Little
known, the M6 was the first modern US heavy tank. The only other heavy
tank built in series was the Liberty or Mark VII, a joint US-British
design and production of 1918, of the WWI-era lozenge type. When the
Second World War broke out the successful German campaign of 1940 gave a
spur to US tank development. Already on 20 May 1940 the Chief of
Infantry recommended to the US Army Ordnance Corps
to study a 50-ton tank design. The first one was a projected
multi-turreted model with a main 75 mm (2.95 in) turret, a secondary one
with a 37 mm (1.46 in) gun and coaxial M1919A4, and another, smaller
turret with a 20 mm (0.79 in) gun and coaxial cal.30 (7.62 mm) plus four
cal.30 machine guns in each corner of the tank in ball mounts. In was
approved on 11 June 1940 under the ordnance prototype registration T1
heavy tank. The T1 had to be fitted with a cast hull and hydramatic
transmission. However, this design already appeared as outdated. In
October, this was changed for a more conventional approach, the T1E1.
This second design asked for a single three-man turret with a
vertically-stabilized 3 in gun (75 mm) coupled with a coaxial 37 mm
(1.46 in) gun. The turret was cast and had an electric drive and manual
traverse. There was also a bow mount with a twin cal.50 (12.7 mm)
machine gun handled by the assistant driver. The commander cupola and
some other parts were borrowed from the M3 Lee. The suspension was also
borrowed from the M3, being a standard vertical volute spring (VVSS),
with four bogies per side, but the tracks were doubled in width, with
two rubber shoes instead of one. The upper tracks reposed on a guide
rail and the entire side was protected by large, one-piece side skirt.
With armor ranging from 83 mm (3.27 in) to 44 mm (1.73 in) and a sloped
hull. So the overall weight was a staggering 50+ tons. Due to this, the
main issues were the engine and transmission.
The Society of
Automotive Engineers was charged with finding a suitable combination.
The Wright G-200 air-cooled radial gasoline engine was initially
selected, and in alternative served with an electric transmission or a
hydramatic one, and another with a torque converter. Three prototypes
were ordered but only two were delivered early in 1942 by Baldwin
Locomotive Works, using the electric transmission and torque converter.
One differed by having a cast hull, while the other had a welded one. On
26 May 1942, other prototypes of both series were ordered under the
T1E1 designation (unofficially M6A2), with electric transmission, welded
hull, 20 being built, and T1E2 (M6), wit the torque converter, with a
cast hull, 8 built.
Eventually, after many unit trials, the
Ordnance Corp advised to concentrate only on the torque converter
variants, and a third improved series, the T1E3 (M6A1) was ordered.
Recommendations included that 115 M6s would be built for US army service
and 115 others for the Allies, starting in December 1942. These series
vehicles were given a two-piece cupola hatch and ring mount for an AA
cal.50 (12.7 mm). The left front machine-gun was removed. However the
Armored Corps had quickly grasped the utility of having a single tank
type in service, cheaper and easier to carry, the Sherman, and the
production was stopped. The development however did not end there.
By early 1944, indeed, the M6A1 was successfully tested with the new
experimental T7 90 mm (3.54 in), but a new turret layout was urgently
needed. In August 1944 the Ordnance Corps recommended an experimental
series of 15 T1E1s with a new turret, later known as the M6A1E2. Main
features were the new, tall and roomy turret with a pronounced rear
turret basket from the T29 heavy tank prototype, a new sloped hull, 7.5
in (190 mm) thick at the front and a T5E1 105 mm (4.13 in) gun giving an
overall weight of 77 tons. This project was rejected by General
Eisenhower, but the development of heavy tanks was not terminated.
Another project would lead eventually to the excellent M26 Pershing.
Since the M6 was never approved for mass-production, the only small
series built remained on American soil, for training purpose, unit
maneuver drills, and later propaganda movies, war bond tours and various
related displays throughout the United States. On 14 December 1944, the
M6 was declared obsolete and all but one of these scrapped, the latter
now stored on display at the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, at Aberdeen,
Maryland.
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The Hungarian armored coffin.
40M Turán I Medium tank. Armed with a 40mm cannon and 50mm of maximum
armor. First saw action during the Stalingrad campaigning
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Ukrainian BMPV-64 Heavy infantry fighting vehicle.
First seen in 2005 as a prototype of a Heavy Personnel Carrier built on
a T-64 tank hull. The turret is replaced with a super structure built
in to the modified hull. It uses a composite armour layout and Nozh
explosive reactive armour. Its reported that the vehicle has a 3 man
crew – driver, commander and gunner. The superstructure can accommodate
up to 12 troops. The gunner operates the remotely controlled weapon
station, armed with 30mm chain gun and coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The
BMPV-64 is powered by the same 5TDF multi-fuel diesel engine used by the
T-64 MBT it's based of
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Sturmgeschütz production in ltmärkische Kettenwerk GmbH, 21 June 1943.
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A VK4501(P) prototype being tested in a proving ground, 1942.
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Argentinan "Nahuel" (Tiger) D.L. 43 medium tank.
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Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte
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An F-2B of the JASDF damaged by Tsunami
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Cuban SPAAG based of a BTR-60 chassis armed with two 37mm guns.
A/N: Not sure how effective it will be against modern air targets but I
have deep sympathy for any infantry that's going to have the misfortune
of being in the receiving end of that
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Venezuelan Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 fighter. The king of South American skies
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The
Arjun Mk.2 is an improved version of the original Arjun main battle
tank. It was developed in cooperation with Israeli defense companies. A
total of 13 major improvements were made. After prolonged development
the original Arjun Mk.1 entered service with the Indian Army in 2004.
However the original MBT failed to impress the Army and improvements
were required in order to make it combat-worthy.
