M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle
M32 Recovery Vehicle | |
---|---|
machine gun (9,000 rounds), 20 hand grenades (Fragmentation, Mk. II), 6 smoke grenades. | |
Engine | |
Payload capacity | 10 short tons (9.1 t) Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS) |
Fuel capacity | 148–175 US gal (560–660 L) |
Operational range | 120–150 mi (190–240 km) |
Maximum speed | 24 mph (39 km/h) |
The M32 Armored Recovery Vehicle was an
Specifications
The M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle was an
It had a Spicer manual
Development history
In early 1942, the US Army began mobilizing and reequipping for war in Europe. Based on British combat experience from earlier in the war, the
The basic prototypes of the M32 were built by
Production history
The serial production of the M32 was started by Lima Locomotive Works, which converted five M32B2s in June 1943. They also intermittently produced 26 M32B3s in May 1944, followed by 20 more vehicles in the summer of 1944.
Service history
The M32 entered service with the US Army in July 1943. They served in the
Especially during the Korean War, the M32 was considered inadequate for its role as an armored recovery vehicle because the power of the engine was insufficient to pull new, much heavier tanks, such as the M26 Pershing and M46 Patton.[11] Earlier variants' narrow tracks also gave the vehicle insufficient flotation to move over poor terrain such as mud and snow.[citation needed]
Some M32B1s were also shipped to Britain under Lend-Lease, where they were designated the ARV Mark III by the British Army.[12] In 1944, the Ordnance Department experimented with the M26 Pershing-based T12 Armored Recovery Vehicle, but it became too expensive and was never put on the production line.[13] The M32 was also planned to have mine-exploding equipment, such as the T1E1 Earthworm and the T2E1 Mine Exploder. However, only the T1E1 had any service with the vehicle.[14]
Several M32s were loaned to the
Variants
- M32 – The original version, based on the M4 Sherman. 163 were produced by Pressed Steel Car in 1944.[18]
- M32B1 – A M32 based on the M4A1. 1,085 were produced by Federal Machine, Baldwin Locomotive, and Pressed Steel Car.[18] Some were also shipped to Britain under Lend-Lease. It was named ARV Mark III by the British Army.[12]
- M32B2 – A M32 based on the M4A2. 26 were produced by Lima Locomotive.[18]
- M32B3 – A M32 based on the M4A3. 344 were produced by Lima Locomotive and Pressed Steel Car.[18]
- M32B4 – A M32 based on the M4A4. Never entered production.[18] Had a Chrysler Multibank engine.[4]
- M32A1 – A M32 with HVSS suspension.[18]
- M32A1B1 – A M32B1 with HVSS suspension. 175 were converted by Baldwin Locomotive.[18]
- M32A1B2 – A M32B2 with HVSS suspension.[18]
- M32A1B3 – A M32B3 with HVSS suspension.[18]
- M34 Prime Mover – M34 Prime Movers were simply M32B1 Recovery Vehicles without the towing cable and were just used for pulling towed artillery into place.[19] It was typically reserved for pulling heavy artillery, such as the 240 mm howitzer.[20] It lacked any armament and had four seats for crew. The vehicle also had tail lights, electric outlets for stopping of towed loads, and multiple stowage ports.[6] Production started in 1944 and ended in 1945.[12]
Additional equipment
- T1E1 Mine Exploder "Earthworm" – This mine exploding equipment, which was meant to be used with the boom on the M32, was essentially the T1 mine exploder with slightly different trailing discs. Developed and produced in 1943. It saw limited use in the war.[14]
- T2E1 Mine Exploder – This mine exploding equipment, which was meant to be used with the boom on the M32, was essentially the T2 mine exploder, but scaled up for use by the U.S. Marines. It was impractical, and the project was abandoned in October 1943.[14]
References
Citations
- ^ "Ada M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle Di Cimahi, Tank Reparasi 'Pertama' Di Indonesia". Indomiliter.com (in Indonesian). 26 December 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Hunnicutt (1971), pp. 474–476.
- ^ Doyle (2011), p. 413.
- ^ a b c Hogg (2014), p. 40.
- ^ a b Ware (2014), pp. 109–110.
- ^ a b Hogg (2014), p. 81.
- ^ Caddick-Adams (2013), p. 197.
- ^ Hunnicutt (1971), p. 477.
- ^ Brown (2001), p. 27.
- ^ Hunnicutt (1971), p. 478.
- OCLC 2268918.
- ^ a b c Chamberlain & Ellis (1969), p. 131.
- ^ Zaloga (2000), p. 34.
- ^ a b c Chamberlain & Ellis (1969), p. 121.
- ^ Haskew (2016), p. 216.
- ^ Haskew (2016, p. 218.
- ISSN 1765-0828.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Green (2014), pp. 102–103.
- ^ Zaloga (2011), p. 40.
- ^ Bishop (2002), p. 60.
Bibliography
- Bishop, Chris (2002). The Encyclopedia of Weapons. New York City, New York: Sterling Publishing Company. ISBN 1-58663-762-2.
- Brown, Jerold E. (2001). Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Army. Santa Barbara, California: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-313-29322-8.
- ISBN 978-0-19-997466-5.
- Chamberlain, Peter; Ellis, Chris (1969). British and American Tanks of World War II. New York, New York: Arco Publishing Inc. ISBN 0-668-01867-4.
- Doyle, David (2011). Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles (Second ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. ISBN 978-1-4402-2572-7.
- Green, Michael (2014). American Tanks & AFVs of World War II. Oxford, Oxfordshire: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-931-3.
- Haskew, Michael E. (2016). M4 Sherman Tanks: The Illustrated History of America's Most Iconic Fighting Vehicles. Voyaguer Press. ISBN 9780760351529.
- ISBN 978-1-4738-9703-8.
- Hunnicutt, R.P. (1971). Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank. Novato, California: Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-742-7.
- Ware, Pat (2014). M4 Sherman: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives Plus Specially Commissioned Colour Illustrations. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen&Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-3620-4.
- ISBN 978-1-84908-819-0.
- Zaloga, Steven J.; Bryan, Tony; Laurier, Jim (2000). M26/M46 Pershing Tank 1943–1953. New Vanguard. Vol. 35. Oxford, Oxfordshire: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-202-4.