil i5mm gun. The .... enginee who complained thaI Iht, \\cij.{ln ami widlh of Ihe design exceeded 3ml}' regulation..., but his compl;lim "";1$ iKllored. The Scnicc of Supp1r agreed to the plan 011 lhe condiUClIl thal the 1,000 T24 light tanks be m;lIlufactlm::d in 11(·11 of the :s..lme number of ~15AI light tanks so Ihat no new produClion f,lcilitie::li wuuld be needed. The first pilot was dc1h'cred 1.0 Aberdeen Prming Ground on Octobel- 13, 1913. Trials of the llt'W gun mount found some problems "ith till' l1e\\ T('(:oi! S\'SlCJn. and the~ were maJ)) small problems \\ith the .lut.)mOlh't· componcnu. This ....~lS nomlal for:1 nc.... dt'Sif:,'ll. and o\"erall thc initi'll tnab had been \"cn "J.It.~.LCLOn and :1 tributC' to the cxperienced C'hn ler design le.un. The find pilot incnrpornll:d a number of ch,mges including a I"e\;~ l{llll n-..:-oil S\'StC''III. T~L" began in Occemlx-r 19-13 and ....'cre follo)....('d I~ tn.., I", the \ml(.rcd Rn.lrd at fon Knox. The Annofe
The flnt u"1t ~

~

to

the M2• •as the 144th

T,,. Battalion. _ ~

of _tv two

still equipped solely

..itt. light t-..s. It reequiflped wtttl the M24 109M ~ In .l_ry IICS and tnt cle~ them Irl eomb. Irt liIte FebNawy durlng 0pe10.u... Grwntde. the _ 1 1 _ the " - Aivet'.

HeB. , eN.. test fires the guro 6urIrog 'ralotlnog rlI!;lr EKh'lriflt!or, Germany. em FI'bnI.ary t 2. I ICS. lHAM)

1('lllllllllClldecl a number including t11(lI~t· "I \\'('1 ammunitiun IIlOW.IKc. " \ ision cupola tor lhr- t.lnk commander. and the .Iddillon of a piSlOI purl un the I;ght side of lhe ttUTel. l'rOOuction of the T24 bcg-,IJl at Cadillac in I~ue April 19'11 blll did 110t begin to pick up Sle;lm unlil M5A I production ended there in )'h.)'. After th(' procurement objecti\'c had increased from I ,DUO to UlOO tanks in December 1943. a second M5Ai manufacturer. Massc)·.I-Iarris, al~o switched from ),'EiAI production in Jul}' [944. Dissali,I:ICliol1 ....·hh the M5Al light lank in Europe ....".\S so widespread Ih:u requiremcnb continued to increase. c\clHllallr bringing the total Ln more than four limes the initial pbn... The T24 was swndardized in Jill}' 19+4 a.~ lhe M~H Light Tank. It \'-J.:> later namt'd lhe Cham'e. al'lLT tll(' first hC:ld of the: Annor..::u Force. Gelleral Adna (:haffcc. though the US AI11I\' sddmll tt~cd this Il:UllC in praclice . III I h.lll~(·'

no.

18th Cavalry Reoon_ _ Squadron ollh_ 14th c.v.lry GrcNlp recelved Ita ""' M24 on F~bruary 3, 1945,

Itnd WllS fully ClqUipped by the .. of tt. month. Here. _

~

.ntt.w•• hed M24 II h'l$peete
-,,'wn. (US Army)

ne.s. M24 CHAFFEE LIGHT TANK PRODUCTION

Month

C8dIllac

Aprlll944

1 24

M.,

J,ne J'"

-"'" """,,,'

Massey-Harris

24

50

50

100

10

200

'6 34

212

OC""'"'

m

N""",,,"'"

377

""""""'"

499

January 1945 200

FebNar/

300

M=h

350

April

Ma,

2
J,ne J,ty

350 280 167

Total

3.592

SYb-totat 1

40

40 50 125 155 192 13. 190 149 1.139

110 216 246 317 417

54' 325 455

542 343 540 429 167 4.731

INTO COMBAT By the aUHlIllll of 1944. l!lere \\~IS:1I1 nrgclll demalld I'nr the r-.124 light lank IxCilll~ pf cOlltilluin~ prublcl11s with the combat pt:l'lonilancc of

9

III, 11'\1 1l~1l1 I,mk.. In Seplt~mber 1911, til' \11111'1,11 ~tlIOIl 01 1"114',11 HI,.dll'\'S l:lth Anny Group headll\I,'llt-, "'1Il( hit 111,11 til M \1 ll~hl I,mb be replaced a.......XUl ~ P(J~ ,hit- 1,\ Ilu' nC"'\ M:! I

II

III I,lll~.

I hi' War Oepanment in W:uhingl,-,II did nOl

\."'h..UI,

llillg

1111'1"111( .md logl.'1lics problems. B" 1915. L1u: MI).\I !JMl tOlI'I)\('lt:h I,llkll 1lI11 01 {;I\or "'ith lhe tank uniL'. and 1I).1,1ll' ofli(l'l.., ",.,111('(1111(' liAll1

dropped. An Armored Force ol)S("n.(:, (lOlU \\,~"ill~tlUII ~IH' 'lsil d Ihe 251h Tank. Battalion, 12th Armored Oi\i.,.joll. in Febnl.ll1 1'1 I·, "'& told ehm lhe ~15AI company "~.L'i "0 useless Illat II W;b lL~ .\$ .lOlj·w.nk gun b.,it- for the M4 mt:dium tallk b:nmlion.... Other ooualions tI~ the comp3n~' for suppl}' and e'I'3Cll3tiOll for fOn\'ard medium tlnk lll,"pani~. rcfu~ng to expose it 10 close comOOL In the C\·ent. the distribution of the ~[24 to combat units proved (0 be 1.11 murl;' erratic than planned. The original plans ""('f(" 10 ship (he first If") l.Hlk.s to the EUTOpean TheaUT of Opcration) (ETO) b\ Augu~1 1911. But uxhnical ploblellb dda)"ed this ~ four mOl1lhs, On "O\clllber I~. 1944. a plan ''''cr:'ll(' to,' Ihe Cull\·c,.... ,.lI1. The trnmport column ""'as 011 ehc ""~;I} 10 Ihe rrulll whl,.'n the I\.ltlle of l.mlIUlllp,1O\

10

Four US .nnored

cIl~

wr1w the M24 light t-*.. 0". 01 the Int to ....... wn the 20th NlI'>Or'ed Dlvislon. Itnd _ 01 Its M24 IOght tanQ Is Men M", on

• rOMl leading 10 s.1zt>ur9. AustN, on May 4. t5l45, wI1tI_ bumlng o.rm.n ~nthe, _.-red wehic:Je ftlcIoent In the bKqround. TM ~ter pIMlIS for _tblehing .mphlbious p o n ~ c_n M _ on eithet'

,..;0.......,

side 01 the ""',

lndlc.tintI tn.t

_ne,

~ st¥,

this til. .

w_.

produe
,,_w.-

fM M24 anl... ed in ltal)' LIter In rlOf1ftWeSt Europe, and .-...:I mainty with thot tst "'-.d DMsion. This ~rtlcu"', l'rom Company D, '3th Tank I'IlIiIIon, ,., Annored DMsion, the "nt to croll. the Po ~a, Itely, on April . . t\M5. The two large hoops Il'rtad on the rtght tutret fool a Mdonkey sight," a field • Uon common In the ht "'-red DMslon whk:h wn - " Iw aimirog when the t;lnk __ used for Indirect

....... near

.....-t

....., fiN support, (MARA)

the Bulge broke out in the :\ldenIIC~, 'lwo Oflhc 20 ~124s ",,'cre dil"(:rted. unOt:r .'>01I1f.'\\'hat 1II\,lcriou, dnUllhl,IlICf.'~, to the 74Vth Tank BallaliOll ", the Fim US AIIJ1\. Thi~ ball,llioll 11.10 :u-ri\cd in Europe da~... before \\;thnut ;111~' lalll...:. and Il.Id be..'c..'l1 g:in:n .1 hl,mk ched:, to round up tallk.~ rrnm dcpol.' on .111 urgenl ha... i~ to tlt'lp ~I~III the (;erm,11I ... d\~lIlce. The 1\\0 ~12" (.'\11"-' .....c re unullici.tlh -f(.'qubllit)u~d~ whe1l lhe,' slr:l\'ed into Fihl ,\nllY ternt"r\', IlIlII h to till.; ch,l~nll ul the Ollll1allu' tllfirf.'~ lIl:ln;lwng the ~l~·ll'rngl.Ult ill the ~.I 0, The tWO "12,1 li.';ht tan"-, were d~pl()...c(1 ill COl1lp,lln' n, .lIld 1I1l.:)' .... 1,'1(· lir~1 de(Jlo~cd nCill' Rt"lllcn,io'l \\lIllle! lcarl III t "Illusion \,'Ith Ihe Gemt;lIl P;luther lank. III(,,",cll, <1.. . ,I IC'lllt llf lhi, pl'lJ.\l,lIn the M24 "( ...11 R"(ci,'cd its most popul,u- l'Iickn;IIllt.', ~1';lInhcr l'llp~, Tlu: 7Hth Tank B:1ttalion rL"Cci\'(:d thl' lR u'ln..illing M24 1i!;hl 1,1111.... 1111 Dt.:u·mhcr 21. 19-+-1. .1llU \\..b \.omplt·lt'h rl·f.''1uipped ....ith III(' Ill'\) lanl.., 1),. Fcho13l'" 13. 191:'1. The lion ...1\\ ib rir"Il-''l:ll'II'I\l-' ,1('!iOIl \\,tll Ihe nl'\\' l\-pe' during Opcrdtion G~n.lIlt', 1Iu' lill,ll pu,h f)\'f.'r III(' K'H:l R1n:r at the elld of Febnl3r... I!lt:) \"Iile 'lIppoltill~ Ilu' .Ullh Illr.tntry Dhi5ion. In genernl. Ihe IIl1ilwas ra\"OI,lhh illlprO!>Cd ,\itll Ihl' Il~\) l\1X-" In a r~porl after the fightl1lg, the unil lIIJll,d 111;11:

By l'e;lWiI of its speed, smpcJ1sion ~~':-Il-'l1l, [r;I,k., and pow('l, lilt: Lighl Tank M24 has heell IOllJ1d 10 be nT' nWI1CIl\'l:r,.hlt.;, ... 111'110\\' and "\'ct ground, the ~12-1 has been "hie It) \\~.Ik nil ,Illd IC;I\'(' II ...

