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M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.)

2023-11-15T02:41:32Z

U143246777: /* Description */

{{About
| about = premium American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the regular version
| link-1 = M2A4
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = M2 (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m2a4_1st_armor_div
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

Based on the armoured warfare lessons learned from the Spanish Civil War, the M2A4 light tank began to be designed to introduce thicker armour and a cannon to the tank. 375 of the M2A4 tanks began production in May 1940 and lasted until April 1942, with 375 tanks produced between two companies. Although the M2A4 saw combat within the US Marine Corps, the US Army issued the M2A4 only for training purposes to armoured units, including the 1st Armored Division. The 1st Armored Divison retained the M2A4 until it was replaced by the succeeding [[M3 Stuart]] light tank just before the division was sent to participate in Operation Torch in November 1942.

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', a premium light tank available in War Thunder since its introduction in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]], is quite similar to the reserve [[M2A4]] version found in the tech tree. As a premium, the {{PAGENAME}} provides benefits in {{rp}} Research Point and {{sl}} Silver Lion gain for new players in War Thunder. With a dashing mobility and a sufficient 37 mm gun for br1.0, the {{PAGENAME}} in the right hands can help players pick off enemies and capture objective points to help gain extra points for a higher reward output due to the talisman given with the tank. A decal 1st Arm.Div. is on the tank.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 25.4 mm (19°) ''Front plate'' 15.8 mm (69°) ''Front Glacis'' 25.4 mm (20°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm ''Top'' 25.4 mm (18°) ''Bottom'' || 6.35 mm
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (11°) ''Turret front'' 25.4 mm (12-65°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 6.35 mm
|-
| Cupola || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 25.4 mm || 6.35 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 10 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=406|rbMinHp=232}}

The overall mobility is decent. The top speed is great, easily getting to around 50 km/h on solid roads which is faster than most of the reserve tanks like the [[Pz.II (Disambiguation)|Pz.II]] or the [[T-26]]. However, wheeled vehicles like the [[Sd.Kfz. 140/1]] can easily outrun the M2A4 on road. On softer roads like grassland and sand, it remains around 30 km/h which is still quite fast.

The hull traverse brings the overall mobility down quite a bit, since when the tank is still it turns very sluggishly, especially on soft terrain. The hull traverse gets faster when the tank is moving, but in full speed, it starts to snake around like a wheeled vehicle which makes it hard to control. Thus you must get used to this handling.

The reverse speed is only adequate to dodge shots from a distance. Do not expect to quickly reverse back to cover like a [[Sd.Kfz.234 (Family)|Sd.Kfz.234]].

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M5 (37 mm)}}

The overall firepower is decent at its BR. The main cannon has an adequate penetration of about 60 mm which is more than enough to go through most tanks below BR 2.0, for example, [[T-26]], [[Panzer III (Family)|Pz.III]] and [[Pz.35(t)]]. Although the available ammunition is all solid shells, they still make quite a bit shrapnel when penetrated which is enough to knock out compact tanks like T-26 and Pz.35(t) with a single shot. For larger tanks like the [[LVT (Family)|LVT(A)]], accurate shots pinpointing the crew are required which might be a little hard for new players. The cannon has enough accuracy to precisely knock out the enemy's crew within 500 m. If one shot misses, the reload time of around 3.5 seconds allows quick following shots.

There is a nice stabiliser for the cannon which is a big advantage when exchanging fire, as it allows you to move out of cover and fire (usually before the enemy) without having to wait for your tank to stop wobbling. The stabiliser should be utilised to maximise your chance of surviving and taking out enemy tanks. Note that it only works below 10 km/h, so remember to slow down or it will not stabilise the gun.

Targets like the [[15cm sIG 33 B Sfl]] or [[M3 GMC]] (in mixed ground battles) can be quite hard to destroy, as their armour is thin enough to create little shrapnel, but are also thick enough to stop MG bullets. Against them, you can only rely on you fire rate, accuracy and of course your knowledge of their crew position to knock out their crew one by one. Always go for the gunners or drivers first, if you failed then they can always fight back and knock your tank out with a single shot.

