| M44: General | |||
| Date of first acceptance | 1945 | Total acceptances | 6 |
| Manufacturer | Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors Corp. | Crew |
|
| M44: Dimensions | |||
| Combat weight | 51,000lbs 23,000kg |
Height over cupola | 100.0" 254.0cm |
| Length | 256.3" 651.0cm |
Width | 119.6" 303.8cm |
| Tread | 96.0" 244cm |
Ground clearance | 18.3" 46.5cm |
| Ground pressure, zero penetration | 8.1psi .57kg/cm² |
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| M44: Armament | ||||
| Type | Mount | Ammunition | Traverse | Elevation |
| .50cal M2HB MG | Flexible in concentric ring mount T107 | 550 rounds | 360° (manual) |
Manual |
| .30cal M1919A4 MG | Ball mount in right bow | 1,000 rounds | Manual | Manual |
| M44: Armor | ||
| Assembly | ||
| Welding | ||
| Hull | ||
| Rolled and cast homogeneous steel | ||
| Location | Thickness | Angle from vertical |
| Upper front | .375" .953cm |
60° |
| Middle front | .625" 1.59cm |
10° |
| Lower front | .50" 1.3cm |
0° to 68° |
| Upper sides | .50" 1.3cm |
0° |
| Lower sides | .375" .953cm |
0° |
| Upper rear | .50" 1.3cm |
0° |
| Lower rear | .375" .953cm |
53° |
| Front top | .375" .953cm |
82° |
| Center top | .375" .953cm |
90° |
| Top sides | .375" .953cm |
70° |
| Sponson floor | .375" to .25" .953cm to .64cm |
90° |
| Floor | .3125" .7938cm |
90° |
| M44: Automotive | |||||
| Engine | Continental R-975-D4; 9 cylinder, 4 cycle, static radial, supercharged gasoline | ||||
| Horsepower | Net: 400@2,400rpm Gross: 460@2,400rpm |
Torque | Net: 940 ft-lb@1,700rpm Gross: 1,025 ft-lb@1,800rpm |
Fuel capacity | 250gal 946L |
| Transmission | 900AD Torqmatic, 3 speeds forward, 1 reverse | ||||
| Steering | Controlled differential, steering levers | ||||
| Brakes | Mechanical, external contracting | ||||
| M44: Suspension | ||
| Type | Road wheels | Track return rollers |
| Torsion bar | 6 independently sprung dual/track | 4 dual/track |
| Drive sprockets | Idlers | Shock absorbers | 14-tooth front drive | Dual adjustable at rear of track | On first 2 and last 2 road wheels/track |
| M44: Track | |||||||
| Center guide, single pin, cast steel chevron | |||||||
| Width | 21" 53cm |
Pitch | 6" 15cm |
Shoes/track | 83 | Ground contact length | 149.1" 378.7cm |
| M44: Performance | |||
| Max level road speed | 32mph 51kph |
Max trench | 84" 210cm |
| Max grade | 60% | Max vertical obstacle | 24" 61cm |
| Min turning diameter | 44' 13m |
Max fording depth | 40" 100cm |
| Cruising range | ~180mi, roads ~290km, roads |
||
The M44 used an engine and power train similar to the 76mm GMC M18. The engine compartment was at the front of the vehicle between the driver and bow gunner, and the commander's station was just behind the engine compartment. The driver, commander, and bow machine gunner each had their own vision cupolas, and there were pistol ports for the passengers along the hull sides and in both of the rear entry doors. The .50cal ring mount was found at the rear of the M44 with a covering hatch in the passenger compartment roof. Support brackets for a .30cal machine gun were mounted on the hull roof in front of and behind each side escape door. The right-hand socket assemblies were 7038300, and the left-hand assemblies 7038299. The fixed fire extinguisher system comprised three 10lb (4.5lb) CO2 fire extinguishers, and two 4lb (1.8kg) portable CO2 extinguishers were also carried. Electrical storage for the 24-volt system was provided by two 12-volt batteries in series. World War II ended before M44 could see production, however even if the vehicle had been ready for full-scale production before hostilities had ended, it was too big to be practical. Doctrine at that time called for a squad-sized personnel carrier, and the 24-troop capacity of M44 was just too large.
