T28 Prototype

An early drawing of the T28 Super-heavy tank.

In September 1943, just two months after the original memo detailing the Assault Tank Project was issued, the project's requirements were revised to include the new high-velocity 105 mm T5E1 tank gun. At this time, Ordnance formally initiated the vehicle's development. It was thought the vehicles would prove valuable in attacking heavily fortified German positions on the Western front.

Later in March 1944, the vehicle was officially designated as the T28 Super-heavy Tank and the Army Service Forces authorized the procurement of five such vehicles. Although in the end, only two functional prototypes were built. After realizing the characteristics of the T28 did not suit the proper definition of a heavy tank, it would later be redesignated as the T95 GMC.

Throughout the development of the T28, Ordnance remained undecided on precisely how thick its frontal armor (and in turn, its weight). In addition to the 12-Inch hull castings used with the prototypes that were finally built, and the 10-Inches originally specified in 1943, an 8-Inch hull was cast and tested on a live fire range.

The T28 Prototype, as I'm going to present it, will utilize alternate hulls to be a combination of both the 8-Inch casting and initial 10-Inch requirements. While no 10-Inch hull was ever cast to my knowledge, it should make for a decent option and exist as a straight buff to the T28 we have in game right now. Compared to the Tier VII, the armor thickness should cover a larger surface area. It will also be based on the above cover image, which you'll probably notice is the T28 after it was updated into HD.

My changes to the T28 are simply renaming it to the T28 Prototype, removing the top engine to reduce the vehicle's power-to-weight, and adding 50 mm of frontal armor with the second hull option. The stock hull has reduced weight, improving the vehicle's acceleration, and it's essentially just the old armor values. The second hull includes the straight buff to the front armor.

While this tank would have less armor than the previous AT Project, it would have better angles and a better distribution of that armor. So ideally, the armor profiles would at least be similar. The real differences would be with the top gun choice and improved gun characteristics. Overall, this is essentially a straight buff to the old T28.

As for the old T28 Prototype, the turreted tank destroyer, I'd like to replace that thing entirely with the T25 GMC.

Guns: 105 mm Gun T5; 105 mm Gun T5E1; 120 mm Gun T53

Engines: Ford GAF (500 hp); Ford GAN (525 hp)

Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): T28 8-Inch Casting (63.5); T28 10-Inch Casting (68.04)

Hull Armor (mm): 203/102/51 (T28 8-Inch); 254/102/51 (T28 10-Inch)

Top Speed: 23 km/h

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

Parent: AT Project
Children: T95 GMC
See Also: T28 Concept

Sources:

Hunnicutt, R. P. Firepower, 2017

Moran, Nicholas. Can Openers, 2017