T110E3

Chrysler's fourth redesign proposal of the T110. The T110E3 would
have looked like a shorter version of this with a similar
engine compartment to their second redesign concept.

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 Gun T123E1. One of these proposals, the TS-31, utilized a gimbal-type mount for the cannon with a limited traverse. It was the most favored of these proposals and selected for further development, becoming designated as the T110.

The original T110 (TS-31), as proposed by Detroit Arsernal, revealed the tank's dimensions wouldn't allow for it to be transported through the Berne International Tunnel, a frequently used tunnel in Switzerland. The wide cab and right-shifted commander's cupola also limited the field of fire for the cupola's machine gun and required additional weight to provide sufficient protection for the commander because of the vertical walls.

Chrysler had proposed two revisions to this design and was already working on a third. However, numerous problems arose. They tried to simplify the engine and transmission system of their for ease of maintenance by mounting the power package on rails, which could then slide out the rear of the vehicle from a hinged plate. However, they also wanted to keep the short dimensions of the vehicle. But this system, namely the hinged plate, compromised the rigidity of the hull. The power package also created severe vibrations. In order to fix this problem, Chrysler was forced to extend the hull in order to give the tank a more conventional engine compartment. This would be the fourth and most promising version of Chrysler's revisions.

There are no actual drawings of the T110E3. But we can deduce from the previous paragraph that it would have been a shorter version of the T110E4, or a T110E4 with the rear hull of a T110E2. I've gone and created a rendition of what this vehicle might look like.

Artistic rendition of the T110E3.

This tank should be functionally identical to the T110E4. It simply has a shorter profile. The smaller size could be compensated for by having some marginally worse gun handling or reload characteristics than the T110E4.

Guns: 120 mm Gun T123E1

Engines: Continental AOI-1490 (700 hp)

Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): T110E3 Chrysler (??)

Hull Armor (mm): 127/??/??

Top Speed: ?? km/h

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

See Also: T110E2, T110E4

Sources:

Hunnicutt, R. P. Firepower, 2017