Our first heavy tank was the M6 series; which was developed in accordance with a requirement from the US Army's Chief of Infantry in 1940 that a 50 or 80 ton heavy tank be built, in light of the German success in France.
Funding was allocated for 1,000~ of them, but by 1942, the Army no longer wanted it, with the Commanding General of the Armored Force saying:
"Due to its tremendous weight and limited tactical use, there is no requirement in the Armored Force for the heavy tank. The increase in the power of the armament of the heavy tank does not compensate for the heavier armor".
And so the program was terminated after 40 units had been produced.
Drawing of the M6 Heavy Tank
Top Down View of the M6.
Statistics for the M6:
6 Man Crew
322" Long with Gun Forward
123" Wide over Track armor
118" High to turret roof
63 tons combat weight
22 MPH Top Speed
3 inch M7 L53 Main Gun (75 rounds)
37mm M6 Coaxial (202 Rounds)
2 x .50 MGs in a mount in hull front (6900 rounds)
1 x .30 BMG (5500 rounds of .30 cal total)
1 x .30 cal AAMG
Stablizer: Elevation Only
HULL
Upper Front: 96mm effective
Lower Front: 102 to 70mm @ 0 to 60 degrees
Upper Sides: 47mm effective
Lower Sides: 70mm effective
Rear: 43mm effective
Top: 25mm effective
Floor: 25mm effective
TURRET
Gun Shield: 102mm effective
Front: 84mm effective
Sides: 83mm effective
Rear: 83mm effective
Top: 25mm effective
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Later the Army replaced the 3" gun on a M6 pilot with the 90mm gun later used on the Pershing, due to a feeling that the 3" gun was soon to be inadequate in the anti-tank role. Tests showed it to be a stable platform, but by the time the reports on the tests had been written, the M6 program had been cancelled.
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After D-Day, a need was felt for a limited number of tanks with thick armor to act as breakthrough units. They proposed taking existing T1E1s left over from the M6 program and modifying them, installing additional frontal armor and installing a new turret carrying a high velocity 105mm gun, and designating the modified tanks as M6A2E1s.
It was expected to have the first one delivered by 15 November 1944; but in August of 1944, Eisenhower stated that he didn't want them. Which was probably good, because when tests were carried out on a T1E1 loaded to the expected 77 ton weight, the tank could not climb a 40% slope, effectively limiting it to operating on extremely favorable terrain.
Drawing of M6A2E1
Top View of M6A2E1
Statistics for the M6A2E1:
5 Man Crew
440" Long with Gun Forward
123" Wide over Track armor
137" High to turret roof
77 tons combat weight
18 MPH Top Speed
105mm T5E1 Gun (60 rounds)
.30 Caliber Coaxial (4000 rounds)
1 x .50 cal AAMG (600 rounds)
HULL
Front: 191mm effective
Upper Sides: 47mm effective
Lower Sides: 70mm effective
Rear: 44mm effective
Top: 25mm effective
Floor: 25mm effective
TURRET
Gun Shield: 191mm effective
Front: 191mm effective
Sides: 89mm effective
Rear: 208mm effective
Top: 25mm effective
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Statistics of 105mm T5E1 Gun:
65 calibers
6 rounds/minute with two loaders
T32 APBC-T Shot:
135mm @ 30 degrees @ 914m
119mm @ 30 degrees @ 1829m
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On 14 September 1944, OCM 25117 recommended the development and manufacture of four pilots for a new heavy tank. Two of these were designated as the heavy tank T29 and were to be armed with the 105mm gun T5E1.
The remaining two were designated as the heavy tank T30 and were to be armed with the 155mm gun T7.
Procurement of 1200 T29 tanks was recommended by OCM 26825 on 1 March 1945.
