Difference between revisions of "M24 (TL)"

From War Thunder Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Visual (beta)Wikitext
Line 2: Line 2:
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
 +
[[File:GarageImage M24(TL).jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''M24 TL Chaffee''' is a gift Rank III American light tank with a battle rating of 3.3. It was a special vehicle offered during the 2015 Thunder League as a reward for completing 5 Tank challenges. The M24 TL ''Chaffee'' comes with all the Thunder League camos from each team participating in Thunder League. Aside from these differences and the access to APCR ammunition, it is essentially a "special" version of the [[Light Tank M24 Chaffee|M24 Chaffee]].
 +
 
 +
The M24 ''Chaffee'' is a very good tank with a fairly interesting play style. Instead of being permanently stationed at a single point and continuously firing at an enemy, this tank offers impressive maneuverability and speed which allows it to perform impressive flanking maneuvers. The M24 can travel at around 38 km/h forward and -25 km/h backwards.  Its reverse speed is very good if a quick getaway by going backwards is needed. Thus, this tank excels at "peek-a-boo" tactics in which one hides behind a rock or other large piece of cover and repeatedly inches out to fire at an enemy.
 +
 
 +
The tank offers a 75mm M6 gun, which has a slower reload than the [[M4_Sherman|''Sherman'']]'s 75mm M3 gun but is otherwise the same. Its shells come in handy for certain tanks; they generally penetrate armour very well. It is rare to experience a ricochet or be to unable to penetrate any armour.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
+
<!--''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
  
−
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
*Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
*Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 25.4 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 25.4 mm (44°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25.4 mm (13°) ''Front'' <br> 12.7 mm (13°) ''Rear'' || 12.7 mm (71-74°) ''Top'' <br> 19 mm (1-43°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 38.1 mm (8-40°) ''Turret front'' <br> 38.1 mm (1-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (17-26°) || 25.4 mm || 12.7 mm
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
 +
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
 +
* Gun barrel is 20 mm thick.
 +
* Gun breech is 300 mm thick in structural steel
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
−
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
+
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''-->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
 +
|-
 +
! Weight (tons)
 +
!colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
 +
!colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 +
|-
 +
|rowspan="2" | 18.4 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 63 (AB)
 +
|-
 +
|56 (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|459
 +
|565
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|262
 +
|296
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|24.94
 +
|30.71
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|14.24
 +
|16.09
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
−
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
+
<!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''-->
 +
{{main|M6 (75 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | [[M6 (75 mm)|75 mm M6]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="3" | 48 || -10°/+15° || ±180° || Vertical
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 +
|-
 +
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 +
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| ''Arcade'' || 14.28 || 19.80 || 24.0 || 26.60 || 28.20
 +
|-
 +
| ''Realistic'' || 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.4 || 22.60 || 24.00
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| 8.45 || 7.47 || 6.89 || 6.50
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===== Ammunition =====
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10m
 +
! 100m
 +
! 500m
 +
! 1000m
 +
! 1500m
 +
! 2000m
 +
|-
 +
| M72 shot || AP || 110 || 109 || 92 || 76 || 62 || 51
 +
|-
 +
| M48 shell || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10
 +
|-
 +
| M61 shot || APCBC || 90 || 88 || 81 || 73 || 65 || 59
 +
|-
 +
| T45 shot || APCR || 143 || 137 || 127 || 106 || 86 || 70
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="11" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
 +
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
 +
''in m:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
 +
''in mm:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 +
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 +
|-
 +
! 0%
 +
! 50%
 +
! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| M72 shot || AP || 619 || 6.3 ||  N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 +
|-
 +
| M48 shell || HE || 463 || 6.3 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 666 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 +
|-
 +
| M61 shot || APCBC || 618 || 6.8 || 1.2 || 20 || 63.7 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 +
|-
 +
| T45 shot || APCR || 868 || 3.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +1.5° || 66° || 70° || 72°
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
−
=== Additional armament ===
+
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
−
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
[[File:Ammoracks M24.png|right|thumbnail|[[Ammo racks|Ammo rack]] of the M24 Chaffee|x250px]]
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
|| '''48''' ||  25&nbsp;''(+23)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' || style="text-align:center" | No
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
−
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
<!--''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''-->
 +
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning (7.62 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | ''Pintle mount''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" | 1,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" | 1,800 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Usage in the battles ==
 
== Usage in the battles ==
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
 +
'''Do not:''' Continuously shoot at a tank without backing up/moving. The vehicle's armour is very thin and will most likely be destroyed if it stays in one position and does not stop changing positions. Always try to get the first shot off in a head-on attack. Typically, the best shell to use is the M61 shell but it can also be beneficial to have M72 shells as well.
 +
 
