Following the end of WWII, the United States quickly transitioned back into a peacetime economy. Large tank contracts were cancelled and vehicles were placed in storage. With the advent of the atomic bomb, the idea of the future of warfare was also changing, as funds were diverted towards nuclear development and aircraft. However, the planning for this postwar period commenced before the war completely ended.
On 2 January 1945, the Army Ground Forces (AGF) Equipment Review Board convened in Washington to consider the requirements of the postwar Army. The Board's report, dated 20 June 1945, recommended the development of light, medium, and heavy tanks in the 25, 45, and 75 ton classes respectively, as well experimental studies for a 150-ton superheavy tank.
As proposed, the 45-ton medium tank had a maximum armor thickness of 8 inches at the front and 3 inches at the sides. The main armament was a 3-Inch gun capable of penetrating about 270 mm of steel. The vehicle retained a full five-man crew and autoloader was recommended as well.
The name "AGF 45-t" is a constructed name, as this vehicle has no actual designation to my knowledge. It also appears to be a sort of amalgamation of the M4A3E8 and the M26 Pershing, given the provided concept drawing. The gun itself shares a muzzle break very similar with the 76 mm guns found on the M4A3E8. I would imagine this tank would have rather average mobility, but it should have a very strong front plate and a high-penetration, yet relatively low-damage gun. Honestly it's more like a Churchill tank, being classified as a "medium" in name only.
Guns: 3-Inch High-Velocity Gun
Engines: Continental AV-1790-1 (740 hp)
Turrets (Turret Armor (mm)): AGF Medium (203/76/??)
Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): AGF Medium (~49.89)
Hull Armor (mm): ??/76/??
Top Speed: ?? km/h
Crew: 5 (Driver; Gunner; Loader; Commander; Radio)
See Also: M46 Patton
Sources:
Hunnicutt, R. P. Patton, 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment