| T16: General | |||
| Date of first acceptance | March 1943 | Total acceptances | 19,607 T16 and T16E2 |
| Manufacturers |
|
Crew | 4 men |
| T16: Dimensions | |||
| Combat weight (gross with payload) | ~10,500lbs ~4,760kg |
Height | 61" 150cm |
| Length | 155.125" 394.018cm |
Width | 83.5" 212cm |
| Tread | 61.5" 156cm |
Ground clearance | 10.5" 26.7cm |
| Ground pressure | 7.4psi .52kg/cm² |
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| T16: Armament | |||
| Type | Mount | Traverse | Elevation |
| Bren light machine gun | Mount in hull left front | Manual | Manual |
| T16: Armor | ||
| Assembly | ||
| Welding | ||
| Location | Thickness | |
| Upper front | .21875" .55563cm |
|
| Lower front | .28125" .71438cm |
|
| Sides | .28125" .71438cm |
|
| Rear | .28125" .71438cm |
|
| Floor | .28125" .71438cm |
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| T16: Automotive | |||||
| Engine | Ford GAU; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, 90° L-head vee gasoline | ||||
| Horsepower | Net: 102.5@4,000rpm | Torque | 176 ft-lb@2,000rpm | Fuel capacity | 23.6gal 89.3L |
| Transmission | Spur gear, 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse | ||||
| Steering | Controlled differential, steering levers | ||||
| T16: Suspension | ||
| Type | Road wheels | Track return rollers |
| Coil spring | 2 bogies/track; 2 wheels/bogie |
2/track |
| Drive sprockets | Idlers | Shock absorbers | 35-tooth rear drive | Adjustable at front of each track | None |
| T16: Track | |||||||
| T79 | |||||||
| Outside guide, single pin, cast steel | |||||||
| Width | 10" 25cm |
Pitch | 1.75" 4.45cm |
Shoes/track | 174 | Ground contact length | 71" 180cm |
| T16: Performance | |||
| Max level road speed | 30mph sustained 50kph sustained |
Max trench | 30" 76cm |
| Max grade | 60% | Max vertical obstacle | 18" 46cm |
| Min turning diameter | 32' 9.8m |
Max fording depth | Floats |
| Cruising range | ~100-150mi ~160-240km |
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The T16 was a modification of the British universal carrier. The vehicle was originally designated as the cargo carrier T16, but was renamed as the universal carrier T16 to avoid discrepancy with British nomenclature. Differences from the British vehicle included a simplified hull design, a different engine and steering system, and a redesigned suspension and track. The British vehicle ran on a two-wheeled bogie and a single independently sprung wheel on each side, while the T16 featured two two-wheeled bogies per side with the springs facing the opposite directions. The T16 used a conventional controlled differential and steering levers to steer as opposed to the British vehicle's steering wheel and track bending system. A 1,200lb (540kg) payload was specified. No carriers were issued to the US Army, but 19,193 were given to Allies through Lend-Lease. They found its reliability suspect for much of World War II.
Starting in 1945, the T16E2 entered production. This vehicle was longer overall and designed for more stability. The orientation of the rear bogie was reversed on the T16E2 so that both of the springs were pointing the same way. The front bogie was moved back 6" (15cm), the rear bogie was moved 9" (23cm) to the rear, and the drive axle was moved 8" (20cm) back. The T16E2 was 162" (411cm) long, and had a 77" (200cm) ground contact length yielding a 6.8psi (.48kg/cm²) ground pressure. Fuel capacity was raised to 27.8gal (105L), and the front armor was increased to a maximum of .390625" (.992188cm).