The main cannon is only effective in close quarter combat (usually within 200 m) or against weakly-armoured targets, since the penetration drops drastically as the range increases, plus the small calibre makes the shells easy to ricochet. When encountering fairly well armoured tanks like the [[M13/40 (Family)|M13/40]] or [[H.35]], try and break their gun barrels first or track them. If they are too far away, pin them on the map and call teammates to help.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M5 (37 mm)|37 mm M5]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 103 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Shoulder|up to 10 km/h}} || 19.5 || 27.0 || 32.8 || 36.3 || 38.6 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.33 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 12.2 || 14.3 || 17.4 || 19.3 || 20.5
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M5 (37 mm)/Ammunition|M74 shot, M51B1}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_M2A4.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the M2A4]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''103''' || 69 ''(+34)'' || 35 ''(+68)'' || 1 ''(+102)'' || No
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}


The machine gun is only enough to destroy poorly protected vehicles such as the [[AS 42]], [[Flakpanzer I]], [[GAZ-AAA (4M)]], and [[GAZ-AAA (DShK)]]. The penetration of around 10 mm is not enough to go through the frontal armour of those not-so-weakly-armoured tanks like the [[SU-5-1]], [[Panzerjäger I]] or [[15cm sIG 33 B Sfl]]. If you are skilled, the two MG can effectively damage low-flying biplanes.

The fixed MG in the hull are useless most of the times, as they have absolutely no traverse. It is very hard to point the hull directly at a target given the poor hull traverse of the M2A4.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 3,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+45° || ±90°
|-
| Coaxial || 5,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Hull (x3) || 15,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The M2A4 light tank is the reserve tank for the USA. As such, it is very manoeuvrable and fast, being a light tank. However, it has many distinguishing features that make it a forgiving beginners tank.

The M2A4 is most comparable to a cross between a [[BT-5]] and [[T-26]]. The M2A4 has slightly less mobility than the BT-5 while being a larger target and having better armour, like the T-26. The M2A4 also has a fast-firing 37 mm M5 cannon that can fire M74 or M51 shots, as well as the M61 shell.

Its gun has better accuracy than the majority of tanks on its rank, and its APC ammo retains its penetration at most ranges. This ability to hit rapidly from range and still penetrate in part makes up for the somewhat anaemic damage of the 37 mm gun.

Like all tanks of this rank, it is lightly-armoured and can be damaged or knocked out by any other vehicle from almost anywhere on the map. A useful tactic is to make use of its speed by engaging at range and then relocating when enemy presence gets too heavy around you.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

Specific enemy vehicles that bear mentioning are firstly any Germans with the [[KwK38 (20 mm)|20 mm KwK/FlaK38]] cannon, this gun might be small but can have up to 64 mm of penetration, which is enough to go through the M2A4 almost anywhere. These guns can also fire 10 rounds at 280 rounds/min before having to reload the clip, meaning that they will very easily take out your crew before you have a chance to respond. To counter, the best chance you have is to angle your frontal armour which can make it difficult for the PzGr 40 rounds to penetrate. The Soviet [[T-50]] and [[T-126]] are vehicles you will also see commonly, these have fairly thick and angled frontal armour that will prevent you from easily getting through. These tanks can also carry an APHEBC round that will destroy you in one shot with little difficulty, so to counter you should use your speed to attempt to get a side shot into either the turret or engine. If the T-50 cannot move you can outrun its turret and finish it without much difficulty.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast and agile
* Acceptable gun
* Fair armour all around
* Machine gun secondary armament allows for flexibility in taking out exposed SPAA and Tank Destroyers
* Roof-mounted .30 cal MG is quite effective at taking out unarmoured aircraft

'''Cons:'''

* Uneasy handling, prone to slide at high speeds
* Quite flammable, even when hitting from the front
* Terrible steering, not adequate under 2nd gear
* Driving this straight into a wall at a fast speed can result in a crew knock out
* Can struggle to destroy larger vehicles due to lack of explosive filler
* One of the weakest tank in the USA lineup
* Easily penetrated by others
* While fast on flat ground, it has problems with climbing steep hills
* Becoming immobilised renders tank as sitting duck, easily eliminated

== History ==

===Development===
The '''M2 Light Tank''' series was an American pre-World War II design as their answer to a fast, effective tank in a cavalry role.

The idea of light tanks started with the Defense Act of 1920, which defined tanks as an infantry support weapon. However, multiple theorists brought up the idea of a cavalry role for the tanks to which the British were the first to incorporate with the ''cruiser tanks''. Limitation in American development leads to the establishment of light tanks as the ''combat cars''. The development team soon looked at the tank prototypes ''T1 light tank'' and the ''T2 medium tank'' from which they decided to use them as the basis for the light tank design.

