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| M41B with the 90 mm Cockerill gun. Notice the enlarged rear hull. |
In 1960, an initiative to modernize existing Brazilian armor led to the purchase of around 340 second-hand M41A1 and M41A3 light tanks from the United States. The tanks were delivered in successive shipments over a period of seven years, the first group of 50 arriving in August 1960. These would gradually phase out Brazil's fleet of M3 Lee and M4 Sherman tanks.
The Bernardini company received 20 vehicles in 1978 for future modifications, as it was desired to prolong the life of these vehicles into the 1990s. Initially, the first changes were made to the engine. The standard gasoline engine was replaced by a Scania DS-14A 04, which could output 405 horsepower. To install this larger diesel engine, the rear hull was enlarged so a new cooling system could be installed.
These new tanks, designated as the M41B, at first retained the original 76 mm M32 gun. However, most of them had the M32 gun bored out to 90 mm so it could fire the same ammunition as the Cockerill 90 mm Mk. III gun. Some length was shaved off the end and a counterweight was added to the barrel, giving the illusion of a bore evaccuator. This new gun was designated as the 90 mm Ca 76.90 M32 BR1. But this new gun was found to be inferior to the original 76 mm gun (it had a lower shell velocity). Future M41Bs would retain the original barrel length, after it was found there was no difference in performance. This second weapon, the Ca 76/90 M32 BR2, could fire APFSDS shells. A standard 90 mm Cockerill was also mounted for trial purposes.
All of these changes would result in the M41B. Bernardini would go on to further develop the M41B, mainly armor improvements also included the adoption of side skirts and spaced armor to the front hull of the tank, in addition to a new more poweful engine. This modified tank was the M41C. However, only one M41C with the spaced armor package would be produced. The rest were modified M41Bs with the addition of an improved fire control system, the improved 90 mm Ca 76/90 M32 BR3 in 1985, which was a much more thorough modernization. Several M41Bs would be converted into M41Cs.
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| The first and only M41C with the spaced armor package. Unfortunately, images of this particular M41C are lacking online. |
Also, I should point out that the ammunition loadout for this tank's 90 mm weapons would be the same as the previous two light tanks in this branch: either HE/HESH/HEAT or HEAT/HESH/HE. Remember this whole line of tanks can be thought of as stunted Sheridans, which have improved handling and DPM compared to that tank's 152 mm gun-launcher. All three of these 90 mm guns, though, are low-pressure weapons and would offer a worse rate of fire and shell velocity than the stock 76 mm.
In game, the M41C is a combination of both the early M41B and M41C variants. It can be thought of as a beefier T49. It has significantly better armor (for a light tank), but its guns are comparatively weaker and it has worse mobility. This should provide a good alternative light tank.
Also, the M41B tank is already in the game (for consoles), although there are some inaccuracies with it.
Guns: 76 mm Gun M32; 90 mm Ca 76/90 M32 BR1; 90 mm Cockerill Mk. III; 90 mm Ca 76/90 M32 BR3
Engines: Saab-Scania DS-14A 04 (405 hp); Saab-Scania DS-12 OA (430 hp)
Turrets (Turret Armor (mm)): M41B (25/25/25); M41C (25/25/25)*
Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): M41B TBS (??); M41C TBS (??)
Hull Armor (mm): 25/25/19 (M41B); 25/25/19* (M41C)
Top Speed: 70 km/h
Crew: 4 (Driver; Gunner; Loader; Commander/Radio)
*Does not count the spaced armor.
*Does not count the spaced armor.
Parent: X1A2
Children: M41UR
See Also: M41 Bulldog
Sources:
http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product929.html
http://www.ecsbdefesa.com.br/fts/M41.pdf
http://www.silencair.com/documents/industrie/scania/moteurs-industriels-16-litres-documentation-technique.pdf
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/brazil/m41.htm
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