 +
Another way to go around is to flank the enemy. If attacking with a more direct approach, keep hidden behind a building or boulder and pop out every now and then to take a shot at the enemy. Also, prioritise targets who are busy fighting others and cannot retaliate. Usually, after the first shot, it may disable their tank depending on what it is. Disabling the enemy tank's crew, tracks, engine, etc. allows for retaliation without the risk of any incoming enemy shells.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
−
 
 
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
* Low profile.
−
 
+
* The best cannon for light tanks in its rank.
 +
* Very agile.
 +
* Very fast reverse, thanks to the 4-speed reverse gear.
 +
* Fast turret traverse.
 +
* Equipped with a vertical plane stabilizer, allowing for more accurate shots on the move or shoot-n-scoot tactics.
 +
* Pintle mounted HMG allows for air defense.
 +
* Option to use APCR, unlike the previous [[Light_Tank_M24_Chaffee|M24 Chaffee]].
 +
* 9 Unique Thunder League camouflages can be chosen.
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
* Thin armour on all sides.
 +
* Low ammo count can be a problem in long games or RB/SB matches.
 +
* Vulnerable to nearby explosions.
 +
* Reload is quite slow for its caliber, with further increase in [[crew skills]] and experience it can be decreased to less than 6.8 seconds.
 +
* Most of all camouflage are easy to spot and easy to be a target.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''-->
 +
===Development===
 +
As early as 1942, the light tanks [[Light Tank M3 Stuart|M3]] and [[Light Tank M5A1 Stuart|M5 ''Stuart'']] have been seen as severely lacking in the modernizing design of tanks and how they fight. The armour was seen as insufficient and the [[37 mm Gun M3|37 mm gun]] was also deemed useless against even the standard German tanks like the [[Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J|Panzer III]] and [[Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F2|Panzer IV]]. The system needed an upgrade, specifically a light tank that mounts the [[75 mm Gun M3|75 mm gun]] seen on the [[Medium Tank M4 Sherman|''Shermans'']]. An attempt to mount a 75 mm gun on a ''Stuart'' was deemed inefficient as it reduced ammo stowage and left the armour too thin on the design.
 +
 
 +
In April 1943, the U.S. Ordnance Department worked with Cadillac to start on a project for the new light tank, designated ''Light Tank T24''. The powertrain and transmission of the M5 ''Stuart'' was used with the ultimate goal of producing a vehicle weighing less than 20 tons. This left the vehicle with relatively thin armour to stay lightweight. At the time, a lighter 75 mm gun was developed for mounting on the [[B-25J-20 Mitchell|B-25 Mitchell bomber]] without sacrificing performance, and this was mounted onto the light tank in development. The tank used 410 mm wide tracks with a torsion bar suspension that greatly improves cross-country travel. The engine was a Cadillac 44T24 V-8 petrol engine. The chassis was designed with the expectation that it would be used as a basis of many different vehicle roles so it was called the "Light Combat Team". The light tank end design had a low profile at 9 ft. 1 in. height and featuring a crew of five with a three-man turret, an improvement over the two-man turrets of the Stuarts. The first finished vehicle arrived on October 15, 1943 and was deemed a success, starting a contract for 1,000 units that was later raised to 5,000 units. The vehicle was classified as the '''Light Tank M24''' and as the ''' ''Chaffee'' ''' by the British after US General Adna R. Chaffee, Jr., who helped develop some of America's earliest tank designs. The vehicle was produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris from April 1944 to August 1945 with a total of 4,731 units produced.
 +
 
 +
===Combat usage===
 +
The first batch of M24s reached the battlefields of Europe in November of 1944 and first assigned to the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Group in France. The M24 gradually entered widespread use by December 1944, some ''Chaffees'' went to the British to replace their ''Stuart'' tanks as well. The M24s were first used in the Battle of the Bulge with the 2nd and 42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron sent to support the southern sector of the battle. The ''Chaffees'' were slow to enter use in the front-lines as even by the end of the war, some armoured division did not have the M24 light tanks.  Despite that, the reception of the ''Chaffee'' was positive even though it may not have the firepower to fight the better German tanks like the [[Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. G|Panther tanks]]. The 75 mm gun gave the crew much more firepower than the earlier 37 mm. The light armour, though allowing the tank to pick up speed, was penetrable by most anti-tank weapons in service by Germany. The effect of the M24 ''Chaffee'' in World War II was deemed insignificant as it was not used in great numbers in comparison to the ''Stuarts'' in service since the start of the war.
 +
 
