Light tank M24 | |
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A preserved M24 at Tankfest 2023 | |
Type | Light tank |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1944–1953 (U.S. Army) |
Used by | United States and 28 others; see Operators |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | |
Unit cost | $39,653[1] |
Produced | April 1944–August 1945 |
No. built | 4,731 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 40,500 lb (20.3 short tons) (18.37 tonnes) |
Length | 18 ft 3 in (5.56 m) including gun 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m) excluding gun |
Width | 9 ft 10 in (3 m) |
Height | 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) |
Crew | 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver/radio operator) |
Armor | 0.40–1.50 in (10–38 mm) |
Main armament | 75 mm gun M6 in mount M64 48 rounds |
Secondary armament |
|
Engine | Twin Cadillac Series 44T24 220 hp (160 kW) (164 kW) at 3,400 rpm (total) |
Power/weight | 12 hp (8.9 kW) / tonne |
Transmission | Hydramatic 8 speeds forward, 4 reverse |
Suspension | Torsion bar |
Ground clearance | 1 ft 6 in (0.46 m) |
Fuel capacity | 110 US gal (420 L) |
Operational range | 100 mi (160 km) |
Maximum speed | 35 mph (56 km/h) |
The M24 Chaffee (officially light tank M24) was an American light tank used during the later part of World War II; it was also used in post–World War II conflicts including the Korean War, and by the French in the War in Algeria and the First Indochina War. In British service it was given the service name Chaffee after the United States Army general, Adna R. Chaffee Jr., who helped develop the use of tanks in the United States armed forces. Although the M41 Walker Bulldog was developed as a replacement, M24s were not mostly removed from U.S. and NATO armies until the 1960s and remained in service with some Third World countries.