M24 Chaffee – WWII US Light Tank

Описание: Now accepting preorder for the next production batch
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Arriving on the battlefield in the final months of the Second World War, the M24 Chaffee was light and fast, but packed a powerful punch. Designed to replace the undergunned M3/M5 Stuart, the Chaffee carried a 75mm M6 gun, rather than the smaller 37mm cannon. Despite the heavier gun, the Chaffee still weighed only around 18 tons, and its two Cadillac V8 engines provided a top speed of about 35 mph. The gun enabled the Chaffee to take on most enemy armor, but its own light armor also made it susceptible to German tanks, anti-tank guns, and handheld anti-tank weapons.

The first Chaffee’s debuted in Europe in November 1944 and were deployed to Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons. In the Battle of the Bulge, Chaffees rushed about, fulfilling reconnaissance and support roles. By December, the Chaffee was widely deployed around Europe. However, they reached the frontline slowly and, by the end of the war, many light tank companies of armored units still drove the M3/M5 Stuart. Nonetheless, crews appreciated the Chaffee, enjoying its more powerful gun, speed, and excellent off-road mobility. The Chaffee remained in service through the Cold War, particularly in the Korean War.