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The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - M41 'Walker BullDog' Light Tank - Aug. 3rd, 2004
www.guntruck.com ^ | Jim Lewis

Posted on 08/02/2004 11:23:22 PM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

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'Walker BullDog' Light Tank




The M41 is historically significant because it was the first example of new American tank design theory after lessons learned from World War II. It was truly "modern" in concept. The M41 was the first American tank designed around its powerplant - and not its main gun - as recognition of how important the powerplant really is for an AFV. Previous vehicles were set by drawing up its general dimensions - and then efforts were made to find an engine to fit inside of the new vehicle and meet the power requirements of the tank. This practice often created underpowered AFV's, or AFV's with less armor plating than conceived for its intended mission.



The M41 was the first American tank to be equipped with a bore evacuator to clear the gun tube of fumes after firing. It was intended to be fitted with an autoloader (would have been another first) in effort to reduce the number of crew in the Turret to two men and increase the rate of fire, however, lack of funding curtailed development of the autoloader. It would be dropped from the production design. The integrated fire control system that better coordinated accurate laying of the gun survived into production, however. The Gun was fully stabilized and quite accurate for the time.



The M41 Tank was originally dubbed "Little BullDog", but was renamed early on in honor of US Lieutenant General Walton H. Walker after his death during the Korean War. Also, early on in the M41's history (November 1950), the US Army changed the designation system it used for tanks from weight to the caliber of the vehicle's main gun. Under the old system, the M41 (at 26 tons) would have been designated a "light" tank, and would be called so in most references. The M41 Walker BullDog was actually a swift reconnaissance vehicle, agile and fast enough to venture behind enemy lines. It carried extensive radio equipment (evidenced by its large Turret Bustle) to allow it to communicate its findings back to base. And, it carried a formidable 76mm Gun giving it the capability of taking on all but the largest of enemy force vehicles to fight its way back out.



The lineage of the Walker BullDog is as interesting as learning about the different marks of German WW II Panzers. Differences between M41, M41A1, M41A2, and M41A3 in US service are mostly internal improvements - and not readily identifiable by external features. All of them served side-by-side - even in the same unit, during their service life. I'll list these differences here, and the use them in modeling the four variants as I go. The thinking employed in development and fielding of the M41 would pave the way to the successful deployment of future American AFV's.

M41 Walker BullDog


The early M41 had round, cast steel, Muzzle Brakes. These were replaced later on by T-shaped Muzzle Brakes. The Bore Evacuator is located just behind the Muzzle Brake. These early-production vehicles' Turrets are characterized by high weld marks on their sides - marking the demarcation between rolled steel and cast steel components. The bottom edge of the rolled steel side plates ran straight back to the bottom edge of the Turret Bustle. A Stowage Bin was attached to the rear of the Turret Bustle, extending its length even more, and creating a large overhang above the Engine Deck. Early M41 Turrets came equipped with a coaxial mounted .50cal Machine Gun. These were replaced during the production run by a .30cal Machine Gun because the smaller weapon allowed more ammunition stowage.



On the roof of the Turret externally, the Commander's .50cal AA Machine Gun was mounted on a pintle located between the Gunner's Hatch and the Commander's Hatch. The Gunner's Hatch also was cast with a "gutter" - a raised lip around it that helped keep water from splashing down into the Turret if opened in the rain. Spare Track Links were commonly mounted on the Turret sides.

Internally, the M41 Turret contained a Pulse Relay and Gun Control System that allowed power traverse for the Gunner with override for the Tank Commander. The Gunner has a manual hydraulic elevation control for the 76mm Gun, but the Commander had none.


M41 IN SOUTH VIETNAMESE TRAINING OPERATION


The M41 came equipped with an Auxiliary Generator (AUX GEN) powered by a small engine located in the right upper side of the Engine Bay - to provide power for Turret operation. M41 Walker BullDog Vehicles 1 through 1367 did not come equipped with a Muffler / Exhaust for the AUX GEN. The next 922 M41's came with the Muffler / Exhaust for the AUX GEN mounted on the right Engine Muffler Cover. Later vehicles after this batch came with the AUX GEN Muffler mounted at the front right side of the tank - co-located with the Pioneer Tool Rack. AUX GEN Muffler locations don't denote differences in variants. Neither do the Fenders or Idler Wheel / Drive Sprocket combinations, as much as they indicate production period.

The early M41 Walker BullDogs came equipped with both square-ended Fenders and Track Skirts. Later production vehicles deleted the Track Skirts, and the Fenders were replaced with angled (clipped) Fenders. The Pioneer Tool Rack was commonly mounted on the front, center, of the Glacis Plate.



The M41 came equipped with a 6-cylinder, supercharged, Continental AOS-895-3 Engine with a remarkably short range of 100 miles - despite 140 gallons of fuel carried internally. This was one of the last gasoline-powered engines to go into an American tank for this reason - despite the fact that the gas-powered M41 could get up over 45mph on roads. The Engine equipping the Walker BullDog was extremely loud, and the Mufflers got so hot that they glowed at night.

