Rare M2 Light Tank - M2A1 / A1 Footage.

M2 Light Tank - M2A1 / A1 Footage.

The M2 Light Tank was based upon the prototype T2 light tank built by Rock Island Arsenal, after it became clear that the US Army was ill-prepared as far as armored vehicles, training and tactics went. and in 1939 it became clear that a new model, which could be favorably compared to the European models, had to be studied for mass production.

The first M2 had a one-man turret equipped with a cal.50 and a coaxial 7.62 mm Browning M1919, with another placed in the hull, on a ball mount operated by the co-driver. This tank would be identical to the M1 and see my M1 Combat Car video for more information.
The M2A1 was the series production vehicle, only built to ten units in 1936, and equipped with a single turret. However, it quickly appeared that the Army wanted a twin-turret configuration, then favored by other armies.

The twin-turret configuration was eventually dropped because studies had shown that tanks were more effective with guns then with only machine guns. But the only gun available was the standard infantry 37 mm, this was fitted into a bigger one man turret and this would eventually be developed into the M3.

The M2 were produced from 1935–42, the M2A4 would be the most numerous with 375 and would see action in the pacific. But most of these vehicles were all used for training.

1:10 here you can spot a rare T5E1 Combat Car prototype, this is probably the only footage ever made of this vehicle.

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■ Information obtained from several sites.
■ Wikipedia
■ tanks-encyclopedia
■ the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzers
■ preservedtanks
■ pantser.net
■ the.shadock.free.fr/Tanks_in_France

■ Some music is from the YouTube Audio Library.

■ Music used:
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