Medium Tank M451-8

M45: General
Date of first acceptance July 1945 Total acceptances 185
Manufacturer Detroit Tank Arsenal Crew
5 men:
  • Commander in turret right rear
  • Gunner in turret right front
  • Loader in turret left
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull right front
M45: Dimensions
Combat weight 93,000lbs
42,000kg		 Height over AAMG mount 110.9"
281.7cm
Length without howitzer, over sandshields and muffler 254.3"
645.9cm		 Howitzer overhang forward 2.4"
6.1cm
Width over sandshields 138.3"
351.3cm		 Tread 110"
279cm
Ground clearance 18.8"
47.8cm		 Fire height 80"
200cm
Turret ring diameter 69"
175cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 13.2psi
.927kg/cm²
M45: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Max traverse rate Elevation
105mm Howitzer M4 M71 in turret 74 rounds 360°
(manual and hydraulic)		 24°/sec +35° to -10°
(manual)
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible in turret AA mount 550 rounds 360°
(Manual)		 -- Manual
.30cal M1919A4 MG Coaxial to 105mm howitzer 5,000 rounds 360°
(manual and hydraulic)		 24°/sec +35° to -10°
(manual)
.30cal M1919A4 MG Ball mount in 7722408 right bow Manual -- Manual
Aiming equipment
Periscope M18C, M10D, or M4A1 with telescope M77C; telescope M76G; sightunit M29A1 for gunner
Stabilizer
Elevation only
M45: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled and cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 4.0"
10cm		 46°
Lower front 3.0"
7.6cm		 53°
Front sides 3.0"
7.6cm		 0°
Rear sides 2.0"
5.1cm		 0°
Upper rear 2.0"
5.1cm		 10°
Lower rear .75"
1.9cm		 62°
Top .875"
2.22cm		 90°
Front floor 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
Rear floor .50"
1.3cm		 90°
Turret
Cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Howitzer shield 8.0"
20cm		 0°
Front 5.0"
13cm		 0°
Sides 5.0" to 3.0"
13cm to 7.6cm		 0° to 8°
Rear 2.5"
6.4cm		 0° to 5°
Top 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
M45: Automotive
Engine Ford GAF; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, 60º vee gasoline
Horsepower Net: 450@2,600rpm
Gross: 500@2,600rpm		 Torque Net: 950 ft-lb@2,200rpm
Gross: 1,040 ft-lb@2,200rpm		 Fuel capacity 183gal
693L
Transmission Torqmatic, 3 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, 3 shoe, reverse anchor
M45: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 6 individually sprung dual/track 5 dual/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
13-tooth rear drive Dual compensating at front of track On first 2 and last 2 road wheels/track
M45: Track
T80E1
Center guide, double pin, rubber and steel
Width 23"
58cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 82 Ground contact length Left side: 151.5"
Right side: 155.5"
Left side: 384.4cm
Right side: 395.0cm
T81
Center guide, single pin, steel
Width 24"
61cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 82 Ground contact length Left side: 151.5"
Right side: 155.5"
Left side: 384.4cm
Right side: 395.0cm
M45: Performance
Max level road speed 25mph sustained
30mph dash
40kph sustained
48kph dash		 Max trench 96"
240cm
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 46"
120cm
Min turning diameter 60'
18m		 Max fording depth 48"
120cm
Cruising range ~100mi, roads
~160km, roads

The M45 medium tank was the close-support version of the M26 Pershing, fitted with a new turret and armed with a 105mm howitzer. The massive howitzer shield and increased frontal turret armor were necessary to compensate for the installation of the 105mm howitzer M4, which was lighter than the M3 90mm gun of the M26. By the time the M45 reached production, however, interest in 105mm howitzer tanks had waned, and production was cut back to less than 200 vehicles. The M45 was reclassified as a heavy tank on June 29, 1944, but changed back to a medium in May 1946.

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series. Bellingham, WA: Feist Publications, Inc., 1996.
  2. TM 9-735 Medium Tanks M26 and M45. Washington, DC: Dept. of the Army, 5 Aug 1948.
  3. ORD 9 SNL G-226 List of All Service Parts for Tank, Medium M26; Tank, Medium, M45. Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 7 June 1948.
  4. TM 9-324 105-mm Howitzer M4 (Mounted in Combat Vehicles). Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 22 August 1950.
  5. TM 9-2800-1/TO 19-75A-89 Military Vehicles (Ordnance Corps Responsibility). Washington, DC: Depts. of the Army and Air Force, 13 Feb 1953.
  6. Sola, Samuel, Vincent Bobkowski, and Kara Crocker. Weapon Mounts for Secondary Armament. Santa Monica, CA: G. O. Noville & Associates, Inc., April 1957.
  7. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
  8. Miller, David. The Illustrated Directory of Tanks of the World. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Co., 2000.
Last updated 28 Apr 2024.
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© Copyright 2001-24 Chris Conners