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M10
M10A1

3" Gun Motor Carriage M101-12

M10: General
Date of first acceptance September 1942 Total acceptances 4,993
Manufacturer Fisher Tank Division Crew
5 men:
  • Commander in turret right rear
  • Gunner in turret left front
  • Loader in turret rear
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull right front
M10: Dimensions
Combat weight 65,200lbs
29,600kg
Height over AAMG 114"
290cm
Length without gun 235.1"
597.2cm
Gun overhang forward 33.7"
85.6cm
Width 120"
305cm
Tread 83"
211cm
Ground clearance 17"
43cm
Fire height 83"
211cm
Turret ring diameter 69"
175cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 13.4psi
.941kg/cm²
M10: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
3" Gun M7 M5 in turret 54 rounds
(6 ready)
360°
(manual)
+30° to -10°
(manual)
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible in cradle and pintle assembly D70627 1,000 rounds 360°
(manual)
+80° to -10°
(manual)
Aiming equipment
Telescope M51 or M70G for gunner
M10: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled and cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 1.5"
3.8cm
55°
Lower front 2.0"
5.1cm
0° to 56°
Upper sides .75"
1.9cm
38°
Lower sides 1.0"
2.5cm
Upper rear .75"
1.9cm
38°
Lower rear 1.0"
2.5cm
Front top .75"
1.9cm
90°
Rear top .375"
.953cm
90°
Floor .50"
1.3cm
90°
Turret
Rolled and cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Front (gun shield) 2.25"
5.72cm
45°
Sides 1.0"
2.5cm
15°
Rear 1.0"
2.5cm
Top .75"
1.9cm
90°
M10: Automotive
Engine General Motors 6046; 12 cylinder (6/engine), 2 cycle, twin in-line diesel
Horsepower Net: 375@2,100 crankshaft rpm
(188/engine)
Gross: 410@2,900 propeller shaft rpm
(205/engine)
Torque Net: 1,000 ft-lb@1,400 crankshaft rpm
(500/engine)
Gross: 885 ft-lb@1,900 propeller shaft rpm
(443/engine)
Fuel capacity 165gal
625L
Transmission Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
M10: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Vertical volute spring 3 bogies/track;
2 wheels/bogie
1 at rear of each bogie
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
13-tooth front drive Adjustable at rear of track None
M10: Track
T48
Outside guide, double pin, chevron, rubber
Width 16.56"
42.06cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
T49
Outside guide, double pin, parallel bar, steel
Width 16.56"
42.06cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
T51
Outside guide, double pin, smooth, rubber
Width 16.56"
42.06cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
T54E1
Outside guide, double pin, chevron, steel
Width 16.56"
42.06cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
M10: Performance
Max level road speed 25mph sustained
30mph dash
40kph sustained
48kph dash
Max trench 90"
230cm
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 24"
61cm
Min turning diameter 62'
19m
Max fording depth 36"
91cm
Cruising range ~200mi, roads
~320km, roads

The 3" GMC M10 tank destroyer was based on the medium tank M4A2, and had the same main gun as the heavy tank M6. M10s were built with single-piece final drive and differential covers, and the turret only had a partial roof over its front third. This allowed better visibility and easier servicing of the weapon, at an obvious cost of increased vulnerability. The hull and turret on the M10 both took advantage of armor sloping, and both were fitted with bosses to which additional armor could be attached should the need have arisen. The turret of the M10 was five-sided, including the gun shield in front. Two triangular counterweights totaling 3,600lb (1,600kg) were added to the rear of the turret to balance the heavy 1,990lb (903kg) 3" gun in the front. These greatly eased turret traverse. On late production M10s, the applique armor bosses were deleted from the turret and hull sides, but remained on the hull glacis, and the turret counterweights were changed to a "duckbill" cross-section. The shape of the turret rear was altered in late-production vehicles to improve working space. Other changes made during production included a heavier clutch pressure spring and semimetallic clutch facings; the addition of a clutch equalizer; the change to heavy-duty suspension bogies with return rollers at the rear; changing to a single instead of double throttle control; replacing the transmission parking brake with one controlled by the steering levers; going from handwheel-type turret locks to lever-type; changing to a three-pronged plug-and-socket type gun firing circuit pedestal from the original single-jack type; the addition of hooks to hold the drivers' doors open; adding mounting steps to the outside front; installing a safety lock arm on the engine compartment splash panel; and providing lubrication oil dip sticks to enable manual monitoring of oil level. The gun mount was intended to permit the installation of the 105mm howitzer or British OQF 17 pounder instead of the 3" gun; only the 3" gun was used by the US, but the British did install the 17 pounder Mk.V in a number of Lend-Lease M10s.

