Medium Tank Recovery Vehicle M741-4

M74: General
Date of first acceptance February 1954
Manufacturers
  • Bowen-McLaughlin-York, Inc.
  • Rock Island Arsenal
Crew 4 men
M74: Dimensions
Combat weight 93,750lbs
42,530kg
Height 133.5"
339.1cm
Length 313.0625"
795.1788cm
Width 121.8125"
309.4038cm
Tread 88"
224cm
Ground clearance 15.5"
39.4cm
Ground pressure 13.5psi
.948kg/cm²
M74: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible in AA mount 1,050 rounds 360°
(manual)
Manual
.30cal M1919A4 MG Ball mount in right bow 2,000 rounds 20° left, 25° right
(manual)
+20° to -10°
(manual)
M74: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled and cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 2.5"
6.4cm
47°
Lower front 4.25" to 2.0"
10.8cm to 5.1cm
0° to 56°
Sides 1.5"
3.8cm
Rear 1.5"
3.8cm
10° to 22°
Top .75"
1.9cm
83° to 90°
Front floor 1.0"
2.5cm
90°
Rear floor .50"
1.3cm
90°
M74: Automotive
Engine Ford GAA; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, 60° vee gasoline
Horsepower 525 Fuel capacity 168gal
636L
Transmission Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
M74: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Horizontal volute spring 3 bogies/track;
2 dual wheels/bogie
2 dual/track, 3 single/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
13-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track One on each bogie
M74: Track
T66
Center guide, single pin, cast, steel
Width 23"
58cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 151"
384cm
T80
Center guide, double pin, rubber and steel
Width 23"
58cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 151"
384cm
T84
Center guide, double pin, rubber
Width 23"
58cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 151"
373cm
M74: Performance
Max level road speed 21mph sustained
34kph sustained
Max trench 90"
230cm
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 24"
61cm
Min turning diameter 74'
23m
Max fording depth 36"
91cm
Radius of action ~100mi, roads
~160km, roads

The TRV M74 was developed after the outbreak of the Korean War since the World War II-era tank recovery vehicles then in use could not cope with the heavier modern tanks. M74 was converted from stocks of medium tanks M4A3 and M32B3 tank recovery vehicles, to which it bore a strong resemblance. The sixty M32B3-based M74s were designated M74B1. The M74 had a front-mounted A-frame crane which could swing to the rear over the flat-sided turret when not in use, much like the crane on the M32 series. There was a 25,000lb (11,000kg) capacity winch threaded through the boom, a port for the 90,000lb (41,000kg) tow winch on the hull glacis, a 10,000lb (4,500kg) auxiliary winch on the turret front, and also a 2,000lb (900kg) manual utility winch used to manipulate the tow bar stowed at the rear. The boom winch was fitted with 150' (46m) of .875" (2.22cm) cable with a breaking strength of 65,800lb (29,850kg). The tow winch had 200' (61m) of 1.25" (3.18cm) cable with a breaking strength of 132,400lb (60,060kg). The auxiliary winch was provided with 400' (120m) of .5" (1.3cm) cable with a breaking strength of 22,000lb (10,000kg). M74 also had a spade mounted on the front of the tank, used for stabilization and as a dozer blade, which was raised and lowered using the auxiliary winch. Vehicle height to the top of the turret roof was 122.5" (311.2cm). The final drive ratio was modified from the M4A3's 2.84:1 to 3.36:1.

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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 9-7402 Operation and Organizational Maintenance Medium Tank Recovery Vehicle M74. Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 30 January 1956.
  3. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
  4. Tank Data, vol. 2. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: US Army Ordnance School, July 1958.
Last updated 11 Jan 2023.
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