T95 Medium

The original T95 prototype.

At the third Questionmark conference, the TL-1 concept was recommended for further development as a replacement to the M48 Patton. On 23 September 1954, this request was approved, as well as the TL-4 and TS-31. These tanks would be further developed into the T95, T96, and T110 respectively.

The TL-1 and TL-4 were to be armed with new 90 mm and 105 mm smooothbore weapons. These guns were essentially smoothbore versions of the 90 mm Gun M41 and the 105 mm Gun T140, respectively. The performance was expected to be greatly increased over these rifled guns. As for the TS-31, a new lighter version of the 120 mm Gun T123E1 was expected to be available.

The original TL-1 and TL-4 were to be powered by a 12-Cylinder GM X-type diesel engine capable of outputting 750 horsepower. But it was initially proposed that the tanks use the Continental AOI-1195 and AOI-1490, respectively. The latter of which would end up being dropped in an attempt to streamline the development of both vehicles.

However, the T96 program ran into some difficulty. It was realized the hull armor thickness would need to be reduced to below that of the T95 in order to maintain the 45 ton weight limit. During this time, it was also discovered that the T96 turret could be fitted to the T95 chassis and still maintain adequate performance. It was decided then to cancel the T96 program and authorize additional procurement of T95 chassis to mount the T96 turrets.

T95E2.

Drawing of the T95E5.

Sixteen design studies would eventually be carried out for the T95, including but not limited to considering the installation of a rocket-boosted gun and the British 120 mm L11. Several of these studies were recommended for application to the various T95 pilots. Since the T96 turrets were still being built, it was decided to initially mount two M48A2 turrets and two T54E2 turrets for early engineering and user tests. 

In total, thirteen different versions of the T95 were authorized for construction, although few of them would actually be built. They are as follows:

• T95 - The original tank, with the smoothbore 90 mm Gun T208 in a fixed mount.
• T95E1 - A T95 with a recoil mount and a simplified fire-control system.
• T95E2 - A T95 with the M48A2 turret and the rifled 90 mm Gun M41.
• T95E3 - A T95 with the T54E2 turret and the rifled 105 mm Gun T140E3.
• T95E4 - A T95 with the T96 turret and the smoothbore 105 mm Gun T210.
• T95E5 - A T95E2 with a licence-built Royal Ordnance L7, the 105 mm Gun T254.
• T95E6 - A T95E4 with the rifled lightweight 120 mm Gun T123E6.
• T95E7 - A T95E1 with the 105 mm Gun T254E2 (M68).
• T95E8 - A T95E2 with a 12V71T diesel engine.
• T95E9 - A T95E6 with a 12V71T diesel engine.
• T95E10 - A T95 with a VDS-1100 diesel engine.
• T95E11 - A T95E6 with a VDS-1100 diesel engine.
• T95E12 - A T95E11 with a full solution fire control system and a 2-meter base rangefinder

T95E8. Notice the modified rear engine compartment.

The T95E8 had a modified rear-hull to evaluate an air-cooled system for the engine. While all these variants envisioned further development of the T95 series, time had run out for the project. By 1958, only a few prototypes had been built. It was believed the T95 would only provide marginal improvements over the M48 Patton. On 28 January 1959, it was decided to terminate all work on the program. The lessons learned would be further applied to what would become the M60 and M60A1, true successors to the M48 Patton. The remaining T95 pilot chassis would be used as test rigs to develop components for future tanks.

The T95 Medium, as I'm proposing it, is a combination of every one of these versions not using a T96 turret or smoothbore gun. The exception being the T95E3, which is its own vehicle. Previous owners of the T95E2 (and the program in general) can have the tank exchanged with any number of the other Tier VIII special mediums I've proposed.

Notice the engines. There's three options, but only a 10 horsepower difference between them. So the particular differences between these engines should be more in terms of a reduction to the fire percentage and hit points, rather than horsepower.

Gameplay-wise, this tank should play like a lighter M48A2. Gun handling could be equivalent in exchange for having slightly more powerful weapons, but it could see worse on-the-move handling to help balance it out.

Guns: 90 mm Gun M41; 105 mm Gun T254, 105 mm Gun M68

Engines: Continental VDS-1100 (550 hp); Continental AOI-1195-5 (560 hp); GM 12V71T (570 hp)

Turrets (Turret Armor (mm)): M48A2 (178/76/51); T95E1 (178/76/51)

Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): T95 Medium (38.24); T95 Modified (??)

Hull Armor (mm): 127/102/32

Top Speed: 56 km/h

Crew: 4 (Driver; Gunner; Loader; Commander/Radio)



Parent: TS-4/3
Children: T95E6
See Also: T95E3, T95 FHS-TR, T95 TOB-TR

Sources:

Hunnicutt, R. P. Abrams, 2015.