Modifications made onto the experimental tanks including installing the new Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) which became the main suspension in future American tank development, made the tanks into the '''M2A1 light tank'''. The main version used before the war was designated the [[M2A2]] and had two turrets, both with a .50 calibre M2 Browning machine gun as their armament. However, the Spanish Civil War demonstrated that this kind of light tank was insufficient for the ever-evolving tank warfare. Revising the armament of the tank, the two M2 Browning turrets were removed and replaced with a turret outfitted with a 37 mm cannon and improved armour. This became the '''M2A4''' and served as the main light tank variant in US service prior to World War II.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
The M2 series traced its family tree back to the experimental T2s, with the M2A4 ending up the largest and most successful modification. Development began in 1939 after running trials for light tanks designed for infantry support as well as the M1 series. The M2 infantry tank was used as the base for construction, a model that was to undergo significant modification. The turret armour as well as the front end were thickened to 25 mm, capable of withstanding hits by light cannons and high-calibre machine guns. The tank's weaponry was also improved with the installation of an M5 37 mm cannon paired with a 7.62 mm machine gun in the single turret.

Another 7.62 mm machine gun was mounted in the front hull plate, with two more on the sides. An antiaircraft machine gun could be mounted on the top of the turret, and additional viewing slits were cut out of the turret and cupola. Most tanks featured the 360 hp Continental W-670-9A engine, which pushed their top speed to 56 km/h. Several tanks in the series were equipped with Guiberson T1020 diesel engines.

Given that September 1939 saw a spike in orders, the Rock Island Arsenal was no longer able to keep up on its own with the demand being placed on it by the US army. A tender for an additional batch was announced and won by American Car & Foundry. In October 1939 a contract for 329 tanks was signed, though it was soon expanded to 365. The last ten were assembled in April 1941 by Baldwin Locomotive Works, meaning that 375 M2A4s were produced in 1940.

The tanks only saw action on Guadalcanal and other Pacific islands. A few others were shipped to the UK via Lend-Lease and used there to train M3 medium tank crews.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m2a4_1st_armor_div Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|xSnKPq-oljQ|'''Premium Series (Tanks), {{PAGENAME}}. Team annihilated!''' - ''Joseph 2000''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
* [[M2A4]]
* [[M3 Stuart (Family)]]

== External links ==

* [[wt:en/news/2749--en|2014 "Winter Holiday Specials" mini-event]] when the M2A4 was given out as a gift
* [[wt:en/news/2917/current|[Vehicle Profile] M2A4 Light Tank]]
* [[wt:en/news/3257--en|[Ground Forces] 1st Armored Division (US Army)]]
* [[wikipedia:M2_light_tank|[Wikipedia] M2 light tank]]
* [https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/M2_Light_Tank.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> M2 Light Tank]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=560 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> M2 (Light Tank, M2)]

{{TankManufacturer Rock Island Arsenal}}
{{USA light tanks}}
{{USA premium ground vehicles}}

M24

2023-11-15T02:17:25Z

U143246777: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other variants
| link = M24 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m24_chaffee
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

When World War II started, the US Army had the [[M3_Stuart_(Family)|Stuart]] as their primary light tank. However, the old armour arrangement and anemic 37 mm gun has the US Army desire a more powerful light tank to replace the Stuart. Starting as Light Tank T24, Ordnance Department sought to incorporate the Stuart mobility components into a design with better armour and the firepower of the 75 mm gun. This culminated in 1943 as the M24 and was nicknamed the "Chaffee". About 4,731 units were produced between 1944 and 1945 and the M24 saw its first combat service in the Battle of the Bulge. The M24 Chaffee would go on to serve throughout the rest of World War II, the Korean War, and in foreign armies elsewhere.

