The M24 Chaffee - arguably the best light tank of World War II - was a fast, lightly armored vehicle with the ability to deliver relatively large caliber direct fire thanks to its excellent 75 mm M6 gun. More than 4,000 vehicles were produced by Cadillac and Massey-Harris from 1943-45. The first vehicles reached Europe in late 1944, where they proved very effective and highly reliable. At the outset of the Korean War, however, American forces equipped with the M24 Chaffees performed poorly against the enemy's T-34/85s, and these US units were soon augmented with M26 Pershings and M46 Pattons, along with M4A3E8 Shermans armed with the long 76mm gun. The Chaffee remained in American service until 1953, at which time it was eventually replaced by the M41 Bulldog.

After 1945, the M24 Chaffee was used by many American allies. The French army used them in Indo-China, including at the battle of Dien Bien Phu. Though obsolete by the mid-1960's, it remains in service in some client nations.

This particular M24 Chaffee light tank served with the Belgian Army. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 4 inches
Width: 1.5 inches

Release Date: March 2010

Historical Account: "The Land Component" - The Belgian Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training capacity.

The command capacity groups the following levels of command: COMOPSLAND (Operational Command of the Land Component), Immediate Reaction Cell Command (the Para-Commando units), 1st Brigade (the operational staff of the Dutch-speaking Brigade at Leopoldsburg) and 7th Brigade (the operational staff of the French-speaking Brigade at Marche-en-Famenne).

The combat capacity comprises the main fighting units of the Land Component. It consists of three Para-Commando battalions, four infantry battalions and two tank battalions. The infantry battalions are the Regiment Liberation - 5th of the Line, the Regiment Carabiniers Prince Baudouin - Grenadiers, the Regiment of Ardennes Rifles and the Regiment 12th of the Line Prince Leopold - 13th of the Line. The tank battalions are the 1st/3rd Lancers Regiment and the 2nd/4th Lancers Regiment.