M-4 High Speed Tractor

The M4 18-ton High Speed Tractor was designed as a prime mover for towing large field artillery guns such as the 90mm Anti-Aircraft gun, the 155mm Long Tom, the 8in. Howitzer, or other heavy weapons (See the Towed Artillery Chart). In addition to moving the gun, the M-4 High Speed Tractor carried ammunition in cargo space racks. Ten men plus the driver could be carried. The M-4 HST was manufactured by Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co. of Milwaukee, WI starting in 1942 and was in U.S. military service until approximately 1960.

The M-4 High Speed Tractor was equipped with air and electric brakes that would match any types of brakes on the towed load.

An anti-aircraft .50 cal. machine gun on a ring mount was accessed through a hatch above the crew compartment.

Today in WW II: 8 Feb 1940 Germans establish the first large Jewish ghetto in Poland in the city of Lodz. More ↓

8 Feb 1941 US House of Representatives passes the Lend-Lease Act [265 to 165].
8 Feb 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach begins, the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore.
8 Feb 1942 Japanese Offensive in Burma begins [8 Feb-2 May].
8 Feb 1945 Battle of the Reichswald: British and Canadian forces under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery begin Operation Veritable [8 Feb-11 Mar].
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Specifications of the M-4 High Speed Tractor

Crew	Driver
Weight	31,500 lbs.
Height	7 ft, 10 in.
Width	8 ft, 1 in.
Length	17 ft, 2 in.
Engine	Waukesha 145GZ 6 cyl. gasoline
Horsepower	210hp
Road Speed	35 mph
Range	180 mi.

>M-4 High Speed Tractor at Hampton Roads, VA, 16 August 1943
M-4 High Speed Tractor at Hampton Roads, VA, 16 August 1943.

An M-4 High Speed Tractor of the Seventeenth Field Artillery, supporting the First Marine Division, stopped by a river near Chunchon, Korea, 1950.