Drawing of T29 Heavy Tank
T29 Specs:
6 man crew
Combat Weight: 70.75 tons
HULL
Upper Front: 174mm effective
Lower Front: 132mm effective
Front Sides: 76mm effective
Rear Sides: 51mm effective
Upper Rear: 52mm effective
Lower Rear: 40mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective
TURRET
Gun Shield: 203-279mm effective
Front: 206mm effective
Sides: 127mm effective
Rear: 102mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
105mm Gun T5E2
Loading: Manual (6 rds/min with 2 loaders)
Stablizer: None
Vision:
T143E1 Telescope
M10E5 Periscope
1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
2 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount
Ammo Load:
63 Rounds 105mm
2420 rounds .50 Caliber
2500 rounds .30 caliber
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The 8th T29 built was modified to provide for the installation of the range finder T31E1, and became the T29E3.
Drawing of T29E3 Heavy Tank
Top of T29E3 Heavy Tank
This tank probably has a significantly better rangefinder rating than anything except probably laser rangefinder equipped tanks in game terms, because of the shear size of the rangefinder; the wider the base of the rangefinder, the better and more accurate it is; the T29E3 had a 274.32 cm rangefinder ; while the Panther F had a 132 cm rangefinder, and the Tiger II a 160 cm one.
T29E3 Specs:
6 man crew
Combat Weight: 72 tons
Speed: 22 MPH
HULL
Upper Front: 174mm effective
Lower Front: 132mm effective
Front Sides: 76mm effective
Rear Sides: 51mm effective
Upper Rear: 52mm effective
Lower Rear: 40mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective
TURRET
Gun Shield: 203-279mm effective
Front: 206mm effective
Sides: 127mm effective
Rear: 102mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
105mm Gun T5E1
Loading: Manual (6 rds/min with 2 loaders)
Stablizer: None
Vision:
T31E1 Range Finder
T93E2 Telescope
M10E5 Periscope
1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
2 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount
Ammo Load:
63 Rounds 105mm
2420 rounds .50 Caliber
2500 rounds .30 caliber
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The T30 hull was essentially the same as that of the T29 except for the changes to the engine compartment necessary to accommodate a different engine. The turret also was similar to that on the T29.
Drawing of T30 Heavy Tank
Top of T30 Tank
T30 Specs
6 man crew
Combat Weight: 71.3 tons
Speed: 22 MPH
HULL
Upper Front: 174mm effective
Lower Front: 132mm effective
Front Sides: 76mm effective
Rear Sides: 51mm effective
Upper Rear: 52mm effective
Lower Rear: 40mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective
TURRET
Gun Shield: 203-279mm effective
Front: 206mm effective
Sides: 127mm effective
Rear: 102mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
155mm Gun T7
Loading: Manual with hoist and spring rammer (2 rds/min with 2 loaders)
Stablizer: None
Vision:
T143E1 Telescope
M10E9 Periscope
1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount
Ammo Load:
34 Rounds 155mm
2200 rounds .50 Caliber
2500 rounds .30 caliber
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Statistics of 155mm T7 Gun:
40 calibers
2 rounds/minute with two loaders
It was never provided with an AP shot as far as I can tell; but I would imagine a 95 pound HE shell would mess up any tank's day; and given the calibre of the gun, a HEAT round from it would be truly terrifying.
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Early in 1945, Ordnance undertook design studies to modify the 120mm antiaircraft gun for tank use.
On 17 May 1945, OCM 27662 recommended that two of the T30 pilot tanks be armed with the 120mm gun and redesignated as the heavy tank T34. This action was approved on 31 May.
The T34 pilots were similar in appearance to the T29 and T30 tanks except for the longer barrel of the 120mm gun.
