M24 CHAFFEE LIGHT TANK
History of War|Issue 111
The US Army M24 Chaffee light tank first saw service in WWII with the Allies in December 1944
CRAIG MOORE
M24 CHAFFEE LIGHT TANK

SCOUT TANKS The M24 Chaffee's role was to go ahead of the main attack to scout out the location of enemy units, report their location, call down an artillery barrage or air attack and leave without engaging heavily armed enemy tanks.

BRITISH CHAFFEE TANKS The British Army ordered 842 M24 Chaffee tanks but received less than 400. The 7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats) used them in their reconnaissance squadrons. In June 1945 they still had 28.

HATCHES The M24 Chaffee had enlarged driver and assistant driver hatches compared to the Stuart tanks they replaced. Each had a rotating periscope built in. An emergency escape hatch was located in the hull floor behind the assistant driver's seat.

PATTON'S CHAFFEES In April 1945, Patton's 3rd Army allocated M24 Chaffees to F troop, 2nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron for their advance towards Bavaria, Southern Germany. A blue disk with a white trim and the letter A was painted on their turrets.

The US Army's M24 Chaffee light tank was the replacement for the M3/M5 Stuart light tanks and was a leap forward in light tank design, greatly improving the concept in all directions.

It had modern torsion bar suspensions, completely revised welded steel armour, improved protection and, more importantly, a much more potent lightweight 75mm (2.95in) main gun. The Stuarts only had 37mm (1.4in) guns mounted in their turrets. A few Chaffees arrived in Europe just before the Battle of the Bulge started on 16 December 1944. The tank was found to be efficient, simple to use, reliable and rugged.

Denne historien er fra Issue 111-utgaven av History of War.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Issue 111-utgaven av History of War.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA HISTORY OF WARSe alt
COUPS & CHAOS
History of War

COUPS & CHAOS

How the French armed forces lost the war in Algeria and almost destroyed French democracy in the process

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 137
BATTLE OF ALGIERS
History of War

BATTLE OF ALGIERS

When the Front de libération nationale FLN) took its war to the streets of the capital, France’s military responded with merciless wrath

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 137
THE RISE OF ALGERIAN RESISTANCE
History of War

THE RISE OF ALGERIAN RESISTANCE

How the anti-colonialist struggle around the globe helped inspire Algeria’s liberation movement to organise and fight back

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 137
ROOTS OF REVOLUTION
History of War

ROOTS OF REVOLUTION

A century of French occupation led to a genocide in Algeria that provoked one of the bloodiest showdowns of the modern age

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 137
DWIGHT W BIRDWELL
History of War

DWIGHT W BIRDWELL

In the opening hours of the North Vietnamese Tet Offensive, this Specialist Five led his armoured cavalry detachment in repulsing a fierce communist assault against Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 137
THE FIVE STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP
History of War

THE FIVE STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP

Phillips O’Brien discusses how this quintet of national leaders impacted the course of the Second World War

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 137
Great Battles FLODDEN
History of War

Great Battles FLODDEN

On the morning of 9 September 1513, King James lV of Scotland stood atop Flodden Hill with what seemed an insurmountable advantage over the English. Yet by the day's end he would lay slain and his army shattered

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 137
FERDINAND 'THE BLOODY'
History of War

FERDINAND 'THE BLOODY'

Known for his brutal martial punishment and execution of his own men, Ferdinand Schérner’s ruthlessness was matched only by his devotion to Nazi ideology

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 137
AIRBORNE UNDER SIEGE ARNHEM
History of War

AIRBORNE UNDER SIEGE ARNHEM

For nine days the heroic 1st Airborne fought desperately, waiting vainly for relief that never came

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 137
SCANDINAVIA UNDER ATTACK
History of War

SCANDINAVIA UNDER ATTACK

Hitler’s forces smash through Denmark and Norway ina grim foretaste of the terrible fate awaiting the rest of Western Europe

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 136