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3" Gun Motor Carriage M10A11-2,6-10,13

M10A1: General
Date of first acceptance October 1942 Total acceptances 1,413
Manufacturers
  • Ford Motor Co.
  • Fisher Tank Division
Crew
5 men:
  • Commander in turret right rear
  • Gunner in turret left front
  • Loader in turret rear
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull right front
M10A1: Dimensions
Combat weight 64,000lbs
29,000kg
Height over AAMG 114"
290cm
Length without gun 235.1"
597.2cm
Gun overhang forward 33.7"
85.6cm
Width 120"
305cm
Tread 83"
211cm
Ground clearance 17"
43cm
Fire height 83"
211cm
Turret ring diameter 69"
175cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 13.5psi
.948kg/cm²
M10A1: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
3" Gun M7 M5 in turret 54 rounds
(6 ready)
360°
(manual)
+30° to -10°
(manual)
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible in cradle and pintle assembly D70627 1,000 rounds 360°
(manual)
+80° to -10°
(manual)
Aiming equipment
Telescope M51 or M70G for gunner
M10A1: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled and cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 1.5"
3.8cm
55°
Lower front 2.0"
5.1cm
0° to 56°
Upper sides .75"
1.9cm
38°
Lower sides 1.0"
2.5cm
Upper rear .75"
1.9cm
38°
Lower rear 1.0"
2.5cm
Front top .75"
1.9cm
90°
Rear top .375"
.953cm
90°
Floor .50"
1.3cm
90°
Turret
Rolled and cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Front (gun shield) 2.25"
5.72cm
45°
Sides 1.0"
2.5cm
15°
Rear 1.0"
2.5cm
Top .75"
1.9cm
90°
M10A1: Automotive
Engine Ford GAA; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, 60° vee gasoline
Horsepower Net: 450@2,600rpm
Gross: 500@2,600rpm
Torque Net: 950 ft-lb@2,200rpm
Gross: 1,040 ft-lb@2,200rpm
Fuel capacity 192gal
727L
Transmission Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
M10A1: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Vertical volute spring 3 bogies/track;
2 wheels/bogie
1 at rear of each bogie
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
13-tooth front drive Adjustable at rear of track None
M10A1: Track
T48
Outside guide, double pin, chevron, rubber
Width 16.56"
42.06cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
T49
Outside guide, double pin, parallel bar, steel
Width 16.56"
42.06cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
T51
Outside guide, double pin, smooth, rubber
Width 16.56"
42.06cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
T54E1
Outside guide, double pin, chevron, steel
Width 16.56"
42.06cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
M10A1: Performance
Max level road speed 30mph
48kph
Max trench 90"
230cm
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 24"
61cm
Min turning diameter 62'
19m
Max fording depth 36"
91cm
Cruising range ~160mi, roads
~260km, roads

The M10A1 was based on the medium tank M4A3, and was similar to the M10 except for the Ford GAA engine; mounting the GAA gave the M10A1 larger air intake grilles on the top of the hull rear.

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1994. Reprinted with permission from Sherman, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1994, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
  2. TM 9-323 3-inch Gun M7 Mounted in Combat Vehicles. Washington, DC: War Department, 6 September 1943.
  3. TM 9-752 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10. Washington, DC: War Department, 25 November 1943.
  4. SNL G-130 Service Parts Catalog for Carriage, Motor, 3-inch Gun, M10. June 1945.
  5. Tank Data, vol. 3. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: US Army Ordnance School, Jul 1958.
  6. TM 9-1750L Hull and Turret Electrical Systems, Tracks and Suspension for 3-inch Gun Motor Carriages M10 and M10A1. Washington, DC: War Department, 9 December 1943.
  7. Catalogue of Standard Ordnance Items, 2nd edition 1944, volume 1. Washington, DC: Office of the Chief of Ordnance Technical Division, 1 June 1945.
  8. Sola, Samuel, Vincent Bobkowski, and Kara Crocker. Weapon Mounts for Secondary Armament. Santa Monica, CA: G. O. Noville & Associates, Inc., April 1957.
  9. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
  10. Siemers, Cary. "USA's M10, M10A1 Tank Destroyers." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 25 Nov 2000. 23 Jan 2001 <http://www.shadowsfolly.com/WWII/USA/M10TD.htm>.
  11. Zuljan, Ralph. "M10 Tank Destroyer." Second World War Armor. 16 Mar 2000. 23 Jan 2001 <http://www.onwar.com/tanks/usa/fm10.htm>. Second World War Armor
  12. TM 9-731B Medium Tank M4A2. Washington, DC: War Department, 13 January 1943.
  13. TM 9-731G 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10A1. Washington, DC: War Department, 28 July 1943.
Last updated 20 Dec 2023.
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© Copyright 2001-23 Chris Conners