| M7 medium tank | |
|---|---|
 Third production M7 medium tank at the General Motors Proving Ground. | |
| Type | Medium tank |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | International Harvester Corp. |
| Produced | 1942 |
| No. built | 13 + prototypes[1][2] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 53,950 lb (24,470 kg) |
| Length | 17 ft 2 in (5.23 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) |
| Height | 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) |
| Crew | 5 (Commander, loader, gunner, driver, co-driver) |
| Armor | 13–64 mm (0.51–2.52 in) |
Main armament | 75 mm M3 in M47 mount 71 rounds |
Secondary armament | 3 × .30-06 M1919A4 Browning machine gun 4,500 rounds |
| Engine | Continental R975-C1; 9-cylinder radial gasoline 350 hp (260 kW) |
| Suspension | Vertical volute spring suspension |
| Maximum speed | 30 mph (48 km/h) on road |
The M7 medium tank, initially T7 light tank, was an American tank, originally conceived as an up-gunned replacement for the M3/M5 light tank ("Stuart"). The project developed to mount the same 75mm armament as the M4 Sherman while retaining the light weight and maneuverability of the M3 Stuart; however, during development the weight of the prototype surpassed the US Army's standard for light tanks and crossed into the medium tank category and was renamed.[3] The M7 had significantly less armor than the M4 Sherman, no greater firepower, and held only a slight advantage in top speed. For these reasons, and because the M4 was already battle-tested and in full production, the M7 was cancelled in 1943.
- ^ Chamberlain & Ellis 1981, p. 98.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Hunnicuttwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Conners, Chris. "Medium Tank M7". The AFV Database. Retrieved October 14, 2014.