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M24 Chaffee - G200 Series of Vehicles

Tabulated Data - M37 HMC


The date in red or ( ) is the date of the manual that refers to said piece of equipment. Some items never changed some evolved during the service life of the vehicle.


Production

     Cadillac     -     000 ?

     Massey-Harris   -   000 ?

     American Car & Foundry   -   150 (per post war ACF publication)

     Total Production     -     316   (original order was for 448) (these numbers are in conflict with other data so nay not be correct)

     Cost Per Vehicle     -     $



Power train

  • 2 each   -   Cadillac Series 44T24, 8 cylinder, water cooled, flat head V8's, with 346 cubic inches per engine   (Similar but not the same as the Stuart M5 Series tanks)
  • 2 each   -   Hydromatic Transmissions   (Similar but not the same as the Stuart M5 Series tanks)
  • Each engine and transmission assy 1166 Lbs. (without radiator)
  • 24V electrical system
  • Track Type:     T72 - Steel Block, 80 per side, 16 in width
  • Suspension:     Torsion Bar



Fuel, oil and Coolant

  • Fuel: 55 gallons each tank, 110 gallons total
  • Engine Oil: 8 quarts per engine
  • Transmission Oil:
  • Transfercase Oil:
  • Controlled Differential Oil:
  • Final Drive Oil:
  • Coolant: 40 quarts per system


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Performance

  • 35 Miles Per Hour Top Speed
  • ​25 Miles Per Hour Cruising Speed
  • Cruising Range - 100 Miles
  • Turning Circle - 46 Feet
  • Grade Ascending Ability (max) - 60 Percent
  • Fording Depth Max - 48 Inches
  • Width of Ditch Vehicle Will Cross (max) - 8 Feet
  • Vertical Obstacle Vehicle Will Climb - 3 Feet

     


Communication

October 1947

  • 3 - RC99



Armament

  • 1 - 105mm  Main Gun
  • 1 - .50 caliber M2 Heavy Barell Machine Gun
  • 5 - Gun, Submachine, caliber .45, M3 (Grease Gun)
  •                                    OR
  • 4 - Gun, Submachine, caliber .45, M3 (Grease Gun) & 1 Carbine, caliber .30, M1
  • 8 - Hand grenades



Ammunition

  • 105mm - 126 Rounds 
  • .50 Cal. - 990 Rounds.30 Cal. - ??? Rounds
  • .45 Cal. - 750 Rounds



Specifications

  • Length:  Feet,  216  Inches
  • Width:  Feet, 118  Inches
  • Height:  Feet,  112  Inches
  • Weight, Gross: 46,000 Lbs (With fuel, ammunition and crew)
  • Weight Unstowed: 38,000 Lbs
  • Shipping Cubic: 1652 cu. ft.
  • Ground Clearance: 1 Foot, 6 3/8 Inches
  • Crew: 7   As of April 1945 -   Chief of Section, Driver, Gunner Corporal, Cannoneer #1, #2, #3, #4
  • Crew: 8   As of Oct 1952  -   Chief of Section, Driver, Gunner Corporal, Cannoneer #1, #2, #3, #4, #5



Hull Armor Thickness

  • Upper, front plate   -   1/2 inch at 30 degrees from horizontal
  • Lower, front plate   -   1/2 inch at 45 degrees from horizontal
  • Hull sides   -   1/2 inch at 78 degrees from horizontal
  • Hull rear   -   1/2 inch
  • Hull floor, at front   -   1/2 inch
  • Hull floor, at rear   -   3/8 inch
  • Howitzer mount shields   -   1/2 inch
  • Crew front and side shields   -   1/2 inch
  • Gun crew rear shield (except air deflector)   -   3/8 inch



Sighting & Fire Control Equipment



  • Mount, Telescope, M76   (1950)
  • Mount, Telescope, M77   (1950)
  • Periscope, M13   (1950)
  • Periscope, M6   (1950)
  • Quadrant, Elevation, M12   (1950)
  • Setter, Fuze, M22 or M26   (1950)
  • Setter, Fuze, M14 wrench, or M27   (1950)
  • Sight, Bore, Complete, 15-2A-11  (1950)
  • Telescope, M76G   (1950)
  • Telescope, Panoramic, M12 or M12A2   (1950)
  • Binocular, M17   (1950)
  • Circle, Aiming, M1   (1950)
  • Compass, M2   (1950)
  • Finder, Range, M7 With Equipment   (1950)
  • Light, Aiming, post, M1 one red one green filter   (1950)
  • Post, Aiming, M1 Set   (1950)
  • Quadrant, gunners, M1   (1950)
  • Table, Graphical, Firing, M39 or M23   (1950)
  • Table, Firing, 105-H-3   (1950)
  • Thermometer, Powder Temperature, M1   (1950)
  • Telescope, Battery Commanders, M65   (1950)
  • Telescope, Observation, M48 or M49   (1950)
  • Watch, Pocket   (1950)
  • Watch, Wrist   (1950)



