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M31B1
M31
M31B2

Tank Recovery Vehicle M31B11-4
M31B1: General
Date of first acceptance October 1942 Total acceptances 296
Manufacturer Baldwin Locomotive Works Crew 6 men
M31B1: Dimensions
Combat weight 67,000lbs
30,000kg		 Height with boom lowered 120"
300cm
Hull length 222"
564cm		 Width over side doors 107"
272cm
Tread 83"
211cm		 Ground clearance 17"
43cm
Turret ring diameter 54.5"
138cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 13.7psi
.963kg/cm²
M31B1: Armament
Type Mount Traverse Elevation
.30cal M1919 MG AA mount on turret 360°
(manual)		 Manual
.30cal M1919 MG Fixed in hull left front 0° 0°
M31B1: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 2.0"
5.1cm		 30°
Middle front 1.5"
3.8cm		 53°
Lower front 2.0"
5.1cm		 0° to 45°
Sides 1.5"
3.8cm		 0°
Rear 1.5"
3.8cm		 0° to 10°
Top .50"
1.3cm		 83° to 90°
Front floor 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
Rear floor .50"
1.3cm		 90°
Turret
Cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Front 2.0"
5.1cm		 47°
Sides 2.0"
5.1cm		 5°
Rear 2.0"
5.1cm		 5°
Top .875"
2.22cm		 90°
M31B1: Automotive
Engine General Motors 6046; 12 cylinder (6/engine), 2 cycle, twin in-line diesel
Horsepower Net: 375@2100 crankshaft rpm
Gross: 410@2900 propellor shaft rpm		 Torque Net: 1000 ft-lb@1400 crankshaft rpm
Gross: 885 ft-lb@1900 propellor shaft rpm		 Fuel capacity 148gal
560L
Transmission Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
M31B1: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Vertical volute spring 3 bogies/track;
2 wheels/bogie		 1 on top of each bogie
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
13-tooth front drive Adjustable at rear of track None
M31B1: Track
T41
Outside guide, double pin, smooth, rubber
Width 16.0"
40.6cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
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
M31B1: Performance
Max level road speed 25 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 ~150mi, roads
~240km, roads


M31B1 was based on the M3A3 Lee. The 75mm gun rotor was replaced by a door fitted with a dummy tube, and a crane replaced the 37mm gun in the turret. The turret was rotated to the rear when not in use, and a dummy 37mm tube was attached to the turret rear to keep the appearance of a fighting vehicle. The turret machine gun mount was the British style seen on the cruiser tank Grant I instead of the normal Lee cupola. The crane could lift 10,000lbs (4500kg) without the supporting boom jacks extended, 12,000lbs (5400kg) with the jacks attached to the front hull, or 30,000lbs (14,000kg) with the support legs on the ground. A 60,000lb (27,000kg) capacity winch was added in the fighting compartment, and the cable was spooled out of the turret and over the crane boom or out the rear of the TRV. Tool boxes were also added to the rear sponsons and above the dummy 75mm gun.

