M1921 Christie Medium Tank

History of the M1921 Christie Medium Tank

American car designer J. Walter Christie experimented with selling a variety of tracked vehicles to the U.S. Army from the second half of World War I (1914-1918).

The Army signed a contract in 1919 for the Model 1919 Christie Medium Tank, a "convertible tank" with a hybrid suspension system that could run on wheels or track sections. The Type 1919 wasn't an outright winner, as it was considered underpowered, unreliable and uncomfortable for two crew members.

Rather than waiting for a formal rejection from the Ordnance Department, Christie asked for additional time to rework his creation, which was approved. About a year later, Christie returned with an improved version of his 1919, the 1921. The tank retained its large wheels at the extreme corners of the design and placed a single two-wheeled bogie on each side of the hull.

However, for driving comfort, the front wheels have now been sprung up and the fuselage structure has been completely revised. Gone are the turretized primary and secondary weapons. In its place was a fixed turret to which the 2.24" main gun was attached.

Each ball seat for .30 caliber air-cooled machine guns is located on both front corners of the fuselage structure.

Gone is the tactical flexibility of mounting two guns in a mobile turret, and the Model 1921 did little to improve performance and reliability. U.S. Army authorities did not believe the design, so the Type 1921, like its predecessor, the Type 1919, was not pursued.

However, it was tested in July 1924, and the bankrupt Christie eventually sold the rights to the machines (and some applicable patents) to the Army.

Specifications of M1921 Medium Christie Tank

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Not available.

Changes