TS-6

The third Questionmark conference was held at Detroit in June 1954 and several new concepts for improved heavy gun tanks were presented. Six of these were proposed as potential replacements for the T43E1 (M103). Four of the concepts were considered to be fairly short-term proposals requiring about two years of development time. 

Two of these were armed with the 120 mm T123E1 rifled gun. One of these, the TS-6, placed the gun in a fully rotating turret and was estimated to weigh 54.5 tons. The side armor on this vehicle was reduced compared to the M103. This tank also used the Continental AV-1790-8 engine. A non-turreted version of the TS-6, the TS-31, would go on to lay the foundation of the T110 family of concepts.

Cross-sectional drawing of the TS-6.

I haven't been able to find much about this tank beyond what's mentioned in Hunnicutt's Firepower. However, we can infer some information about the TS-6 based on general trends with Questionmark conference designs, and the images of the TS-6 compared to the TS-2.

At the very least, we can expect a tank with a larger profile and improved frontal protection compared to the TS-2. We can also establish there'd be improved gun characteristics, despite the larger caliber.

There's also that protrusion over the engine deck, so a weakness of this vehicle would be that it can't depress its gun over the rear. However, we can still expect some of the best gun depression and DPM for the tier. Gun handling should remain fairly average, though.

This tank would play similarly to the old (Tier X) T110E5. However, it's a bit more mobile and has better DPM, in exchange for reduced side armor and limited gun depression over the rear.

Guns: 120 mm Gun T123E1

Engines: Continental AV-1790-8 (825 hp)

Turrets (Turret Armor (mm)): TS-6 (??/??/??)

Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): TS-6 (49.44)

Hull Armor (mm): ??/51/38

Top Speed: ?? km/h

Crew: 5 (Driver; Gunner; Loader; Commander; Radio)

Parent: TS-2

Sources:

Hunnicutt, R. P. Firepower. 2017.