Tools & Equipment


  • Brush, Bore, 105mm, M12   -   B168009   (1950)
  • Cover, Bore Brush, M515   -   C83757, 5583757   (1950)
  • Cover, Gun Book, M539   -   7228906   (1950)
  • Form, Govt., Army, artillery gun book, 00 No. 5825 blank   -   28-F-67990   (1950)
  • Manual, Technical, TM 9-324   (1950)
  • Rammer, cleaning and unloading, M5   -   C91873, 5591873   (1950)
  • Rammer, unloading, M2   -   D39461, 6539461   (1950)
  • Roll, spare parts, canvas, empty, size 12 1/2 x 16 1/4 inches   -   7124170
  • Sight, bore, breech   -   41-S-3639   (1950)
  • Sight, bore, muzzle   -   41-S-3645-350   (1950)
  • Staff-Section, end - 55 7/8 inches long   -   B197239, 6197239 or
  • Staff-Section, end - 61 3/8 inches long   -   B197241, 6197241
  • Staff-Section, intermediate - 48 1/4 inches long   -   B197240, 6197240 or
  • ​Staff-Section, intermediate - 51 15/16 inches long   -   B197242, 6197242
  • Tool, Ramming, and Extracting   -   41-T3308-75, D7231655
  • Wrench, fuze, M7A1, carb-S   -   41-W-1596-50, B171669 or
  • Wrench, fuze, M18   -   41-W-1496-135, C7231161
  • Wrench, fuze, M16   -   41-W-1496-115, B7230851





Surviving & Original Picture M37 105mm HMC

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ModelRegistration NumberSerial No.LocationUnit MarkingsMisc Info
M37USA 40197968
Stateside Training???   -   ???
M37USA 40197993
Aberdeen P.G.???   -   ???Has been moved
M37USA 4019801183Florida - Museum???   -   ???Institute of Military Technology
M37USA 40198017
Stateside Training???   -   ???"ALT"
M37USA 40198022

508F   -   B-8
M37USA 40198029
Stateside Training???   -   ???Fort Bliss???
M37USA 40198037
Virginia - Museum???   -   ???American Armor Foundation
M37USA 40198069
???276 AFA   -   C-49Ex Littlefield
M37USA 40198083
LA California
Tank Land Museum










































































































Manuals


  • TB 9-729-1     -     09-05-1944
  • TB 9-729-2     -     11-23-1944
  • TB 9-729-4     -     02-14-1945
  • TB 9-729-5     -     04-24-1945
  • TB 9-729-6     -     06-12-1945
  • TB ORD 20     -     01-24-1944
  • TB ORD 126   -     07-19-1944
  • TM 9-717       -     10-00-1947     -     105-mm HOWITZER MOTOR CARRIAGE M37
  • FM 6-76         -     1945               -     Service of the Piece, 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage, M37
  • LO 9-717        -                            -     Lubrication Order
  • ORD 7, SNL G238
  • ORD 8, SNL G238
  • ORD 9, SNL G238
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Development Information


On June 10th 1943, OCM 20679 recommended the development and procurement of a pilot vehicles and assigned the designation 105mm howitzer motor carriage T76. This action was approved on July 8th. A wooden mockup was constructed and it was reviewed in August by artillery officers from the armored board. They recommended that the crew be increased from six to seven. men to permit rapid fire support of tank operations. The mockup was modified and the chassis lengthened to increase the size of the fighting compartment. Since the assistant driver was not required, the howitzer was shifted to the right of the vehicle center line and move forward. A M2 .50 caliber machine gun on a ring mount was then located in the right front hull. The revised mock up was inspected in September 1943 by representatives of the Army Ground Forces, the Armored Board, and the Tank-Automotive Center. In December, the Army Service Forces approved the revised characteristics of the T76. To expedite manufacture of the pilot vehicles, the Tank Automotive Command procured the new T14 howitzer mounts and the first was proof fired on March 17th 1944. Some modifications were required and after they were completed, the mount was successfully fired in early June at Rock Island Arsenal. The first T76 pilot was shipped to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, arriving in early July. After extended firing tests, pilot number 1 was transferred to the Armored Board at Fort Knox. 

The tests at Fort Knox and Aberdeen resulted in several modifications. The 42 inch diameter M49 ring mount for the M2 .50 caliber machine gun was replaced by the 36 inch diameter T107 mount. The SCR 510  radio was eliminated to provide space for more additional 105mm ammunition. The 105mm rounds were rearranged and the vertical stowage was replaced by separate bins with the ammunition laying horizontally. The total number of 105mm rounds was increased from 68 to 126. The rear door on the hull was redesigned to permit its use as a loading platform when open. With these changes, standardization of the T76 as the 105mm howitzer motor carriage M37 was approved in January 1945. Although the end of the war limited the total production to 150 vehicles and none were shipped to the European or Japanese Theater of action. The M37 served in the post war period into the Korean war. The M37 was superseded* by the M41 walker Bulldog Series of vehicles as was all of the M24 Chaffee series vehicles. 


*M24 Light Tank by the M41,     M37 105mm by the M52,     M41 155mm by the M44, and the     M19 dual 40mm by the M42


The 105mm howitzer used in the M37 was not the same in any way to the M2/M101 towed howitzer or 105mm M2 in the M7 Priest of the same time period. The breech ring and breech block were for the most part the only interchangeable items. The mount, recoil mechanism, barrel and the other exterior components were of all new design & manufacture. They are similar and of the same line as the 105mm howitzer carried in some late war sherman tanks. This is called the M4 105mm Howitzer.


Non United States Use of the M37


  • Spain




M37   -   105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage   -   G238