M5 Tractor

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M5 High-Speed Tractor
Continental R6572 six-cylinder petrol engine

235 hp (175 kW) at 2,900 rpm
Power/weight15.0 hp/t
SuspensionVVSS
Operational
range
125 mi (201 km)
Maximum speed 35 mph (56 km/h)

The M5 13 ton High Speed Tractor was a World War II era

US Army from 1942 to tow medium field artillery
pieces.

Design

The M5 High Speed Tractor was a fully tracked artillery tractor designed to tow artillery pieces that weighed up to 16,000 pounds (7,300 kg). It could tow the gun and carry the gun's ammunition, the crew and their equipment.[1]

The M5 was developed from the prototype T13 High-Speed Tractor, it shared the latter's

Stuart tank. The M5 had a maximum road speed of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) with a range of 125 miles (201 km).[1][2]

To assist in the movement and placement of its gun, the M5 High-Speed Tractor was equipped with a front mounted

engine-driven winch that had a maximum pull of 17,000 pounds (7,700 kg) and was fitted with roller below the winch that permitted pulling of loads behind the tractor.[1][2]

Production

The design of the M5 High-Speed Tractor was standardized in October 1942, with production being undertaken by

155 mm Howitzer M1. Standard ammunition stowage was:[1][2][3]

  • 105 mm Howitzer M2 – 56 rounds
  • 4.5 inch Gun M1 – 38 rounds
  • 155 mm Howitzer M1 – 24 rounds

M5 High-Speed Tractor

Production of the original M5 High-Speed Tractor began in May 1943, running for 24 months with a total of 5,290 tractors produced. They had a simple folding top with side curtains for the protection of the gun crew from the elements, the driver was located in the front centre and there were inwards facing seats for total crew of 9. After 1944 the vehicles were fitted with the M49C ring mount that allowed it to be armed with an

M2 Browning machine gun for local and air defence.[1][2][3]

M5A1 High-Speed Tractor

Introduced in May 1945, the M5A1 High-Speed Tractor introduced a new steel cab with the driver moving to the front left and forwards facing seats for the crew for a total crew of 11. A total of 589 M5A1s were produced before production ceased in August 1945.[2][3]

M5A2 High-Speed Tractor & M5A3 High-Speed Tractor

Introduced after WWII, the M5A2 High-Speed Tractor and M5A3 High-Speed Tractor were updated M5s and M5A1s with a horizontal volute spring suspension system instead of the original vertical volute spring suspension and a new tracks that were 21 inches (53 cm) wide compared to the older tracks that were 11.625 inches (295.3 mm) 11 5/8 inches wide.[2][3]

M5A4 High-Speed Tractor

The M5A4 High-Speed Tractor reorganised the ammunition stowage boxes along the sides of the vehicle for easier access.[3]

Users

World War II

The M5 High-Speed Tractor entered service with the

Diamond T 4-ton 6x6 truck. In 1944, 200 M5s were provided to an appreciative Soviet Union for use by the Red Army who quickly rushed them into service.[4][5]

Post-war

M5 tractor in Korea.
M5 on May parade, Ljubljana 1961

The US Army continued to use the M5 during the Korean War, retiring them shortly afterwards. Post-war surplus M5s were supplied to Austria, Belgium, Japan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Yugoslavia.[4]

A number of M5 Tractors were used in British Columbia, Canada, as carriers for rock drills. The Chapman "Drilmobile", manufactured by Chapman Motor & Machine Shop of Delta, British Columbia was designed specifically for logging road construction.[4]

Surviving examples

Surviving examples of the M5 High-Speed Tractors of various marks can be seen at:[4]

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1-84832-726-9
    .
  2. ^ a b c d e f Russian tanks of World War II, "High speed tractors (continued)", russian-tanks.com, retrieved 30 December 2017.
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-87349-508-X
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 9781365876097
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-8117-0771-8
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to M5 High Speed Tractor.

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