Originally posted by REMF:
Post it so everybody can see. I'll be in chat later.
The M6 Heavy Tank
from the Office of the Chief Of Ordnance 1 april 1945.
"Heavy Tanks M6 and M6A1 were standardized in May 1942, at which time they were the largest and most powerful tanks ever built in the U.S., weighing over60 tons each. Shortly, afterward the Ordnance Committee authorized Limited Procurement of Heavy Tank T1E1, sometimes referred to as Heavy Tank M6A2. Because of changes in tactical thinking, comparatively few of these tanks were built and in December 1944 all three models were declared obsolete.
Heavy Tank M6 had a cast hull and a cast turret. Heavy Tank M6A1 had a welded hull and a cast turret. Each was powered by a Wright G-200 gasoline engine through a hydraulic torque converter and transmission. The torque converter, transmission, and final drive were mounted directly behind the engine, connected by a flexible coupling, without the use of a propeller shaft. A pedal, placed in the position usually occupied by a clutch pedal, served as a transmission brake pedal. Two forward speeds and one reverse speed were provided.
Heavy Tank T1E1 was similar to the M6 in general design, but used an electric drive. A large direct current generator was mounted directly behind the engine. This generator converted the mechanical output of the engine into electrical power for two traction motors, one for eaach track. The tank had varying speeds up to 22 mph., and could turn in its own radius.
These vehicles had as their principal armament a 3-In. Gun M7 mounted with a 37-mm Gun M6. Additional firepower was provided by a cal. .30 machine gun on the turret for antiaircraft use, two cal. .50 machine guns in the bow, and a cal. .30 machine gun (flexible) in the bow. Provision was made for carrying two cal. .45 submachine guns.
The turret guns had elevations from -10 degrees to +30 degress and could be traversed 360 degrees by an electrically operated mechanism or by hand. A gyrostabilizer was provided.
The 3-In. Gun M7 was the same as used on teh 3-In. Gun Motor Carriage M10, which proved so effective against Marshal Rommel's troops in North Africa. Fired from this gun, the 3-in. APC projectile had a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second and at 45 degrees elevation a maximum range of 16,100 yards. It could penetrate 3.9 inches of 20 degrees obliquity homogeneous armor plate at 1,000 yards.
A horizontal volute spring suspension was used, with four bogie assemblies on each track. Each assembly had four bogie wheels, two wheels riding the outside half of the track and two the inside half. Two Volute springs were mounted horizontally on each bogie assembly.
Each track block consisted, in effect, of two shoes held together by connecting pins. The pins were bare between the shoes, to provide space for a center track connector. Shoes were half rubber and half steel, the steel side making contact against the ground, and the rubber side riding against the bogie wheels and idlers.
The driving sprockets were at the rear of the vehicle. In addition to the main idler, provided to adjust each track, there was an auxillary, non-adjustable idler between the main idler and the front bogie assembly. This gave additional track support when crossing rough terrain.
Maximum armor protection was 3 1/4 inches, as compared to the 2 1/2 in on medium tank M4. An armor plate skirting was used over each suspension.
Six periscopes were provided. There were four escape doors.
References- TM9-721:OCM15842,15946,16040,16200,16297,16477,16655,17812,17906,17952,18059,18283,18544,18984,19199,19625,19981,20034,20680,26039,26357:SNL G-118, vols. 1 and 2."
Characteristics
Physical Characteristics were
Weight(gross) 126,500 lbs.
Length Gun Forward 27' 8", hull only 24'9"
width(overall) 10'2 1/2"
Height Top of turret 9'10", MG Mount 10'7"
Turret ring diameter(inside) 69"
Ground Clearence 20 1/2 in.
tread(center to center of tracks) 93 in.
Ground contact length 186 in.
Ground pressure 12.3 lb/sq. in.
Armament
3 inch gun M7 and 37mm gun m6 in combination gum mount t49 in turret
1 m1919a4 in bow
1 m1919a4 on turret
2 .50 cal m2 hb in bow
2 .45 M3 greaseguns
Ammo storage
3in. 75 rounds
37mm 202 rounds
.50 cal 5700 rounds
.45 cal 1200 rounds
.30 cal 7500 rounds
12 hand grenades
damn this is long I'll continue it if asked....
sorry...
