M24: General | |||
Date of first acceptance | April 1944 | Total acceptances | 4,731 |
Manufacturers |
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Crew |
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M24: Dimensions | |||
Combat weight | 40,500lbs 18,400kg |
Height over AAMG | 109" 277cm |
Length without gun, with sandshields | 198" 503cm |
Gun overhang forward | 21" 53cm |
Width over sandshields | 118" 300cm |
Tread | 96" 240cm |
Ground clearance | 18" 46cm |
Fire height | 73" 185cm |
Turret ring diameter | 60" 150cm |
Ground pressure, zero penetration with T72 tracks | 11.3psi .793kg/cm² |
M24: Armament | ||||||
Type | Mount | Ammunition | Traverse | Max traverse rate | Elevation | |
75mm Gun M6 | M64 in turret | 48 rounds | 360° (manual and hydraulic) |
24°/sec | +15° to -10° (manual) |
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.50cal M2HB MG | Flexible in turret AA mount | 440 rounds | 360° (Manual) |
-- | Manual | |
.30cal M1919A4 MG | Coaxial to 75mm gun | 3,750 rounds | 360° (manual and hydraulic) |
24°/sec | +15° to -10° (Manual) |
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.30cal M1919A4 MG | Ball mount D76459 or 6576459 in right bow | 28° (manual) |
-- | +13° to -10° (manual) |
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2" Mortar M3 (smoke) | Fixed in turret | 14 rounds | 360° (manual and hydraulic) |
24°/sec | 35° (fixed) |
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Aiming equipment | ||||||
Periscope M16, M10P, or M4A1 with telescope M38A1, M38A2, or M77G; telescope M83F, M71K, or M71G for gunner | ||||||
Stabilizer | ||||||
Elevation only |
M24: Armor | ||
Assembly | ||
Welding | ||
Hull | ||
Rolled homogeneous steel | ||
Location | Thickness | Angle from vertical |
Upper front | 1.0" 2.5cm |
60° |
Lower front | 1.0" 2.5cm |
45° |
Front sides | 1.0" 2.5cm |
12° |
Rear sides | .75" 1.9cm |
12° |
Upper rear | .75" 1.9cm |
0° |
Lower rear | .75" 1.9cm |
42° |
Top | .5" 1.3cm |
77° to 90° |
Front floor | .5" 1.3cm |
90° |
Rear floor | .375" .953cm |
90° |
Turret | ||
Rolled homogeneous steel | ||
Location | Thickness | Angle from vertical |
Gun shield (cast) | 1.5" 3.8cm |
0° to 60° |
Front (cast) | 1.5" 3.8cm |
0° to 60° |
Right side | 1.0" 2.5cm |
25° |
Left side | 1.0" 2.5cm |
20° |
Rear | 1.0" 2.5cm |
0° |
Top | .5" 1.3cm |
68° to 90° |
M24: Automotive | |||||
Engine | Twin Cadillac Series 44T24; 16 cylinder (8/engine) 4 cycle, 90º vee gasoline | ||||
Horsepower | Net: 220@3,400rpm (110/engine) Gross: 296@3,200rpm (148/engine) |
Torque | Net: 480 ft-lb@1,200rpm (240/engine) Gross: 560 ft-lb@1,200rpm (280/engine) |
Fuel capacity | 110gal 420L |
Transmission | Twin Hydramatic, 8 speeds forward, 4 reverse | ||||
Steering | Controlled differential, steering levers | ||||
Brakes | Mechanical, external contracting |
M24: Suspension | ||
Type | Road wheels | Track return rollers |
Torsion bar | 5 individually sprung dual/track | 3 dual/track |
Drive sprockets | Idlers | Shock absorbers | 13-tooth front drive | Dual compensating at rear of track | On first 2 and last 2 road wheels/track |
M24: Track | |||||||
T72 | |||||||
Center guide, single pin, rubber bushed, steel, parallel grouser | |||||||
Width | 16" 41cm |
Pitch | 5.5" 14cm |
Shoes/track | 75 | Ground contact length | 112.25" 285.12cm |
T85E1 | |||||||
Center guide, double pin, rubber bushed, rubber, chevron | |||||||
Width | 14" (16.5" with extended end connectors) 36cm (41.9cm with extended end connectors) |
Pitch | 5.5" 14cm |
Shoes/track | 75 | Ground contact length | 112.25" 285.12cm |
M24: Performance | |||
Max level road speed | 35mph 56kph |
Max trench | 96" 240cm |
Max grade | 60% | Max vertical obstacle | 36" 91cm |
Min turning diameter | 46' 14m |
Max fording depth | 40" 100cm |
Cruising range | ~100mi, roads ~160km, roads |
One of the most prominent identifying features of the M24 Chaffee was the large steering assembly access hatch in the glacis plate. It was octagonal in shape, rimmed with bolts, and had lifting handles on either side. The 75mm gun M6 in the M24 was a tank-mounted version of the 75mm gun M5 that was fielded in the B-25H Mitchell bomber. Former M5 guns mounted in Chaffees are identifiable by a grooved collar situated close the muzzle which allowed the gun to be mounted in the B-25H's concentric recoil mechanism. This collar was deleted on late-production guns meant for tanks only. The M64 mount featured a concentric hydrospring recoil mechanism that used the cradle as the outside cylinder. This mechanism produced a very short recoil stroke, allowing the gun to be used in the confines of a light tank turret. The power train of the M24 was based on that of the light tank M5A1. The drivers' hatches were larger than on previous light tanks, and could open no matter what position the turret was in. This was surely a design feature that the drivers appreciated. M24s also featured wet ammunition stowage, and therefore the Chaffee lacked a turret basket. The turret crew's seats were attached to the turret, however. The M24 could be crewed by only four men; in this situation the assistant driver would also double as loader.
T72E1 track was also used on the Chaffee. This track was simply T72 track with three holes through each shoe to allow the installation of 28.375" (72.073cm) extended end connectors. When the M24 was running on T85E1 tracks, a new drive sprocket was required. The 2" mortar M3 was eliminated after World War II.