11

1.11111 tIl(' \h·dillln Tank M4 II ha..~ dC1I1U1W1JIHt Iht {llI .• llh' and lillIe again and h..!! b\~C'1 .ll,lc tIl Il!n,Ull III ,hi IIKhl I"'HII minor maintenallce dime-lillie.) tilld {",ell "h('11 lilt by llllll'tIlk m,.-apons.... The low silhouctlC has be-ell .HI cxc('!lelll l
tl,IUI:(·flnt·...~ li'lIe

The report also highlighted the problems \\;th the M2-I, man~ of which were inherent in am light tank design: Armor of the M24 is generall~ fdt by all personnel to be incapable of prC\'cnting a peno:-tr.ttion by an)' Gennan anti-tank. weapon exc~pt perhaps at the most e:o.lreme rang~, Belly annOl" is insufficient 10 protect (TCW~ Imm injury due to explodlllg mincs. MO\dedge of the lhinncs.~ of annor did not aid morale. bm most personnel ha\'(: fell tJlat the present mNtiUITl lanlofferoo no I platoon fighting in the cit) of Lut.l{t.'Il-Dol1Jl1Und used rom fll11 cQmbat lo.l(l.. of 75nl111 .III1IllUnilion and three lo..'1d' of .:~O and ..~IO caliber ammunition in t)l1e d;\r II has been nonn,,1 (I) clI:peml "II ammunition ill ahllost C\'cll' actiun.

•

12

•

A ~I, 01 M24 light tanb 01 F Tn;oop. 8151 C~nlry Rec0n-

naissance ~on. 151 Armored ~ision. ~ seen while relueling in some rvlns in the foothills

of the ""'''' during opentions lin ncM"ItMm lI~ty on April 17.

tllo45. The lUliilln theater

~

Iowoer priofity for new equiprMnt iIInd so the M24 ROW less cornbillt

senllc:e there than duri"ll

the I;na. CiIIrnpalgn in Goermany. (NAAA)

r

,.,lOwing the North Konlan ...._mof South Korea In July t -.0, a small rwmber of M2A

ta<'tILs _ rushed from Ol;:c;:u,....,., dvty In Japan to th
"""1.

1hb Is an M24 uetrt taM Rec;:onnalssanc:e whic;:h supported lhe I&tto Division" 7th In!;lnlry *'-'il\ll the fighting there in July IteO. The M24 pet1orllle
the

25m

e-npany

_

tone bean surprising as

" . . . not cMsignad for tank-Io-

1«0_ flllioting. IUS Armyl

Thc 7+lth Tank Bau.."l1ion recommcnded a \-arieh orimprowmenu to the ~f24, many or"'hich it had carried out on its O~'l I.lnk.s. II dc...dopcd more impoll.,nl to reeqllip the light t.lIlk troops in the c-.n-alry rec:ollnaissancl' :K.llladrolls \\!lich bad!\' IIl'l'c1ed the added firepower. As d result. the lin;l batch of 200 \I~4 tank... did go to the Fil":'\t and :"inth Annies as planned. bUI wen' di\idcd among thf: c.avaln· rcronn.tbsance groups. This i'i not inunt"t!i:c.. tch 'lpp'1I"enl in the aecomp;:mying chart ,..hich 5ho'l"5 ~124 light tallks in anllored rli\;"iOI1:-;l5 ulltnumbering the ca...a 1I)' :«]uadrons. Ilow('\t.·r, Ihese ~124s \\'erc nOI rcplacemellb, but arn\'ed wi.th the foUl I:L"it arl1lOTwl divisions to h(' deplo}'ed in the ETO, the 8th. 13th. 16th and 20th ArlllOled Dj\'i~iot'l~, which were equipped sold) \\;th the ncw l)"pt.'. On I\' alter the c;I\~tll"r ~uadl"()ns werc recquipped \\~ priori I}' shifted 10 hlll~'1 uniL'. Tht: "epamtc Inllk

13

hatl.l[il"l~ rCCCI\t'
,.

~med

he,lIluflll It) lI'. 011I Idnkt·..... ilc-hefl III "1' thl'm filiI. On ~t;\l-ch 15, thc\ Jo:Ot Iheil chance. \k \\l~I"C h;.lCk ill the.: linc'In a combat l"epOfl Iroll! lhe..' ·!lh c,1\•• t1 ..... (;r"llp. the ullicCI:'< noted that. ~The superiorit), of the 1\124 u\"cr thc 11.15 ... has Jt1'COtlh illCleObC(I 111e :otnking pest comb."1t vchicles that C\'CI hllni~ll('d UIIl" .tnny: il i!\ !.he anliwcr III ;l 101 of our problem.... W(' h:wc lUi.lgl11 \\;lh them for O\'er a momh 110\\' and IheTc arc few impl'O\'CmCIlL' that Cdn be made. ~ The 6th Col\"'!!)' Ikconn:lh"mu..' S'lIl.lChwl rhilllC"d in: ~Thi! tank is a wonderful impw\'cmcm o\'er the 1\15 1I;.:lIt l:.tnl., " ";11 go places that the M5 ligh( ranI. ,1nrl 11u- M4 medimn "Illk cannot ncgotiate.~ 111e 6!.h Cavall)' r.flIUP t'll1uu
,,_.~~

M2.. Chaffee

of the 64th Tat* e.tboIion

resQi beftlnd a ridge line wh". aupportlng tile 3rd Infantry DIvision aouth 01 Seoul in February lilil. Benlnd It I s _ of the batt.aliorl's MoM heavy tanb. WIlen lINd in ita Intended roM as a Nc_niIIi5sance -toic.1e, the M2. perf~ "",,l This M2. Is u.......... in that it has

pattKn.palrrted

~age

_

fM turret, which was uncommon In Korea. (US Army!

\\idely crilicil.('d 111' ( II ,11110"'1 ~'IIP( .Ill! II' tl't' il ill{"inst em'Il\~' infantry, 11\(' t.n,lh \ .\1... , 1I1ic d .1 111,1(1 (,1 1)('11\ Mmf,r added for mine protection, '1l1C) "'tit. .\1-" \ l\1lt. .. t filth .. 1.11 I.. 01 Jdt"'1".11(, prmision5 for crew SlOW'3 Ill) tht. (.ltl\r. ltlltl h.llll»(" n uhh~{"d ••• lI11prO\1~ their 0\\11 slowage fixl\lrt.~ ,\.lllfllllIllUflll ll'" ~e 1I1 tht" t.lIlt.. \\.\.." .l.\\kwaro.•1lId therc 'Y('L~ a 1101\'1'1 II rt'quC"\t h •• tht" .ldduion ul ,I rc.I(1\ r~lck inside me turreL Some umlS .d~u 'hlHled .1 gel\l'l.llllr ttdtkd to kecp the batteriCi charged whell lhin~ clll' tUITel "I' l":ldl'~ \\!l1l lhc el1gine ofT, While the M::!4 was !If)l dl'!uglled III IiKllI cncmy tanks. such incidelll1 did occur on occa...it)n, Illl'.ITh \l.m:h 1915. a pair of M24~ of F Troop. 41h Glml.,: Reconnais..<:mcl· SqU:;ldron. ,ulIllbk-d on a p.1ir of Gennan I~mk!l Ih;tt the\ identifit."t! as'n en on the OUlSkins ofDomag~n. Germarw. ~tore tit..eh th<=)' v.~re P'.mmt:n.. but either ",av it v.~ a con..ider.lble mism.Hch" I,"tllhe German Cre"A'5 \'I re a5 mrpriolcd a!> mc:ir .\m~rican opponenb, and lhe ~121 had the 3ch.tntagc of wter ltl~t t.r.&\ersc, Before !.he panH'rs could s\'Iing mOl" c1um...) tlirTCL<; al lheil smaller foc, the M2·b slammed k~'ernl high ~xplosh:e rounds ag-.lill5t the thinller ~idc .lnd re:rr mlTet armor. Thoe \\er~ enough to sct off all imcmal fire which desu'o>ed holh panzcl'5, While stich incidents werc 1I11l..t~. the)' reaffirm thaI the Olllcomc of 1.111 ~-to·t:mk batlies cannOt he pI l"(lictM \\ilh any t."Crtail1l)' 1»' p.;lper c:alcul,lliullS of w.nk chardCleris(ic~ .. inn· circurnsl.Ulcc. luck. and CR."'" pcrformilllCl' can ;;ometimes o\'errOl1ll' cti.~'~lIiti~ in equipmcnL 1\\ lhe cnd of lhe fighting ill the l-.TO ill \la\ 1945. th \I~H ClIll~llltl ...:d 31 PCfCCIll of the light 1;1I1\..." ctcplO\oo \'lim til(: LIS .hm' ShipnH"ll-" III l":'! U1lic~ in 11.3.1)' hiUJ a much lower pnonn', .md the only Illlil 101 I\.."CCIW ,111\ ~if:llifi. ,Inl IIllnlht..- oflhe~ lank.'"' "'L<; lhl' 1'1 AnllOl't"d I)i\ i,i, Ill, C5JX" 1.111\ il... ?-II ,I (:'1.\-,111"\ Rt'COlllI;ti SilllCC Squ:tdmll, lx1;'inning 1Il.J.1Il1l.1l' 191,·" Th\..''1' \\('n' IiI'" {kplmt.'d in ..ignifk
An M24 of the 3rd Recanm:e Company, 3td Infantty Ofvfalon. _rned "Eagle Cla.... ft in actlorlagainlt Chinese ,,';antty _ ~-bong on Ma, 20.

1851. Thls wal PlItt of lin offenliwoe by IX Cofps called Pian Oft_te that was "~d at d,.lning remlIIrllng Chinese .lI'MIglh north 01 seoul" 8y this

.tila-. many M24 tilnk. had the!f' ,50 c:allbar machIne guns ...·PMitloned eN! tM front of l~ t\lrret roof wtl ..... they

_ _ - . USlI'Iul. IUS ...... m'l

.."

MI. LIGHT TANK STRENGTH IN ETO, 1048 Jon !.1rIlo Battalions C v IrY Recon Squacton$ AmJOfOd 0ivIsI0Iw Tolal

"o.ta hom

~,ring 0'

20

0 0 20

Fob

M~

A,_

51

11

1SO

10.

""'21 ,.. "0

T.l6

monctl

IrunL dc<:ign . The "anne eolps ,cjC(lOO the them in $lorage.

