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United States' M3A5 medium tank

• Photos
• Design
• Prototype
• Production
• Variants
• Usage
• Specifications

Photos

M3A5 Medium Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum

M3A5 Medium Tank:

M3A5 Medium Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum

M3A5 Medium Tank drawing: Aberdeen Tank Museum

Design

Riveted hull.^1,2,6,8 Late production models had longer M3 75mm gun.

The 37 mm gun could fire a 1.91 lb shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,600'/sec.⁶ The 75 mm gun could fire a 14.4 lb shell at 1,850'/sec.⁶ The 75 mm gun's stabilizer was made by Westinghouse.⁶

Prototype

Production

Variants

Usage

Specifications

	M3A5 medium tank2, Grant II
Crew	Commander, driver, loaders(2), gunners(2).4 62,3,4,5,6,7
Radio	SCR-5082
Radio - command	SCR-5062
Physical Characteristics
Weight	32.5 tons6 64,000 lb5,7, 65,000 lb3
Length w/gun	18' 6"2,3,4,5,6,7
Length w/o gun
Height	10' 3"2,3,4,5,6,7
Width	8' 11"2,3,4,5,7, 8.95'6
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	17 1/8"2,3,7, 17.1"6
Ground contact length	147"2,3,6,7
Ground pressure	12.9 psi, 12.25 psi3, 13.36 psi2,7, 13.6 psi6
Turret ring diameter	57"2,7
Armament
Main	75 mm M24 75 mm5 75 mm M2, L/316 75 mm M2, gyrostabilized3
OR	75 mm M32,4
Secondary	37 mm M54 37 mm5 37 mm M6, L/536
OR	37 mm M62,3,4
MG	3-4: .30 cal Browning MGs4 3: MG5 3: .30 cal MGs6
MG - cupola	1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG3 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG2
MG - coaxial	1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG3 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG2
MG - hull	1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG2 2: .30 cal M1919A4 MG3
Side arms	.45 cal submachine gun2 Hand grenades2,3
Quantity
Main	462,3,4,6
Secondary	1782,3,4,6
MG	9,2002,3,4,6
Side arms	.45 cal: 1,2002 Grenades: 122,3
Armor Thickness (mm)	124, 374 1.5" - 2"5 Front: 2"6 Side: 1.5"6
Hull Front, Upper	2"2, 2"@0°3
Hull Front, Lower	1.5"2
Hull Sides, Upper	1.5"2, 1.5"@0°3
Hull Sides, Lower	1.5"2
Hull Rear	1.5"2, 1.5"@0°3
Hull Top	0.5"2
Hull Bottom	0.5' - 1"2
Turret Front	2"6, 2.25"2, 2.25"@0°3 Mantlet: 1"6
Turret Sides	2"6, 2.25"2, 2.25"@0°3
Turret Rear	2.25"2
Turret Top	7/8"2
Engine (Make / Model)	Twin GM 6-715, Twin GM 6-71 60462,3,7, GM 6
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Liquid2, Water3,6,7
Cylinders	2x66, 12 (6x2)7, 125, I-122,3
Capacity
Net HP	3753,5, 375@2,100 rpm2, 375@2,100 rpm7, 420@2,000 rpm6
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Synchromesh2,3,6 5 forward, 1 reverse2,3,6
Steering	Controlled differential3,6
Steering ratio
Starter	Electric6
Electrical system	24-volt2,6
Ignition	Injection6
Gear ratio - 1st gear	7.56:12
- 2nd gear	3.11:12
- 3rd gear	1.78:12
- 4th gear	1.11:12
- 5th gear	0.73:12
- Reverse gear	5.65:12
Fuel (Type)	Diesel2,3,6,7
Octane	502,7
Quantity	174 gallons6, 175 gallons2,3,7 796 liters
Fuel consumption - Road	0.7 mpg6
Fuel consumption - Cross country
Performance
Traverse	37 mm: 360°2,3,4 75 mm: 15° left, 15° right2,3,4 Hydraulic or manual6, Manual or power3
Speed - Road	25 mph6, 26 mph4, 29 mph2,5,7, 30 mph3 40 kph
Speed - Cross Country	4 - 20 mph6, 16 mph4
Range - Road	120 miles6, 160 miles2,3,4,7 241 km
Range - Cross Country
Turning radius	37'2,7 18.9 m
Elevation limits	75 mm: -9° to +20°2,3,4 37 mm: -7° to +60°2,3,4
Fording depth	3' 4"2,3,4,6,7
Trench crossing	6'6, 6.2'2, 6' 2"3,7, 6' 3"4
Vertical obstacle	2'2,3,4,6,7
Climbing ability	30° slope3, 31° (60%) slope6, 60%2
Suspension (Type)	3: Vertical Volute bogies8 3: two-wheeled bogies on vertical volute springs6 Vertical volute springing2,3
Wheels each side	2x36 3 two wheeled bogies3
Wheel size	20" x 9"2
Wheel size - idler	22" x 9"2
Return rollers each side	33,6
Wheel size	20" x 9"2
Wheel size - idler	22" x 9"2
Tracks (Type)	Rubber block, rubber bushed, double pin shoe6 Steel blocks with rubber pads, rubber bushed track pins3
Track length
Track width	16"3,6, 16.5"4, 16 9/16"2
Number of links	792,3,6
Pitch	6"2,3,6
Tire tread	Rubber3,6
Track centers/tread	6.9'6, 81"3, 6' 11"2,4,7

Sources:

1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
2. The American Arsenal, 1996
3. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
4. British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
5. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
6. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
7. AFV 11: M3 Medium (Lee/Grant), Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis
8. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979