Volute suspension

[Patrick O'Donnell]

Which Volute suspension is fitted to the US Half track?
Is it Vertical or Horizontal?
Which is better and please will you explain the difference and advantages?

[Mike Gormley]

Patrick,

The US Half tracks did not use the volute suspension

The vertical volute spring suspension or VVSS was the early suspension used on the Sherman
The springs were mounted upright or "vertical" in the suspension bogey.
It was a very reliable suspension and gave the Sherman its superior manuverability

About the time that the mid production Sherman M4A3's were being produced the horizontal volute spring suspension or HVSS was developed and used on most Shermans from then on and was fitted to some earlier model Shermans as well.

The springs were mounted on their sides or "horizontal" in the suspension bogey which was completely different from the VVSS bogey because it had twin road wheels on each end as opposed to one
This allowed wider tracks to be used on the Sherman for better traction and the wider tracks allowed for heavier armor to be used on the Sherman which gave the HVSS an advantage over the VVSS because it could support more weight and still allow the Sherman to retain its maneuverability.

Mike

[Adrian Harris]

Mike,

Re:

> The US Half tracks did not use the volute suspension

This shot certianly seems to show the suspension to be of a VV design.

http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/m3a1ht_06.jpg

Adrian.

[Mike Gormley]

Adrian,

Nice picture - obviously they did use a variation of the VVSS on the Half tracks

I stand - actually I am sitting so I sit corrected

Mike