A request that this article title be changed to M1921 medium tank is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed.
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 World War I 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]
The United States 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 220 hp (160 kW) at 1,200 rpm, but in fact generated less than that.[citation needed] The engine was later replaced with a 338 hp (252 kW) Liberty L-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 Mark 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]
Specificationsedit
The tank featured armour of up to 1 inch (25 mm) of steel. Its top speed was 15 kilometres per hour. The turret housed a main 57 mm gun, as well as two machine guns for secondary defence. It weighed 23 tons.[3]
Historyedit
One tank was made, and the tank was tested, but found wanting in regards to the power train. The second tank from the order with the cable suspension, the Medium Tank M1922, was produced a year later.[6] The tank was tested until 1926, after which its whereabouts were not known.
Phase 1 Medium Tankedit
The M1921 underwent further development in order to solve the problem of insufficient power from the Murray and Tregurtha marine engine. Packard were contracted to produce a "purpose-built tank engine" for it. This was fitted and the M1921 was known as the "Phase 1 medium tank". This was sufficient for two new tank designs to be approved in 1926. One was a 15-ton tank (Medium Tank T2) and the other a development of the M1921 which became the Medium Tank T1.[7]
Referencesedit
^ ab"M1921 Military Factory". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
^"M1921 Средний танк". www.aviarmor.net. Aviarmor. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
^ ab"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.
medium, tank, m1921, request, that, this, article, title, changed, m1921, medium, tank, under, discussion, please, move, this, article, until, discussion, closed, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, . A request that this article title be changed to M1921 medium tank is under discussion Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Medium Tank M1921 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 World War I 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 M1921Medium Tank M1921 at the Aberdeen Proving GroundsTypeLight tankPlace of originUnited StatesService historyIn service1921 1926Used byUSProduction historyDesignerUnited States Army Ordnance DepartmentDesigned1921ManufacturerRock Island ArsenalNo built1SpecificationsMass23 short tons 21 t Armor1 in 25 mm Mainarmament57mm gunSecondaryarmamenttwo machine gunsEngineLiberty L 12 engine Gasoline 338 hp 252 kW Power weight12 kW t 16 hp t Maximum speedT1 15 km h 9 3 mph Contents 1 Development 2 Specifications 3 History 4 Phase 1 Medium Tank 5 ReferencesDevelopment editThe United States 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 220 hp 160 kW at 1 200 rpm but in fact generated less than that citation needed The engine was later replaced with a 338 hp 252 kW Liberty L 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 Mark 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 editThe tank featured armour of up to 1 inch 25 mm of steel Its top speed was 15 kilometres per hour The turret housed a main 57 mm gun as well as two machine guns for secondary defence It weighed 23 tons 3 History editOne tank was made and the tank was tested but found wanting in regards to the power train The second tank from the order with the cable suspension the Medium Tank M1922 was produced a year later 6 The tank was tested until 1926 after which its whereabouts were not known Phase 1 Medium Tank editThe M1921 underwent further development in order to solve the problem of insufficient power from the Murray and Tregurtha marine engine Packard were contracted to produce a purpose built tank engine for it This was fitted and the M1921 was known as the Phase 1 medium tank This was sufficient for two new tank designs to be approved in 1926 One was a 15 ton tank Medium Tank T2 and the other a development of the M1921 which became the Medium Tank T1 7 References edit a b M1921 Military Factory www militaryfactory com Retrieved 14 June 2017 M1921 Srednij tank www aviarmor net Aviarmor Retrieved 14 June 2017 a b Medium Tank M1921 History of War Retrieved 14 June 2017 Green Michael American Tanks amp 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 Medium tank M1922 history of war http www historyofwar org articles weapons medium tank M1922 html Rickard J 13 May 2016 Medium Tank T1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Medium Tank M1921 amp oldid 1209344391, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