 +
The M24 ''Chaffee'' served a greater role in the Korean War and were sent in large numbers to combat the North Korean Armoured Forces, however they were severely undergunned with their 75 mm cannon and the light armour was easily destroyed by the Soviet-supplied [[T-34-85]] tanks. Plus, the deficiency in crew training also contributed to the poor performance of the M24 against the North Koreans. Due to their inferiority, they were used as a delaying measure until better tanks like the [[Medium Tank M4A3 (76) W HVSS Sherman|M4A3E8 ''Shermans'']] and [[Medium Tank M26 Pershing|M26 ''Pershings'']] could be brought in. Once with supports with these better tanks, the Chaffees were relegated to reconnaissance roles, where they served with better results.
 +
 
 +
The M24, after being replaced in America by the [[Light Tank M41A1 Walker Bulldog|M41 ''Walker Bulldog'']], was sent to many other countries for use. The French Army deployed the M24s during their fighting in Indochina and famously in the Battle for Dien Bien Phu. Some M24s went to the hands of the ARVN in South Vietnam to support the troops during the Vietnam War. The Pakistani Army used them as well in 1971 against India during the Indo-Pakistani War. The M24 ''Chaffee'' was also adapted in different roles by using the chassis for different designs, such as the ''[[Twin Gun Motor Carriage M19|M19 TGMC anti-air gun]]'' and self-propelled guns with the ''M37 105 mm HMC'' and ''M41 155 mm HMC''.
 +
 
 +
The ''Chaffee'' had turned out to be one of the greatest light tanks the Allies developed during World War II. Though arriving too late to be a main turning factor for the war, the design has turned out to be so reliable that some countries like Uruguay still operate modernised versions. Austria has since retired its M24 fleet, but their turrets still serve on as bunkers.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
[http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23M24%20TL '''Skins''' and '''camouflages''' for the Chaffee from live.warthunder]
 +
 
 +
===Camo===
 +
<gallery  mode=packed-hover heights=150px>
 +
Camoflauge M24(TL) AkaiVictory.jpg|Akai Victory's camouflage.
 +
Camoflauge M24(TL) ArcadeeSports.jpg|Arcade eSport's camouflage.
 +
Camoflauge M24(TL) CUBE.jpg|CUBE's camouflage.
 +
Camoflauge M24(TL) DerAdler.jpg|Der Adler's camouflage.
 +
Camoflauge M24(TL) Dislike.jpg|Dislike's camouflage.
 +
Camoflauge M24(TL) DYNAMIGHT.jpg|DYNAMIGHT's camouflage.
 +
Camoflauge M24(TL) Poltergeist.jpg ‎|Poltergeist's camouflage.
 +
Camoflauge M24(TL) THINK.jpg ‎|THINK's camouflage.
 +
Camoflauge M24(TL) Verveteam.jpg ‎|Verve team's camouflage.
 +
</gallery>
  
 
== Read also ==
 
== Read also ==
Line 51: Line 288:
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
 +
 +
{{USA light tanks}}

Revision as of 21:57, 19 November 2018

Rank IV USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Tu-1 Pack
M24 (TL)
us_m24_chaffee_tl.png
M24 (TL)
USA flag.png USA
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
3.3 3.7 3.7
Class:
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
Show in game

Description

GarageImage M24 (TL).jpg


The M24 TL Chaffee is a gift Rank III American light tank with a battle rating of 3.3. It was a special vehicle offered during the 2015 Thunder League as a reward for completing 5 Tank challenges. The M24 TL Chaffee comes with all the Thunder League camos from each team participating in Thunder League. Aside from these differences and the access to APCR ammunition, it is essentially a "special" version of the M24 Chaffee.

The M24 Chaffee is a very good tank with a fairly interesting play style. Instead of being permanently stationed at a single point and continuously firing at an enemy, this tank offers impressive maneuverability and speed which allows it to perform impressive flanking maneuvers. The M24 can travel at around 38 km/h forward and -25 km/h backwards. Its reverse speed is very good if a quick getaway by going backwards is needed. Thus, this tank excels at "peek-a-boo" tactics in which one hides behind a rock or other large piece of cover and repeatedly inches out to fire at an enemy.