The M24 Chaffee, introduced into the game alongside the American ground tech tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]], is a major improvement over the series of M3/M5 Stuart light tank that players experience beforehand. The Chaffee's mobility is on par with the M5 Stuart, being able to move forwards and backwards at swift speed. The improved sloped armour in the front can allow the Chaffee to better take a hit than its predecessors, not to mention the larger crew size. Most importantly, the 75 mm gun allows the light tank to maintain a similar firepower as a medium tank. Intuitive players can make use of the superior mobility offered by the Chaffee platform and the firepower benefits of the 75 mm to not only strike enemies where they lease expect it, but also scout them out in order to let their teammates be aware of the enemy positions.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

The M24 Chaffee has thin armour on all sides, and can only effectively resist machine gun fire or very low-penetrating shells. Its crew members also sit very close to each other, increasing the chance of it getting knocked out by a single shot. The V-shaped gun mantlet might bounce some small calibre shells if you are lucky enough. However, don't rely on it as the rest of the tank is still poorly protected. It should also be kept in mind that the hatch on the front is weak to higher-calibre rounds, so it is important to be careful when making advances as it is often targeted.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret, cupola)
* Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 25.4 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' 25.4 mm (44°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25.4 mm (13°) ''Front'' 12.7 mm (13°) ''Rear'' || 12.7 mm (71-74°) ''Top'' 19 mm (1-43°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm
|-
| Turret || 38.1 mm (8-40°) ''Turret front'' 38.1 mm (1-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (17-26°) || 25.4 mm || 12.7 mm
|-
| Cupola || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=459|rbMinHp=262}}

The M24 travels at an average of 40 km/h on/off-road which is the average light tank speed. It also responds fast when reversing. Thanks to its short and wide tracks it is able to turn quickly. However the acceleration is poor, making it to feel sluggish when performing short range manoeuvres.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M6 (75 mm)}}

The tank offers the 75 mm M6 gun, which only differs from the [[M4|M4]]/[[M4A1|M4A1]] Sherman's 75 mm M3 gun with its slower reloading rate due to the smaller confines of the M24 Chaffee. The shells come in handy for certain tanks; they generally penetrate armour very well. It is rare to experience a ricochet or be to unable to penetrate any armour.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M6 (75 mm)|75 mm M6]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 22.85 || 31.62 || 38.40 || 42.47 || 45.18 || rowspan="2" | 8.45 || rowspan="2" | 7.47 || rowspan="2" | 6.89 || rowspan="2" | 6.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:M6 (75 mm)/Ammunition|M72 shot, M48 shell, M61 shot, M64}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
The M24 can carry 48 rounds of 75 mm ammunition in two low-set ammo racks, which reduces the chance of them being hit by enemy fire. However, the low ammo capacity can limit the M24's performance in prolonged engagements, so it is advisable to load as much ammo as possible. Loading only 25 shells may not improve the M24's survivability much, but it may leave it without ammo in a critical situation, for the small benefit of having a slightly smaller ammo rack profile.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''48''' || 25 ''(+23)'' || 1 ''(+47)'' || No
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

The two machine guns on the M24 Chaffee are the [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|.50 cal M2HB]] and the [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]. The roof-mounted .50 cal can traverse 360 degrees and has great depression & elevation, posting a big threat to any plane that is flying too close to the M24. It has an unbelievable penetration of 31 mm at 10 m, meaning it can easily penetrate plenty of lightly armoured vehicles and even the side of some low rank medium tanks. The 7.62 mm, on the other hand, can only efficiently damage exposed crews due to its low penetration.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 400 (200) || 575 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The M24 Chaffee is a very good tank with a fairly interesting playstyle. Instead of being permanently stationed at a single point and continuously firing at an enemy, this tank offers impressive manoeuvrability and speed which allows it to perform impressive flanking manoeuvres. The M24 can travel at around 38 km/h forward and -25 km/h backwards. Its reverse speed is very good if a quick getaway by going backwards is needed. Thus, this tank excels at "peek-a-boo" tactics in which one hides behind a rock or other large piece of cover and repeatedly inches out to fire at an enemy.

An extension of this "peek-a-boo" tactic is to also use the tank's mobility for "scoot-and-shoot" tactics by firing and then moving to another firing location so as to prevent enemy tanks and tank destroyers from accurately guessing range. This can be difficult, however, as you must be very versed in your own tank's ballistics to make shots as you will have to estimate range on the fly. Don't think this means firing on the move - if you are going faster than 16 km/h (10 mph), the stabilizer will not allow for accurate shots, and it is only a vertical stabilizer.

Do not continuously shoot at a tank without backing up/moving. The vehicle's armour is very thin and will most likely be destroyed if it stays in one position and does not stop changing positions. Always try to get the first shot off in a head-on attack. The best shell to use is the M61 shell as its penetration and explosive filler make it better in almost every aspect than the M72 shell. You can try loading under 20 shells and you will be more survivable than players expect.

