TS-2

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 experimental T120 105 mm smoothbore gun. One of these, the TS-2, placed the gun in a fully rotating turret and was estimated to weigh 45.5 tons. The side armor on this vehicle was reduced compared to the M103. This tank also used the Continental AOI-1490-1 engine.

Cross-sectional drawing of the TS-2

I haven't been able to find much about this tank beyond what's mentioned in Hunnicutt's Firepower. In addition, the tank uses a smoothbore cannon, which is pretty much an automatic disqualification as far tanks go for this game. However, I would like to propose simply replacing this weapon with the 105 mm Gun T140E3, which was developed in parallel with the T120. Due to the close relationship between the two guns, I don't think it's too egregious to replace one with the other.

I would like to keep the calibers of all guns mounted on the TS-2 to have a caliber size of 105 mm. So there's a few other options we can choose from: The standard 105 mm Gun T5E1 as found on the T29 heavy tank, the 105 mm Gun T5E3 (a T5E1 with a more narrowly tapered bore, resulting in a higher muzzle velocity and penetration potential) and the 105 mm Gun T140E4 (a lighter version of the T140E3). While the T140E4 could easily be squeezed in, either T5 gun is going to be more of a stretch to excuse, especially the T5E3. I've gone and added the T5E1 as a stock option, however, because the tank might need it.

Because the armor protection of this tank was equivalent to the M103, I've gone and given it the M103's armor values. However, given the ambiguity of the design, we can have more leeway with these values for the sake of game balance. How far these values should deviate from the M103's isn't something I'm going to get into. We can also borrow the Continental AV-1790-8 engine from the next tank in line, the TS-6, as a top option.

In total, what we're looking at is a decently armored and mobile machine. Its shortcoming is its low caliber size (and therefore, raw alpha). However, this can be compensated for by giving it some above-average DPM, gun handling, and gun characteristics. It may not be so great at going hull-down like the T32 or other US heavy tanks, but it can more than make for this by being quicker than its peers to allow for advanced poke-and-shoot tactics.

Guns: 105 mm Gun T5E1; 105 mm Gun T140; 105 mm Gun T140E4

Engines: Continental AOI-1490-1 (700 hp); Continental AV-1790-8 (825 hp)

Turrets (Turret Armor (mm)): TS-2 (127/137/51)

Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): TS-2 (41.28); TS-2 Improved (41.28)

Hull Armor (mm): 127/51/38

Top Speed: ?? km/h

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

Parent: T32
Children: TS-6

Sources:

Hunnicutt, R. P. Firepower. 2017.