The M5 High Speed Tractor was a fully-tracked artillery tractor designed to tow artillery pieces that weighed up to. It could tow the gun and carry the gun's ammunition, the crew and their equipment. The M5 was developed from the prototype T13 High-Speed Tractor, it shared the latter's Continental R6572 in-line six-cylinder petrol engine which developed at 2,900 rpm and, like the T13 before it, derived its tracks and its vertical volute spring suspension from the Stuart tank. The M5 had a maximum road speed of with a range of. To assist in the movement and placement of its gun, the M5 High-Speed Tractor was equipped with a front mounted engine-drivenwinch that had a maximum pull of and was fitted with roller below the winch that permitted pulling of loads behind the tractor.
Production
The design of the M5 High-Speed Tractor was standardized in October 1942, with production being undertaken by International Harvester, the design was to evolve into five marks. The M5 was accepted into US Army service as the standard gun tractor used to tow the 105 mm Howitzer M2, the 4.5 inch Gun M1 and the 155 mm Howitzer M1. Standard ammunition stowage was:
Production of the original M5 High-Speed Tractor began in May 1943, running for 24 months with a total of 5,290 tractors produced. They had a simple folding top with side curtains for the protection of the gun crew from the elements, the driver was located in the front centre and there were inwards facing seats for total crew of 9. After 1944 the vehicles were fitted with the M49C ring mount that allowed it to be armed with an M2 Browning machine gun for local and air defence.
M5A1 High-Speed Tractor
Introduced in May 1945, the M5A1 High-Speed Tractor introduced a new steel cab with the driver moving to the front left and forwards facing seats for the crew for a total crew of 11. A total of 589 M5A1s were produced before production ceased in August 1945.
M5A2 High-Speed Tractor & M5A3 High-Speed Tractor
Introduced after WWII, the M5A2 High-Speed Tractor and M5A3 High-Speed Tractor were updated M5s and M5A1s with a horizontal volute spring suspension system instead of the original vertical volute spring suspension and a new tracks that were wide compared to the older tracks that were 11 5/8 inches wide.
M5A4 High-Speed Tractor
The M5A4 High-Speed Tractor reorganised the ammunition stowage boxes along the sides of the vehicle for easier access.
Users
World War II
The M5 High-Speed Tractor entered service with the US Army in 1943 and was the field and medium artillery prime mover in 1944-45. In 1944, 200 M5s were provided to an appreciative Soviet Union for use by the Red Army who quickly rushed it into service.
Post-war
The US Army continued to use the M5 during the Korean War, retiring them shortly afterwards. Post-war surplus M5s were supplied to Austria, Belgium, Japan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Yugoslavia. A number of M5 Tractors were used in British Columbia, Canada, as carriers for rock drills. The Chapman "Drilmobile", manufactured by Chapman Motor & Machine Shop of Delta, British Columbia was designed specifically for logging road construction.
Surviving examples
Surviving examples of the M5 High-Speed Tractors of various marks can be seen at:
A mostly intact but rusting M5 or M5A4 Tractor, complete with Continental engine, PTO winch, six 5-round side-mount ammunition lockers, and M2 Browning ring-mount can be found parked beside Route 96 in New York state, a few miles east of the town of Phelps.