~pe

.,

M"

• '" ""

for scnice

l~

and

pLIC~d

Lend·Leas. M24 Tanks BcCllL'Ce of it.. rclauvd\' L'ltc stan in production. the ~I~"

\\-as not extensi\"C:ly esport~ Wlder the Lend-Lease pr<>gr.1m. The ooh' significant redpiel1t WilS Blitain. which ordered 8·12 but rcceiu'd onlv 302 - 203 in 19M and 99 in 19-15. The,' \\I.'re deplo}ed in small numbers in April 1945. l'cl)13dng Stuan li~hl tanu in the la.5t few 'leeks of the war. UniL~ KllIm'n to han.' used them included the reconnaissance -.quadl'on of the 5th RO}"l1 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and the rcconnaillsancc troop of lilt" Rlh Ilu!S;trs '~;lh the 'ilh Armour<.-d Di\;sion. B} June 19·15.

the 7th ,\nnollrcd Dm"iOll had ~~ on hand. At lea)1 t'l\o Brili~h M2·j lig:lll mnk.1( were lost ill combaL One ~f21 ...."aS recehed 1)\" (he Canadian Itll Armoured Brigade in 1\101\ )tlH for trials. "nd the \t'rrlict W,LS that it was -impos....ibl(" to speak tOO hi~hh oriL" d('~ign .1I1l1 performancc.- B~ Ihe liununer of 194;"). )mall numheT" of ~124 tanks were ~nt to Ital~ and India for trnining. The $O\;el Cnion W,LI( ~upp[ied "''llh IWo") M~4 1i1o:hl [;1Ilk-~ ill 19U. .'\.Ithough Ihe is..I(ue of cquippin~ fn:nch troops with the fuh \ml) Gruup was raised. the US Arm~' decided ag;linst it. a.. the L <;j unil'> or the

,.

F~ . . .

th.

'-'9"t sing"

. .Iplem of the M24 through the MDAP Pl"O'Sl'-""

receMng a

qllllrter of the pt"OdI,Io;Uon nln. Th. M24 e.nk, weN refurbished prior to •• porl, and. typal of the MDAP '1.hle.... had an MlcUUonlll ~Io e.1oIl ItddecI _ the

ttl.,

'onne, amoIw mortar port on the f-.n:I tJ.amrt root. an-'ded plnUe fOf" the ..50 caliber mKhhw gun In front of the comme~ cupof,a, -.d I'Kb kw ~ on the~. n.M M24, a,. seen on

~

In F*'-Y' 1MS

ceIebnoUng the battle for eown. • decade bef_. (US Annyj

Wit'll _mother major recipient of MDAP aid, reo;eiving over M24 lillht tanks. Here the t:Clnumnder of an Italian M24 of an armored c:avalry unIt c:onlers wtth • Canadian MB armored c:ar c,.-w dunng eu~is" in ttaly 'n Aug_t 195t nellr Genoa,

'V"""",

neigllooring" Sf·\t'Iltll 'Ill' III lilt lllll,llIll.llh !>helll 'll'their allotment 01 \I~ I !ll(hl , '11 Combat In Kore. Aftel" the wal". the \f..! I .1 01, f)lu\t"d 011 ,'\.., Up.IIIUII dUI)" in Jlp. 19:;0. lhe :i1t.lck was spc'lrheaded by the IO:Hh Armol(.,d Brigade equiplx'd \\'ith 1'·3+85 l111'dilUn I.mks. The f\onh Korean tanks created a panic among South Korean troops since the,had no tanks of their O\'o'll and nO wca.pons to defe'dt them. The firsl L'S infanIJ" UIl1~ deployed to Korea were :llso \~ry poorh cqllJpp<:d 10 h:mdlt: the thre:ll. and the earl\' defeals of l'S forres \\'ere largelv ;lllribUled 10 Iht'ir inahili(\ 10 cle.tl \\;th the onrush of ~onh Korean t.Ulks. \., it rc..·'uh. a crash program \\'a5 stoilnctl 10 .. hip wnl.s 10 Mrea The ~t2 t (,olnp,mi~ in japan ",'ere Ihe fir;(lu be ..elll. TIl(: fil'l of lhese to sce combat was Co>tnp.:1l1\ •.\. 781h He-an Tanl.. (\;uliIlioll. "hich ,upponcd (he 21'1 Infunm, 2-1t11 Di'i~ioJl, t d.t\ ul li;.;htl1lg \\hell (heir poorh IIMIlIl;lIIll'rl ~m r("('oil ,,\'1\'1\1 .. m:l\hJllCliul1c..'rl. \\n:cl.:ill~ the ~llIb .11Ie1 IUITt:b Tluc..-.:' ilion' \I:!-I' ""fOrt.'

lo~t

(h('" lolllJ\\llI~

d.l\ for ',lriol1~ le
The

M~

I

\\~.l:o

\·I1I11crahlt·

Ilul onh- 10 lhe T-~ r .. X:'mm J.:IUI hili .tho to

lhe N"PX~ I 1..:'1I1111 1"1 RS iilllitank lint·... \\ hieh thc..' AlIu'ric:tIl Llllkcn. c"lk't, \'CI\' ~I..illi,h ill 'llpporting till' inlalllf\ ill Ihe emuil1g hallk.. lnr lhe Kum r;"1"1 lim:. l'\cn witho"1 NKIIA tan I.. upp' l:oil inl1. B,' ,\uKu.. t, olll~ (\HI •• IIIk... 01 the mig-illal 14 ill

17

An M24 of th. Norw.gian P.n'....kolen on .x.reIN In the 1(150•• The M24 formed the wed of the post-war Norwegian tank force, and thew ....ere rebuilt In the early 1970$, .rt.ndi~ their Uyes fIN" two deeadea. (NARA)

the COffiJXIm" "'ul"\i\1~d. The othel' n\-o t.mk compani~ \\'e:re ,ll~o roughh handled: Cornp:.l11\".-\. 71"t Tank Ilanalion.IOSl most ofiL-> tall!..s b, ('"arh Au~ust. and Comp:ul\' .\. i9th Tank Batlatiol1. suffered ~""(:'"rdl ullcqll.\OIncc corn· panies oflhc 3rd 11I1~U1Ll"")" (2'llh Di\;sioll), ilh Infantl")" (2:Jlh Oi\1~i()n), 16th In[,lnu)' (lst Cavalry Di"i...ion). and inl,ell rcconn:t1SS,U1CC pl~IlHOll1\ (502nd. :I03rd, 10th nCT. 18ith Airborne: 6th, 64th, iOth. 72nd, nrrt and ~9th Tank Battaliol1:.l,.\ total of 138 :\124 lightlanks \\l:n: shipped l(1 Kurea ill 195(1. ,111d ill rnidjanuar), 19?1l the Eighth Am1Y had 6.. i'l12. L1nks in ,cnice. ,\llhough the impro\'ed M41 lighl mnk firsl bc;C.H11C 'l\~,ilabll.' in 19;; 1. nOliC were rkplo:'crl in Korea after the :\Ionh Kor(C.1ll t.. nk fore<:.' W;l.~ \\ipcfl oul during: the lighling of ~umrncr 1950"

International ellport

1.

.\.., incrc.t,ed lCllSiolls \\;lh til<.' S(l\;<:.'t Cnion initiated the Cold War in the 1<111' 1911),. the L"S .\nm heKan 10 reassC'ss iLS fmure equipment n<:.'eds. .-\lthough the :\12-1 h;ld prOWll to be an excelJelll design. a General Board lowd\ of ea\'3ln rt:connl\i...... uK<:.· duurinC' aft.er the war concluded that lollCh ulli..., oftell had 10 fight to ~nn imdligencc. The 75111m gun on the

In a shot reminiscent of the war • decade before, a camouflaged eelglen M24 moves do....n a road outslde Ba5togne du"ng a joint Dutch-Belgian uareise in August 1951 past a road·slgn still riddled with holes lrom the nghtlng live years before. ealglum recelved over 200 M24 t.nks through the MDAP program In the early 19505. (US Army)

\I~·l was inadcC]ll(),,<;ilioll of the.50 caliber 'lIllbircr'lft nl,l,hirlf' gun led 10 the ac1ditillll (Ira :simple pintle 11l01111t \111 tIle turn:t ill frOilt of till.' CPllIlnall(\('r·s cupola to allow the nr~l(hirl\' Ktm to he lI.<;ed more ea.sily nL 01 all i\1'24 t,mks rnanufactured. The principal recipienLs of these r,l1lks were the IlC\\' .\IATO armie.'i. FI
,I

l'

20

t.11I1: illlhL' 19:JOs. Exporl~ 10 ~IlIIIPt' lonstituted lilt' 1.1I"$:t:5t share of :\124 t:tllk II"3n~lel"5, amounting to more than 60 per('('nL The :\12-1 \\':t~ also exported in ~igllificant num~1"J to ..\:lid. Although Ihe scale of :\1~4 e"ports ((l .\.~la \1Coo of tht' ncdgling armurcd forcc~ in the rCS:,'lnn. II was wdl ~lIllcd 10 Asia, since blidges and Other Infrastructure wa.~ oflen inAdequale 10 lluppon larger and bea\ier t\pes. The :\121 was mecl to create Ihe :lrmored force or Ihe new J.tpane Self-lkfcn:-c Force in the carh 19.:lI, 702nd, 711th, TH\l). Curioll\l\' ('nolll{h. there ....·el't: not enough ~12·ls ~upplit'(t flOtl! lhl' US, \0 M)lIll' nl tlH' h;malions deplo)t:d:t mixed composition tIl" :\121 Iighl t,lub ;md :\118 76mm t.."1.nk de:-ctroYen, The L'S beg.tn ,uppl\'ing Ih(C mOl e tI1tJfkrll ,\111 ill Ihe late t950s so Ihal withill a decade the :\124 had di..appeared Irfllli the armored di\i~iom .md r(·lll... in~1 only in ~cni(c wilh roLll' ~cparaIL' Ian k balt."llions, TI\e French usc of the ~121 dUling the Inrlochill.t war encouraged iL\ proliferation in this region a:. pan orthe U'>~poll.\orcd Soulh East Asia Trca", Organi/;ltion (SE...-\TO). The Republic ()f\'iC'lnam \Ias the largest single recipient in the areOl.
w" 0,.

A.lalrtlo of • numbet" of non-#4ATO _ b i n to ~ ...

the M24 "'rough MDAP srants.. This Is • 900cI aumpIe of the vehlc:1n aft... their postwar !'flit " ' ' - ' " the Mkkod ~ aeriill _ l h e sntoke m«tar pcrt, the added ffont rnaetoine gun p;ntte• ., tN'll ., m. meclOc.al boK and )en'yc.an rack on the f«Mler$. Ill$ • lete production type fitted with .....ttK~ts tor the pont~s on the low... bow pUte, but by this time the, Mft been plugged up wittl bolts. Most postwar M24$ lifted with the Te7 rubber bIoo;k Irad< as Men instead of ttle steet TN track

_e

Hen during tIM! Wilt ,ears.

