The M5 High-Speed Tractor was an artillery tractor

Artillery tractor

Artillery tractor is a kind of tractor, also referred to as a gun tractor, a vehicle used to tow artillery pieces of varying weights.-Traction:...

 used by the US Army from 1942.

Construction

The M5 is a fully track vehicle designed to tow the 105 mm Howitzer M2, and the 155 mm Long Tom

155 mm Long Tom

The 155 mm Gun M1 and M2 , widely known as Long Tom, were 155 millimeter calibre field guns used by the United States armed forces during World War II and Korean War. The Long Tom replaced the Canon de 155 mm GPF in United States service.-Development:Before entering World War I, the United...

 field artillery

Field artillery

Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....

, and carry the gun crew and ammunition. A winch

Winch

A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in or let out or otherwise adjust the "tension" of a rope or wire rope . In its simplest form it consists of a spool and attached hand crank. In larger forms, winches stand at the heart of machines as diverse as tow trucks, steam shovels and...

 and roller system allows the M5 to pull vehicles to the front or rear. Armament is a single anti-aircraft M2 Browning machine gun.

History

The M5 was standardized in October 1942 from the T21, a vehicle based on the tracks and suspension of the Stuart tank

Stuart tank

The M3 Stuart, formally Light Tank M3, was an American light tank of World War II and supplied to British and Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war—and used thereafter by U.S...

. International Harvester

International Harvester

International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...

 started production in 1942. The M5 did not serve in US Army for long after World War II, but Japan, Austria, Yugoslavia and Pakistan continued to use it.

Variants

• M5 soft top, center driver, Vertical Volute Spring
• M5A1 hard top, left driver, Vertical Volute Spring
• M5A2 soft top, center driver, Horizontal Volute Spring
• M5A3 hard top, left driver, Horizontal Volute Spring
• M5A4 Half top, center driver, side ammo boxes, Horizontal Volute Spring

Surviving artifacts

• Marshall Museum http://preservedtanks.com/Profile.aspx?UniqueID=1713
• 1 at 45th ID Museum http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM9FNM_M_5_Artillery_Prime_Mover_Tractor_Oklahoma_City_OK

See also

• List of U.S. military vehicles by supply catalog designation
• List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
• M4 Tractor
  M4 Tractor
  -Design and development:The M4 was based on the chassis and drive train of the obsolescent M2 Light Tank. This common practice of re-using old vehicles simplified design, allowed for easy production, and made maintenance in the field easier....