Another way to go around is to flank the enemy. Go from to the side of the map and then go to an already captured point. They won't expect you to come from the back, note that other light tanks may be using this tactic so be aware of your surroundings. If attacking with a more direct approach, keep hidden behind a building or boulder and pop out every now and then to take a shot at the enemy. Also, prioritize targets who are busy fighting others and cannot retaliate. Usually, after the first shot, it may disable their tank depending on what it is. Disabling the enemy tank's crew, tracks, engine, etc. allows for retaliation without the risk of any incoming enemy shells.

'''Enemies worth noting''':

* [[Sd.Kfz.234 (Family)]]: The M24, although agile, is still not the fastest tank at its rank. When your opposite team has Germany, you might want to reconsider the option of capping a point straight away, since the German Sd.Kfz.234 series are very likely to be there first. The [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] is a turreted 8-wheel vehicle with a small profile, extremely high on-road speed and a powerful 50 mm gun. But it cannot turn in place, has a very slow turret traverse and only 8 mm of side hull armour, so a good tactic is to circle with it and utilise your stabiliser, fast turret and the piercing .50 cal. In an intense melee fight, you might miss your shots. Don't worry, your reliable .50 cal can penetrate the sides, or even the front of the puma easily. The [[Sd.Kfz.234/3]] and [[Sd.Kfz.234/4]], although being equally deadly, are turretless. You can use some quick turns to avoid their guns or tear through the thin armour plate protecting their gunners with your .50 cal.
* [[T-34 (1940)]] - The T-34 is a formidable opponent at this tier. The T-34 is a fast, agile and most formidably almost impossible to knock out with the M24. The T-34's 76 mm can take the M24 out with one good shot, make sure to never let the T-34 flank you or surprise you. Some good strategies to kill the T-34 include flanking or outmanoeuvring the T-34, making sure to hit it from the sides and back or aiming for the cheeks of the turret.
* [[KV-1]], [[KV-IB (Germany)|KV-IB]], [[KW I C 756 (r) (Germany)|KW I C 756 (r)]] - The famous KV-series can cause a bit of troubles too. They are well know for their well-protected hull and turrets. The M24 can manoeuvre to point-blank range, line up your gun so it's pointing dead flat at the armour and fire. The 104 mm penetration of the M61 shell should punch a hole in the KV's armour with ease. If you are close enough but do not have the space to manoeuvre, shoot their gun barrel to prevent them from getting a shot off, then go for their turret ring or the vertical part on their gun mantlet, which is only 90 mm. For the KV-1B, do not try and fire at its turret from the front and side, as they are 105 mm thick and will never get penetrated. For the KW I C 756, aim for the cupola (50 m) or the gun mantlet (50 mm) to knock out the turret crew or the gun breech. Don't shoot at anywhere else, the shell won't penetrate.
* [[Churchill (Family)|Churchill]] tanks: The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to penetrate at range. Again, manoeuvre as close to them as possible, the idea distance being no more than 200 m. If they are angling their hull but facing their turret at you, only go for the turret. For the Mk I Churchills, aim at the near-vertical part of their rounded cheeks to ensure successful penetrations. For the Mk III and the German Churchill, also aim for their flat turret which is at most 89 mm. The shell should go in easily and knock out most, if not all of the crew. Only when you are facing their hull without any angles should you shoot the hull, otherwise shoot the turret only, as their big tracks can easily get in front of the frontal hull. The side hull have multiple layers of armour, some of which are weirdly angled and can absorb plenty of shells.
* [[M4A2]] / [[M4A4 (1st PTG)]] - these Sherman tanks are widely used by over 3 nations that spread across both the Allied and the Axis side, so no matter which nation you play they can be quite tough to destroy in the hands of a skilled tanker. Given the rather weak penetration of your short 75 mm gun, their hull can be almost impossible to penetrate when angled, hull down or 300 m away. For a M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there can guarantee a knock-out most of the times. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's a M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet, you can at least make them defenseless. If you see an M4 infront of you, get behind and cover like a building or rocks and go around it. They won't be expecting you to do that but some might have suspicion and would turn around a again, be aware of your surroundings.
* [[StuG III G]], [[StuH 42 G]], [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)]] - These German tank destroyers are deadly ambushers as well as well-defended frontline vehicles. They have low profiles which make them significantly less noticeable on the battlefield. They also have very thick or sloped armour. In particular, the StuG and StuH can have a maximum frontal thickness of 100 mm with additional armour, making them tough enough for the M24's 75 mm short cannon. Thus the M24 should avoid direct combat with them as they are difficult to penetrate and can easily knock out the M24. Fortunately, all 3 do not have a turret and were poorly protected on their sides, so flanking become a great tactic to finish them off. However, be aware that StuG and StuH can turn their hulls very quickly, so take that into account.
* [[E.B.R. (1954)]] - this wheeled vehicle, just like the Sd.Kfz.234 series, is able to reach a remarkably high speed, especially on road. It is equipped with a deadly 75 mm cannon with autoloader, dealing more fragmentation damage than the Sd.Kfz.234's and can therefore easily knock out the M24 with a single shot most of the times. The tactics vary a bit, as the E.B.R also has way faster turret traverse, therefore you do not want to "dogfight" it like how you deal with a Puma. You need to be more careful and try to ambush it. Utilise your advantages well, you have superior gun depression, explosive-packed shells, lots of smoke grenades and, most importantly, a vertical stabiliser. But, if you ever see a tank you don't want to fight, you can awlays run away as the M24 has decent speed compared to the medium tanks like the M4s

