Medium Tank M1921
The Medium Tank M1921 was a medium tank built in the United States in the inter-war period. In design, it was similar to earlier WW1 era tanks. United States Army engineers worked on the design of the tank, with some influence from British designs of the period, and from the earlier war experience. One example was produced. The tank was an early example of a turreted US tank, less usual at the time, with the turret housing the main gun, with the tank also possessing two machine guns for defence.[1]
| Medium Tank M1921 | |
|---|---|
 Medium Tank M1921 at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds | |
| Type | Light tank |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | prototype only |
| Used by | United States of America |
| Production history | |
| Designer | U.S. Army, Ordnance Department |
| Designed | 1921 |
| Manufacturer | Rock Island Arsenal |
| Produced | 1 Prototype only tested 1921–1926 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 23 short tons (21 t) |
| Armor | 1 in (2.5 cm) |
Main armament | 57mm gun |
Secondary armament | two machine guns for secondary defence |
| Engine | Gasoline, water-cooled. Most T1 variants: Cunningham V8. T1E6: American-LaFrance V12. 338 hp Liberty 12 engine, and then a later a Packard 8-cylinder |
| Maximum speed | T1: 15 km/h (9.3 mph) |
Development
The US Army developed the tank with the idea that the US could produce a locally produced tank, and not rely on British or French technology, who were some of the main producers and exporters of tanks at the time. The tank was produced at the Rock Island Arsenal.[1][2] The biggest problem was the engine, which was meant to provide horsepower of 220 hp at 1,200 rpm, but in fact generated less than that. The engine was later replaced with a 338 hp Liberty 12 engine, and then a later a Packard 8-cylinder.[3] The tank had a semi-spherical mounting for its main gun. One MG was mounted coaxially with the gun, and the second was mounted on a second turret on the top of the main Turret. The shape of the vehicle was basically a box, with a turret on top, with minimal sloping of armour at the front. The tank was very similar to the British Medium D tank.[4] The design had a very similar appearance to the M1919, its biggest difference was the removal of the turret for a fixed gun mount, the 57 mm gun mounted in the semi spherical ball-mount in the front hull. Despite the modifications, the US Army still found the design underpowered after the tests concluded in 1923. It was also considered to have poor maneuverability and was found to be mechanically unreliable. Additionally, it was found to have too confined crew space and was made with bad workmanship. The design was totally rejected in 1924. The cost of the tank for the tests were $82,000, not counting the actual cost of the testing process.[5]
Specifications
The tank featured armour of up to 1 inch of steel. Its top speed was 15 kilometres per hour. The turret housed a main 57mm gun, as well as two machine guns for secondary defence. It weighed 23 tons.[3]
History/usage
One tank was made, and the tank was tested, but found wanting in regards to the power train. The tank resulted in a further developed tank, the M1922, produced a year later.[6] The tank was tested until 1926, after which its whereabouts were not known.
References
- "M1921 Military Factory". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- "M1921 Средний танк". www.aviarmor.net. Aviarmor. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- "Medium Tank M1921". History of War. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- Green, Michael. American Tanks & AFVs of World War II. Osprey Publishing. p. 9.
- Zaloga, Steve, and Henry Morshead. "BT Fast Tank: The Red Army's Cavalry Tank 1931-45." London: Osprey, 2016.
- "Weapons medium tank M1922 history of war http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_medium_tank_M1922.html