Early M41's came equipped with a non-rubber rimmed Idler Wheel, which was slotted (10 holes), like that employed on the M18 HellCat. Later production vehicles came with a rubber tired Idler Wheel identical to the other Road Wheels - either style could be fitted. The M41's 12-tooth Drive Sprocket had four lightening holes. Later production vehicle Drive Sprockets did not have lightening holes.



The Cadillac M41 Walker BullDog entered service in 1951, with 1792 vehicles built during the production run. Some sources cite the M41 as seeing limited deployment to Korea and as having success against the Soviet T-34/85 Medium Tank.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: armor; freeperfoxhole; m41; m41a1; m41a2; m41a3; tanks; treadhead; veterans; walkerbulldog
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21 posted on 08/03/2004 6:02:53 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: Professional Engineer; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; PhilDragoo; Samwise; Matthew Paul; radu; All

Good morning ThreadHeads!!

22 posted on 08/03/2004 6:04:09 AM PDT by Soaring Feather
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M41A3 76mm Gun Combat Tank 'Walker BullDog'
23 posted on 08/03/2004 6:05:24 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: Professional Engineer
Morning PE. WOW fantastic Flag-o-gram today!! Love it.
24 posted on 08/03/2004 6:06:38 AM PDT by Soaring Feather
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The M41 has been exported to Brazil (300), Chile (60), Denmark (53), Dominican Republic (12), Guatemala (10), Somalia (10), Taiwan (675), Thailand (200), Tunisia (10) and West Germany.

25 posted on 08/03/2004 6:11:17 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: SAMWolf
M41 vs T34 at the Bay of Pigs
26 posted on 08/03/2004 6:18:39 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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The M41A3 was supplied to the ARVN beginning in 1965. Considered unsuitable for use in RVN by the US Army due to it's very thin armor and cramped interior, the simplicity and mechanical reliability was felt to be more suitable to the smaller sized ARVN cavalry troopers.

27 posted on 08/03/2004 6:23:34 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: E.G.C.

Morning E.G.C. How was shopping? Broke yet?


28 posted on 08/03/2004 6:40:18 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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Minestruck ARVN M41, 1971

29 posted on 08/03/2004 6:40:20 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: The Mayor
For all the heartaches and the tears,
For gloomy days and fruitless years
I do give thanks, for now I know
These were the things that helped me grow!
—Crandlemire

Morning Mayor. Reminds me of what my mom used to say to the kids all the time, "Look at it as a learning experience"

30 posted on 08/03/2004 6:43:30 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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To: Darksheare

A Lincoln or a 67 T-Bird qualifies too. :-)


31 posted on 08/03/2004 6:44:23 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

Morning Cannoneer No. 4. Thanks for the bump.


32 posted on 08/03/2004 6:45:02 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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To: stand watie

Morning stand watie.

Free Dixie!


33 posted on 08/03/2004 6:45:30 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

Nice pics from Grafenwoehr. :-)


34 posted on 08/03/2004 6:46:55 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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To: Professional Engineer

Morning PE. NASA and Flag-O-Grams. Nice touch.


35 posted on 08/03/2004 6:48:32 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4
The main problem up here revolved around the unique T bar steering crossbar; it was too weak and would occasionally break near the right grip when yanked hard by rough handed drivers.

Ooops! That could be a problem!

36 posted on 08/03/2004 6:50:36 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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To: bentfeather

Morning Feather. Hey, did you know your tank shows up in a Google search for "Feather"?


37 posted on 08/03/2004 6:51:35 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

One of my first tank model kits was the M-41. It was one of those tanks, like the Chaffee, that just "looked" right.


38 posted on 08/03/2004 6:53:06 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Want a stupid answer? Ask me anything!)
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To: SAMWolf

LOL no I did not. It shows up for burkas, too. LOL

Infamous I am. LOL


39 posted on 08/03/2004 6:53:10 AM PDT by Soaring Feather
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To: SAMWolf
ARVN was hampered by the uses (or rather misuses) that the various political and military leaders put their armored units to. The main contribution that ARVN armored units made to the war before approximately 1967 was that of a securer of political power. They were used in the long running series of coups and counter-coups which rocked Saigon from the fall of Diem in 1963 and the arrival of the US military on the scene in real strength in 1966. This misuse earned for them the ironic nickname "voting machines" amongst the Vietnamese.(7) So paranoid were the ARVN commander's vying for control of the country in the various juntas which formed and reformed in the period that the ARVN tank units were always kept within a day's march or less of the capital, Saigon and were forbidden to carry out any maneuvers in the direction of the Capital.

This paranoia was so severe that apparently one evening when US advisers were delivering new M41 tanks after midnight to avoid Saigon's normally chaotic traffic, the then dictator General Khanh was so alarmed that he fled to Vung Tau, over 50 kilometers away.(8) Air-Marshal Ky, not to be outdone by his army counterparts managed to secure a squadron of M24 Chaffee light tanks for use by the RVNAF at Tan Son Nhut airbase (these were in fact the last M24's in RVN service).

40 posted on 08/03/2004 6:56:43 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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