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M10
M10A1

3" Gun Motor Carriage M10^1-12

The 3" GMC M10 tank destroyer was based on the medium tank M4A2, and had the same main gun as the heavy tank M6. M10s were built with single-piece final drive and differential covers, and the turret only had a partial roof over its front third. This allowed better visibility and easier servicing of the weapon, at an obvious cost of increased vulnerability. The hull and turret on the M10 both took advantage of armor sloping, and both were fitted with bosses to which additional armor could be attached should the need have arisen. The turret of the M10 was five-sided, including the gun shield in front. Two triangular counterweights totaling 3,600lb (1,600kg) were added to the rear of the turret to balance the heavy 1,990lb (903kg) 3" gun in the front. These greatly eased turret traverse. On late production M10s, the applique armor bosses were deleted from the turret and hull sides, but remained on the hull glacis, and the turret counterweights were changed to a "duckbill" cross-section. The shape of the turret rear was altered in late-production vehicles to improve working space. Other changes made during production included a heavier clutch pressure spring and semimetallic clutch facings; the addition of a clutch equalizer; the change to heavy-duty suspension bogies with return rollers at the rear; changing to a single instead of double throttle control; replacing the transmission parking brake with one controlled by the steering levers; going from handwheel-type turret locks to lever-type; changing to a three-pronged plug-and-socket type gun firing circuit pedestal from the original single-jack type; the addition of hooks to hold the drivers' doors open; adding mounting steps to the outside front; installing a safety lock arm on the engine compartment splash panel; and providing lubrication oil dip sticks to enable manual monitoring of oil level. The gun mount was intended to permit the installation of the 105mm howitzer or British OQF 17 pounder instead of the 3" gun; only the 3" gun was used by the US, but the British did install the 17 pounder Mk.V in a number of Lend-Lease M10s.

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3" Gun Motor Carriage M10A1^1-2,6-10,13

The M10A1 was based on the medium tank M4A3, and was similar to the M10 except for the Ford GAA engine; mounting the GAA gave the M10A1 larger air intake grilles on the top of the hull rear.

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References

1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1994. Reprinted with permission from Sherman, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1994, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
2. TM 9-323 3-inch Gun M7 Mounted in Combat Vehicles. Washington, DC: War Department, 6 September 1943.
3. TM 9-752 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10. Washington, DC: War Department, 25 November 1943.
4. SNL G-130 Service Parts Catalog for Carriage, Motor, 3-inch Gun, M10. June 1945.
5. Tank Data, vol. 3. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: US Army Ordnance School, Jul 1958.
6. TM 9-1750L Hull and Turret Electrical Systems, Tracks and Suspension for 3-inch Gun Motor Carriages M10 and M10A1. Washington, DC: War Department, 9 December 1943.
7. Catalogue of Standard Ordnance Items, 2nd edition 1944, volume 1. Washington, DC: Office of the Chief of Ordnance Technical Division, 1 June 1945.
8. Sola, Samuel, Vincent Bobkowski, and Kara Crocker. Weapon Mounts for Secondary Armament. Santa Monica, CA: G. O. Noville & Associates, Inc., April 1957.
9. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
10. Siemers, Cary. "USA's M10, M10A1 Tank Destroyers." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 25 Nov 2000. 23 Jan 2001 <http://www.shadowsfolly.com/WWII/USA/M10TD.htm>.
11. Zuljan, Ralph. "M10 Tank Destroyer." Second World War Armor. 16 Mar 2000. 23 Jan 2001 <http://www.onwar.com/tanks/usa/fm10.htm>. Second World War Armor
12. TM 9-731B Medium Tank M4A2. Washington, DC: War Department, 13 January 1943.
13. TM 9-731G 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10A1. Washington, DC: War Department, 28 July 1943.

Last updated 20 Dec 2023.
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