The new Arjun Mk.2 has improved protection, firepower and mobility over
it's predecessor. Trials of the Arjun Mk.2 began in 2012. It was first
publicly revealed in 2014. Series production is expected to begin a
couple of years later. It should replace the ageing Cold War era T-55
and T-72M tanks in service with the Indian Army. It is worth noting that
it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a fleet of ageing tanks.
The Arjun Mk.2 has some design similarities with the German Leopard 2A5
main battle tank. Some sources claim that weight of this main battle
tank was reduced from 59 to about 55 tones comparing with it's
predecessor in order to improve operational and logistic mobility.
However other sources claim that the Mk.2 still weights 60 t. The
original Arjun Mk.1 tank was criticized as being too heavy. There are
many problems with its excessive weight, such as limited cross country
mobility, limiting areas where it can be deployed. Also it is difficult
to transport this tank to the front line.
Hull and turret of
the Arjun Mk.2 were redesigned. Protection was improved by adding
locally-developed explosive reactive armor modules. It seems that the
new ERA is based on the Russian Kontakt-5 technology, developed in the
1980s and used on the T-90 and some other Soviet/Russian tanks. Armor
modules counter APFSDS and HEAT rounds, as well as RPG rounds. Ready to
use ammunition is stored in the turret bustle with blow-out panels. It
is claimed that Arjun Mk.2 is fitted with advanced laser warning and
countermeasures system which confuse enemy sensors and active protection
system.
This new main battle tank is armed with a
fully-stabilized 120-mm rifled gun, which is loaded manually. A rifled
gun of such caliber is used only on the British Challenger 2 MBT. This
gun is more accurate at long range comparing with smoothbore guns. It is
claimed that during trials this new Indian tank outgunned both the
T-72M and T-90. The Arjun Mk.2 is also compatible with Israeli LAHAT
anti-tank guided missiles. Missiles are launched in the same manner as
ordinary projectiles.
This new main battle tank is fitted with
advanced thermal imaging and panoramic sights, and now has a
hunter-killer capability. Fire control system of the new tank should
have a hit probability over 90%, when firing on the move. The new tank
also has improved communication systems and new navigation system.
Secondary armament consists of coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun and a
roof-mounted remotely controlled weapon station, armed with a 12.7-mm
heavy machine gun.
This new Indian tank has a crew of four, including commander, gunner, loader and driver.
The Arjun Mk.2 is fitted with a new unspecified turbocharged diesel
engine, which replaces the previous German MTU MB 838 Ka-501 diesel
unit, developing 1 400 hp. It is speculated that the new engine is the
Cummins QSK-38 turbocharged diesel unit, developing about 1 500 hp. It
should be coupled with a French transmission. Also Ukrainian
manufacturer proposes for this tank a new 6TD-5 turbocharged diesel
engine, developing 1 800 hp. The Arjun Mk.2 is also fitted with
auxiliary power unit which powers all systems when the main engine is
turned off. This MBT can be also fitted with a mine plough.
Due
to it's weight the Arjun Mk.2 can not be airlifted by the Indian Il-76
heavy transport aircraft. It can be carried only by Boeing C-17
Globemaster III. Indian Air Force ordered 10 of these aircraft.
Deliveries should be completed in 2014
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The
Khalifa GHY02 is a new artillery system, recently developed in Sudan by
a state-run Military Industry Corporation. It is a combination of
Soviet D-30 towed howitzer, mounted on a Russian KamAZ 6x6 military
truck. This artillery system was first revealed in 2013.
It is a
simple and mobile artillery system designed for rapid intervention and
response. This artillery system is armed with a refurbished
D-30 towed howitzer. This Soviet howitzer was produced in large
numbers, widely exported, and many countries have plenty of 122-mm
ammunition in stock. This are the reasons why 122-mm caliber
truck-mounted howitzers can be more preferable over Russian 152-mm or
NATO 155-mm calibers. Other recent 122-mm truck mounted howitzers are
the Chinese PCL-09, SH2, Kazakh Semser, Serbian SORA, SOKO SP RR 122 and
some other.
The Khalifa is intended for general fire support. A
turntable with a howitzer is mounted at the rear. A large spade and
hydraulic jacks are lowered to the ground prior to firing. These provide
a more stable firing platform. Maximum range of fire is 17 km. This
howitzer is also capable of direct firing. Maximum rate of fire of 8
rounds per minute. Vehicle carries 45 rounds of onboard ammunition. It
also carries spare parts for the howitzer and tools.
Truck-mounted howitzers are more mobile and are capable of rapid
response. The Khalifa has brief reaction and redeployment time. It can
fire it's first round from travelling within 1.5 minutes. It takes about
the same time to leave firing position. So Khalifa can fire a couple of
rounds and leave firing position before enemy detects it' position and
opens counter-battery fire. Vehicle has an automatic fire control
system.
This artillery system has a crew of five. All
crewmembers are seated in a newly-developed armored cab. It provides
protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters.
The Khalifa is based on Russian KamAZ-43118 military truck with
redesigned chassis and cab. This truck is produced both for civil and
military operators. Vehicle is powered by a turbocharged diesel,
developing 260 hp. Engine is coupled with a manual gearbox. Vehicle has
an all-wheel drive configuration and can go over all kinds of terrain.
The Khalifa can be airlifted by most medium cargo aircraft.
A/N: Just to be clear, this is not from South Sudan.
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Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel inspects the Atlantic wall, 1944
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Cuban BTR-60PB tank destroyer. BTR 60 chassis merged with a 100 mm D-10T2G tank gun
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A modernized Venezuelan Army M-18 Hellcat. They were modernized by a Yugoslavian firm in 1991.
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One of the MBT-70 prototype
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