M41 Walker Bulldog

M41 Walker Bulldog
M41 Light Tank
Type	light tank
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1953 – present (derivatives still in service)
Used by	See operators
Wars	Korean War (limited), Vietnam War
Production history
Manufacturer	Cadillac of General Motors
Specifications
Weight	23.5 t
Length	19.09 ft (5.819 m)
Width	10.5 ft (3.2 m)
Height	8.9 ft (2.71 m)
Crew	4
Armor	up to 1.5 in (38 mm)
Main armament	1 × 76 mm M32 gun
Secondary armament	1 × .50 cal MG, 1 × .30 cal MG
Engine	Continental AOS 895-3 6-cylinder gasoline 500 hp (373 kW)
Power/weight	21.3 hp (15.9 kW) / tonne
Suspension	Torsion bar
Operational range	100 miles (161 km)
Speed	45 mph (72 km/h)

The M41 Walker Bulldog was an American light tank developed to replace the M24 Chaffee. It was named for General Walton Walker who died in a jeep accident in Korea. On 7 November 1950, the US Ordnance Committee Minutes (OCM) issued item #33476, redesignating the heavy, medium, and light tank, according to the main armament; the 120mm and 105mm caliber (heavy, larger-than-100mm) Gun Tanks, 90mm (medium) Gun Tanks, and the 76mm (light) Gun Tanks.

While the M24 Chaffee was a successful design, its main gun was not effective enough against well armored opponents. Although the primary mission of a light tank was scouting, the U.S. Army wanted one with more powerful armament. The development of the new tank, T37, began in 1947. The vehicle was designed to be air-transportable, and the desired anti-tank capabilities were provided by installing a long 76 mm gun with an advanced rangefinder. In 1949, with the adoption of a less ambitious rangefinder, the project's designation was changed to T41. Production started in 1951 at Cadillac's Cleveland Tank Plant, and by 1953 the new tank completely replaced the M24 in the United States Army. Initially it was nicknamed "Little Bulldog", then renamed "Walker Bulldog" after General Walton Walker, who was killed in a jeep accident in Korea in 1950.

The M41 was an agile and well armed vehicle. However, it was also noisy, fuel-hungry and heavy enough to cause problems with air transport. In 1952 work began on lighter designs (T71, T92), but those projects came to naught and were eventually abandoned.

The Walker Bulldog saw limited combat with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, but for the most part, the conflict served as a testing ground to work out the tank's deficiencies, especially with its rangefinder. At the time, it was designated as the T41, and was rushed to the battlefield even before its first test run. This was due to the fact that the North Koreans were supplied with Soviet T-34 tanks, which were superior to the M24. By 1961, 150 were delivered to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to supplement their Type 61 medium tanks.