M31: General | |||
Date of first acceptance | December 1942 | Total acceptances | 509 (109 converted to full-track prime mover M33) |
Manufacturer | Baldwin Locomotive Works | Crew | 6 men |
M31: Dimensions | |||
Combat weight | 60,000lbs 27,200kg |
Height with boom stowed | 117" 297cm |
Length with boom stowed | 317" 805cm |
Width over side doors | 107" 272cm |
Tread | 83" 211cm |
Ground clearance | 17.125" 43.498cm |
Turret ring diameter | 54.5" 138cm |
Ground pressure, zero penetration | 12.5psi .878kg/cm² |
M31: Armament | ||||
Type | Mount | Ammunition | Traverse | Elevation |
.30cal M1919 MG | AA mount on turret | 2,000 rounds | 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 | 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 | 185gal 700L |
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 | 25mph 40kph |
Max trench | 89" 230cm |
Max grade | 60% | Max vertical obstacle | 24" 61cm |
Min turning diameter | 62' 19m |
Max fording depth | 42" 110cm |
Cruising range | ~110mi ~180km |
The M31 was based on the medium tank M3. The 75mm gun rotor was replaced by a door fitted with a dummy tube, and a Gar Wood Model 10-Y 5500 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 (4,500kg) without the supporting boom jacks extended, 12,000lbs (5,400kg) 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. Due to dwindling supply of M3s, 296 M31B1s and M31B2s, which were similarly based on the M3A3 and M3A5, respectively, were converted by Baldwin Locomotive works beginning in October 1942. 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 gasoline radial-engined vehicles. This difference necessitated some modifications to the winch operator's position and controls.