PMMS

bookM24 Chaffee Light Tank 1943-1985
by Steven J Zaloga, Illustrated by Jim Laurier
New Vanguard No 77
Osprey Publishing, Elms Court, Chapel Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 9LP
ISBN 1-84176-540-6
48 pages, soft cover

Review by Peter Brown


For most of WW2, America built and used light tanks which were derived from pre-war designs. The M2 Light Tank series was developed into the M3 series Stuarts which were then improved into the M5 series, but they were limited by their small 37mm gun and a replacement was needed. This was to have been the T7 with the same 37mm gun, improved with the better 57mm gun it was reclassified as the M7 Medium Tank and as such became a poor medium tank which was to be quickly dropped. US tankers had to wait for a new generation of vehicle, when it came it incorporated torsion bar suspension, a low-profile hull with armour well sloped to make the most of its fairly thin plates and a larger, three-man turret mounting a lightweight 75mm gun, it was far and away superior to the Stuarts. However, development took time and it was to be the end of 1944 before they were available in any numbers and only a few were in the hands of the troops before 1945.

These new M24, named after General Adna Chaffee, the father of the American armored force, were an immediate success. With firepower rivalling the older generation of Sherman, they were fast and mobile and while the lack of protection was a problem it was not seen as any worse in real terms than that with Sherman. It was used in increasing numbers in the battles in Germany and in smaller quantities in Italy, with a small number going into British use in the final months of the war.

Despite being good, its lack of firepower meant that it could not be expected to take on heavier enemy tanks as was seen when M24s were rushed to Korea where they fared badly against T-34-85s. This spurred development of a better design which was to emerge as the M41 Walker Bulldog, though paradoxically this was to be the making of the M24 in a new role. 90% of the tanks built were exported to the countries making up the new World Order in Europe where it served from Norway to Greece and Turkey among 10 NATO and neutral nations, the Far East in Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam and others and even to some countries in the Middle East including both Iraq and Iran. In addition, the biggest single non-US user France used them in its campaign in Indo China where some were even flown into the airhead at Dien Bien Phu. Others were used in Vietnam and in small numbers in conflicts between Pakistan and India. Many were to serve for years, and improvement packages extended their useful life in Norway with new power pack and 90mm gun while some modernised vehicles continued in use into the new century in Uruguay.

Variants using the basic chassis were produced, some came to nothing but the M19 with twin 40mm Bofors guns, 105mm M37 and 155mm M41 were used briefly as part of a Light Combat Team. These developments as well as the mainstream development and combat use of the M24 are well described by Steve Zaloga in his usual style, well presented and illustrated with black and white photos, all enhanced by colour plates by Jim Laurier. These depict the tank at various stages in its long and wide career, from an American vehicle in 1945, a British one with 13th/18th Hussars in Germany just post-war, as well as French, Greek, Spanish, Pakistani and Uruguyan colours and markings as well as the usual double-page cutaway plate.

Well worth having in its own right or as a timely reference book for the re-released Italeri kit, this is a fine combination of author, illustrator and publisher all showing what they can do. Osprey are widely available, see their web site www.ospreypublishing.com if you cannot get your copy from your usual source.



Page Created 11 July 2003

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