M6 heavy tank
| M6 heavy tank | |
|---|---|
T1E1 prototype |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 5 men |
| length | 8.43 m |
| width | 3.10 m |
| height | 3.23 m |
| Dimensions | 57.37 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 25-83 mm |
| Main armament | 76 mm gun |
| Secondary armament | 1 × 37 mm cannon, 2 × 7.62 mm machine gun, 3 × 12.7 mm machine gun |
| agility | |
| drive | Wright Whirlwind G 200 9 cylinder radial engine 925 HP |
| suspension | Vertical suspension |
| Top speed | 35 km / h |
| Power / weight | about 16.12 hp / t |
| Range | about 160 km |
The M6 Heavy Tank was a heavy American tanks , which during the Second World War was developed and built. He never got beyond the prototype status and was never used in battle.
history
In the interwar period, the US had only a small number of tanks in service due to budget cuts. This also consisted of light and mostly outdated types. The great successes of the German tank armies on the European mainland at the beginning of the Second World War caused a rethink in this sector. Several development programs for various types of tanks have now been commissioned, including the M4 Sherman , the M3 Stuart and the M6 Heavy Tank . After initial development work, a multi-tower concept called T1 was awarded the contract. However, three months later it was decided to abandon the concept in favor of a single tower construction. This version had a long, vertically stabilized 76 mm cannon and a coaxial 37 mm cannon installed in a large turret. There were also three 12.7 mm and two 7.62 mm machine guns . Various drive concepts were also tested. Two of the first three prototypes got a normal geared motor with torque converter ( M6A1 ), the third an electric drive ( M6A2 ).
After the construction work was completed, the military increasingly lost interest in a heavy tank. Medium tanks were more mobile with only slightly thinner armor and almost the same armament. They were a much smaller target and they were also cheaper to manufacture. Nevertheless, an order of 5000 pieces (250 pieces per month) was started. However, several cuts meant that no more than 40 pieces left the factory. After all, the medium tanks did all the work and until the M26 Pershing there should be no heavy tanks in the US armed forces.
Preserved copies
In the Army Ordnance Museum in Aberdeen , Maryland , a copy of the armor is on display.
See also
literature
- Robert Jackson: Tank models from around the world from 1915 to today. Parragon Books Ltd, ISBN 978-1-4075-0670-8
- Wolfgang Fleischer: 1000 tanks and military vehicles. Naumann & Göbel Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, ISBN 978-3-625-12224-1
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Wolfgang Fleischer: 1000 tanks and military vehicles.
- ↑ Wolfgang Fleischer: 1000 tanks and military vehicles.
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