Another Lend-Lease. High-speed middle tractor M5
Suffice it to recall that many types of technology were not produced at all by Soviet industry, while others clearly did not meet the demands of the army in terms of power or quantity. Very often, the Lend-Lease technique was the only possible option to quickly “plug technical holes”.
The hero of our story today is not a hero either. Not a tank, not an armored personnel carrier, not a plane, and not even a truck or an amphibian. He is a tractor! Although in the Soviet Red Army books it is proudly referred to as an average high-speed artillery tractor.
So, the American high-speed artillery tractor tractor M5. Like most "Americans" of that time, the car, causing interest already by its original look.
The funny thing is that this machine, which is completely unsuitable for action in the conditions of the USSR, felt quite comfortable in Europe and on other continents. Paradox.
First of all, you must answer the question that has already arisen to some readers. Why a tractor? Why not artillery tractor, as was the custom in the Red Army?
The answer lies in the mentality of the Americans, which we have already written before. Unlike our soldiers, the Americans always called their designs simply for their intended purpose. This applies to literally all weapons and military equipment.
Artillery tractors were designed to move artillery systems on the front lines. That is why heavy artillery tractors were called tractors. No reservations. No weapons. So - just a tractor, not an armored vehicle or an armored personnel carrier.
These tractors were designed to work with guns and howitzers of various calibers and, accordingly, heavier guns moved far enough away from the line of direct contact. It means that these cars are intended for transportation of guns and their calculations in conditions when booking, as it were, was not the first necessity.
The development of a tracked artillery tractor or, if the American classification is followed, a “high-speed tractor” (HST - high speed tractor) began in the US in the 1941 year.
Of the two prototypes presented by International Harvester, Т20 and Т21, the second one was chosen. True, another prototype should be mentioned - Т13. But the option was completely experimental and was not even offered for testing. In 1942, it was standardized under the designation M5.
Immediately the question arises about the prototypes. T20 and T21, what is the difference? Both versions of the tractor were similar in appearance. Technically, the prototypes differed in suspension and tracks. The T20 had tracks with a rubber treadmill. It provided higher tractor speed.
However, the Americans' desire for the unification of technology led to the adoption of the second version of the tractor - T21. This prototype had a suspension and tracks already used in the lung tank M3.
On the one hand, the choice of suspension, already produced for light tanks, has a certain risk. Industry is not omnipotent. Even in the USA. On the other hand, a proven technology, mass production, ready specialists in repair and operation of the chassis.
Speaking of American cars, we often forget one truth. All of them were created and intended primarily for the American army! Not for the allies, not for export, but for the needs of the American army. The US Army needed tractors for three-inch anti-tank guns, 105 and 155-mm howitzers.
And the fact that some quite worthy samples were used more by other armies (remember the International trucks, which the US Army refused only because of higher prices than others) speaks only about industry and engineering that was really advanced for that time.
The tractor was produced by Americans in large quantities. That is what allowed him to quickly become the main auxiliary machine of the American artillery units. Yes, and tractor options were enough.
Tractors МХNUMX were produced with the case open at the top. The driver's seat was located in the center. The top covered canvas awning. Used chassis tank M5 Stuart.
Then came the tractor on the chassis of the tank M5 Stuart. Models МХNUMXА5 (closed top, driver on the left) and М1А5 (open top, driver in the center). And the tractor on the chassis of the tank M2А5 Stuart. Models МХNUMXА1 (closed case, driver on the left) and М5А3 (open case, driver in the center).
It's time to look at the tractor more closely.
The machine, as we wrote above, was based on the units of the light tank МХNUMX Stewart (later as the mass production - light tanks М3 and М5А5) and had the same layout of the engine and transmission compartments.
The driver was located in the front of the open (with the exception of the engine compartment) box-shaped housing in the center. In front of it was mounted a protective glass with a wiper. Behind the driver there was a compartment in which artillery ammunition was transported.
The members of the gun crew were placed on benches along the sides of the machine, face inward. There were no doors in the sides of the hull. Landing was carried out through two narrow doors in the front wall of the case.
In the stern of the tractor mounted six-cylinder in-line gasoline engine "Continental" R6572 power 235 l. with. at 2900 rpm Two fuel tanks with a total capacity of 100 gallons (454,61 l) were placed on either side of the engine.
In front of the tractor, a Garwood winch was installed with a tractive force of 6800 kg and a cable length of 90 m.
