Christie M1931
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The M1931 was Christie's first tank to be accepted for production by the US Army and was used briefly by experimental tank units. Christie's design had more influence in Europe, with the USSR and the UK developing Christie's ideas in the form of Bystrokhodny (fast) tanks and cruiser tanks respectively.
Development
The Christie M1931 originated as the M1928, which used Christie's suspension, and had the ability to run on its tracks or the wheels. The M1928 was demonstrated unofficially to the US Army by traversing a route at an average speed of 45 km/h (28 mph); by contrast the US Army's T1E1 tanks – expected to replace their WWI-era M1917 light tanks – averaged 16 km/h (9.9 mph) over the same route. This prompted sufficient interest to properly consider Christie's ideas.
In 1930, after protracted negotiations, a contract was signed with Christie's US Wheel Track Layer Corporation to build an improved version of the M1928 at a cost of $55,000.
The prototype M1931, without armament, was delivered in March 1931. An order for seven more was placed in June; these were delivered by 1932. Officially called the "Convertible Medium Tank T3", three went to Company F, 67th Infantry (Medium Tanks) at Fort Benning. The remaining four were passed to the 1st Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized) at Fort Knox. With the gun replaced by a heavy machine gun, they were renamed "Combat Car T1". The prototype was returned to Christie.