IOatreld\ HHrntllld)

he,...

The Sovth Korean Army recei"ed • modest n...mber of M2.4 ..ntI.. b... t I...,. were uMd ~nly lor training. This"" a tank of the AOK Army Tanll Trainint Center at Ili.ang-;U in 1953, and It nma the _tiorl.ilI Insi1Jnia prominently on

t~

turret .Ide,

IUS""""

I)ll\\·...rful I.lnl..s \\I,:I'C fa\urcl. this '\'I~ 1111(' "cW01I "here Iht: ~121 "'-1\\ liuk' or 110 cOllllxn u.~c ..-\]Ihuugh it \,.h u-.ccl h\ bOlh 1I";.1ll .1110 11";.1(1. ' 0 1~1I .I~ i, 1..(11)\\,11. 1I0lle 1001.. p;:ln in .111\ 01 111(' \\-a .... in the ....l·a. rhl'H' \\.l~ link l"p"rt lU Ihl' .-\lllcrica..'l C"'CII thllll~h m.lIJ\ Suulh .\1I1Clll.111 allll1(', \'ere l
in 19fJR.

The French Arm, m.de edensl"e use ollhe M24 during Ihe war In Indochina, finding lhe ta" well .uiled ...en In Ihe sClgIIY condillons In lhe Tonkin ~'on.

Thl. Is • II.on 01 the t.r

Regiment de Ch.ss.... rs • Ch."al on pltrol in 1953 named Oudena.rde. (P.tton Museum)

•

The Norwegian Arrrt'i rebuilt some of their M24 l1li1ht tanks In ttMl mid.. 1g70s a. the NM-116, Thl. added a I\eW Freneh liIOmm gun, advanced fire controls. new track. and a new dlnel engine. These remained In I-ervlce for nearly two dec.edn. finally belnlil retired In 1!IKIl1-liI3. (Norwegian Al'1ftlI1

M24 LIGHT TANK

EXPORT Combat use In Indochina

22

The L1niu...d $I.Jh:,> begal1 to .. upph :\I:?l tanh LO Fr'lIICc ill 1950 lollU\,il1~ the fllltbfl,:al of thl' Korean War, \,-!Iell the US gm'cnllllcllt hcWlTI Io ,.• ll' .• Illure fa\"(.r,.hlc altitude ,,,wards French mililOll"'\' ,Klion)) ill Illdol-hilld, Plior to the Korean War. the US had oppose(! Frclld. allt'!IIpb to n:-~,:,>".hlish COIOlli•• l rlllL' in the n:gion. After lhe olnbre,ll ofthl' \,~.r, F'cllch "l-tiOII'> \'TrC ~CC.:11 .l'" part of •• bl"o.ader ell on 10 ~h:ll" the tidl' til Ct)IlHlllllliSl a~rc'i.'ii(lll in A..i.1. :\hhouKh the Frl'm.. h :\1"111\ 11.1(1 lhe llI{)l"l' pUI"l-,,-rul ~ll Illedium tanh on !I.lud, these \,'ere regarded a~ 100 hct\), lO deploy ill Illtlochin.l. The principal lank I\PC in Indochin.1 ill the late 19-10s "'as the ?\EH\I light ' paths. Pl"Ob.lbl~ lhe mo...\ lamow of fhe.: Ulli,s III usc lhc ;\124 ill larg~ !lumbers I,'a~ lhe ler Regiment dc Ch"",~cllrs a ChL·\~11. which substituted M~ Is rol" :\Ll.\h earl\' in 19:;1. This unit llic.kmmlcd the ~124 "lii ..on-. lnill,llh. French ,ll"IlllIl'c.::d uniL... "cre Olgani/cd as thev had bCt'"1l ill Fr.Il\C(·. It ,,-ali
NATMurope _...

Beigium

Den""'"

France

69 223 03 1254

Gteece

170

Italy Norway

518

Portugal Spain Turkey SUb·total

123 16 31 238 2705

Asia-Pacific

Cambodia Japan

Korea lAOK) Looo Paklston

36

289 30 4

132 TaIwan 292 Thailand 118 Vietnam (RoV) 137 Sub·total 1038 MiOdle East ""Iran

34 180

'''''' Saudi Arabia Sub-tor-I

78 52 344

South Vietnam received over 100 M241ight tanks in the 1950s to help reestablish ils armored lorce after the Indochina war. They won the dubious nlcknnme of "voting machines" because of their frequent role in coups. This p,u1icular e~ample is seen being used fOt" airlield defense .t Tan Son Nhut air base In November 1966, a frequent role fOt" the M24 once the more modom "'41 light tanks bKame available. (US Army)

The M24 formed the backbone of PakJstaf'l'$ small a,mored force in Bangladesh during the 1971 war with India, This vehicle served with the 29th Cavalry and Is seen here with some Indian soldiers aboard afte' it was lost durin9 the battle fOt" Boy'a on November 21, 1971, against the Indian 9th Deccan Horse. (patton Museum)

the lerrain of Indochina. and in 19,::11 the first SOU5-groupemenLS blindce" (GB) were organized. Thest· \\"ere. ill etTecl. small combined· arm" bauk groups. They had a single COlllp,lIly of "1245 and 1\,'0 llll:t:hallizr.::d infanlrv companies in half-tracks. Each lank COl1lpan~' had 13 .\l2-ls. and l:iglll or nine h;llf-tr;lCks, organized into four pbtOOllS cach with thrn~ \'1245 and two half-tracks, plu~ a lompan~' COlllllland lank. The .\12·ls \\"crc lisen mainly to provide lire support for the mobile infalltry, l:sl:orting- thcm along the few passable roads_ Iksidcs lheir employment wilh lhese infailiry SUppOI"l comp(ltlies in the CBs, tIll: \12·15 \\"I.:rc ;Ibo
platoon IIf IIlr~e .\18 75mm HO\';llocr .\IOlor c.. . rriagb for Iin~ Thesc C[R~ npera((~d \dth a ball.. . . lion-:'!Ii1ccl inlotntn' fOrl1ldtiHIl nn :lrc-ot COntrol orerntions. The cml)lu\1nCIII of the "12-4 in Indochina ~1 n 'mmonl\' u..cd I" SUPllOrt infantry· allacls. but it alm $;.1\\ '!oCn.;lC .I!I a (:on\'o\, C'iCun. fOi road p
24

in P'"e~eUon for po$SibIe ....pftibious opention$ apin$t ~ . a de>ric:e toe ~ the M24 10 the .... ph;~ roIe_ d.... 1oped in 1 ~ bilMd on the e.1let Ritchie T.7 ~ for the M Oestnlyer. It 0CN'I$i$ted 01 a peir of rlgkt steel no.au on either end of the fthic:le. e 1tW"""'1It9 akirt elong the side. and eJl.t..,.;led grousers 101" the treek to prov;de propulsion In wit.... Although twG pilots ..... built, lhe Wer ended bel_ prod\lCtlon slBtted. Curiously en0U9h. most lste_ production M24 lBnks were fittt'd wilh moutlts on either end to ~rlOl;1 Itte<:hm.ent of the .Ieet 11_.". (Pitton Museum)

t, ...

,pec"_

To Imp.o". the firvpower of the LVT(AJt ImUlnk, . , M24 tUrTet wa. mountt'd on a modified hull and tnted by the Landing Vehlcl. 80enl es seen he.e. The tu...1 mid. the ".hie'e too lop-hel'" In the Wiler. Ind the proIec;t WIS lbandoned. (PItton MuaeumJ

A. MZ4 light tank. Company D, 36th Tank 8a'''"on, Oth Armored Division. Rhelnberg, Oermany, March 1 g45

A

D. M24 LIGHT TANK, US ARMY, 1944 1. Rearllght 2. Eng.ne comparunent vent

CO\IOI"

3. Eng.no 4. Rear turret stowage b n 5•.50 cal anll-airCrah machine gun 6. Commander's cl.4JOla 1. ScarchlKJtll 8. GunnQt's conlrQls 9. Comrnanders 8IfTW1g SIgh' 10. GJnnQt"S periscopIC Sigh:

11. Smoke mor1ar 12. Gun Il'Ia'lllel

13. Dnvers ha~ctl 14. 15fTVn gun barrel 15. Drrvers sta:lOIl 16. TransmiSSion

17. Head .ghls

18. HuU3Q cal machine gun 19. Hu~ rnachlneQl.Xlflel"S halch

20. DrIVe

sproc~ct

21. Road 'Nhee! 22. Co axaal 30 cal. machine gun 23. Madllnc gun arnmunrllOll stowage 24. 75mm gun 25. SIleO ejection port 26. Tank radIO

27. Tra~ stowage mClI.ml tor machine gUll

28. Battery 29. Fuel cap 30. Fuel tank 31. ldIer ..vheel

D

II

I

E1. M24 light tank. Grllpos Blind ados de Caballerla, SpOIni!lh Sahara, 1951

I

E2. M24 light tank, 2eme Escadron. 12. Regiment de. Cha •• eur. d'Afrlque,

Algeria, 1962

E

F. M24 light tank, Armored Brigade, Hellenic Arm1. Greece, 1885

...