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Tank Recovery Vehicle M311-4
M31: General
Date of first acceptance December 1942 Total acceptances 509
Manufacturer Baldwin Locomotive Works Crew 6 men
M31: Dimensions
Combat weight 65,620lbs
29,770kg		 Height with boom lowered 120"
300cm
Hull length 222"
564cm		 Width over side doors 107"
272cm
Tread 83"
211cm		 Ground clearance 17"
43cm
Turret ring diameter 54.5"
138cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 13.4psi
.943kg/cm²
M31: Armament
Type Mount Traverse Elevation
.30cal M1919 MG AA mount on turret 360°
(manual)		 Manual
.30cal M1919 MG Fixed in hull left front 0° 0°
M31: Armor
Assembly
Riveting
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 2.0"
5.1cm		 30°
Middle front 1.5"
3.8cm		 53°
Lower front 2.0"
5.1cm		 0° to 45°
Sides 1.5"
3.8cm		 0°
Rear 1.5"
3.8cm		 0° to 10°
Top .50"
1.3cm		 83° to 90°
Front floor 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
Rear floor .50"
1.3cm		 90°
Turret
Cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Front 2.0"
5.1cm		 47°
Sides 2.0"
5.1cm		 5°
Rear 2.0"
5.1cm		 5°
Top .875"
2.22cm		 90°
M31: Automotive
Engine Wright (Continental) R975 EC2; 9 cylinder, 4 cycle, radial gasoline
Horsepower Net: 340@2400rpm
Gross: 400@2400rpm		 Torque Net: 800 ft-lb@1800rpm
Gross: 890 ft-lb@1800rpm		 Fuel capacity 175gal
662L
Transmission Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
M31: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Vertical volute spring 3 bogies/track;
2 wheels/bogie		 1 on top of each bogie
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
13-tooth front drive Adjustable at rear of track None
M31: Track
T41
Outside guide, double pin, smooth, rubber
Width 16.0"
40.6cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
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
M31: Performance
Max level road speed 21mph sustained
24mph dash
34kph sustained
39kph dash		 Max trench 90"
230cm
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 24"
61cm
Min turning diameter 62'
19m		 Max fording depth 40"
100cm
Cruising range ~120mi, roads
~190km, roads


The M31 was based on the medium tank M3, and the conversion was similar to the M31B1 except that the power takeoff on the diesel TRVs was at the front and powered by the engine, rather than being at the left rear and driven by the transmission, like on the radial gasoline-engined vehicles. This difference necessitated some modifications to the winch operator's position and controls.

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Tank Recovery Vehicle M31B21-4
M31B2: General
Manufacturer Baldwin Locomotive Works Crew 6 men
M31B2: Dimensions
Combat weight 68,000lbs
31,000kg		 Height with boom lowered 120"
300cm
Hull length 222"
564cm		 Width over side doors 107"
272cm
Tread 83"
211cm		 Ground clearance 17"
43cm
Turret ring diameter 54.5"
138cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 13.9psi
.967kg/cm²
M31B2: Armament
Type Mount Traverse Elevation
.30cal M1919 MG AA mount on turret 360°
(manual)		 Manual
.30cal M1919 MG Fixed in hull left front 0° 0°
M31B2: Armor
Assembly
Riveting
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 2.0"
5.1cm		 30°
Middle front 1.5"
3.8cm		 53°
Lower front 2.0"
5.1cm		 0° to 45°
Sides 1.5"
3.8cm		 0°
Rear 1.5"
3.8cm		 0° to 10°
Top .50"
1.3cm		 83° to 90°
Front floor 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
Rear floor .50"
1.3cm		 90°
Turret
Cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Front 2.0"
5.1cm		 47°
Sides 2.0"
5.1cm		 5°
Rear 2.0"
5.1cm		 5°
Top .875"
2.22cm		 90°
M31B2: Automotive
Engine General Motors 6046; 12 cylinder (6/engine), 2 cycle, twin in-line diesel
Horsepower Net: 375@2100 crankshaft rpm
Gross: 410@2900 propellor shaft rpm		 Torque Net: 1000 ft-lb@1400 crankshaft rpm
Gross: 885 ft-lb@1900 propellor shaft rpm		 Fuel capacity 148gal
560L
Transmission Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
M31B2: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Vertical volute spring 3 bogies/track;
2 wheels/bogie		 1 on top of each bogie
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
13-tooth front drive Adjustable at rear of track None
M31B2: Track
T41
Outside guide, double pin, smooth, rubber
Width 16.0"
40.6cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 147"
373cm
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
M31B2: Performance
Max level road speed 25 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 40"
100cm
Cruising range ~150mi, roads
~240km, roads


M31B2 was based on the M3A5 Lee.

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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. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.

  3. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.

  4. Siemers, Cary. "USA's M3, M3A1, M3A2, M3A3, M3A4, M3A5 Medium Tanks." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 28 Jan 2001. 20 Feb 2001 <http://www.shadowsfolly.com/WWII/USA/MediumTankM3.htm>.



Last updated 4 Dec 2002.

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© Copyright 2001-02 Chris Conners