M6 Tractor

M6 High-Speed Tractor

Wartime photo of a M6 Tractor
Type Artillery tractor
Place of origin United States
Service history
Used by US Army
Wars World War II
Production history
Manufacturer Allis-Chalmers
Produced February 1944 – 45
Specifications
Weight 76,000 lbs / 34.5 t
Length 21 ft 6 in / 6.55 m
Width 10 ft / 3.07 m
Height 8 ft 8 in / 2.64 m
Crew 11
Main
armament
 .50 cal M2 machine gun
Engine 2 × Waukesha 145GZ 6-cylinder gasoline engine
2 × 190 hp at 2100 rpm (141.68 kW)
Suspension HVSS (Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension)
Operational
range
 110 mi / 177 km
Speed 21 mph / 34 km/h

The M6 High-Speed Tractor was an artillery tractor manufactured by Allis-Chalmers and used by the US Army during World War II to tow heavy artillery pieces, such as the 8-inch Gun M1 and 240 mm howitzer M1. Its G-number was (G-184).

History

Background

Although in the late 1930s the US Army lacked a clear mechanization policy, the success of the Blitzkrieg in 1939-40 highlighted the need of motorized vehicles for both tactical and strategic maneuver, which meant that towed artillery would need to move at a speed comparable to that of the armored fighting vehicles.

To achieve this, a series of “high speed tractors” was planned, which would tow the different artillery pieces existing (or planned) in the US Army inventory. The “high” speed was considered in comparison with horse-drawn artillery rather than that obtainable with wheeled prime movers or ballast tractors. The models considered in the series included: 7 ton, 18 ton, 13 ton, and 38 ton.

Description

Intended to tow heavy artillery pieces as the 240 mm howitzer M1 and the 8-inch Gun M1, the M6 artillery tractor was larger and heavier than the M4 Artillery Tractor, although they had a similar layout. The main differences between both were in the following areas:

It was powered by two six-cylinder, in-line, Waukesha 145GZ gasoline engines, each of which gave 190 HP at 2,100 rev/min, with an engine displacement of 13,400 cm³. The running gear consisted on six rubber-rimmed wheels per side, with the drive wheel located at the front and a large tensioning wheel at the rear; a layout similar to the one used in the M3 light tank and later in the M4 Tractor.

Combat use

European front

The tractor M6 was used in the European theater only in the last months of World War II.

In the meanwhile, the movement of large caliber artillery was done by vehicles based on existing hulls, among them:

Pacific front

Use of this tractor in the Pacific theater seems to have been limited to training at Oahu, (Hawaii).

Post-war

In the Korean War no heavy artillery was used that required being towed by these tractors.

Some vehicles were sold to Israel after being replaced by self-propelled artillery.

Users

Surviving vehicles

See also

Comparable vehicles

References

Notes

    Bibliography

    Further reading

    Technical manuals
    Books and publications

    Media related to M6 High-Speed Tractor at Wikimedia Commons

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