Q1. M24 light tanll, 29th Cavalry, Pakistan Army, Boyr., Banglad •• h, November 1911

1'077119

02. M24 light tanll, Companla de Tanques BN.I.BLDO.13, Unlg .....)'." Army. 1985

G

rank dOle.. h~ proven 10 be 'n : ..enllel 1001 on the b.ttlelield n 11144-45 to help tu.,.,ounl .Bnk dltche••nd other lbstecle., The T4 doze. bl.de, Je.hoed f,om the Ml dOLe. ••ed on the M4 _diu,., lank. "itS ""eloped tOt" ~ 1\1124 ,ut w•• not .t.encl.tdized,

P.tton Museuml

1';lIhcr lhan other allliWnk \,·c,tpun,. IIICIL'cd, mine losses probabh ;\(COIIIIIC!(' ;\121, ami "'0 lill' w'lwk IHl't-C \\';IS ,lllI 10 11<' lc~, llluhilc. Tilt........ I,I~L. IOl"o.-,~ "'('J"(' .·oll",id("f('r1 pan 01 111(' Fn'll( h ,u.llq.;ic n ..~(..nt: ami ('uultl Iw .1~:-igl1("d to '~I ..i"lI' Il'I-:IIII1' rtll npl·nllitllh. 1"11('\ Ilm\'('d hi~hh dr.,( tin: in ('ol11h;II, rh,,''-t, lInll~ ~hnu!rl Ill.' dhtil1J:ui,llnl hom tilt' ~rf)l1lk'lI\""lll:- Illohilc', \\!lith ll~Halh ')I1h' han a pl.I!(Klll of Ihr....c ~121 I,ml.::., SOIll\, 1;1I1'r h,ld ;1 11111 COIlIlXtn\" 01 I.... k.' ,Ielell'c!, but tltt·'t.: \\l'n' ollt'n tl)(' inh....iol" i'l.l,\I" I'ltIhahh 11It· mOM l"all1(III.' 11'1' "I til(' M2-l Innl.: pl,Iu' In IkcClllbt.:1 I~I:I~~ wltt'1\ 11'11 ;\12-ls Wt· ...... 11",;11l~1)fln .... e1 I" ail Inlu tllc ll('kagll"'rl~e1 ,1.(:11"1 i",ulI :11 Dit;1l nicli Pllu 10 .~lIppnrl th(' Fr.... llch -ail hl'ad- hdll~ t.:~lahli~ht'd t1Wl'l'. The onh lI",;lll~IKlltS ;u"';,ilablt.:, lilt, C...17 .lIId till' !\ri,u)1. l(mld Ilfll t:~IIT," all Ll1taCI i'12-1. '0 1111'\ Imellll hi' hr"I.:('u d(m1l illl\) ISO t·umpullt.:llt .. ancl r(·":-"'-.<'llIhlt.:d at Dku Bkn Phil. 1)111 iIII-: llit' li~hlillJ.; III ~plil1~ 19:-,1 tltI.' -Ki.... d ~I ioll:o. Iwuhklll') with Ih(' 1-:"11 fell liJ ~\ ...t('lll, ~I'\ I'll IIclt-~~. lilt.: -Bi'-t)l"~ \O!dicn:d OIl Illni! nit"n nil'll 1'1111 \\.,"'Iinall\ (I\'el\dldilictl III i'1.1\ 1931. \dll'1l tlll:lr (1"1.'\\'" t1....strmed dJ('m 1/) p"'\'('nt IlwllI 1:,lIill~ into Vict \liull h,lIIrk J'hrir hulk., . . lill lith'r tlit; h,lIlldidd ,II Illl'n B,cn Phil, a ,ilt.:11I Icmintlt:1 ul IlIl' !l;nlil', h;11I ,I ('('lItlln :t~u. Altholl~h thil' \,",;h th(' Ill, ....t lanHlI1~ IlSo\.' 01 airlilll'd tank." il \"Il' nul thc ollh exalllple, .\ pblUOII .)1 H\l' ~I~N, \\"';\.. .... irlilted iUI" I.U;I1I).:: ('r~b.'IIg ill Lt/).).

33

The M4 do:!;et blade wes n~lly d.....lopecl for the M24 tank, Which differed from the ellperl. mentel type In that it did not .-quire the elltensIons along the hull tide. 'nIla don.. wa. aeldom ..." fitted to the M24 In . .rvlng IU'llt•• and thle example Is teen at the Butzbach depot In Gennany ......,I"!iI witt! the 9th RecOf1ftal_ _ SqUlldron In Janual'}' 1"&. Notice that the eQmm emot. /tloOf'ta<' port on the turret roof nat been .-dffied to pennl1 a aecond aerial to

........ ........, In 19j5. after lh~ withdr:l.\\
whh a smalIcr number of ~I~-I lan~ of the prt.-sidemial g'lliIrd brigade durinj,t the coup against Diem. The :-"f21 tanks \,'cre used :tg'. ARVN lank troops soon came to be called COUp !l"OOpSR ;tnd their 1\124 tanks Mmting machines," The usc of tanks as decisive 1:lClol'S ill these rebellions led the Icad~~ of subsequent successful coups til cmascul:lte the armored llnit.~ b)' .~signing commanding Ql'tkcrs more notable for their political loyal£}' than their military ability. The politlcization of the armored force continued until 196f1. and lIcverely hampered the dcvclopmelll of ARVN tank units. III 1963. the US :Igreed to help form two more cavalry rcgirncl1L~ and to re('fillip lhe armored force with the newer M-lIA.:'} tank. By this stage. the ~l~H t;111k,,, wcre a bit long in the tooth and in disrepair. They wen' di~palch("d to ai ..porl~ and ather ,ital location!' and W("I'C used a.~ ~t'lli( pillboxes for perimeter defense. '1 h(' enginl's were remO"("e1 nol on I\' because ofa lack. of spares. but also to pre\'cOllhcir usc in C(ltlp~. Till: l
34

....so

his

leg-illle. The

Nortli

Viclll:.trnese Ann}' captured

a few M24 tanks, and propaganda photographs show them in use during Ihe lighting- near Quang Tri in 1972. Other combat use

The~

__

"~t

In light

tank units lor a .~tiz.,;l light rec:owery vehlele, leading to the development of ItMI TIIE1 reccwery vehicle. A pUot was completM In September 1844 and pvt. through trial. with the Armored 808rd .It Fort KnOt •• _ h
de".lopment w.s not (;omplete when the war enclad In August 1945. (PMtQn Museum)

Thc P3kist:lll Arm)' used the M2-1 liKI\( tank in bO(h til(' 196:'"} and 19i1 ....'3~ \\ilh lndi;.. The M24 did 110( pla~' a significant n.[e in 1965, There were threc reKimen~ in ~en icc: Ihe I ~Ih G."1\-alry. whidl \\,L" the dh'i~ional I'C.Olln31,,;\nCe unit of the 1'1 Anno\lred Di\uion IH',II f.\hclll Karan; the 20th LanLcrs. \\'hich \\;1" nominalh' the IV Corps rceonnais:'ianec regimelll hut ill r,lC! "(.on-cd ...."Ih thl..' 61h Armoured Di\'ision in the Sialkol"'L,
35

REJUVENATION AND RETIREMENT The ~-124 disappcdI'cd from the scene IlIOTC rapidly thall most postwar US expon tanks. and there were few in scn'icc aftcr Ihe 19iOs. This \,'as in no small measure due to the arrh-al of the far superior 11.141 liglll tank in 1951. and the surn.tamial esport of Ihi~ lype stalling in the micn'icc Idlh their turrets remO\'cd fUI U'le as dri,-cr training ,'chide<; at the '\Chool at Zwolfaxing. Even ~mall armies 'iuch as lhat of Ethiopia had lheir M24t.mks replaced hr M41s b,·the mid-l960s. The French Arrm' pos~d the largest single holding- 01 :\1~ ll;mk:.. and. not surprbingh. French firms made a numhcr of allemp~ lO de\'e!op improwd \-.u;ant
,I

3.

The M24 .l$O sent""" _ tM t"l. bed for. varietY of w.aPOns

opllonslnc:ludinog the T122 mKhine gun mount seen net-e in ,,..7 i111 !he Abenleen Proving Ground. This ntmote-o;ontrol mount w ... ..-mtd with a pair of .50-.:.1. nulo;hine gun.. but the.e WillS lillie demand lor suo;h a weapons mount and It did not PillSS beyond the test

slag'. (NARA)

-t./ _0- ,

..•.J

The TeSE1 40mm g...n motor carriage was the antiaircraft ve~on ot the M24 light tank fitted with twin 40mm Bofors g ... n. II was accepted for prod... ctlon as the Ml$ 40mm GMC b... t was nol ready in time to .erve In Wond War It. (Patton M....e...m}

\fl M1$ 40mm MGMC mov. . to the front in K_;II, towing a standant M28 1-ton a",,"...nmon In Korea, the Mig wn mainly used to provide fire • upport allalnst llrolJnd Uoreets

'"'Iter.

owing to the ;IIbsenca 0' ene",y aircraft aflat" Ihe ","'mer of 1I1s.o. (US Army)

firm Thune-Ellrd.a. The American firm NAPea developed an improv("d I)()\\cr-pack based around thc 6\':13T dico;cl cngine uscd in lilL' ~1113 armored per~ollnel carrier lIIated «I an Allison i\lT-653 lI';tn..llli .....ioll. Thc original i5mm gun W
\\"<11'•

The N.\PCO pO\\'er-plant UpgT,ldc \,";1S ollcrcd LO (;reccc Lo rclurtJish ill< old M:! I lan!.;s, hur local finn:>; \,'cre ~i\"(;11 the cOlltran to earn' OUl lhi~ 1lI0dcrni/aiioll ellt)rt lISillR sllrplu.~ MII;{ cng-incs. Whell lhis failed, some 01 lhe ~124 li~hl lanh \\'ert; dll~ ill a~ sl;llic scacoast defcnses. Taiwan NAPea :U',!llircd tire pO\"er-p,lcks for at least SOIl1~ (lriL~ M2·1 force ill lhe early IYROs, L:nIRll,l~' decided to rcrl1rhish iL~ small force of ~1:!1 tanks ill the I980s, equippin!; lhem Wilh a Bdg:i.m YOmm Cockerill I;lln, ;lIld refitting lhem wilh a new Scani
37

M24 TANK VARIANTS

38

The M2·1 tank chassis sen"ed as the ba.-;i.s for a IllIlUl)<'/ of ~pcd.,l,pllrpo'c \"arianl,S. as well its a number of der;\'::ltj\"C 1)'PCS. r Ihc~(". lhe 11l0~t 1>ignificam were the M 19 40mm Multiple un l\.lolor C'lniagC' (MC;l\.IC). the ~137 IOomm Ho....'iLZcr Motor eaniage (II~IC). ,Inc! tile \f41 I :15mm HO\\;tzer Motor Carriage (H~·IC). Most of these program came to fruilion in the :.Ullllnc,' of 1945 at a time when the US Arm)' \\-.l.S c-.lIlcding mos. production conlraCI..~ at the end of the war in Europe and the Pacific. As a result. production of these \'chides ....as Oil ,I \(:1"\ ~mall sGlle. Since there .1$ some likelihood of using M24 tanks in amphibiuu) landings. there adckd starting with s(~l'i:\l numbel" 250 in .January I~H,~J. I" lhe.:- (~\·cn1. thc waf cllded hdon' all\' of lhe~(" dcvict' .. could he pUI II. U'C. alld thl'" WlTC n('\(',- .. l'lllrlanii/(·d. I he ,Irrn~ "ho expcI iun:llIct! wilh .. lll)<;titlllilig the ~12-l lunt;( fur the Illudilied

The T71 muttiple C:iIlitJ.r .50

molor c8rriag., W;I$ an ;lnli·

alre,,," tank derivative 01 the M24 light wnk. It was not

completed betore the end of the war, ilrtd the advent of Jet strike aircraft severety I"96uced its effectiven.,s. This pho-

tograph shows the pilot dul1nSl trials. (MARA)