The tank offers a 75mm M6 gun, which has a slower reload than the Sherman's 75mm M3 gun but is otherwise the same. Its shells come in handy for certain tanks; they generally penetrate armour very well. It is rare to experience a ricochet or be to unable to penetrate any armour.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 25.4 mm (60°) Front glacis
25.4 mm (44°) Lower glacis 		25.4 mm (13°) Front
12.7 mm (13°) Rear 		12.7 mm (71-74°) Top
19 mm (1-43°) Bottom 		12.7 mm
Turret 38.1 mm (8-40°) Turret front
38.1 mm (1-45°) Gun mantlet 		25.4 mm (17-26°) 25.4 mm 12.7 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 38.1 mm 38.1 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
  • Gun barrel is 20 mm thick.
  • Gun breech is 300 mm thick in structural steel

Mobility

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons) Add-on Armor
weight (tons) 		Max speed (km/h)
18.4 N/A 63 (AB)
56 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 459 565
Realistic/Simulator 262 296
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 24.94 30.71
Realistic/Simulator 14.24 16.09

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: M6 (75 mm)
75 mm M6
Capacity Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Stabilizer
48 -10°/+15° ±180° Vertical
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 14.28 19.80 24.0 26.60 28.20
Realistic 14.28 16.80 20.4 22.60 24.00
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
8.45 7.47 6.89 6.50
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration in mm @ 90°
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
M72 shot AP 110 109 92 76 62 51
M48 shell HE 10 10 10 10 10 10
M61 shot APCBC 90 88 81 73 65 59
T45 shot APCR 143 137 127 106 86 70
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
in m/s 		Projectile
Mass in kg 		Fuse delay

in m:

Fuse sensitivity

in mm:

Explosive Mass in g
(TNT equivalent): 		Normalization At 30°
from horizontal: 		Ricochet:
0% 50% 100%
M72 shot AP 619 6.3 N/A N/A N/A -1° 47° 60° 65°
M48 shell HE 463 6.3 0.4 0.5 666 +0° 79° 80° 81°
M61 shot APCBC 618 6.8 1.2 20 63.7 +4° 48° 63° 71°
T45 shot APCR 868 3.8 N/A N/A N/A +1.5° 66° 70° 72°
Ammo racks
Ammo rack of the M24 Chaffee
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
48 25 (+23) 1 (+47) No

Machine guns

Main articles: Browning M2 (12.7 mm), Browning (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Pintle mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
1,000 (200) 577 -10°/+70° ±60°
7.62 mm M1919A4
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
1,800 (250) 500 N/A N/A

Usage in the battles

Do not: Continuously shoot at a tank without backing up/moving. The vehicle's armour is very thin and will most likely be destroyed if it stays in one position and does not stop changing positions. Always try to get the first shot off in a head-on attack. Typically, the best shell to use is the M61 shell but it can also be beneficial to have M72 shells as well.

Another way to go around is to flank the enemy. If attacking with a more direct approach, keep hidden behind a building or boulder and pop out every now and then to take a shot at the enemy. Also, prioritise targets who are busy fighting others and cannot retaliate. Usually, after the first shot, it may disable their tank depending on what it is. Disabling the enemy tank's crew, tracks, engine, etc. allows for retaliation without the risk of any incoming enemy shells.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Low profile.
  • The best cannon for light tanks in its rank.
  • Very agile.
  • Very fast reverse, thanks to the 4-speed reverse gear.
  • Fast turret traverse.
  • Equipped with a vertical plane stabilizer, allowing for more accurate shots on the move or shoot-n-scoot tactics.
  • Pintle mounted HMG allows for air defense.
  • Option to use APCR, unlike the previous M24 Chaffee.
  • 9 Unique Thunder League camouflages can be chosen.

Cons:

  • Thin armour on all sides.
  • Low ammo count can be a problem in long games or RB/SB matches.
  • Vulnerable to nearby explosions.
  • Reload is quite slow for its caliber, with further increase in crew skills and experience it can be decreased to less than 6.8 seconds.
  • Most of all camouflage are easy to spot and easy to be a target.

History

Development

As early as 1942, the light tanks M3 and M5 Stuart have been seen as severely lacking in the modernizing design of tanks and how they fight. The armour was seen as insufficient and the 37 mm gun was also deemed useless against even the standard German tanks like the Panzer III and Panzer IV. The system needed an upgrade, specifically a light tank that mounts the 75 mm gun seen on the Shermans. An attempt to mount a 75 mm gun on a Stuart was deemed inefficient as it reduced ammo stowage and left the armour too thin on the design.