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Decent mobility: good top speed and great turning ability
* Uses the same gun as the 75 mm Shermans: various shell types, great penetration & damage and excellent gun depression. M61 shell can easily knock out common medium tanks with a single shot
* Fast turret traverse allows it to track agile targets easily
* Low profile allows it to easily hide behind small bushes or rocks, increasing survivability
* Equipped with a vertical plane stabilizer, allowing for more accurate shots on the move or shoot-n-scoot tactics
* Pintle-mounted HMG allows for air defense and some anti tank ability (e.g. Marder III, Sd.Kfz.234 series, Breda 501, etc)
* 13 smoke grenades allow escaping from dangerous situation for many times
* Effective even in uptiers if used for flanking shots or hunting soft targets
* Very fast reverse allowing it to retreat from danger quickly

'''Cons:'''

* Low survivability: all-round thin armour and closely packed crews. Can get one-shot by common guns like 76 mm F-34 and 75 mm KwK40
* Acceleration is rather sluggish, especially when stock or on soft terrains
* On-road top speed is inferior to some wheeled vehicles like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]] and other light tanks at its BR
* Shells drop dramatically at long distances, making distant / moving targets hard to shoot at
* Reload time is pretty slow for a light tank
* Low ammo count can be a problem in long games or RB/SB matches but not so low that ammo rack detonations are rare

== History ==

===Development===
As early as 1942, the light tanks [[M3 Stuart|M3]] and [[M5A1|M5 Stuart]] have been seen as severely lacking in the modernizing design of tanks and how they fight. The armour was seen as insufficient and the [[M3 (37 mm)|37 mm gun]] was also deemed useless against even the standard German tanks like the [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV]]. The system needed an upgrade, specifically a light tank that mounts the [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm gun]] seen on the [[M4|Shermans]]. An attempt to mount a 75 mm gun on a Stuart was deemed inefficient as it reduced ammo stowage and left the armour too thin on the design.

In April 1943, the U.S. Ordnance Department worked with Cadillac to start on a project for the new light tank, designated Light Tank T24. The powertrain and transmission of the M5 Stuart were used with the ultimate goal of producing a vehicle weighing less than 20 tons. This left the vehicle with relatively thin armour to stay lightweight. At the time, a lighter 75 mm gun was developed for mounting on the [[B-25J-20|B-25 Mitchell bomber]] without sacrificing performance, and this was mounted onto the light tank in development. The tank used 410 mm wide tracks with a torsion bar suspension that greatly improves cross-country travel. The engine was a Cadillac 44T24 V-8 petrol engine. The chassis was designed with the expectation that it would be used as a basis of many different vehicle roles so it was called the "Light Combat Team". The light tank end design had a low profile at 9 ft. 1 in. height and featuring a crew of five with a three-man turret, an improvement over the two-man turrets of the Stuarts. The first finished vehicle arrived on October 15, 1943, and was deemed a success, starting a contract for 1,000 units that was later raised to 5,000 units. The vehicle was classified as the Light Tank M24 and as the Chaffee by the British after US General Adna R. Chaffee, Jr., who helped develop some of America's earliest tank designs. The vehicle was produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris from April 1944 to August 1945 with a total of 4,731 units produced.