Drawing of T34 Heavy Tank
Frontal view of T34
T34 Specs
6 man crew
Combat Weight: 71.8 tons
Speed: 22 MPH
HULL
Upper Front: 174mm effective
Lower Front: 132mm effective
Front Sides: 76mm effective
Rear Sides: 51mm effective
Upper Rear: 52mm effective
Lower Rear: 40mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective
TURRET
Gun Shield: 203 to 279mm effective
Front: 184mm effective
Sides: 127mm effective
Rear: 203mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
120mm Gun T53
Loading: Manual (5 RPM with 2 loaders)
Stablizer: None
1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount
Vision:
T143E2 Telescope
M10E10 Periscope
Ammo Load:
34 Rounds 120mm
2090 rounds .50 Caliber
2500 rounds .30 caliber
----------------------
120mm Gun T53 Specs:
60 Calibers
5 RPM, two loaders
AP Shot:
198mm @ 30 degrees @ 914m
173mm @ 30 deg @ 1829m
HVAP Shot:
381mm @ 30 deg @ 914m
318mm @ 30 deg @ 1829 m
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The successful employment of the heavily armored assault tank M4A3E2 in Europe during the Fall of 1944 emphasized the need for greater armor protection. On 7 December 1944, the Army Ground Forces recommended that the Ordnance Department develop a modification of the new Pershing tank with heavier armor and the Army Services Forces directed that immediate action be taken to comply with this request. Two approaches were followed to solve the problem. The first produced essentially a standard Pershing with thicker armor and a lower final drive gear ratio to maintain a reasonable level of mobility.
This vehicle was designated as the heavy (later medium) tank T26E5. A longer range solution was to develop a new tank utilizing as many Pershing components as possible.
OCM 26606, dated 8 February 1945, recommended the construction of four pilots of such a vehicle and designated it as the heavy tank T32. Formal approval of this project was recorded in March.
The design of the new tank proceeded on a high priority basis and by 10 April 1945, a mock-up was almost complete and approximately 80 per cent of the drawings for the first two pilots had been released.
Drawing of T32 Heavy Tank
Top of T32.
T32 Specs
5 man crew
Combat Weight: 60 tons
Speed: 22 MPH
HULL
Upper Front: 216mm effective
Lower Front: 184mm effective
Sides: 76mm effective
Rear: 52mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective
TURRET
Gun Shield: 298mm effective
Front: 309mm effective
Sides: 199 to 154mm effective
Rear: 152mm effective
Top: 25mm effective
90mm Gun T15E2
Loading: Manual (4 RPM)
Stablizer: None
1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount
Ammo Load:
54 Rounds 90mm
550 rounds .50 Caliber
4000 rounds .30 caliber
Vision:
M77E1 or M71E4 Telescope
M10E4 Periscope
--------------------------
90mm T15E1/2 Gun Data:
70 Calibers
Penetration:
T43 AP Shot (APBC-T; 3,200 ft/sec)
132mm @ 30 degree angle @ 500 yds
127mm @ 30 degree angle @ 1000 yds
124mm @ 30 degree angle @ 1500 yds
122mm @ 30 degree angle @ 2000 yds
T44 HVAP Shot (APCR-T; 3,750 ft/sec)
244mm @ 30 degree angle @ 500 yds
221mm @ 30 degree angle @ 1000 yds
196mm @ 30 degree angle @ 1500 yds
173mm @ 30 degree angle @ 2000 yds
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Drawing of T28 Assault Gun
T28/T95 Assault Gun Top View
T28/T95 Assault Gun Top View
Superheavy Tank T28 (105mm GMC T95)
4 man crew
Speed: 4
Combat Weight: 95 tons
HULL
Gun Shield: 292mm effective
Upper Front: 305mm effective
Lower Front: 266mm effective
Upper Sides: 118mm effective
Lower Sides: 152mm effective
Rear: 52mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Floor: 25mm effective
105mm Gun T5E1
1 x .50 Caliber in AA Mount
Loading: Manual (4 RPM)
Stablizer: None
Ammo Load:
62 Rounds 105mm
660 rounds .50 Caliber
------------------------------------
T26E4 "Super" Pershing
90mm T15E2 (54 rounds)
48 tons combat weight
20 MPH Top Speed
140mm Effective Hull Front
80mm Effective Hull Sides
50mm Effective Hull Rear
120mm Effective Turret Front
80mm Effective Turret Sides
80mm Effective Turret Rear
20mm Top Armor
--------------
T26E5 "Jumbo" Pershing
90mm M3 L52 (70 rounds)
51.15 tons combat weight
20 MPH Top Speed
210mm Effective Hull Front
80mm Effective Hull Sides
50mm Effective Hull Rear
280mm Effective Turret Front
90mm Effective Turret Sides
130mm Effective Turret Rear
30mm Top Armor
US Heavy Tanks of WWII - Kitty Killers
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