M1922 medium tank explained

Medium Tank M1922
Type:medium tank
Origin:United States
Is Vehicle:yes
Service:1922–1928
Used By:US
Designer:United States Army Ordnance Department
Design Date:1922
Manufacturer:Rock Island Arsenal
Number:1
Weight:25.5short ton
Length:25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
Width:8 ft 8 in (2.64 m)
Height:8 ft (3.04 m)
Crew:4
Armour:1inches to 0.375inches
Primary Armament:57mm QF Hotchkiss
Secondary Armament:two machine guns
Engine:Murray and Tregurtha, Marine, 6-cylinders forced water-colled Gasoline.
Engine Power:195hp at 1,250 rpm
Pw Ratio:6.29kW/t
Suspension:cable suspension
Vehicle Range:160miles
Speed:15.7mph

The Medium Tank M1922 was an inter-war period medium tank built in the United States.[1] It was largely a variant of the Medium Tank M1921, with some changes to use the same track suspension system that had been developed for the Medium Mark D.[2]

The M1922 was initially the second tank in an order for two M1921s placed in April 1920 but the order was changed to one M1921 to the original design and one using the cable track system [2]

Specifications

Like the M1921, the M1922 was essentially a box-shaped tank with a mildly sloped front. It had a round turret, with a 57mm QF Hotchkiss gun carrying 146 rounds. The tank's suspension was of the flexible type, with each track shoe 17inches wide. The top speed was 15.7mph.the engine is a Murray and Tregurtha, Marine, 6-cylinder providing 195 hp at 1,250 rpm. it weight 25.5 Short tons. The armour was the same as the M1921. ranging from 1inches to 0.375inches. The cable suspension system, similar to that of the earlier British Medium Mark D, was superior to other tanks of the era, and it was faster than the M1921.

Use/deployment

11 were produced, and it was only used for testing. A 16-ton limit was imposed on tanks because of the load on bridges and roads in the United States, which led to the tank being declined for uptake by the military.One example was preserved in the Ordnance Museum, sometime after 1926. The T1 US tank was based on both the Medium Tank M1921 and the M1922.

Survivors

There is at least one surviving example in the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection, Fort Moore, Georgia[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Medium Tank M1922 (Medium A) . History of War . 14 June 2017 .
  2. Web site: M1921 Military Factory . www.militaryfactory.com . 19 January 2021 .
  3. 1501216618868842506. ArmorCollection. It's #tanktuesday, and today we showcase the century-old U.S. M1922 Medium Tank, recently transferred to the Collection. The M1922 was a evolution of the M1921 Medium, and utilized a cable track system.. U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection. 8 March 2022.