M6 Tractor

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).

M6 High-Speed Tractor
Wartime photo of a M6 Tractor
TypeArtillery tractor
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byUS Army
WarsWorld War II
Production history
ManufacturerAllis-Chalmers
ProducedFebruary 1944-August 1945
No. built1,235
Specifications
Mass76,000 lbs / 34.5 t
Length21 ft 6 in / 6.55 m
Width10 ft / 3.07 m
Height8 ft 8 in / 2.64 m
Crew11
Main
armament
.50 cal M2 machine gun
Engine2 × Waukesha 145GZ 6-cylinder gasoline engine
2 × 190 hp at 2100 rpm (141.68 kW)
SuspensionHVSS (Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension)
Operational
range
110 mi / 177 km
Maximum speed 21 mph / 34 km/h

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, 13 ton, 18 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:

  • Running Gear (6 running wheels in the M6, instead of 4 wheels in the M4)
  • Dimensions
  • Weight
  • Towing capacity
  • Engine

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 M6 tractor 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 the M1 Heavy Tractor, heavy trucks, or vehicles based on existing hulls, among them:

  • T16 Heavy tractor, based on the M3A5 tank. It did not pass prototype stage, as the rear engine location prevented even a minimum load of ammunition.
  • M33 Heavy tractor, based on the M31 recovery vehicle, which in turn was based on the medium tank M3.
  • M34 Heavy tractor, based on the M32B1 recovery vehicle, which in turn was based on the medium tank M4.
  • M35 Heavy tractor, based on the M10 tank destroyer

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
  • US Army

Surviving vehicles
  • M6 tractor, Overloon
  • Side view, M6 tractor, Overloon
  • Front view, M6 Tractor, Overloon
  • Rear view, towing an 8-inch howitzer M1, Overloon

See also
Comparable vehicles

References

Notes

    Bibliography
    • Crismon, Fred W. (1992). US military tracked vehicles. Osceola: Motorbooks International. ISBN 0-87938-672-X.
    • Doyle, David; Pat Stansell (2006). High speed tractor. Delray Beach: Ampersand Publishing. ISBN 0-9773781-0-1.

    Further reading
    Technical manuals
    Books and publications
    • Trewhitt, Phillip (1999). Armoured Fighting Vehicles. Expert Guide. Bristol: Dempsey Parr. ISBN 1-84084-328-4.

    Media related to M6 High Speed Tractor at Wikimedia Commons

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