M7 medium tank
| M7 medium tank | |
|---|---|
Third production M7 medium tank at the General Motors Proving Ground. | |
| Type | Medium tank |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | International Harvester Corp. |
| Produced | 1942 |
| No. built | 13 + prototypes |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 53,950 lb (24,470 kg) |
| Length | 17 ft 2 in (5.23 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) |
| Height | 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) |
| Crew | 5 (Commander, loader, gunner, driver, co-driver) |
| Armor | 13–64 mm (0.51–2.52 in) |
Main armament | 75 mm M3 in M47 mount 71 rounds |
Secondary armament | 3 × .30-06 M1919A4 Browning machine gun 4,500 rounds |
| Engine | Continental R975-C1; 9-cylinder radial gasoline 350 hp (260 kW) |
| Suspension | Vertical volute spring suspension |
| Maximum speed | 30 mph (48 km/h) on road |
The M7 medium tank, initially T7 light tank, was an American tank, originally conceived as an up-gunned replacement for the M3/M5 light tank ("Stuart"). The project developed to mount the same 75mm armament as the M4 Sherman while retaining the light weight and maneuverability of the M3 Stuart; however, during development the weight of the prototype surpassed the US Army's standard for light tanks and crossed into the medium tank category and was renamed. The M7 had significantly less armor than the M4 Sherman, no greater firepower, and held only a slight advantage in top speed. For these reasons, and because the M4 was already battle-tested and in full production, the M7 was cancelled in 1943.