The American classification of this car rather quickly showed its complete inconsistency. “Classical war”, according to the concept of which the tractor was named, in fact does not exist. There are no places in the war where they do not shoot.
The tractor had to arm. But it was done more than original. 12,7-mm machine gun Browning M2HV installed on the turret ... in the rear of the tractor. For this, we had to install a steel roof and a special rack there. Factory finishing machine appeared only in February 1944 year. What we see on earlier machines is nothing more than the initiative of front-line craftsmen.
Now about why this tractor appeared in our army and why this sample did not enjoy popularity among our soldiers. What is really strange against the background of success, for example, truck tractors.
Strangely enough, but American tractors appeared thanks to the successes of our gunsmiths-artillerymen and tankmen. The fact is that by the middle of the war the Red Army began to feel an acute shortage of high-speed artillery tractors.
The industry focused on the production of combat vehicles, simply stopped the release of pre-war tractors as such. The production of "Voroshilovtsev", "Comintern", STZ-5, NATI, C-2 was curtailed. Machines of these brands, which still remained in the army, were extremely worn out.
New tractors, the production of which was developed in the USSR, I-12 and I-13, were low-powered. And their release was so small that it could not meet the needs of the Red Army.
It is for these reasons that the agreement of the USSR on the supply of artillery lend-lease artillery starting from 1943 is explained. Among other things, we put and tractor M5.
The “Americans” were put in three artillery brigades (39, 45 and 46-I cannon brigades, in the 2 RVGK divisions (5 and 9 artillery divisions). It was necessary to explore the possibilities of using the tractors by the Red Army.
It turned out that this tractor is picky enough and not adapted to our climate. Yes, and Russian roads for him turned out to be deadly. In addition, the design features of the Soviet artillery, in particular, the permissible speed of towing guns, completely leveled the capabilities of a high-speed tractor.
The maximum speed of the tractor reached 55,3 km / h. However, in practice, this speed could not be used, since when towing an 122-mm gun, the arr. 1931 / 37 of the year and 152-mm howitzer cannon arr. 1937 of the year allowed the speed: on the highway - up to 20 km / h and on dirt roads - 17 km / h (tractor C-65, respectively, - 10-12 km / h and 6-9 km / h).
The engine worked on expensive fuel - gasoline of the first grade KB-70 and consumed 28 kg per hour, which at an average speed of 15 km / h with a trailer of 8 t weighing about 2 kg per 1 km of track. Or 273 l / 100 km, in a more familiar to us measurement system.
It is clear that such towing, and under such conditions, the army was absolutely not needed. Then it was the idea to use the M5 tractor to tow more powerful and heavy systems. However, the tractor showed itself as a true foreigner. Powerful engine, tracked drive and ... poor traction.
It was the lack of adhesion with the ground that became the subject of dislike for this tractor. Even in the summer, even on hard ground or on a highway, overcoming ascents and descents was a rather risky venture. If the tractor coped with light and medium guns, the heavy ones were simply an anchor.
But the most "fun" was in the winter. Not only ice, but also snow made the tractor completely "dead." The lack of adhesion made it impossible to move. But even in the case when the tractor started off, its controllability was minimal.
If today we read the reports of the commanders of brigades and divisions on the operation of the М5 tractors, a stable opinion is created that these tractors were used simply because there was nothing else. And the conclusion of the commission on their use is indicative. "Use for towing guns weighing up to 8 tons."
By the way, the poor permeability of this tractor was also noted by the commission. But the most interesting, there is also indicated on the large dimensions of the tractor, which make it difficult to disguise this machine on the position. The work of the tractor was often disturbed due to the instability of certain mechanisms and components, breakage and rapid wear of parts.
However, around the 200 of high-speed middle tractor-tractors МХNUMX in the USSR was delivered. And they were used to the fullest.
Well, the traditional technical characteristics of the hero.
Combat weight, t: 13,791
Crew, prs: 1
Assault Force (Cannon Calculation): 8-10
Dimensions (LW), mm: 5030 x 2540 x 2690
Engine: Continental R 6572, petrol
Highway speed, km / h: 55,3
Cruising on the highway, km: 290
Specific power, hp / t: 15
Obstacle obstacles:
wall, m: 0,7
ditch, m: 1,7
ford, m: 1,3
Minimum ground pressure: about 0,85 kg / cm2.
Information