M1 Combat Car
Encyclopedia
The M1 Combat Car was a light tank
used by the U.S. Cavalry in late 1930s. After the Spanish Civil War
, most armies, including the U.S. Army, realized that they needed "gun" armed tanks and not vehicles armed merely with machine guns. So the cavalry tried to upgrade the armor protection and fire power on the M1 Combat Car
and opted for a single, larger turret and the twin machine gun turrets were replaced by one larger turret with a 37 mm gun, and armor reached 25 mm. Other upgrades included improved suspension, improved transmission, and better engine cooling. The M1 was the immediate predecessor of the M2
light tank.
units to be equipped with armored fighting vehicles, the tanks developed for the cavalry were designated "combat cars". The M1 series entered service in 1937. The Cavalry branch opted for a single, larger turret on its nearly identical M1 Combat Car. By 1940 the twin machine gun turrets were replaced by one larger turret with a 37 mm gun, and armor reached 25 mm. Other upgrades included improved suspension, improved transmission, and better engine cooling.
In 1940, the Combat Car designation was dropped, and the vehicle was renamed as the light tank
M1A2.
Light tank
A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movement, and now primarily employed in low-intensity conflict. Early light tanks were generally armed and armored similar to an armored car, but used tracks in order to provide better cross-country mobility.The light tank was a major...
used by the U.S. Cavalry in late 1930s. After the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, most armies, including the U.S. Army, realized that they needed "gun" armed tanks and not vehicles armed merely with machine guns. So the cavalry tried to upgrade the armor protection and fire power on the M1 Combat Car
M1 Combat Car
The M1 Combat Car was a light tank used by the U.S. Cavalry in late 1930s. After the Spanish Civil War, most armies, including the U.S. Army, realized that they needed "gun" armed tanks and not vehicles armed merely with machine guns...
and opted for a single, larger turret and the twin machine gun turrets were replaced by one larger turret with a 37 mm gun, and armor reached 25 mm. Other upgrades included improved suspension, improved transmission, and better engine cooling. The M1 was the immediate predecessor of the M2
M2 Light Tank
The Light Tank M2 was an American pre-World War II light tank that saw combat with the US Marine Corps 1st Tank Battalion on Guadalcanal in 1942, during World War II. Its service with the 1st Tank Battalion during the Pacific War was its only U.S...
light tank.
History
Under the terms of the Defense Act of 1920, tanks were restricted to infantry units which had M1 tanks equipped with a twin machine gun turret. To allow U.S. Army cavalryCavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
units to be equipped with armored fighting vehicles, the tanks developed for the cavalry were designated "combat cars". The M1 series entered service in 1937. The Cavalry branch opted for a single, larger turret on its nearly identical M1 Combat Car. By 1940 the twin machine gun turrets were replaced by one larger turret with a 37 mm gun, and armor reached 25 mm. Other upgrades included improved suspension, improved transmission, and better engine cooling.
In 1940, the Combat Car designation was dropped, and the vehicle was renamed as the light tank
Light tank
A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movement, and now primarily employed in low-intensity conflict. Early light tanks were generally armed and armored similar to an armored car, but used tracks in order to provide better cross-country mobility.The light tank was a major...
M1A2.
Variants
- M1 - the original variant. 89 built.
- M1A1 - new octagonal turret instead of a D-shaped one; increased distance between the wheel bogies. 17 built.
- M1A1E1 - engine replaced by Guiberson T-1020 diesel. 7 built.
- M2 - new Guiberson diesel engine and trailing idler. 34 built.
See also
- List of U.S. military vehicles by supply catalog designation
- List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
- M2 Light TankM2 Light TankThe Light Tank M2 was an American pre-World War II light tank that saw combat with the US Marine Corps 1st Tank Battalion on Guadalcanal in 1942, during World War II. Its service with the 1st Tank Battalion during the Pacific War was its only U.S...