"Light and Long Lasting" Topic

"The light tank as a cheaper and more numerous version of a medium tank was obsolete by the end of WWII. The Germans were one of the first to stop building classical light tanks, the USSR followed soon after in the fall of 1943. The USA was the only major tank building nation to continue light tank development. The result of this development was the Light Tank M24, the best light tank of WWII. Its success is underlined by its longevity: some nations kept theirs in service into the 21st century!

Military vehicles in multiple nations were developed along the same path. This applies to light tanks as well. It's hard to say that the USA was special in this regard. A successful design was used as a starting point and development went from there. The Light Tank T2E1 concept was refined over the course of eight years, leading to the development of the Light Tank M5A1. This tank was produced up until the summer of 1944 and became the most numerous American light tank variant. This was a true American light tank: fast, not that well armoured, and with a low caliber gun, albeit the most powerful in its class. The Americans didn't escape the temptation of making a light tank with the armour and armament of a medium one. That is how the Light Tank T7 was created and later evolved into the Medium Tank T7. The Americans were the only ones who took this idea to its logical conclusion (the T-50 doesn't count, as it still had the armament of a light tank).

The story of the Medium Tank M7 was a sad one, but it warned the American military away from such experiments in the future. However, there was another light tank that never moved past the design stage. This was the Light Tank T21 (a Medium Tank T20 lightened to 21,319 kg). This idea was born in February of 1943, but did not live for long. The Ordnance Committee saw that the Light Tank T21 was following down the road of the Medium Tank M7, and so the program was closed…"

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Armand

That is really interesting. The planned development of the M8 HMC would have packed a powerful gun, but on a lightly armoured vehicle. Against A/T, when serving in infantry support, give me an M4 anyday. Facing enemy armour and I need mobility and an even bigger gun, give me an M10.

Never knew the UK got any Chaffees, even post war. France in Indochina of course.

Best of all the idea that its profile could be confused with a Panther. I can never see that, but so many cinema films certainly did……..

Some troops nicknamed the M24 the "Panther Pup" and believe more than one Chaffee sported that name.

If you can find the 1960s movie "Is Paris Burning," it features a pair of Chaffees tarted up to look like Panthers. Very, very spry Panthers.

I have watched that film on VHS, on DVD and lately on the French version "Paris, Brule t'il?"

More than once. Maybe twice a year for decades. They look reasonable for Panthers I admit. Almost as good as T34s shown as Tigers in many other films ( Kelly's Heroes, SPR, BoBs etc)

I have seen Chaffees knock out Pattons in "Battle of the Bulge" (at least on our side now, but quite remarkable). Were they not in the Movie "Patton", punching way above their weight?

Thanks!.

Armand

Eventually it got a bigger turret and a 76mm high velocity gun and became the M41 Walker Bulldog.

I think the best film showing Chaffees in their natural environment was Bridge at Remagen. Always loved the Chaffee since thge old 1/76th Matchbox plastic kit came out many years ago.

I still have a platoon of 5 of those Matchbox models.

The M24s didn't do too well vs. the Norks' Russian made T34/85s. But that was no surprise really.

J T Compone:
'Remagen' was my favourite ground war film for many years… so loved Chaffees! I was gutted to eventually find that 'they weren't there!'
But, if anyone wants 'Movie Star' Chaffees… WITHOUT the hassle of having to cut off the (authentic for WW2) skirts, Butlers Printed Models do this as an option.
I've bought them in 4 scales! Lol!