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M2 Light Tank

M2 Light Tank

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For the medium tank, see M2 Medium Tank.





M2_lt (Stock)

AnnoM2_lt.png
Totals
3400 Price
140 Hit Points
8.6 / 11.5 kgWeight
Crew
  1. Commander
Armor
25/25/25Hull Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
16/16/16Turret Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
Maneuver
220 h.p.Engine Power
58 km/hSpeed Limit
43 deg/secTraverse Speed
Firepower
8 Standard Shell Damage
27 mmStandard Shell Penetration
22.9 Time for Complete Loading
37 deg/secTurret Traverse Speed
Communication
260 mView Range
265 mSignal Range
II
M2 Light Tank
3400
Infantry support tank. A total of 696 vehicles were manufactured from 1935 through 1942. The tank saw combat with the U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal. It was withdrawn from service in 1942.

Shorter and smaller than its tier 2 cousin, the T2 Medium Tank, the M2 Light Tank has many of the same stats plus a much more powerful engine. The M2 is one of the fastest tier 2 tanks and is decently armored. It has a bit of difficulty in tight spaces, but in the open it is very fast. Its speed is best used to exploit the sluggishness of other low tier tanks.

M2 Light Tank

Stock

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret I M2D27810 700 16/16/16 37 260
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun I .50 caliber MG HB M2 70 27 8 92.66 0.57 1.7
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine III Guiberson T-10204 331 220 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis I VVSS T16E1 3300 11.5 43
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio II SCR 200 0 265
Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret I M2D27810 700 16/16/16 37 260
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun II 20 mm Hispano-Suiza Birgikt Gun 68 30/41 12/12 95.74 0.5 1.9
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine III Continental R670-7 256 250 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis II VVSS T16E2 3300 11.5 46
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio IV SCR 210 0 325

M2A4 Light

Attack

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret II M2D27812 800 25/25/25 39 320
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun II 37 mm Gun M5 78 48/70/19 40/40/50 24 0.46 2.1
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine III Continental W-670-7 256 262 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis II VVSS T16E2 3300 11.5 46
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio IX SCR 506 0 615

M2A3 Light

Recon

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret II M2D27812 800 25/25/25 39 320
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun II 20 mm Hispano-Suiza Birgikt Gun 68 30/41 12/12 107.14 0.5 1.7
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine III Continental W-670-7 256 262 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis II VVSS T16E2 3300 11.5 46
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio IX SCR 506 0 615

Compatible Equipment

Small Spall Liner
Camouflage Net
Coated Optics
Enhanced Gun Laying Drive
Enhanced Vertical Coil Springs 1 Class
Improved Ventilation Class 1
Binocular Telescope
Toolbox

Compatible Consumables

Automatic Fire Extinguisher
Case of Cola
100-octane Gasoline
105-octane Gasoline
Manual Fire Extinguisher
Large First Aid Kit
Large Repair Kit
Small First Aid Kit
Small Repair Kit

Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:


  • Good acceleration and top speed
  • Good view range
  • High ammunition capacity
  • Decent gun choice
  • Decent armor for tier II, angling it correctly is a must


Cons:


  • Poor accuracy
  • Poor turning properties
  • Fairly tall for a light tank
  • Terrible accuracy on all guns


Performance

In its stock configuration, it is initially armed with the weakest gun in the entire game. While an excellent machine gun, the .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun is at best described as an amusing novelty in World of Tanks. Thankfully, it can quickly be upgraded to the Hispano-Suiza Birgikt auto-cannon, which does more damage and has higher penetration than the .50 caliber. Later the gun can be upgraded again with a powerful 37mm gun that hits very hard for its tier, considering its short reload time.

With the upgraded turret, this tank has 25mm of armor on all sides, both on the hull, and on the turret (the front has slightly better slope). As a result, you don't have to worry much about keeping your front facing your enemy with this tank. However, don't get too used to it since on most tanks facing matters a great deal.

