modern american super-heavy tank us tanks of ww2

Other improvements included a sturdier horizontal volute spring suspension (HVSS), a longer barrel version of the 75 mm (2.95 in) (M1A1), and 76.2 mm (3 in) front armor. This engine was an early attempt to produce a V12 with similar layout and performances to the Rolls Royce Merlin, but development was stopped and the engine was turned into a smaller V8. The main feature of the T20 was the lower silhouette and more compact hull, allowed by the availability of the new Ford GAN V-8 combined with a rear transmission and rear sprocket drive layout. Army Ordnance also ordered the development of the M6 heavy tank, which would prove a dead end.

By May 1942, a mock-up of the T20 had been already produced. This new tank had common features with earlier models, notably the characteristic suspension (HVSS) bogies, roadwheels, return rollers, drive sprockets and idlers. Could the Pershing have been a game changer if introduced earlier? T20 prototype (1942)ĭevelopment of the T20 Medium Tank started as an upgrade over the M4 in 1942. At last, the crews had the ideal tank to deal with German armor, but historians and authors still debate about the causes of such delays. The Pershing saw little combat and mostly soldiered during the Cold War, starting with Korea. However, by the fall of 1944, these stopgap measures proved insufficient, and the innovative M26 was eventually pushed forward for production. By mid-1944, both the British and US had undertaken upgrades in armor and guns on the Sherman, and developed tank-hunters instead of mass-producing a brand new model. If you spot anything out of place, please let us know!īy 1944, the High Command was aware of the limitation of the M4 when facing German tanks. Hello dear reader! This article is in need of some care and attention and may contain errors or inaccuracies.

During the war, heavy tank development had been long delayed or given low priority since the US Army, USMC and Allied forces required a mass-built, good-all-around medium tank, which took the shape of the Medium M4 Sherman. The M26 Pershing descended from a long series of medium and heavy tank prototypes, dating back from 1936. Medium/Heavy Tank – 2,212 Built A bit late for WWII

Modern american super-heavy tank us tanks of ww2