~"!jAl tulTct used on lhe LVT(A) I allltan!- in IY+1. " singlc pilm was cOlwcrled from a L\i(A) I and the tests pl'O\'ed lhat lhe g:un could be ~afch fired while ano;n" Hm,·cn::r. the lurret madc..' Ihe \'('hidc l1l1st,lblc ill Ihe water. ;lnd 110 further de"e1opmcllI muk place olher tban (he initi:ll pilot. .\uuther siandal"d acccr..~(l"" fur lank.-. \\ IrnlH. Ahhol1gh lIu:, TtiEI pilot PIOI·I·t: a practical de'iigll \\IJe.:1l pill Ihwugh tl;als in 19..G . the \\'31' cnded hdore prodl1nion Lould Ill.::J.,'in. and like 1tl;1Il\' ~12-1 \<11 ;;1111... it 1\'aS dbandullc..'(1 dl1ring lhe.: Idluklloale ••mcrll:uioll 1.1 produnion ('omracL" ill lhe lalt" "llllum'I" 0119D. "here wa.~ SOllH" itllCH','1 ill cx,nnill;n~ other power-plan" 10)" 11K' ~I~-I tank. alltl Ihe fir"l pilot \\'a~ l ..oIII'Crlc.::d br A11lerk.an Citr and FO\ll1dr~· intu tlll- T~'IEI po\,"cn:d by the COlllitH'llIal R-9i:)·C..1 radial elli:"illt.'. Thi" pilot I"'L" '-Ibn ll~c.;d as Ihl.: lesl-bed ror .In improvcd i:-'111Ill !-{llll. thl' T~I. The T24[1 had a 1ll1lnhl.'r 01 pI'1"lormance advantage.. O\,CI' llle lJ(11"IWr1 1\12~ t,mk, bUI tllere ,,'ere ledmhal prohklllS \,·ilh its Il~'"' Spi.er automatic torqul' ("I1I1\·('I't('r tran,'imission. Ry the time dllll tests elIded irr NOI'''-'Illber 191.j, i\1~,1 productioll had (OlllC [0 a clost'". There werc also a llllltlher of cXlwrirttcllls with the SlI~pell'iioll tl) improve performance, ilU..ludilll{ 1I ials or ,I IH'W extended grollser 10 improvc lloalaLion in snow and 1I111rl. \\"hilc trials ill May 19..1:. \\ert: sutte~sful. Ibis "';IS lIot adopted 101 ~crvkc us('. 011e of tht' 11101"(' t:uriou~ experimetlts was till' \I'."t ol" (he Iracked su~p('rl"iotr 11"0111 a ~m131l Sd.l-J'z. 8 12-{oll half-track 011 (he :\1~4 .. ftcr the war. There were ,I numbcr of (.'xpet'ill1(,lll~ "hit arlll.!lItt.:1II (Jptioll~ for lIH~ M24. Ont: /l12~ \\;t., lined \\'ith ..I hltilldl I-;:Ick ror l!l(" ~a\)' 4.5in. barrage ruckt:t. hili thi' l1Cl"cr pn,u..'eded bl"'ulId tdaho III 1947. the \124 ser\'ed as Iht: le'l-h(:c1 for a new li,ghl t;lI1k lll3chinc lllnllllL lhe T122. hut this t Ulllhel"!>011lC cUlIlr:'lluioll \\~,I~ rcjCl::tcd for

,

\

r .... T76 105mm tiMe mated t\1e M4 105mm howrtltzer with tIMl M24 t ... k c:hnsi$. It was

ted for pruduc:tion .. s t .... M37 105mm HMC.nd ....s first

deployed in combat In Kore. In

1850. Urlilke M24

sell-propelled

Il"" ~erslons, it ..\;lIned the '-sic hull dnign of the M24

with the engine in the ..... on MUMum)

M

senice use..

39

M24 artillery variants The L'S Arm\ h...d begun 10 develop a number of s~lf'propellcd

ani1l~f}'

\chicles 10 19012 ba~d on :\15.'\ I componcnu. Sinc(" ,h(" i\15AI hull \'~b (UO naITU\,' and 100 short to ;Il'commodale hel\";("r weapon~. c:'ldillac (\cvdllpcd an en!;lrged hull

wilh

(111'1'('

bl'gie

a:-s~1I1hli('s p~r

side. and (he enginc t·Olllp;Lrtmcnt 1II00'~d In the renter of Ihe chassi~. Th<.: nC\\ ehassill formed the ha:-h for a family of\·ehicle., :iotJllletill1l·" Lllkd the Liglll Combat Team. In 1943. when denlupmcnt of the T'!-1 light tank bq;,ln (0 pilk up ~team. Ordnance rC:l!il.ccI it would 1ll.1I-1: more SCIl!'e 10 transfer these projccu: In the new linht tank hulltu permit a grealcr degn.-c of~t;llldardi~llion nl parL'I. A~ ;1 result. 1110:-1 01 IILl' IH"OjC:CtS sL'1rtcd (Ill tht' ),15A I light Combat Team ch;lssis ... hiht,rt 10 :1 simi!;lr design Ltsing ~'12'1 COlTlp'lm:nb, It b "ortll 11Icnlionillg that lltt· ~tN hull design was based in p:trl "11 thl' 1.1ghr ClImhal TCnliguralifllL ul lh(~ front hllii. The T6!", IIhultl HUll IIInlnr (.~.Il·rbge mounted ;1 p;lir of 40tnlll Bofors illuiaircrah gun.. ill an op<:l1 turret al lilt' rC;M "I the Cadill:lc hull. On Ma\' 25, 19·I:t Iht-· "nil\" appnl\'cd thr- tr.1I1<;!"t'l" 01 lhe pn~jl"n to tIll' T24 cha.uis under the d(,-lli~naliol1 T65EI. .\ pillli "''3-' completed 111 carl)' 1944 ;lIld underwent tC:-L~ at .\1'(; .md Iht, \ntiaircrafl Anillcl""

This M31105mm GMC Is seen M ~ desert by the Desert Warfare &o.rd In 1945. It NS become _ c.ked

on trials rn the

In dust that it appears almost white. The ~L -·shaped br;llc:kets On the hull side a~ hoops used 10 mount a four.weathrr larp ovrr the litlhting c:ompartment. IPatton Museum)

The M31105mm HMC

~me

the baekbonoe III US A1my

armored flekl artillery battalions In the earty 18S0s. tt was deptoyed in Germany until the

40

mld·1950s when It wn lIr«lually replaced by the M52 105m", HMC, a fully turreted design based on the newer M41 light tank cha....s. (US AnnyI

, , -" n..e had be«\ lorI9'".tancling ""luests from us .........ad dMsions tew. $lI'lt"pt'O~1e
",*,eri.~

rncJdjfic:.tion ot1he bnlc "24 chauis wiU, the engine ,.posl_ tioned In the cent... ollhe hull

to permit the ,.., to be used ;os •

p~tform

tor lhe M1 155mm

hoWItzer. The production ......iDn, the M41 15Smm HMC, diff.redln • number 01 details tl"Of'l'l u,. pllot _ here. jP8tlon MUMum)

BOilfd through th..:: spring. AfH'r illcorporating some modest illlpro"ements, the T6j[ I was accepted for prodllction and standardized as the ~t 19 IOlllln gun mOlOr carriage (<;:\10 on June II, 19H. Allhough procuring a separate T2~EI cargo carrier 10 accompall\' the ~119 for ammunilion supplY had been con~idercd. Ihis projcci I,'as • callcclled and Ihe am1\" decided inSlead 10 acquire the 1\128 ammunition trailer for Ihe ~119 lOnlln Gt\tC. There was "en' little pressure to push the projeci illt" sen.icc, .md produclion did not begill at Cadillac and :\1a.~scI·-II,lfrb unlil ,\pril 1915. Of the 9().1 origiuallyauthorized. on I\" 300 eh:L'i.."ili I,'ere cOImplcll.-d b\ AllgU"t 19-15, amI the "chides did not ha\"e lheil IlIrrcts :Iddcd lIntil afler Ihe I'"dr. The M1Y ..Ollllll GMC 1'".1.5 modilied in Ihe I,HC 19·10) by Ihe addition of ;;111 c1ccuical geller.nor on Ihe centel"-ri~hl fender to power the lUrret 1"IIl'1I tht' tank engine was shut 00'. Thi) modificd "chide was rec!c"ign;;lled as the ~1I9AI -IOmm G~IC. Becausc of Ihe rc\;Hh'el~ \lIIal1 llulllbn of n:hiclcs manutaclurro. this n'pc \\"'S nel'er esportcd. So)llle ~tI9:\1 -IOmm GMC saw cumb;;n ~cl'\;ce during the Korean \\',11". Ik:cau'it' uf tht.'" 1,lel;. of .tir oppusition. the" ','CtC oftcn lI\cd lur llrc \llppnn again ..t ground t.u-gel". A sccOIlIl alltiainT
"

changes. tht.' \'ehiclt: was accepted for pnxhl(uoll .l"l lilt' M37 IU,?ll1lll HMC ill Jalluary 19-1.5, The late d.ne 011 v,ltich lhe de.'l'IKII was accepted fOI' production meant Ih.lI onl~' 316 vellldes 01 tit I HI ordered \,'ere manufactured starting in October 1945. None "'ere dcplv}cd in combat in World Wal' II, Ihough the type did 5CC .....ice dUling the Korean War, It ....~ uhsequentl~ replaced b)' the turreted ~1':;21l~ICon the M41light tanK chassi... in the late 19505. One M37 \\-a... com-ened into the T38 pilot \\hich 1ll0UlllOO a 4,2in, mortar imtcad of the hO\l,it2cr, Trials continucd through 194!:1. but the tvpe \0\',1$ Ile\-er accepted for produClion. The ~137 was one of the few ~124 derivath'cs to be exported. Spain recei\'ed 56 and tlll.·\· equipped lhe Rl'girniento de Artilleria a Caballo numero 19 of the Jarama C'1\... h...· Did..inn.
42

,\lui ...0I1111otC!

w(':tpon, "0 thl.'re W;lS 'Ollll' illtCIT.. t in t...· sling how IJIOlClic;ll it mi~hl he LU mounl <;e\'eral 011 .11I ;lrlllorccl \'chide for fire 'upporl. Th...• pkm

Thi$ i$ an earty production example of the M41 1SSmm

HMC manu1K.tured In the summer 01 I!MS. The M41

lor c:ombilt II, but did He action in the Koniltl WiIr with a numbet" of iIl1iltefy

a~

100

I~e

use in World War

wttallons. (Patton MuseWl'l)

V.';lStolC
75mm '1'21

$--,,£!:-

recoille~

rines

"'ere u...ecl in ;) modified ~II:! mount. The tests \\'ere successful ellough th,.1 ,mother series were condUCted in 19-16 using the 105111111 recoille.s rifle. \\'ilh the war o\·er. interest in the conCept languished. ,mrl like so m;)l1~ other conceptS the prognull ~lipped i11lQ limbo.

