Crawler Tractors Served WWII Military Well
During WWII, the U.S. military took great pride in moving equipment, artillery, aircraft, and munitions across difficult terrains. Deserts, marshes, thickly forested regions, and beachheads were encountered in all military theaters.
U.S. artillery, ranging from gun and howitzer motor carriages depending on size, were towed by a small Jeep, high-speed crawler tractors, and huge Mack prime movers. Tracked tractors were designed and built in several sizes.
More than 8,500 M2 7-ton tractors, made by Cletrac, were used primarily to tug aircraft around remote airfields. Powered by a 404-cu. in. Hercules 6-cyl. engine, the M2 had a large air compressor mounted in the back for airing up plane tires.
Allis-Chalmers built 5,500 high-speed 18-ton track tractors for towing artillery pieces, transporting an artillery crew of 12 and a basic supply of ammunition. Class A models carried a 90mm or 3-in. weapon, and the Class B model carried a 155mm howitzer. A built-in crane loaded and unloaded the vehicle. The vehicle had wide tracks to deal with mud and snow. M4s were updated in the 50’s and used through the mid-1960’s before being declared obsolete. The maximum tow load was 38,700 lbs. at a speed of 35 mph.
International Harvester in Iowa built M5 high-speed tractors. The vehicles weighed 13 tons, could travel 30 mph, and cost about $14,000.
The M6, built by Allis-Chalmers, was the king of WWII high-speed tractors. Powered by two Waukesha 145GZ engines, it had a 60,000 lb. towing capacity. Two of the M6s were needed to move large artillery. One towed the cannon tube and the other the carriage. Several troops used the on-board crane to set up the artillery once it was on location.
After WWII, Buick used 640 M18 Hellcat tank destroyers to build M39 armored utility vehicles. Capable of speeding across terrain at a top speed of 60 mph, the M39 was extremely fast and mobile but hampered by the fact it could only carry eight troops in the cargo area.
Military vehicles of many types are displayed at several museums in the U.S., including the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Wyoming, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, and the U.S. Tank Museum.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Military Vehicles Magazine, Spring 2023.
Crawler Tractors Served WWII Military Well During WWII the U S military took great pride in moving equipment artillery aircraft and munitions across difficult terrains Deserts marshes thickly forested regions and beachheads were encountered in all military theaters U S artillery ranging from gun and howitzer motor carriages depending on size were towed by a small Jeep high-speed crawler tractors and huge Mack prime movers Tracked tractors were designed and built in several sizes More than 8 500 M2 7-ton tractors made by Cletrac were used primarily to tug aircraft around remote airfields Powered by a 404-cu in Hercules 6-cyl engine the M2 had a large air compressor mounted in the back for airing up plane tires Allis-Chalmers built 5 500 high-speed 18-ton track tractors for towing artillery pieces transporting an artillery crew of 12 and a basic supply of ammunition Class A models carried a 90mm or 3-in weapon and the Class B model carried a 155mm howitzer A built-in crane loaded and unloaded the vehicle The vehicle had wide tracks to deal with mud and snow M4s were updated in the 50’s and used through the mid-1960’s before being declared obsolete The maximum tow load was 38 700 lbs at a speed of 35 mph International Harvester in Iowa built M5 high-speed tractors The vehicles weighed 13 tons could travel 30 mph and cost about $14 000 The M6 built by Allis-Chalmers was the king of WWII high-speed tractors Powered by two Waukesha 145GZ engines it had a 60 000 lb towing capacity Two of the M6s were needed to move large artillery One towed the cannon tube and the other the carriage Several troops used the on-board crane to set up the artillery once it was on location After WWII Buick used 640 M18 Hellcat tank destroyers to build M39 armored utility vehicles Capable of speeding across terrain at a top speed of 60 mph the M39 was extremely fast and mobile but hampered by the fact it could only carry eight troops in the cargo area Military vehicles of many types are displayed at several museums in the U S including the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Wyoming the National WWII Museum in New Orleans and the U S Tank Museum Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Military Vehicles Magazine Spring 2023
