Carro armato leggero M7

Carro armato leggero M7
Paese	Usa
Categoria	Veicoli corazzati
digitare	Serbatoio leggero
Descrizione	Album de 94 foto walk-around del "M7 Light Tank"

Galleria fotografica su un carro leggero M7, ordinato come successore del popolare carro armato M5 non andò mai oltre lo stadio di prototipo, ne furono costruiti solo 7. L'M5 non poteva competere con lo Sherman M4.

Caratteristiche tecniche: Armement: canon de 75mm et une mitrailleuse MG 0.3″ Moteur: Wright R975, 9 cyl. Whirlwind radial, gas, 340 hp Vitesse: 50 Km/h Autonomie: 160 Km Poids: 25t

M7 Light Tank 11

M7 Light Tank 10

M7 Light Tank 12

M7 Light Tank 13

M7 Light Tank 14

M7 Light Tank 15

M7 Light Tank 16

M7 Light Tank 17

M7 Light Tank 18

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The M7 Medium Tank, initially conceived as the T7 Light Tank, was a World War II armored vehicle project by the United States intended to replace the M3/M5 “Stuart” light tank series. Due to successive requirements for increased armor and firepower, the tank grew significantly in weight during its development, ultimately exceeding the specifications for a light tank and leading to its reclassification as a medium tank.

Development and Classification Changes

The T7 Light Tank Program

Initial Requirement: The program began in 1941 to design a new light tank, aiming for a combat weight of under 14 short tons (12.7 tonnes), armed with a 37 mm gun, and featuring a low silhouette.
Weight Creep: As development progressed through prototypes (T7E2, T7E3, T7E4), the Ordnance Department and Armored Force requested a heavier main gun—first the British 57 mm (6-pounder), and finally the American 75 mm M3 gun (the same as the M4 Sherman).
Armor Increase: Correspondingly, armor thickness was increased to handle the heavier armament and match contemporary threats, pushing the weight past the original 14-ton limit.

Standardization and Cancellation

Reclassification: By the time the T7E5 prototype was ready, its combat weight had reached approximately **24.5 short tons** (22.2 tonnes). It was standardized as the **M7 Medium Tank** in August 1942.
Production Failure: International Harvester Co. was contracted to build 3,000 M7s, but production models were found to be even heavier than the prototypes, approaching 29 short tons.
Project Cancellation: The M7 was deemed **inferior** in performance and reliability to the already standardized and mass-produced **M4 Sherman**, while offering no significant operational benefit. Production was halted in July 1943 after only **13 units** were fully completed.

Technical Specifications (M7 Medium Tank)

General Characteristics

Specificazione	Detail
Designation	Medium Tank M7
Equipaggio	5 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver, Co-Driver)
Mass (Combat)	Approx. 24.5 tonnes (54,000 lb)
Lunghezza	5.23 m (17 ft 2 in)
Larghezza	2.84 m (9 ft 4 in)

Armament and Armor

Component	Detail
Armamento principale	1 x 75 mm M3 L/40 gun
Ammunition Capacity	71 rounds (75 mm)
Armamento secondario	3 x .30 cal (7.62 mm) M1919A4 machine guns
Armor (Max Frontal)	Up to 64 mm (2.5 in) on the gun shield
Hull Construction	Predominantly cast homogeneous steel with sloped frontal armor.

Mobility and Powerplant

Component	Detail
Motore	Continental R975-C1 9-cylinder radial gasoline
Engine Power	400 hp (298 kW)
Velocità massima	Approx. 48 km/h (30 mph) on road
Sospensione	Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS)

The M7 project represents a transitional design in American tank development, illustrating the difficulty of balancing speed, armor, and firepower as battlefield requirements evolved in World War II.