M24 Chaffee World War II Tank Driving Experience
Schedule Drive
Drive the Famous Light Tank That Spanned Two Wars
The American Heritage Museum offers exciting tank driving experiences in the Spring, Summer, and Fall aboard the M24 Chaffee light tank used in World War II and the Korean War. This fast and maneuverable tank replaced the M5 Stuart light tanks and brought the 75mm M6 cannon to the battlefield.
Tank driving programs on the M24 Chaffee cost $995 per participant for a one-hour training experience. This includes ground instruction, startup, driving instruction, and 20 minutes of driving on the museum grounds. Add an additional rider in the turret for $195.
Watch a Video on the M24 Driving Experience
Tank driving experiences on the M24 Chaffee are being offered in the mornings of select weekends through the season. Please click the button below for schedules and online booking. We can also accommodate custom tank driving slots during weekdays when available – call us at 978-562-9182 to inquire about weekday driving reservations.
For safety, all driving participants should be 16 years of age or older and be at least 5′ 2″ tall and have good physical strength to drive. Any additional riders in the turret must be at least 5′ tall to ride. Children under the age of 14 should be accompanied by an adult in the turret if they meet the height requirement.
History of the M24 Chaffee
Seeking to replace the aging M3 and M5 Stuart series of light tanks, the U.S. Army Ordnance Department and Cadillac joined forces to create a new light tank. The new T24 pilot vehicle was delivered in October 1943 and full scale production began in 1944 as the Light Tank, M24. The Chaffee retained the M5 Stuart’s twin Cadillac V-8 powertrain, but came armed with a lightened 75mm Cannon adapted from a version used on B-25 Mitchell bombers, replacing the under whelming 37mm used on the Stuart. The Chaffee was speedy and nimble. The M24 saw use in WWII, but found a calling in the cold, mountainous environment of Korea, where it fought as a part of reconnaissance units alongside “Easy Eight” Shermans, M26 Pershings and M46 Pattons. Long after the United States replaced the M24 with newer models such as the M41 Walker-Bulldog, other countries such as Israel and France used the Chaffee well into the 1950s.
Specifications:
Armament: 75mm M6 Cannon, one .50 cal. MG and 2x .30 cal. MGs.
Crew: 5, Commander, Gunner, Driver, Loader, Co-Driver
Engine: Cadillac Series 44T24, 220 horsepower.
Range: 100 miles
Buy a Tank Driving Experience Gift Certificate!
We’ve got the ultimate gift for any adventurer! An interactive ride or chance to drive an actual WII tank can’t help but blow them away! Put the pedal to some historic metal and give them a gift they’ll never forget. Click here to schedule a tank ride from April to October!