This question may have been answered or addressed in previous posts, but I have missed it.  If it has please forgive me.  The question is about the use of radial aircraft engines in tanks during WWII.  The Stuart, Lee and Sherman all used radial engines (at some point in their development).  Is there a reason as to why an air colled radial engine would be used in an enclosed vehicle like a tank? Thanks in advance John Mathieson

This question may have been answered or addressed in previous posts, but I have missed it.  If it has please forgive me.  The question is about the use of radial aircraft engines in tanks during WWII.  The Stuart, Lee and Sherman all used radial engines (at some point in their development).  Is there a reason as to why an air colled radial engine would be used in an enclosed vehicle like a tank? Thanks in advance Definitely. One notes the VW Beetle as a long running, successful enclosed vehicle that has used air cooled engines. Dr Ferdinand Porsche also developed air cooled racing and tank engines for possible use in the 2nd WW (I'm not sure any got in service), but they had one main advantage - the absence of a heavy liquid-filled cooling system. This led to other advantages, lower weight, greater ability to start in very cold or very hor temperatures. However, they can/will overheat if left motionless for too long while running. Also, radial engines are often more 'boxy' and 'cubic' in their shape, unlike water-cooled which are often a lot longer and thinner - in general - and may fit a boxy tank a lot better.

Is there a reason as to why an air colled radial engine would be used in an enclosed vehicle like a tank? Thanks in advance     One of the main reasons (the only one I can think of, in fact) is the same reason they were so useful in planes: air-cooled radials lack a the heavy, vulnerable liquid-cooling system that inlines have.  I'm not sure how significant an advantage this would be in a tank, but the tank doesn't have to worry about the aerodynamic tradeoff, either.     I always thought that the American tanks used Detroit diesels anyhow. Never heard of air-cooled radials in them, but then again I'm an air nut, so how would I know.         -Tom Blersch

High horsepower, low weight, off the shelf availability; all are reasons that overcome the relatively high profile of the radial engine for armored vehicle use.  The first ones were used in early US light tank designs, pre World War II. Terry Stibal This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

: Stuart, Lee and Sherman all used radial engines (at some point in : their development).  Is there a reason as to why an air colled radial : engine would be used in an enclosed vehicle like a tank? :         Radial engines were compact for the power they produced,    light, reliable and powerful. All very good ingredients for    a tank engine.         Remember that in the late '30's, powerful automotive    engines really didn't exist. Truck engines were all relatively    small, so the only other practical powerplants were aircraft    engines. The Depression had slowed or halted demand for high    powered engines that were also suitable for tanks (ie, the    engines Caterpillar used weren't judged suitable for tank    use, since gearing could overcome their lack of horsepower,    and as I recall, it was feared Cat couldn't meet the combined    demands of construction and tank powerplants).         In the UK, their system of canals meant there was simply    no demand for heavy trucks (lorries), since barge traffic    moved the heavy loads. This would be a major problem when    the war broke out, since lack of heavy lorries meant a lack    of bridges capable of supporting tanks, not to mention the    lack of a suitable tank engine.         The Soviet V-2 12 cylinder diesel tank engine was, I have    read from several sources, originally designed as an aircraft    engine. I have alse seen it said that in the Soviet tradition,    they stole the plans from the French.         Daimler Benz would have loved to build diesel tank engines,    but Maybach zealously guarded their position as Germany's    tank engine supplier. Several places have indicated that there    was bitter wars conducted between these two companies to limit    their influence/production contracts.                                                         Bruce

High horsepower, low weight, off the shelf availability; all are reasons that overcome the relatively high profile of the radial engine for armored vehicle use.  The first ones were used in early US light tank designs, pre World War II. The M-4, M-4A1, and M-4A6 were all powered by various radial Engines. Additionally the M-3/5 Stuart series had Radial engines as well as most of the Tank Destroyers. The Main oddball was the M-4A2 which was diesel powered and mainly used by the USMC since it used the same fuel as the landing craft and many were shipped to the Russians who also used predominantly diesel.