Tank Recovery Vehicle M741-2
M74: General
Date of first acceptance February 1954
Manufacturers
  • Bowen-McLaughlin-York, Inc.
  • Rock Island Arsenal
Crew 5 men
M74: Dimensions
Height over AAMG 132"
335cm		 Length 312"
792cm
Width 120"
300cm		 Tread 89"
226cm
M74: Armament
Type Mount Traverse Elevation
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible in AA mount 360°
(manual)		 Manual
.30cal M1919A4 MG Ball mount in right bow 20° left, 25° right
(manual)		 +20° to -10°
(manual)
M74: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled and cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 2.5"
6.4cm		 47°
Lower front 4.25" to 2.0"
10.8cm to 5.1cm		 0° to 56°
Sides 1.5"
3.8cm		 0°
Rear 1.5"
3.8cm		 10° to 22°
Top .75"
1.9cm		 83° to 90°
Front floor 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
Rear floor .50"
1.3cm		 90°
M74: Automotive
Engine Ford GAA; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, 60° vee gasoline
Horsepower Net: 450@2600rpm
Gross: 500@2600rpm		 Torque Net: 950 ft-lb@2200rpm
Gross: 1040 ft-lb@2200rpm		 Fuel capacity 168gal
636L
Transmission Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
M74: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Horizontal volute spring 3 bogies/track;
2 dual wheels/bogie		 2 dual/track, 3 single/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
13-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track One on each bogie
M74: Track
T66
Center guide, single pin, cast, steel
Width 23"
58cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 151"
384cm
T80
Center guide, double pin, rubber and steel
Width 23"
58cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 151"
384cm
T84
Center guide, double pin, rubber
Width 23"
58cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 79 Ground contact length 151"
373cm
M74: Performance
Max level road speed 21mph sustained
34kph sustained		 Max trench 90"
230cm
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 24"
61cm
Min turning diameter 62'
19m		 Max fording depth 36"
91cm
Cruising range ~100mi, roads
~161km, roads


The TRV M74 was developed after the outbreak of the Korean War since the World War II-era tank recovery vehicles then in use could not cope with the heavier modern tanks. M74 was converted from stocks of medium tanks M4A3 and M32B3 tank recovery vehicles, to which it bore a stong resemblance. The sixty M32B3-based M74s were designated M74B1. The M74 had a front-mounted A-frame crane which could swing to the rear over the flat-sided turret when not in use, much like the crane on the M32 series. There was a 25,000lb (11,000kg) capacity winch threaded through the boom, a 90,000lb (41,000kg) tow winch on the hull glacis, a 10,000lb (4500kg) auxiliary winch was present on the turret front, and there was also a 2,000lb (900kg) manual utility winch. M74 also had a spade mounted on the front of the tank that was used for stabilization and as a dozer blade, which was raised and lowered using the auxiliary winch.

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



Last updated 21 Nov 2002.

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