Because of several deficiencies a new tank was needed to replace the M-3 Stuart. The
M-24, referred to by some as the Chaffee, was given angled armor thereby increasing its
thickness. The M-24 was given a larger 75 mm gun as well as being the first US tank to
use a torsion bar suspension. The M-24 didn't do very well in Korea against the T34/85
so it was given secondary roles to the M26 and M46. The M41 Bulldog replaced the M24
in US service by 1953.
The RoK (Republic of Korea) Army had operated eight M24's for a brief period during the
Korean War. Originally the training was done at the Replacement Training and School
Command. It was decided to expand and train larger groups of personnel and that it
should be done at a centralized location. In early 1952 the new facility was opened in
Kwangju 120 miles west of Pusan and it would be renamed The Korean Army Training
Center. The facility could now accommodate up to 15,000 troops at one time. Most M24s
were stationed here for training purposes only.
Specifications :
Date of service: 1944
Country: United States of America
Type: Light Tank
Crew: 5
Dimensions: Length - 5.49 m (18 ft) Width - 2.95 m (9.7 ft) Height - 2.77 m (9 ft)
Combat weight: 18,207 kg (20 tons)
Engine: Twin Cadillac 44T24 V-8 220 horsepower gasoline
Speed: 54 km/h (33.5 mph)
Range: 160 km (99 mi)
Armament:
1 X 75mm M6 main gun 2 X .30 caliber Browning machine guns 1 X .50 caliber Browning machine gun 1 X M3 mortar