===Combat usage===
The first batch of M24s reached the battlefields of Europe in November of 1944 and first assigned to the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Group in France. The M24 gradually entered widespread use by December 1944, some Chaffees went to the British to replace their Stuart tanks as well. The M24s were first used in the Battle of the Bulge with the 2nd and 42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron sent to support the southern sector of the battle. The Chaffees were slow to enter use in the front-lines as even by the end of the war, some armoured division did not have the M24 light tanks. Despite that, the reception of the Chaffee was positive even though it may not have the firepower to fight the better German tanks like the [[Panther G|Panther tanks]]. The 75 mm gun gave the crew much more firepower than the earlier 37 mm. The light armour, though allowing the tank to pick up speed, was penetrable by most anti-tank weapons in service by Germany. The effect of the M24 Chaffee in World War II was deemed insignificant as it was not used in great numbers in comparison to the Stuarts in service since the start of the war.

The M24 Chaffee served a greater role in the Korean War and were sent in large numbers to combat the North Korean Armoured Forces, however, they were severely under-gunned with their 75 mm cannon and the light armour was easily destroyed by the Soviet-supplied [[T-34-85]] tanks. Plus, the deficiency in crew training also contributed to the poor performance of the M24 against the North Koreans. Due to their inferiority, they were used as a delaying measure until better tanks like the [[M4A3 (76) W|M4A3E8 Sherman]] and [[M26|M26 Pershing]] could be brought in. Once with supports with these better tanks, the Chaffees were relegated to reconnaissance roles, where they served with better results.

The M24, after being replaced in America by the [[M41A1|M41 Walker Bulldog]], was sent to many other countries for use. The French Army deployed the M24s during their fighting in Indochina and famously in the Battle for Dien Bien Phu. Some M24s went to the hands of the ARVN in South Vietnam to support the troops during the Vietnam War. The Pakistani Army used them as well in 1971 against India during the Indo-Pakistani War. The M24 Chaffee was also adapted in different roles by using the chassis for different designs, such as the [[M19|M19 TGMC anti-air gun]] and self-propelled guns with the M37 105 mm HMC and M41 155 mm HMC.

The Chaffee had turned out to be one of the greatest light tanks the Allies developed during World War II. Though arriving too late to be a main turning factor for the war, the design has turned out to be so reliable that some countries like Uruguay still operate modernized versions. Austria has since retired its M24 fleet, but their turrets still serve on as bunkers.

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{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
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The experience of the M3 and M5 light tanks in the western desert proved that the era of light tanks with angular bodies and vertical suspension had come to a close. In 1943 work began on a completely new tank with the popular Hydromatic transmission and a carburetor engine made by Cadillac. The assignment, outside of strengthening the armament, was to keep the maximum weight below 18 short tons. As a result, a new hull with heavily sloped armour plates was developed. The turret gained a streamlined look with 37 mm armour.

The running gear was made up of five rubber-coated weight-bearing wheels and three supporting rollers in addition to forward, leading, and rear guiding wheels. The tank's main gun was a 75 mm M6 cannon with anti-recoil mechanisms around the barrel, something that made it much smaller. The tanks were fitted with coaxial and bow-mounted 7.62 mm machine guns.

The first T24 light tank prototype entered trials in October 1943. It turned out to be such a success that 1,000 units were quickly ordered, a number that later jumped to 5,000. Production took place at Cadillac and Massay-Harris factories, where 4,415 tanks were assembled between March 1944 and October 1945. The T24 was officially accepted two months after full-scale production began, receiving a new M24 designation. It entered combat in fall 1944 and was the American army's primary light tank through the end of the war.

The tanks sent to the UK via Lend-Lease were referred to as Chaffees.

The successful tank had a long career, fighting in the Korean, First Indochina, Vietnam, and Third Indo-Pakistani wars.
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== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m24_chaffee Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|OwVN5bFIzaM|'''A Perfect Starter Light Tank - {{PAGENAME}} Chaffee''' - ''Virus''|vwrFDhWX1gg|'''Tank Chats #140 <nowiki>| M24 Chaffee |</nowiki> The Tank Museum''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}

== See also ==


;<nowiki>Other vehicles of similar configuration and role:</nowiki>

* [[AMX-13 (FL11)]]

Vehicles developed with the M24 turret:

* [[AMX-13-M24]]

Vehicles developed with the M24 hull:

* [[M19A1]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/2936--en|[Vehicle Profile] M24 Chaffee]]

{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
{{TankManufacturer Cadillac}}
{{USA light tanks}}