| M7: General | |||
| Date of first acceptance | December 1942 | Total acceptances | 7 |
| Manufacturer | International Harvester Corp. | Crew |
|
| M7: Dimensions | |||
| Combat weight | 53,950lbs 24,470kg |
Height | 93" 240cm |
| Length without gun, without fenders | 206" 523cm |
Gun overhang forward | 4" 10cm |
| Width | 112" 284cm |
Tread | 91.5" 232cm |
| Ground clearance | 16" 41cm |
Fire height | 77" 200cm |
| Turret ring diameter | 64" 160cm |
Ground pressure, zero penetration | 10.7psi .751kg/cm² |
| M7: Armament | |||||
| Type | Mount | Ammunition | Traverse | Max traverse rate | Elevation |
| 75mm Gun M3 | M47 in turret | 71 rounds | 360° (manual and hydraulic) |
24°/sec | +18° to -8° (manual) |
| .30cal M1919A4 MG | Flexible in turret AA mount | 4,500 rounds | 360° (manual) |
-- | Manual |
| .30cal M1919A5 MG | Coaxial to 75mm gun | 360° (manual and hydraulic) |
24°/sec | +18° to -8° (manual) |
|
| .30cal M1919A4 MG | Ball mount D40771 in right bow | 45° (20° left and 25° right; manual) |
-- | +20° to -10° (manual) |
|
| Aiming equipment | |||||
| Periscope M4 with telescope M38; telescope M55 for gunner | |||||
| Stabilizer | |||||
| Elevation only | |||||
| M7: Armor | ||
| Assembly | ||
| Welding | ||
| Hull | ||
| Cast homogeneous steel | ||
| Location | Thickness | Angle from vertical |
| Upper front | 1.5" 3.8cm |
50° |
| Lower front | 1.5" 3.8cm |
0° |
| Upper sides | 1.25" 3.18cm |
0° to 50° |
| Lower sides | 1.25" 3.18cm |
0° |
| Upper rear | 1.0" 2.5cm |
0° |
| Lower rear | 1.0" 2.5cm |
19° |
| Top | .75" 1.9cm |
90° |
| Front floor | 1.0" 2.5cm |
90° |
| Rear floor | .5" 1.3cm |
90° |
| Turret | ||
| Cast homogeneous steel | ||
| Location | Thickness | Angle from vertical |
| Gun shield (cast) | 2.5" 6.4cm |
0° |
| Front | 2.0" 5.1cm |
23° |
| Left side | 1.5" 3.8cm |
21° |
| Right side | 1.5" 3.8cm |
24° |
| Rear | 1.5" 3.8cm |
11° |
| Top | .75" 1.9cm |
90° |
| M7: Automotive | |||||
| Engine | Continental R975 C1; 9 cylinder, 4 cycle, static radial, supercharged gasoline | ||||
| Horsepower | Net: 350@2,400rpm Gross: 400@2,400rpm |
Torque | Net: 800 ft-lb@1,800rpm Gross: 890 ft-lb@1,800rpm |
Fuel capacity | 138gal 522L |
| Transmission | Spicer automatic, 3 speeds forward, 1 reverse | ||||
| Steering | Controlled differential, steering levers | ||||
| Brakes | Mechanical, external contracting | ||||
| M7: Suspension | ||
| Type | Road wheels | Track return rollers |
| Vertical volute spring | 2 bogies/track; 2 wheels/bogie |
3/track |
| Drive sprockets | Idlers | Shock absorbers | 13-tooth front drive | Trailing adjustable with volute spring at rear of track | None |
| M7: Track | |||||||
| T48 | |||||||
| Outside guide, double pin, chevron, rubber | |||||||
| Width | 16.56" 42.06cm |
Pitch | 6" 15cm |
Shoes/track | 71 | Ground contact length | 152.5" 387.4cm |
| M7: Performance | |||
| Max level road speed | 30mph 50kph |
Max trench | 78" 200cm |
| Max grade | 50% | Max vertical obstacle | 24" 61cm |
| Min turning diameter | 64' 20m |
Max fording depth | 36" 91cm |
| Cruising range | ~100mi, roads ~160km, roads |
||
The M7 medium tank began its life as a light tank design, but its weight increased from the first design maximum of 14 tons (13,000kg) to over 26 tons (24,000kg), which moved the vehicle into the medium tank category. The drivers were provided with protected vision slots in the upper hull plate as well as an escape door in the lower left hull behind the driver. The commander and loader had their own square split hatches. The fixed fire extinguisher system utilized two 10lb (4.5kg) CO2 bottles, and two 4lb (1.8kg) portable CO2 fire extinguishers were also carried. Two 12-volt batteries were connected in series for the 24-volt electrical system. The M4 Sherman was in full production by the time M7 production was scheduled to commence, and since M7 showed inferior performance when compared to the standardized US Army medium tank, the M4A3, the M7 was not selected for service.
