M32 tank recovery vehicle

M32 recovery vehicle
An M32 tank recovery vehicle on display at Fort Knox, Kentucky
Type	Armored recovery vehicle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	July 1943 to September 1958 (U.S.) late 1990s (Mexico)
Used by	United States United Kingdom Indonesia[1] Israel Mexico Pakistan Yugoslavia
Wars	World War II Korean War Suez Crisis 1965 Indo-Pakistani War Six-Day War Yom Kippur War
Production history
Designer	Ordnance Department
Designed	June 1943
Manufacturer	Baldwin Locomotive Works Federal Machine and Welder International Harvester Lima Locomotive Works Pressed Steel Car Company
Developed into	M74 armored recovery vehicle
Produced	July 1943-May 1945
No. built	1,562
Variants	M32B1, M32B2, M32B3, M32A1B1, M32A1B2, M32A1B3, M34 Prime Mover
Specifications
Mass	64,300 lb (4,590 st) (M32, M32B1, and M32B3), 67,600 lb (4,830 st) (M32B2).
Length	19.3 ft (5.9 m)(length of hull), 18 ft (5.5 m) (length of A-frame boom)
Width	8.9 ft (2.7 m)
Height	9.66 ft (2.94 m)
Crew	4
Armor	0.5–2 in (13–51 mm)
Main armament	1 × 81 mm mortar
Secondary armament	1 × 0.5 in machine gun (300 rounds), 1 × 0.3 in machine gun (9,000 rounds), 20 hand grenades (Fragmentation, Mk. II), 6 smoke grenades.
Engine	M32 and M32B1 model: Continental R975-C1 or -C4 9 cylinder radial gasoline engine, 350 or 400 hp (261 or 298 kW) at 2,400 rpm M32B2 model: General Motors 6046 twin inline diesel engine; 375 hp (280 kW) at 2,100 rpm M32B3 model: Ford GAA V8 gasoline engine; 450 hp (336 kW) at 2,600 rpm
Payload capacity	10 short tons (9.1 t)[2]
Transmission	Spicer manual synchromesh transmission, one reverse and five forward gears
Suspension	Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS), -A1 variants with Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS)
Fuel capacity	148–175 US gal (560–660 L)
Operational range	120–150 mi (190–240 km)
Maximum speed	24 mph (39 km/h)

The M32 tank recovery vehicle was an armored recovery vehicle (ARV) used during World War II and the Korean War by the United States, and was based on the chassis of the M4 Sherman medium tank. During World War II, the British also used several hundred M32s, which were obtained through Lend-Lease in 1944. The first four prototypes were produced in January 1943, labeled T5, T5E1, T5E2, T5E3, and T5E4. After a series of tests at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, the prototypes were approved as M32, M32E1, M32E2, M32E3, and M32E4. However, the M32E4 never entered production. There were also variants that had upgraded recovery equipment for horizontal volute spring suspension (HVSS), which were demarcated by the suffix "A1" after the model number, however some were upgraded to HVSS without the upgraded recovery equipment these were simply designated M32 HVSS.^[3]

Lima Locomotive Works started production of the vehicles in June 1943, with five pilot vehicles (one of each model, including the M32B4 which did not enter production), 26 M32B2s, and 20 M32B3s. Pressed Steel Car produced 163 M32s and 475 M32B1s in 1944. They also produced 298 M32B3s. Baldwin Locomotive Works produced 180 M32B1s, while 400 M32B1s were produced by Federal Machine and Welder Company before the end of 1944. 24 M32B1s were converted into M34 Prime Movers, used to pull heavy artillery. The M32s were used beginning in 1944 during Operation Overlord and subsequent battles in the European Theater of Operations. It was also used during the Korean War. It was phased out after the introduction of the M74 tank recovery vehicle in 1954, when heavier tanks were produced, such as the M46 Patton. The M32 had a 30 short tons (27 t) winch, 18 ft (5.5 m) boom, and an A-frame jib. It was armed with two machine guns and a mortar mainly to provide cover for an emergency retreat.