-I.'

There _r. '" number 01 ....perl· .......till mountinp of recoilless

rfIl.tK On "'24 t
ttoe late 1940s- These were not

BIBLIOGRAPHY

boned on spe<:!fic: requlrem.nts,

but _re tut-beds to det.rml_ tNt feasibility 01 such weaponS. This pOlot was converted lrom:;on

MUI 40mm GMC fitted with lour 7Smm rifl.s. During trials, ttIe weNde demonstrated Its ability

to saturate '" large1 with 24 75mm rounds fired in sis salvoes, A later lest·bed was litted with lour 106mm ritles, but the o;onc:ept neve<' progressed further thitn esperlmental models. (p.non Museum)

This aCCllUlll \\<15 ba"ed prilllitrih on oriKill.l1 n:pons and unpublisht.,,<1 Ordl"mce histories inciudinJ.; reports of the Tan"·AulOmOth·c Center; Ordn;lllct' Depa.rtmClll: Requirt'lIIClll'> Dhi...ioll. CS Arm~ Ground Force..: ami \
43

COLOR PLATE COMMENTARY

I

~

.... .....,,;--.::a- _.....~Io.

A. M24 LIGHT TANK, COMPANY O. 36TH TANK

BATTALION, 8TH ARMORED DIYISION, RHEINBERG, GERMANY, MARCH 1945 This lark IS firlShed In typicallate·war US Army mar10ngs and is painted in kJste1ess olIVe drab The marklnQS are the usual sta-s, In the simple form on the turret side. and in the standard Allied 3!r identiflCatlOfllorm on the roof ar>d rear hull deck The Blh Armored D1VlSlOO paInted IhEllr Unit ldentlficalion bUmpel' codes and the lank registration m... mber on Ihe turret rather than the hull. as the hull of the M24 tended \0 become cluttered with Ihe crew's gear. obscuring the numbers. In tI1e case of the unit codes. these Wefe carried on Ihe fronl of the gun mantle!, split top to bottom, and then

repeated again on the rear or the turrel stowage bin. all In while. The vehicle name. following the company leiter, starts With "0", In this case DUSTY. The crew has pamted on thetr states 01 origin: OhiO (2). Maryland. California. and New York. The tactiCal marking at the front 01 the turret IS Unlque to the 8th Armored DiviSion and is presumably a company nsignia.

ThiS tank was knocked out dUring the fighting In Rheint>etg 0" March 3. 1945 when Company 0 OS! 17 out 01 18 M24 tanks The town was heavily de/ended. and lhe Gennans lost 14 anlltank guns 16 20mm anlJa.rcratl. guns. lour PzKpIw IV tanks. Md one self-propelled gun dunng the encounter.

44

B. CHAFFEE LIGHT TANK. C SOUADRON, RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT, 5TH INFANTRY DIVISION, BRITISH ARMY, 1946 ThIS M24 s finished In typlcal late-war Bnt,sh martungs. It IS

. , ., 'W •

"-~~ ,, ..

TM flnt T24 pilot was I;It... ~itt as the pilot for the T2.E1 and Is seen her~ durin9 trials at AbenlHn Proving Groundln October 1944. This was a lest-bed for a Conll. nental .-cIia! e"iine, and, as can be ~n from thIos rear .new. it required a complete rfileslgn 01 tM rear hull. This never reacl>ed 1M produetion sta~ as the T2... powerplllnl proved perfe<:Uy acceptable. (patton Museum)

finished in ethel" ils onginal olive drab or in the essentlallv k:lenticalBrltlsh Shade No. 15 olive drab. which was adopted In April 1944 as an alternative to repainting Lend·lease equipment. The Bnllsh Chaffees received serral numbers in two blocks: 1.330410 to 330809 and T.3522oo to 352399. As in the case of some us units. British uMS often had the senal number on the turret Sides since there was so little free space on the truncated upper hull Side. The vehicle name Is carried on the upper boW. starting With C 10 indicate C Squadron. The USl.a1 C Squadron CIrCle is carned on the lurret Side and repeated on the octagonal transmlSSIOfl cover on the upper hull front. Next to the squadron mariungs on the lront are the arm-ol-servlce mar\l:Wlgs. a green over blue square lor an ,"lantry reconnassance regimert. and the diViSIonal insignia H3V11l9 beet! heavily recrated from Yorkshre. the diVisional 1f1Sl9013 was a white Y on a kh3kJ square ISIbl 1946 whef\ 11. swrtchec:lto a black disc. These lnSlgrU .ere repealed on the hull rear. Some British urns removed the rear turret stowage bm as seen here.

C. M24 BISON LIGHT TANK. lEA RflOIMIUNT DE CHASSEUAS A CHEVAL. OlEN BIEN PHU, INDOCHINA, 1954 The M24 lighl tanks nown Inlo Olen Bien f'I'Iu wetIIlPOfMty marked, uSl..Ially limited to a name in white on the ,Idt. ThI, one is Smolensk. commanded by Mdl-Chlf PellL The other tarks were named Sazeme, EttJlngen, Auerl:ladt, Douaumort, Posen, Aatlsbonne, Mull'Iouse, and Neumach Some of the tanks received an ImprovlSGd camoulJage 01 smaU patches 01 sand and recl brown as seen here. It 15 not clear if this was paint or an Improvised camouflage ed from local mud. During some phases of the battle. the tanks were used as static firing po5ItlOl'lS, usuaIty in prepared dugouts as seen here.

Max. speed (cross-country): 20mph Max. range: 100 miles Fuel conSl..lmptlon: 1.1 miles per gallOfi Ground clearance: 18 in. Amlament: 75mm gun M6 In M64 mount: .50-cal. heavy machine gun: two .30-caI. machine guns Main gun ammuOlliOn: 48 rounds 75mm: 440 rounds .50cal.: 3.750 roundS .30 cal. Muzzle Velocity: 2.030 tvsec (M61 APCPCI Penetration. 66mm al 500yds at 30° obliqUity Max. effective range: 14,OOOyds Gun depresSlOnfelevalion: ·\0 to ... 15° Armor. 38mm gun mantlet; 25mm turret SIdes; 25mm upper hull fronl; 25mm lower hull front; 25mm hull SIde.

D. M24 LIGHT TANK, US ARMY, 1944 Specifications Crew: 5 (commander, gl.nner. loader, dnver. co-dnver) Combat weq,t 20.2 tons Power·to-welght ratio: 14.6hp(T

Foll_lnll the w.r, the c.",.hy rlK:onn8'isA~e llroupS _roe reOl'll.,lzed _ the Consblbul.ry force for the occupation of

pee" of

Overall length: la.2ft

Ger...-ny...... the M24 was _

Weith 9.6ft Heght: 9.1ft ErtgWle Two Cadllac 4~T2': a cylinder.
equlprnenL This". bini< of the elh Constabulary Regiment durinll a paraode In aennany In 1MI. Sl~e It Is Hmnll_ the mount ot the heaod of the US occupation force, M~or Genet"i11II.D. White. it .. ftri"'9 the appropriale .... n~ with white SliIrs. This tront ¥iew IlYeS a particu~rly clear .new of the .atlach ' pads fw -..phlblous pontoons 0f'I the final dr+.oe COY on the I_er bow. (Patton MlI$eumj

Floe! CapaCIty. 110 ga Ions Ma~.

speed (road); 35Mph

of their standard

45

El. M24 LIGHT TANK. GRUPOS BLiNDADOS DE CABALLERIA, SPANISH SAHARA. 1957 Spain received 31 M24 light tanks startlng In February 1954 and they were Initially deployed with the D..-agones del Alfarrtlra of the Brtlnete 1st Armored Division. and In the Jarama Cavalry Dlwslon. Dunng the Sahara crIsis In December 1957. some M24s. along With MB and M20 armored ears. were deployed with the GnJpos Blndaclos de Caballena (Cavalry Armored Groups) SGr'It 10 the Spanish Sahara. These were finished in a simple scheme of ovemll light sand as seen here. with a Single digit tactical numbel' In black. They probably earned the Spanish Army serial number in black In small charact~ on the bow. but details are lacking. E2. M24 LIGHT TANK, 2EME ESCAORON, 12E REGIMENT DES CHASSEURS O'AFRIQUE. ALGERIA,1962 The 12e RCA traced itself back to the 12e GACA fonned In 1941 lf1 Morocco. which served w,u, the Free French In the 1943 TuniSia campaql In Sornua S.35 tanks, and 00 M4 Sherman ta~ With Leclerc's 2e DIVISIOn B~ndee In the lIberation 01 Paris in 1944. It returned to its North Atricwl roots In 1946 after occupation duty in Gennany. The M24 Bison was Widely used by the French mechanized cavatry. notably the vanous Chasseurs d'Afnque reg,ments that served In North Africa In the 1950s The 12e RCA was reorganized In 1955 haVU'lg a squadron (the 2nd) of BISOn and two squadrons of MS light armored cars (the 1st and 3rd). and was deplo~ In Morocco In Its usual gamson role of mainlalning lhe peace It was sent to Algena Il"Ilate ApnI195S. and was eventually repalnated 10 France. being disbanded at

"

"

-.

--~-_.... .;" •

- $. -

.6

t'"~&'~r:-.,-

Sissonne camp on November 30. 1963. The plate here shows one of the Unll's Bisons 1M parade markings near the end of its career. It is flnished In French olive drab, whIch in the 1950s was Similar to US olive drab, French armored cavalry units typically carned names on lhe tanks based on place names. hlstol"lcal fIgures. and othE'f themes. and in this ease the lank is named after the provInCe of Lorraine. This is earned on the lront transmISSIon plale as well as on either side 01 the turret. In lronl of the name on the turret is the reglOlental inSlgnlS. a StylIZed reanrlQ horse on a map oC Africa within a tank wheel with the legend "Audace n'est pas Deralson-AOF' (AudacIty IS not Madnessf. In smaller letters is the IOSCnptJon ·Senegal" whlch replaced the eartier mscription -Dakar" on the inSIstence of GeoeraI Lecle«:, who fell thai Dakar was too remIniscent of the fratnCldal combat 1M FrE'f'lCh North Alrica In 1942-43. The ~ horse. in Simplified form, IS also seen In silhouette above the transmission cover The othef InSloQnla include the standard "fIamlnQ grenade" on the forward SKIes ~ the turret. the vetucle reglstralJon number on a black rectangle preceded by the natJonal tocolor, and the NATO-style yellow bndging .....e.gtrt symbollr'l yellow With the 20 11'1 black.