Compared with the German auto-cannons at this tier, the 20 mm Hispano-Suiza Birgikt has significantly less penetration, but it fires three shots per burst instead of two, so against armor it can penetrate, it does much more damage. When using this weapon, try to avoid enemies you know you can't penetrate and focus on the ones you can. You will have to flank most tier 3 enemies to get at their weaker side or rear armor.

The SCR 506 radio is an excellent radio that's used on no less than 20 vehicles in the American tree. If you don't want to take the time to research it on tier 2, then research it on tier 3. You don't want to go beyond that without it.

With the high powered radio, great view range for a tier 2 tank, small size, quick speed and good maneuverability (especially with a trained crew) this tank makes a great scout regardless of tier - and is very underestimated by many higher tier players. A good tip is using this for tank companies - being a tier 2 tank, it has a very small match weight, but is still very useful as a scout and arty killer. (although its guns might have issues penetrating even artillery) For example, one could bring (theoretically) THIRTY of these tanks in a medium tank company, although the feasibility of this is questionable.

The BT-2 light tank serves a similar purpose to this tank, but the M2 LT has higher view/signal range, more armor (marginal in anything but its own tier), similar firepower, and unfortunately less speed, maneuverability and acceleration. Similarly, the much loved premium T2 LT compares in much of the same ways; less signal/view range, less armor, similar firepower and higher speed and acceleration. The use of these tanks in higher tier battles can all be surprisingly effective.


Early Research

  • The 20 mm Hispano-Suiza Birgikt gun carries over from the T1 Cunningham, so you should upgrade to that immediately.
  • Both the engine and the turret are good places to begin researching.
  • Go from there.


Historical Info

The M2 Light Tank was an American pre-World War II light tank that saw combat with the US Marine Corps 1st Tank Battalion on Guadalcanal in 1942 during World War II. Its service with the 1st Tank Battalion during the Pacific War was its only US combat use during the war; however, it is believed that M2A4s served in Burma and India with the British 7th Hussars and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment during their engagements with the IJA 14th Tank Regiment. The M2A4 was the immediate predecessor of the M3 Stuart light tank.

History of Development

The Light Tank M2 was developed in 1935 by the Rock Island arsenal as an infantry tank for the US Army. It was inspired by the well-known Vickers 6-ton. Its main armament was one .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun in a small one-man turret, of which only 10 were made. The US Infantry Branch then decided to switch to a twin turret configuration, with a .30 caliber machine gun in the second turret. These two turret tanks was given the nickname “Mae west“ by the troops, after the popular busty movie star. The twin-turret layout was inefficient, but was a common feature of 1930s light tanks derived from the Vickers, such as the Soviet T-26 and Polish 7TP.

From the events in the Spanish Civil War, the US Army drew the conclusion that tanks had to be better armed and protected. By 1940 the twin machine gun turrets were replaced by one larger turret with a 37 mm gun, and armor was increased to 25 mm. Other upgrades included improved suspension, improved transmission, and better engine cooling.

The fall of France affected the progress on the US tank program. In July 1940, work began on a new light tank based on the M2. Stronger armor and a longer tank hull finally led to the M3 Stuart.

The importance of the M2 lies in its basis for the M3, which exploited the high speed and reliability of the mechanical parts based on the M2 program.

Deployment

In December 1941, the M2A1, M2A2, and M2A3 variants were only used for training. A small number of the M2A4 variant took part in the Battle of Guadalcanal while assigned to the US Marine Corps 1st Tank Battalion, and remained in service in some areas of the Pacific until 1943.

Great Britain ordered 100 M2A4 tanks in the spring of 1941 . After 36 was delivered, the order was withdrawn in favor of the improved M3 Stuart. There is evidence that indicates these 36 M2A4s ended up as part of the British Army's 7th Hussars and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, fighting in the India and Burma campaigns against the Japanese 14th Tank Regiment.

Variants

M2A1 (1935) - .50 MG in a single turret. 10 units were produced.

M2A2 (1935) - Twin turrets. Dubbed "Mae West". 239 units produced.