In April 1943, the U.S. Ordnance Department worked with Cadillac to start on a project for the new light tank, designated Light Tank T24. The powertrain and transmission of the M5 Stuart was used with the ultimate goal of producing a vehicle weighing less than 20 tons. This left the vehicle with relatively thin armour to stay lightweight. At the time, a lighter 75 mm gun was developed for mounting on the B-25 Mitchell bomber without sacrificing performance, and this was mounted onto the light tank in development. The tank used 410 mm wide tracks with a torsion bar suspension that greatly improves cross-country travel. The engine was a Cadillac 44T24 V-8 petrol engine. The chassis was designed with the expectation that it would be used as a basis of many different vehicle roles so it was called the "Light Combat Team". The light tank end design had a low profile at 9 ft. 1 in. height and featuring a crew of five with a three-man turret, an improvement over the two-man turrets of the Stuarts. The first finished vehicle arrived on October 15, 1943 and was deemed a success, starting a contract for 1,000 units that was later raised to 5,000 units. The vehicle was classified as the Light Tank M24 and as the Chaffee by the British after US General Adna R. Chaffee, Jr., who helped develop some of America's earliest tank designs. The vehicle was produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris from April 1944 to August 1945 with a total of 4,731 units produced.

Combat usage

The first batch of M24s reached the battlefields of Europe in November of 1944 and first assigned to the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Group in France. The M24 gradually entered widespread use by December 1944, some Chaffees went to the British to replace their Stuart tanks as well. The M24s were first used in the Battle of the Bulge with the 2nd and 42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron sent to support the southern sector of the battle. The Chaffees were slow to enter use in the front-lines as even by the end of the war, some armoured division did not have the M24 light tanks. Despite that, the reception of the Chaffee was positive even though it may not have the firepower to fight the better German tanks like the Panther tanks. The 75 mm gun gave the crew much more firepower than the earlier 37 mm. The light armour, though allowing the tank to pick up speed, was penetrable by most anti-tank weapons in service by Germany. The effect of the M24 Chaffee in World War II was deemed insignificant as it was not used in great numbers in comparison to the Stuarts in service since the start of the war.

The M24 Chaffee served a greater role in the Korean War and were sent in large numbers to combat the North Korean Armoured Forces, however they were severely undergunned with their 75 mm cannon and the light armour was easily destroyed by the Soviet-supplied T-34-85 tanks. Plus, the deficiency in crew training also contributed to the poor performance of the M24 against the North Koreans. Due to their inferiority, they were used as a delaying measure until better tanks like the M4A3E8 Shermans and M26 Pershings could be brought in. Once with supports with these better tanks, the Chaffees were relegated to reconnaissance roles, where they served with better results.

The M24, after being replaced in America by the M41 Walker Bulldog, was sent to many other countries for use. The French Army deployed the M24s during their fighting in Indochina and famously in the Battle for Dien Bien Phu. Some M24s went to the hands of the ARVN in South Vietnam to support the troops during the Vietnam War. The Pakistani Army used them as well in 1971 against India during the Indo-Pakistani War. The M24 Chaffee was also adapted in different roles by using the chassis for different designs, such as the M19 TGMC anti-air gun and self-propelled guns with the M37 105 mm HMC and M41 155 mm HMC.

The Chaffee had turned out to be one of the greatest light tanks the Allies developed during World War II. Though arriving too late to be a main turning factor for the war, the design has turned out to be so reliable that some countries like Uruguay still operate modernised versions. Austria has since retired its M24 fleet, but their turrets still serve on as bunkers.

Media

Skins and camouflages for the Chaffee from live.warthunder

Camo

  • Akai Victory's camouflage.

  • Arcade eSport's camouflage.

  • CUBE's camouflage.

  • Der Adler's camouflage.

  • Dislike's camouflage.

  • DYNAMIGHT's camouflage.

  • Poltergeist's camouflage.

  • THINK's camouflage.

  • Verve team's camouflage.

Read also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

ETC.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


USA light tanks
LVT  LVT(A)(1) · ○LVT(A)(1) · LVT(A)(4)
M2  M2A2 · M2A4 · M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.)
M3/M5 Stuart  M3 Stuart · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC) · M5A1 · M5A1 TD · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD)
M22 Locust  M22
M24 Chaffee  M24 · M24 (TL)
M18 Hellcat  M18 GMC · M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat
M41 Walker Bulldog  M41A1
M551 Sheridan  M551 · M551(76)
M3 Bradley  M3 Bradley · M3A3 Bradley
Wheeled  M8 LAC · T18E2 · M1128 · M1128 Wolfpack
Other  M8A1 GMC · T92 · T114 · HSTV-L · CCVL · XM8 · AGS

Retrieved from "https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=M24_(TL)&oldid=8787"