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The M24 was an effective system, but was later replaced by the M41 Walker bulldog.

At the outset of the Korean War American forces equiped with M24 Chaffees performed poorly against the enemy's T-34/85s, and these US units were soon augmented with M26 Pershings and M46 Pattons, along with M4A3E8 Shermans with the long 76mm gun. Post Second World War it was used operationally in Korea until the arrival of M4 and M26 vehicles. It therefore became the primary equipment of many of these countries until its replacement, the M41 Walker Bulldog, became available. Although in no sense a medium or main battle tank, the design was modern, robust and easy to maintain. Post-war, the M24 was supplied to many NATO and aligned countries, primarily through the Mutual Defense Aid Program (MDAP). First produced on April 1944 the vehicle was in use by the Ardennes battle in December. A new Torsion bar suspension system, three man turret and commander’s cupola helped create a balanced and effective design which was reminiscent of a scaled down medium tank rather than a light tank. This was a lightweight, short recoil design, not as powerful as the equivalent fitted to other tanks but a real step up for a light tank. Light tanks, now obsolete, were used for reconnaissance missions in WWII.īy 1942 the then existing American Light Tanks were suffering from being under-armed and armored, even for their primary role of reconnaissance, let alone infantry support or use as a surrogate medium tank, which was frequently occurring.įortuitously, designers were able to take advantage of the availability of a new 75mm gun designed for the B25 Mitchell bomber. The M24 Chaffee first saw combat in the Ardennes in January 1945. The first reached Europe in late 1944, where they proved very effective and highly reliable.

More than 4,000 wer produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris during 1943-45. The M24 Chaffee - arguably the best light tank of World War II - was a fast light armored vehicle with the ability to deliver relatively large caliber direct fire with the excellent 75 mm M6 gun.