Learn to drive the "The Cadillac on the Shores of the Rhine": the 1944 M24 Chaffee Light Tank

If you do not see your desired date on the calendar, please give us a call.

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Rates

Adult (Must be 16 or older): $995.00 Donation

Duration

60 Minutes (40 minute introduction, 20 minutes driving)

About

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.

The M24 Chaffee Tank Driving Experience begins with you donning your tanker overalls and drivers helmet and working one-on-one with our driving instructor who will go through the inspection, systems, operation basics, and starting procedures with you before getting into the left side drivers hatch. Your instructor will join you on the right side co-drivers position and will go through startup with you before getting underway on the tank course. Your 20 minute driving experience will start with a turning exercise, then will continue through a variety of turns, accelerations, and driving over the hill in our tank course. We guarantee that your arm muscles will fully understand how challenging it was to be a driver aboard the M24 Chaffee! There will be ample time for photos and hero shots after your experience!

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. Because of size limitations in the M24 Chaffee, participants may be limited by height, weight, and mobility. Please contact us at 978-562-9182 if you have questions regarding this.

The M24 Chaffee is one of only a handful operating in the United States. All donations from tank driving experiences are tax deductible and fund the development and growth of the American Heritage Museum, 501c3 non-profit educational organization.

Click the image below to watch our M24 Chaffee Tank Driving Experience Preview Video!