The M24 Chaffee was created as a successor to the M3/M5 Stuart series of light tanks. During its design, emphasis was placed on strengthening the main armament (75-mm gun instead of 37-mm gun), a better form of armor, greater off-road capabilities and ease of operation - especially the engine compartment. During World War II, several specialized vehicles were created on the chassis of the M24 tank, including the M19 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and the M41 Gorilla self-propelled howitzer. The first units of the M24 Chaffee began to enter the line in mid-1944. They participated in battles in Normandy, France and West Germany (1944-1945), as well as in Italy in 1944-1945. After 1945, the M24 Chaffee was also exported to many countries including Austria, Belgium, Chile, France, Greece and Pakistan. The M24 fought in several conflicts after the end of World War II, including the Korean War (1950-1953), the Algerian War (1954-1962) and Indochina (1945-1954).
