M25 tank transporter

{{Infobox weapon

|name=M25 tank transporter

| image= M25 Tank Transporter Dragon Wagon pic1.JPG

| image_size = 300

|caption=An M25 tank transporter, with an M4 Sherman tank at the 2010 War and Peace show

|origin= United States

|type=40 ton (36,287 kg) 6x6 Tank recovery truck-trailer

|is_vehicle=yes

|service=1941–1955

|used_by=

|wars=World War II

|designer=Knuckey Truck Company

|design_date=

|manufacturer=M26: Pacific Car & Foundry Co.
M15: Fruehauf Trailer Co.

|production_date=

|number=

|variants=M26A1, M26A2

|spec_label=M25{{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/152904445/Tm-9-767-40-TON-TANK-TRANSPORTER-TRUCK-TRAILER-M25|title=TM 9-767 40 ton Tank Transporter Truck-trailer M25|publisher=US War Dept.|date=1942|pages=14–15|accessdate=20 December 2014}}

|weight=Empty{{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/140198120/TM-9-2800-1943-STANDARD-MILITARY-MOTOR-VEHICLES-1-SEPTEMBER-1943|title=TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles|publisher=US War Dept.|date= 1943|pages=132–135|accessdate=27 May 2014}}
M26: {{convert|48,000|lb|abbr=on}}
M15: {{convert|36,600|lb|abbr=on}}
M25: {{convert|84,300|lb|abbr=on}}
Loaded

M26: {{convert|103,000|lb|abbr=on}}

M15: {{convert|36,600|lb|abbr=on}}

M25: {{convert|164,300|lb|abbr=on}}

|length=M26: {{convert|25|ft|4|in|m|2}}
M15: {{convert|38|ft|5+1/16|in|m|2}}

|width=M26: {{convert|10|ft|10+3/4|in|m|2}}
M15 {{convert|12|ft|6|in|mm}}

|height=M26: {{convert|11|ft|5|in|m|2}}

|crew=7

|armour=front {{convert|3/4|in|mm|abbr=on}}
sides, rear {{convert|1/4|in|mm|abbr=on}}

|primary_armament=.50 cal M2 machine gun

|secondary_armament=

|engine=Hall-Scott 440 gasoline

|engine_power={{convert|240|hp|kW|abbr=on}}

|transmission=4 speed x 3 speed

|suspension=

|fuel_capacity={{convert|120|USgal|L|abbr=on}}

|vehicle_range={{convert|120|mi|km|1|abbr=on}}

|speed={{convert|28|mph|abbr=on}}

}}

The M25 tank transporter (G160) was a combination 6x6 M26 armored heavy tank transporter/tank recovery tractor and companion 40-ton M15 trailer introduced into US Army service in Europe in 1944–45. Manufactured by Pacific Car & Foundry Co., it was a substantial upgrade over the Diamond T M19 transporter/trailer duo introduced in 1940.

Nicknamed the Dragon Wagon, it was replaced by the 10 ton 6x6 M123 semi-tractor beginning in 1955.{{Cite web|url=http://www.trucksplanet.com/updates/index.php?page=317|title=TrucksPlanet - Updates}}

Development

In 1942 a new 40 ton semi-trailer tank transporter was needed with better off-road performance than the M9 24 small-wheel trailer, and greater capacity than the 30 ton 8 large-wheel Shelvoke and Drewry semi-trailers used by the Diamond T tractor unit. Designed by the Fruehauf Trailer Company of Detroit, Michigan,{{cite book

|title=Breakdown: A History of Recovery Vehicles in the British Army

|last=Baxter |first=Brian S.

|publisher=HMSO, for REME Museum

|date=1989

|isbn=0-11-290456-4

|ref=Baxter, Breakdown

|page=51

}} it was heavier than the Diamond T could manage. A companion M26 tractor was designed by the San Francisco-based Knuckey Truck Company. When it could not keep up with the Army's demands, production was awarded to the Pacific Car & Foundry Co. of Seattle, Washington.