Bolh Iran and Iraq recefved mod"1 rtUmben of M24 tanks as granl aid in the 1fitSOs. TheH Iraqi M24s are seen On parade In the 1fitSOs with a numMr 01 Chun:hillianks evident In the background. IUS "'rm~1

F. M24 LIGHT TANK, ARMORED BRIGADE, HELLENIC ARMY. GREECE. 1985 The Greek Ivrny was one of the last In NATO to retam me vnmc~:Mied M24 with a few dozen stili In servICe welt Into the 199Os. As a result, it t1as seen a wide range 01 camoufl3ge f-l"IShes. In tne 19805. the Greek At-rry began to adopt a camouflage scheme fO( its armored vehicles Inspired by the US Atrrrj's 19705 MERDe scheme. The base color IS the usual dull ol,ve drab, with a pattern of light earth, and small bands of light sand and black. The sand colO( bleaches IVOf)' white in the sun. Greek tanks carry the nallonal insignia. a pale blue square with white cross. on the upper center of the turret. On the lower bow Is the usual NATO yellow brldgmg circle. In some cases. the vehicle registration number was carried on the lower side of the octagonal transrmSSlon CO\Ier, though it is not evident here. G1. M24 LIGHT TANK, 29TH CAVALRY, PAKISTAN ARMY, BOYRA, BANGLADESH, NOVEMBER 1971 "The Paklslan, M2
Tm mucl-spbtteN>d M24 ..." juI;t ..-turned "'om ...... along the mud track at the AbetdMo'l ProYlno Ground in Ma, 19065 10 Inl the 28-1n. wide extended grousers. TIIone we,., Inlended to provide better mobility In mud or $nOW, but were never adopted lor Mmee \ISe. This particular coofiguration wit... t .... ~W'·-wped lIro.....rs wn also inlended lor the amphibious version of t.... M24. Th. c,lin~1 c _ isters Men on tile tluM are _llIht, added to test vehicles to simu ....te tully Io;oded comb.t weight during trial's. (HAMl

Indian Army_ The number Is preceded by an upward arrow with the two prefix numbers in lower-case.

G2. M24 LIGHT TANK, CaMPANIA DE TANQUES 8N.I.BLDO.13. URUGUAYAN ARMY, 1985 The Uruguayan M2
47

INDEX ~cfelen('\ 10 l11mtratioll\ ,'1"(' 5h()\o,ll in bold. Pl:un an: ~hO\'11 "11h p;lgc

and caption

IOCdlUn ",

hrxkcLi.

.\..MX-13 hghl t.Iul 36 ampillblou, prop'Kdl5 24.38-39 ;l11h-(lll'claft Mnl. Ii,; 58. artilkl"\ \.U1an~ 37 3."\.39, 40 4f4~

'I'

41,43 ,",",lb. ClI:poru 2O-~1 Amtna. npoJrta 19.~1. %0. :"Wi

fb.ltk 0{ lhe Bulge Itl-II RcIJ{ium,cxpolI' 19 Ilritl.h Army Ih.8126. III Cadillac Oi,;l.l{)I\. Geller"

~loto'"

Corporauon 1,38.40 c..n~d~n 41.h

Armoured 8n~rk If> Otaffec liRht Qnk (BrilWl) Iii. B(2b. <44) !iN tUM \I~N Ch;\ff<"C Ou""ln Mol:Ol' Car [)j,i.'IH)fl. General )ioton <..:orpor.llion i Cole. Ed 7,8 combat 9-24. 3~35 .w cWo Kon:-.m \\'u; \~~IIUIII W"r t"fC"W" lm~m\ ll-l~!. 14 t.\Iropc'an Thc;,ut,;t 01 Opt'...." lion5 0:.10) 1()..16

"Iher t1~ 3:. "uP'll,., 3~ '"l h 1)llllt,w,~dopmcnt b1Mh.~

dO«f"

~Ii ~ 18 ~18

fi

50!!

.n. 34. :\9

french Ami" 16.19,20.21. 2'!-'!I. E2(~. 46), 33. 36 Crl"{,Ct', cxporu f(31. IiI. 37

i5mm 6.8.18-19,22

~

annilrttl c.r 17

ho-itttr m'..ltor c.arrin .. lklpan 19 cuu"-a\ 0(28-29.45} ~producUOJ) 6 Greek F{31.·1i) intrmalla}out 6 Italian 17 btl' production %0 !'..,.,....~ Pan~"kokll

18

PitbGtn. 23. C1C32. -Iii South Kor~ %1 50mh Vit1I\;l~W' n. \ I SpanISh [1(30. lfi) Coitl'd S.alC' Anny 3. 10. D(2a-29. -&5). 47 8dglll111 7. 9

In German. 8. i\(~.;. 111.34. 15 in IClh 11.12 111 SOUlh iV,r.·.. 13. 1-1. 15 L"IUJ;U,WlUI C2f3l. iii \137 I05mm howilLrr rtll,ln .. r.II "").::1' (H)-Ie) 39.40. <12 "11 t55mm H\lt: 4%. I:! \HI WoIlkrl Bulldog li,ll.ht 1.101. II'. 19.36 .\116 hcol''} I:mk 14 m3chiJlc fl;\-1Il mount. T 12'"1 36 :'hhl:ln lklul'e ,\..1 Pn)fltr•.ml ,~1f),\I>1 16.17.19-:''0.29

improvemenLS 13. 19

~AJ'CO po.:.......-r1"'(·k ~1

Indochina C(27.45) Ml' aua Vklnam Wal" Jr~lq. poru 46 Italj. cxpom 17.19

name \{i"cn 9 ~on- .. y. r"pom 18.22. SI"37

~~1-1Il>

lil(hl !oink 22.

36-~1

Oper"'lion Crr,md.· A. II 1'~1.i!(;in, C'xporL'

Korc·a. Kqmhhl III ~"I-i!l. }\')I.·,ill

/~'.l1h

I.

21

48

21. 25.

CI I32.47).n

productioll 9

\f.'1" Ii-1M. II

I.VT(AII amt....k 24. :\,'l-!¥J Lcnd-l..c~ ~12·1 tanl.._ 16-1 i l.ia;hl C..,lllblil Tcam W h~llI 1.•lll ,1,1"111111.• ~

4

t:Jo.p"rl~

~IR:ht. 'donkt',' II Sp_"n. cxPOI'l'i [1(30. >161. 12 ~p«ifiCilLJ0I1~

-1$

medium I,,"k ... 5

In

c-.:porL,I8-21.2:!
~tll1,

:'013 Iigtu t.lIlk

1'.15 liRhl t.mk ~. 7 M5.·\IIIs<:1oII.lnl I. ro. i-8. 9-10. 22. 40

r<"f",lICM rifles 12~13. 4~ rcC(n.cn· \"ehilIt ~i

T6f.l rtCOllt'n- '"ehKlr 35. ~ T7 TIE5liKht tan\.. +5 T2-1 pliol 5 1'24£.1 light (;;Jnk 39.44 T64[1 155mm ho....ilZt:r 111"1"1" camaa;e (HMC) 41. 42 TG)jT6:iE I 40mm G)-Ie 37. Iu-II Ti6105mm HMC 39.41-12 Tii ml.llupl~ Cllibrr j() nlOlll' ClrriaKc 38. 41 T.;a.ho..-n. opGlU roo 57 In'lIb-nd. aport!; 20

Unitl'd Stato __\n11\ 3-4 Th.rd Ann' 14 5rd !lC'colm.ll~ncrCQ<1II'.III\. Jl"d I"("nll",, Oi\"1~on 15 "Iii C'~\..-In- Group 1-1 4th c;.,..-lry Squadron. t· Troop I) (Mh C.on~ ...bul..l')· Rqr;iment 45 9th Rcconn;uliUncr Squ;adron 34 15th T..mlr. B.llwion (C..omp;ioy 1)1.

hi Arn\Ol"I'd

Di\i~on

11

Ithh Cd'OIII,,' K«onna.",...ucc

Squ.ldrool. 14th CO"'....I.... Group 9 2Ot.h Arnwn:d Oh'Won 10 2:>ch M..:cnllll.UloOoI.r'fc C~lIpanl' 13 25th T....nk 8.malion. 12th Armolul 1J1';3ion 10 28th Cm-olll'y R~ollnaiuancc Squ.,dron.6th . ,,,11')' Group I I '\&11 Tank RoIll.Ilion (C."lllpan~·I),. ~,h Armored I>i\·,~ioll Af25.44) Ijllth Tilllk B.otulion 14 iOlh T.lllk &nulii\i,j'J11 7 106lh C;l\~.ll'l C;lmlp 14 740th Tank Batl.tlion 7. 11 ilollh Tank lblUlI,oll (LJ~hll R. 10. 11,13 759th T.lnk K.i1Ut.lion I:: \rmorcd Fon:c I.:i. 7. 42 Cnlll'd SI
'dnanlo 38-59 _aLutanillcr. \1emam War 24J. 21. 1'1-2,1. C(27, 'I::'). 3~'U

,,,n..nL~

n.

Relatc
\'rl' lrom Osprey

ELITE (ELI)

M N·...T·...RMS (MAAJ

Unlfomu. t'qUll'nlt'.lll. loI(tJe\ 1111111 f":t'll..n lllj

l "Itomu. t'qulpm..nl, hblOI') and organlJ.atlon 01 troop'

u( troop~ and l,.Olllllllllnd "

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The desIgn, development, operation and history of the machinery of warfare through the ages.

M24 Chaffee Light Tank

1943-85 The history of US light tanks during World War II is a chequered one. The Ught Battalions of US Armored Divisions were initially filled with

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fields of Norlh Africa it was realised Ihat these were disastrously under annored and gunned, and a replacement, or the abandonment of light

Full color artworic.

lank doctrine was desperately needed. It wasn't until the last few months of World War II

that the M2-1 Chaffee caml' into service and it was extensivl'ly used in combat from the Battle of the Bulge to the final campaigns in Germany. This book tract's the history of its design, its combat record in World War II, its many variants, and its extensive Cutaway artwork

Photographs

combat record post 1945.

OSPREY PUBLISHING www.ospr~ypubllshiog.com

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