M2A2 of the 66th Infantry Field Exercise Fort Belvoir Virgina, 14 November 1939
M2A2 30191 1939
M2A2 tank W-30175 “Mae West” of California National Guard 1940
M2A2 light tanks
M2A2 of the 1st Tank Company during Maneuvers at Camp Dix 1938
M2A2 30207 1940
M2A2 30113 named Caboose
Light tank M2A3
M2A2 30190 tank passes in review by President Roosevelt 1938
A-18 ground-attack planes and M2A2 tank formation on maneuvers 1940
M2A4 30442 1940
M2A4 “E-4” during maneuvers at Fort Benning 1941
Tank M2A2 30189 “Cougar” maneuvers
M2A3 light tank during testing 3
M2A4 light tank during maneuvers at Fort Knox in 1941
Tank during Army tank maneuvers at Fort Benning 1940
M2A2 tanks, South Carolina 16 October 1941
1st Division testing light tank M2A4 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts
Marine tank crewman checks M2A4 engine on Guadalcanal, 1942
68th Armored Regiment M2A4 tank “H-7” in 3rd Army Maneuvers Camp Polk 1941
Light Tank, M2A4 of the 66th Regiment 19 June 1941
Tank M2A3 “E-6” 30401 fording a creek during maneuvers at Fort Benning 1941
192nd Tank Battalion with M2A2 “Mae West” at Fort Knox 1941
Marine M2 and M3 tanks move to front lines on Guadalcanal 1942
M2A2 tanks and National Guardsmen Manassas, Virginia
Tank M2A2 30186 during maneuvers, Winthrop NY 1940
Light tank M2A4 “E-4” Tennesee maneuvers 1941
M2A4 tank crosses barrier during Maneuvers at Fort Belvoir 1941
M2A4 Light Tanks assembly line at Rock Island Arsenal 1940
M2A2 tanks of the 192nd Tank Battalion roll through smoke screen during exercises in Arkansas 1941
M2A4 light tank – side
Marines with M2A4 Light Tank of the 1st Tank Battalion on Guadalcanal 1942
M2A4 of the 1st Tank Battalion Supports Marines on Guadalcanal
M2 Light Tank – light tank of American design from the period before World War II. Light Tank M2 was created as an extension of a series of experimental vehicles T2. The first prototype T2E1 was established in April 1934.
Variants:
- M2A1 – initial production type with single fixed turret. Total production: 17 (1935)
- M2A2 – M2 with twin turrets. 12,7 mm M2 Browning machine guns in turret had 270° arc of fire. Total production: 239 (1936-1937)
- M2A3 – M2 with improved suspension, slightly lengthened hull, thicker armour, improved engine access, increased gear ratios, better engine cooling, and many other minor detail changes. Turrets as in M2A2. Total production: 72 (1938)
- M2A4 – Main production type. Hull as M2A3 but with additional 7,62 mm M1919 Browning machine gun in each side sponson, firing forward. Traversing turret with 37mm M5 gun and co-axial 7,62 mm M1919 Browning machine gun replaced the two single turrets of the M2A3. Hand traverse. Vision ports in turret and cupola and mount for AA MG on turret rear. A few late production vehicles were fitted with Guiberson T1020 diesel engines in place of the Continental gasoline engine. Total production: 375 (1940-1941)
Bibliography:
- American Tanks of World War II – Thomas Berndt MBI
- American Tanks & AFVs of World War II – Michael Green, Osprey
- US Marine Corps Tanks of World War II – Steven J. Zaloga, Osprey New Vanguard 186
- US Light Tanks At War 1941-1945 – Steven J. Zaloga, Concord 7038
- AFV Weapons Profile 4: Light Tanks M1 – M5 – Chris Ellis, Peter Chamberlain
- M3 & M5 Stuart Light Tank 1940-45 – Steven J. Zaloga, Osprey New Vanguard 33
- American Armored Fighting Vehicles, World War II AFV Plans – George Bradford, Stackpole books 2007
- Stuart – A History of the American Light Tank – R. P. Hunnicutt, Presidio Press 1992
- British and American Tanks of World War Two: The Complete Illustrated History of British, American and Commonwealth Tanks, 1939-45 – Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, Cassell 2002