TheM25 tank transporter(G160) was a combination6x6M26armored heavytank transporter/tank recoverytractorand companion 40-tonM15trailer introduced intoUS Armyservice in Europe in 1944–45. Manufactured byPacific Car & Foundry Co.,it was a substantial upgrade over theDiamond TM19transporter/trailer duo introduced in 1940.
| M25 tank transporter | |
|---|---|
 An M25 tank transporter, with an M4 Sherman tank at the 2010War and Peace show | |
| Type | 40 ton (36,287 kg) 6x6 Tank recovery truck-trailer |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1941–1955 |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Knuckey Truck Company |
| Manufacturer | M26:Pacific Car & Foundry Co. M15:Fruehauf Trailer Co. |
| Variants | M26A1, M26A2 |
| Specifications (M25[2]) | |
| Mass | Empty[1] M26: 48,000 lb (22,000 kg) M15: 36,600 lb (16,600 kg) M25: 84,300 lb (38,200 kg) Loaded[1] M26: 103,000 lb (47,000 kg) |
| Length | M26: 25 feet 4 inches (7.72 m) M15:38 feet5+1⁄16inches (11.71 m) |
| Width | M26:10 feet10+3⁄4inches (3.32 m) M15 12 feet 6 inches (3,810 mm) |
| Height | M26: 11 feet 5 inches (3.48 m) |
| Crew | 7 |
| Armor | front3⁄4in (19 mm) sides, rear1⁄4in (6.4 mm) |
Main armament | .50 calM2machine gun |
| Engine | Hall-Scott 440 gasoline 240 hp (180 kW) |
| Transmission | 4 speed x 3 speed |
| Fuel capacity | 120 US gal (450 L)[1] |
Operational range | 120 mi (193.1 km) |
| Maximum speed | 28 mph (45 km/h) |
Nicknamed theDragon Wagon,it was replaced by the 10 ton 6x6M123semi-tractor beginning in 1955.[3]
Development
editIn 1942 a new 40 ton semi-trailer tank transporter was needed with better off-road performance than the M9 24 small-wheel trailer, and greater capacity than the 30 ton 8 large-wheel Shelvoke and Drewry semi-trailers used by theDiamond Ttractor unit. Designed by theFruehauf Trailer CompanyofDetroit,Michigan,[4]it was heavier than the Diamond T could manage. A companion M26 tractor was designed by the San Francisco-basedKnuckey Truck Company.When it could not keep up with the Army's demands, production was awarded to thePacific Car & Foundry Co.of Seattle, Washington.
DesignatedTR-1by Pacific Car, thechain-driven12-ton 6x6 M26 tractor was powered by aHall-Scott440 1,090 cu in (17.9 L) 6-cylinder gasoline engine developing 240 hp (180 kW) at 2000 rpm and 810 lbf⋅ft (1,098 N⋅m) at 1200 rpm. Developed for the M26, it was used to uprate theDiamond T.Some 2,100 Type 440s were built. Baxter notes "over 1,300" M26 and M26A1 being built.[4]
Unusually, the tractor unit was fitted with both an armored cab and two winches with a combined pull of 60 tons,[4]allowing it to do lightbattlefield recovery work.
A later unarmored version of the M26 tractor was designated theM26A1.An experimentalballast tractorconversion was evaluated by the BritishFighting Vehicle Proving Establishment[4]
After the war, some of them (both armored and unarmored) were bought assurplusand used to carryoversize loadssuch astransformers,locomotivesand heavy equipment.[5]
Gallery
edit-
M25 with M26 armored semi-tractor -
Display of M25 with M26 armored semi-tractor -
Display of M25 with M26A1 unarmored semi-tractor -
M26 semi-tractor (LR view) -
M26 semi-tractor showing rear wheel drive by chains
Specifications
edit- Crew 7
- Armament 1.50 cal.machine gun
- Armor, front 3/4 inch, sides and rear, 1/4 inch.
- Top speed 26 MPH
- Fuel capacity 120 gallons
Users
edit
See also
editNotes
edit- ^abcTM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles.US War Dept. 1943. pp. 132–135.Retrieved27 May2014.
- ^TM 9-767 40 ton Tank Transporter Truck-trailer M25.US War Dept. 1942. pp. 14–15.Retrieved20 December2014.
- ^"TrucksPlanet - Updates".
- ^abcdeBaxter, Brian S. (1989).Breakdown: A History of Recovery Vehicles in the British Army.HMSO,forREMEMuseum. p. 51.ISBN0-11-290456-4.
- ^"Forum des Poids Lourds Camions anciens de collection • Afficher le sujet - pacific".poidslourds.free.fr(in French).Retrieved12 April2017.
- ^Kočevar, Iztok (August 2014). "Micmac à tire-larigot chez Tito: L'arme blindée yougoslave durant la Guerre froide" [The Yugoslav armored arm during the Cold War].Batailles et Blindés(in French). No. 62. Caraktère. pp. 66–79.ISSN1765-0828.
References
edit- TM 9-1767A
- TM 9-1767B Power Train for Tractor Truck M26
- TM 9-1767C Body, chassis, and winches for Tractor Truck M26.US War Dept. 1944.Retrieved9 August2015.
- TM 9-1767E Ordnance Maint. Semitrailer M15.US War Dept. 1944.Retrieved9 August2015.
- TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles.US War Dept. 1943. pp. 132–135.Retrieved9 August2015.
- TM 9-2800 Military Vehicles.US Dept. of the Army. 1947. pp. 151, 152.Retrieved9 August2015.
- TM 9-2800 Military Vehicles.US Dept. of the Army. 1953. pp. 101, 102, 281.Retrieved9 August2015.
- Crismon, Fred W (2001).US Military Wheeled Vehicles(3 ed.). Victory WWII Pub. pp. 383–384.ISBN0-970056-71-0.
- Doyle, David (2003).Standard catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles.Kraus Publications. pp. 232–240, 283–288.ISBN0-87349-508-X.
Further reading
edit- Military Vehicle Journal #8 (Photos of the M26 and M26A1)
External links
edit
- Short story of the M26 and pictures of a restored vehicle in 2004
- Article and photo at milweb.net
- Scratchbuilt M25 model step-by-step, with pictures and references used
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090204121541/http://realmilitaryflix /public/378.cfmtraining film
- http:// forum-auto /automobile-pratique/modelisme-modeles-reduits/sujet7051-5495.htmpictures of M26 used as oversize loads tractors