 |
|
At the right front hull was a 33-round 76mm ammunition rack. The turret is reversed on this tank, with the main gun in travel lock. On the floor of the vehicle, two of the suspending torsion bars are visible. The opposite wheels on the M41, along with most vehicles suspended by torsion bars, are slightly offset, and it is visible why here. The bars run the length of the hull, and force the wheels to be mounted slightly ahead of one another.
 |
Visible here are the gunner's controls of the pulsing relay gun control system. The shiny black handle of the elevation hand pump is obvious in the center of the picture, and the traverse hand drive handle is positioned to the upper right of the photo behind the padded arm guard. The telescope cover control handle is painted white and is above and to the front of the elevating pump. The Cadillac gun control system featured a large handwheel for turret traverse.
 |
These instruments are above and to the right of those featured in the above picture. The white gun firing control box is mounted to the turret side wall, and to the front of this is the gunner's M20 sighting periscope. The handle above the traverse hand drive handle is the gunner's power traverse handle. The switch just to the left of the power traverse handle is the hydraulic dump valve toggle switch.
 |
This is the driver's position of the M41 as seen from the turret. The hand throttle is visible just above the left-hand instrument cluster, and the early-style steering crossbar is in the middle of the picture. The handles for the crossbar are black and descend vertically from the ends of the crossbar's horizontal member. The black handle behind the crossbar is the primer pump. The accelerator pedal is just visible to the right of the primer pump handle. The white handles hanging down from the top of the picture are the mounting clamp levers for the driver's M17 periscopes.
 |
A more detailed view of the hull ammunition rack is presented here. Thirty-three rounds were stowed in the hull, and they were held in place by the retaining plates at the front of each tube.
 |
This photo shows the first location of the auxiliary generator engine muffler, on the right main engine muffler. The exhaust tubing can be seen leading from the muffler to the shroud near the front of the engine compartment. (Picture courtesy Joe Wallace.)
 |
The left rear of the carbureted engine is shown here. One double-venturi downdraft carburetor was provided for each bank of three cylinders. The engine's oil pan had an 11 gallon (42L) capacity. Including the flywheel assembly, the engine was 47.43" (120.5cm) long, 51.56" (131.0cm) wide, 34.81" (88.42cm) tall, and had a dry weight of 1894lb (859.1kg) including the flywheel and all accessories. (Picture from TM 9-1730A Continental 6-cylinder Engine Model AOS-895-3.)
 |
This is a later-production M41A1, as evidenced by the turret's low side weld line, angled fenders, T-shaped muzzle brake, and the placement of the auxiliary generator engine muffler on the front right fender. Just outboard of the small muffler is the pioneer tool stowage rack. The gunner's and commander's pericope guards are visible on the right side of the turret, and the mount for the .50cal MG is beside the commander's cupola. The locking pins for the driver's hatch are positioned on the tank's glacis to the right of his door.
 |
This tank is the subject of the following detail photos. It shares some features with the vehicle above, including angled fenders and mounting the auxiliary engine muffler (which is not present) on the front fender. The interior of the fender stowage box is visible as its cover is missing as well. The Audi TT provides some scale to the size of the vehicle.
 |
This is the corroded driver's hatch of the Moundsville tank. The handle is obvious, and the circular opening is for installation of the M19 infrared periscope. Daytime view for the driver was provided by four M17 periscopes, which covered an arc of approximately 270°.The door lock can be seen at the top center of the photo, and the locking pins are welded to the front hull plate.
 |
The left-side position of the driver is apparent in this view of the tank's front hull. Lifting eyes and towing lugs are welded to the upper and lower plates, respectively, and the positions of the headlight mountings are visible. This tank is wired for the later-production headlight assemblies, which included an infrared blackout headlight for use with the M19 periscope. The aperture in gun shield's left-hand side is for the coaxial machine gun.
 |
This right front view shows the location of the pioneer tool rack. Just inboard of the pioneer tool rack, a mounting clamp for the auxiliary engine muffler is visible. Behind this, snaking back to the rear of the tank, is the flexible exhaust tube that led from the auxiliary engine to its muffler.
 |
Featured in this picture is the auxiliary generator engine exhaust shroud. It was located at the right front of the main engine compartment, and its muffler was originally located to the rear on the main engine muffler, until it was realized that heat from the main engine muffler damaged the auxiliary muffler. The flexible exhaust tubing can be seen leading towards the front of the tank, where the auxiliary engine mufflers were then relocated. In front of the exhaust shroud is a fender stowage box; behind this is the right-hand main engine muffler shield.
 |
The travel lock for the 76mm gun is visible folded to the rear on the tank's left-side fender, and the main engine mufflers are obvious on each fender. The access cover in the middle of the centrally-placed transmission rear access door was for filling the transmission oil. The rear of the turret is dominated by the large stowage box. Fixtures on the bottom rear of the tank include towing lugs flanking the central towing pintle, and just inboard of the right-hand final drive is the interphone equipment case. The taillights are mounted just outside of the rear lifting eyes.
 |
This picture illustrates the idler wheel adjustment mechanism. The linkage can crank the wheel in order to account for slack in the T91E3 tracks.
 |
The road wheels on the M41 were mounted on trailing arms. These wheels are on the tank's left side, and behind the wheel itself is visible the volute spring bumper stop that limited wheel amplitude and prevented bottoming on the hull. To the rear, a shock absorber can be seen angling up from the last road wheel.
 |
The 12-tooth rear drive sprocket is visible here, along with details of the T91E3 track. The track was center guide, single pin, and featured rubber pads on both the road surface and the inner surface of the track.
 |
The low weld line characteristic of later-production tanks is visible on this vehicle. The weld line must angle upwards to meet the bottom of the turret bustle instead of going straight across the turret at the bustle level. The row of small bolts near the front of the turret was for attaching a canvas gun mantlet cover, and the hook on the fender stowage box was to help hold the tow cable which was stowed on the tank's left side. The fourth driver's periscope is also visible.
 |
The muzzle brake of this tank is the early cast variety. Just behind this is the bore evacuator for the 76mm gun.
 |
The commander's and gunner's periscope guards dominate this view of the tank's roof. Mounts for the .50cal M2HB machine gun are positioned between the commander's cupola and gunner's periscope, and also to the left side of the TC's cupola. Later tanks moved the MG mount to a more serviceable position to the left front of the TC's cupola.
 |
The opening for the loader's periscope is closest to the foreground in this image, and his hatch and hatch lock are visible as well. The commander's cupola was ringed at the bottom by five vision blocks facing to the sides and rear, and an M20 periscope provided forward view. The circular holes in the vehicle's roof were for antenna mounts, and the stowage brackets for the disassembled .50cal machine gun are also present on the roof.
 |
At the very rear of the turret, behind the vehicle's radio set, was an air blower. This helped to exhaust any main gun propellant fumes that the bore evacuator did not take care of, and also those generated by the coaxial machine gun. Attached to the rear of the turret is a large stowage box, and a mount for a 5gal (19L) can is visible on each side of the turret.
 |
This view shows the turret interior of the tank. The breech of the 76mm gun is on the right of the picture, and the commander's seat is visible to the rear. On the rear turret floor would normally be a spent cartridge bin for 76mm casings, but this has apparently been removed from this vehicle. (Note: If those are your pants, please email me; I have to hear this story.)
Questions? Comments? Corrections? Email me
© Copyright 2001-8 Chris Conners