Designated TR-1 by Pacific Car, the chain-driven 12-ton 6x6 M26 tractor was powered by a Hall-Scott 440 {{convert|1090|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} 6-cylinder gasoline engine developing {{convert|240|hp|kW|abbr=on}} at 2000 rpm and {{convert|810|lbfft|0|abbr=on}} at 1200 rpm. Developed for the M26, it was used to uprate the Diamond T. Some 2,100 Type 440s were built. Baxter notes "over 1,300" M26 and M26A1 being built.

Unusually, the tractor unit was fitted with both an armored cab and two winches with a combined pull of 60 tons, allowing it to do light battlefield recovery work.

A later unarmored version of the M26 tractor was designated the M26A1. An experimental ballast tractor conversion was evaluated by the British Fighting Vehicle Proving Establishment

After the war, some of them (both armored and unarmored) were bought as surplus and used to carry oversize loads such as transformers, locomotives and heavy equipment.{{Cite web|url=http://poidslourds.free.fr/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=270|title=Forum des Poids Lourds Camions anciens de collection • Afficher le sujet - pacific|website=poidslourds.free.fr|language=fr|access-date=2017-04-12}}

Gallery

File:M_26,_Pacific_Dragon_Wagon_pic4.JPG|M25 with M26 armored semi-tractor

File:M25_Tank_Transporter.jpg| Display of M25 with M26 armored semi-tractor

File:Pacific_Car_%26_Foundry_Tractor_M26A1_from_Wo-II.jpg|Display of M25 with M26A1 unarmored semi-tractor

File:M26-tractor-1.jpg|M26 semi-tractor (LR view)

File:M26Pacific rearwheels.JPG|M26 semi-tractor showing rear wheel drive by chains

Specifications

  • Crew 7
  • Armament 1 .50 cal. machine gun
  • Armor, front 3/4 inch, sides and rear, 1/4 inch.
  • Top speed 26 MPH
  • Fuel capacity 120 gallons

Users

  • {{JPN}}: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
  • {{GBR}}: British Army
  • {{USA}}: United States Army
  • {{YUG}}: Yugoslav People's Army{{cite magazine|first1=Iztok |last1=Kočevar|title=Micmac à tire-larigot chez Tito: L'arme blindée yougoslave durant la Guerre froide|trans-title=The Yugoslav armored arm during the Cold War|magazine=Batailles et Blindés|language=fr|date=August 2014|publisher=Caraktère|issn=1765-0828|issue=62|pages=66–79}}

See also

Notes

{{Reflist}}

References

  • TM 9-1767A
  • TM 9-1767B Power Train for Tractor Truck M26
  • {{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/248191818/TM-9-1767C-M26|title=TM 9-1767C Body, chassis, and winches for Tractor Truck M26|publisher=US War Dept.|date=1944|accessdate=9 August 2015}}
  • {{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/248194273/TM-9-1767E|title=TM 9-1767E Ordnance Maint. Semitrailer M15|publisher=US War Dept. |date=1944|accessdate=9 August 2015}}
  • {{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/140198120/TM-9-2800-1943-STANDARD-MILITARY-MOTOR-VEHICLES-1-SEPTEMBER-1943|title=TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles|publisher=US War Dept.|date=1943|pages=132–135|accessdate=9 August 2015}}
  • {{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/188375301/TM-9-2800-1947|title=TM 9-2800 Military Vehicles|publisher=US Dept. of the Army|date=1947|pages=151, 152|accessdate=9 August 2015}}
  • {{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/183017787/TM-9-2800-1-1953-INCLUDING-C1-EN-C2-pdf|title=TM 9-2800 Military Vehicles| publisher=US Dept. of the Army|date=1953|pages=101, 102, 281|accessdate=9 August 2015}}
  • {{cite book|last=Crismon|first=Fred W|title=US Military Wheeled Vehicles |edition=3|year=2001|publisher=Victory WWII Pub.|isbn=0-970056-71-0|pages=383–384}}
  • {{cite book|last=Doyle|first=David|title=Standard catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles|year=2003|publisher=Kraus Publications|isbn=0-87349-508-X|pages=232–240, 283–288}}

Further reading

  • Military Vehicle Journal #8 (Photos of the M26 and M26A1)