M2A3 (1938) - Twin turrets, Thicker armor, improved suspension. 72 units produced.

M2A4 (1940) - Single turret with 37mm gun, thicker armor. 375 units produced.


Historical Gallery

USA
Light Tanks IT1 Cunningham IIM2 Light Tank IIT1E6-X IIT1E6-X1 IIT2 Light Tank IIT7 Combat Car IIIM22 Locust IIIM3 Stuart IIIMTLS-1G14 IVM5 Stuart VM24 Chaffee VIT21 VIT37 VIIM41 Walker Bulldog VIIT71 VIIIM41B Brazilian Bulldog VIIIT49
Medium Tanks IIT2 Medium Tank IIIM2 Medium Tank IVM3 Lee VM4A2E4 Sherman VM4A2E4 Ripper VM4 Sherman VM7 VRam II VIM4A3E8 Sherman VISherman Fury VIM4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo VIIT20 VIIT23E3 VIIIM26 Pershing VIIIT26E4 Super Pershing VIIIT26E4 Freedom VIIIT69 VIIIT95E2 IXM46 Patton IXT54E1 XM48A1 Patton
Heavy Tanks VT14 VT1 Heavy Tank VIM6 VIIT29 VIIIM6A2E1 VIIIT32 VIIIT34 IXM103 XT110E5 XT57 Heavy Tank
Tank Destroyers IIT18 IIIT82 IVM8A1 IVT40 VM10 Wolverine VT67 VIM18 Hellcat VIM36 Jackson VIIT25/2 VIIT25 AT VIIIT28 VIIIT28 Prototype IXT30 IXT95 XT110E3 XT110E4
Self-Propelled Artillery IIT57 IIIM7 Priest IIISexton I IVM37 VM41 VIM44 VIIM12 VIIIM40/M43 IXM53/M55 XT92
Light Tanks
USA IT1 Cunningham IIM2 Light Tank IIT1E6-X IIT1E6-X1 IIT2 Light Tank IIT7 Combat Car IIIM22 Locust IIIM3 Stuart IIIMTLS-1G14 IVM5 Stuart VM24 Chaffee VIT21 VIT37 VIIM41 Walker Bulldog VIIT71 VIIIM41B Brazilian Bulldog VIIIT49
UK IICruiser Mk. I IICruiser Mk. III IIICruiser Mk. IV IIICruiser Mk. II IVValentine IVCovenanter VCrusader
Germany ILeichttraktor IIPz.Kpfw. 38H 735 (f) IIPz.Kpfw. 35 (t) IIPz.Kpfw. I IIPz.Kpfw. II IIIPz.Kpfw. 38 (t) IIIPz.Kpfw. III Ausf. A IIIPz.Kpfw. II Ausf. J IIIPz.Kpfw. I Ausf. C IIIPz.Kpfw. II Ausf. G IIIT-15 IVPz.Kpfw. 38 (t) n.A. IVPz.Kpfw. II Luchs VVK 16.02 Leopard VIVK 28.01 VIIAufklärungspanzer Panther VIIISpähpanzer Ru 251
France IRenault FT IID1 IIHotchkiss H35 IIIAMX 38 IVAMX 40 VELC AMX VIAMX 12 t VIF224 AMX Chaffee VIIAMX 13 75 VIIIAMX 13 90
USSR IMS-1 IIBT-2 IIT-26 IIT-60 IITetrarch IIIBT-7 IIIBT-SV IIIM3 Light IIIT-127 IIIT-46 IIIT-70 IVA-20 IVT-50 IVT-80 IVValentine II VIMT-25 VIILTTB VIIIT-54 ltwt.
China IRenault NC-31 IIVickers Mk. E Type B IIIType 2597 Chi-Ha IVM5A1 Stuart VI59-16 VIType 64 VIIWZ-131 VIIIWZ-132
Japan IRenault Otsu IIType 95 Ha-Go IIIType 98 Ke-Ni IVType 5 Ke-Ho
Czechoslovakia
Sweden
ko:XBOX:M2 ltja:XBOX:M2 lt