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United States' M6 heavy tank
M6 Heavy Tank: |
M6 Heavy Tank: |
M6 Heavy Tank: |
M6 Heavy Tank: |
M6 Heavy Tank: |
M6 Heavy Tank: |
M3 Light Tank, M3 Medium Tank, andM6 Heavy Tank: |
M6A1 Heavy Tank: |
M6A2 Heavy Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
M6A2E1 Heavy Tank:
|
M6 Heavy Tank: Life Magazine (Mark Holloway) |
M6 Heavy Tank: Mark Holloway |
Design
Was intended to be the heavy counterpart to the M3 medium.1 It was supposed to have a 75 mm in the hull and 37 mm in the turret.1 In 1940 this was changed to have the main gun be a 76 mm and have the 37 mm coaxially mounted.1
The final drive was mounted behind the engine. The transmission was connected by a flexible coupling without the use of a propeller shaft. There was a pedal that occupied the position normally occupied by the clutch petal, and this served as a transmission brake pedal.
The 3" gun was mounted with the 37 mm gun. A gyrostabilizer was provided as well.
There were 4 bogie assemblies on each side. Each had 4 bogie wheels. Two riding on the outside half of the track and 2 on the inside. Two springs were mounted on each assembly. The driving sprocket was at the rear. There was a main idler in the front and there was a nonadjustable idler between the main idler and the front bogie assembly.
Six periscopes were provided. There were 4 escape doors.
Prototypes
Four prototypes were constructed in February 1941.1 These had different hull constructions and transmissions.1 They were designated the T1E1 - T1E4. The cast hulled version with a torque converter was choosen.1
Production
In April 1942 the T1E2 was standardized as the M6 Heavy Tank.5 The T1E3 became the M6A2 later.5 By December 1944 all the models were declared obsolete.
By September 1942, orders for 5,000 M6s were placed.5 This was cut back to 115, and then finally reduced to 40.5 Politically the number was reduced as politicians were against the heavy tank concept.5 The military found the M6 to be unsatisfactory in its internal layout and its engine.5 Also transporting the M6 would have been difficult as one M6 took the space that two medium tanks would have taken in a ship.5
- M6: 40
- M6A1:
- M6A2: Baldwin Locomotive Co.4
Variants
- M6: Had cast hull1 and turret. It had a torgue converter transmisison.1
- M6A1: Had a cast turret and welded hull1. It had a torque converter transmission.1
- M6A2: Cast hull with electric transmission.1 Version with most produced.
The 3" gun could fire a 15 lb shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,600'/sec.4 The 37 mm could fire a 1.91 lb shell at 2,600'/sec.4 - T1E1: Similar to the M6 but had an electric drive. It had a direct current generator that was mounted behind the engine. This generator converted the mechanical output into electrical power for 2 transaction motors, one for each track.
Usage
Never saw service.1
| M6 | M6A2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner, loaders (2)2 51, 62,3,5 |
64 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||
| Weight | 126,500 lb2,3,5 44.6 tons1 45,360 kg1, 57,379 kg5 |
60 tons4 |
| Length w/gun | 24' 9"3, 27' 8"1,2,5 8.433 m5, 8.44 m1 |
23.75'4 |
| Length w/o gun | 24' 9"2 | |
| Height | 9' 10"3, 10' 7"1,2,5 3.226 m5, 3.23 m1 |
9.9'4 |
| Width | 10' 2"1, 10' 2.5"2,3,5 3.1 m1, 3.1115 m5 |
10.25'4 |
| Width over tracks | ||
| Ground clearance | 20.5" | 20.5"4 |
| Ground contact length | 186" | 188"4 |
| Ground pressure | 12.3 psi | 12.4 psi4 |
| Turret ring diameter | 69" | |
| Armament (mm) | ||
| Main | 1: 3"3,5 3" M72 76 mm1 |
3" T12, L/504 |
| Secondary | 37 mm M6, coaxial.2 1: 37 mm1,3,5 |
37 mm M6, L/534 |
| MG | 4: MG3 3: 12.7 mm (.50 cal)1,5 2: 7.62 mm (.30 cal) MG1 2: .30 cal MG5 2: .30 cal Browning MG.2 |
|
| MG - bow | 2: .50 cal Browning MG2 |
1: .30 cal M1919M4 MG4 2: .50 cal M2 MG4 |
| MG - antiaircraft | 1: .50 cal Browning MG2 |
1: .50 cal M2 MG4 |
| Side arms | 2: .45 cal Submachine M3 | |
| Quantity | ||
| Main | 752,5 | 754 |
| Secondary | 2022,5 | 3404 |
| MG | .30: 7,5002,5 .50: 5,7002,5 |
.30: 4,0004 .50: 8,0004 |
| Side arms | .45: 1,200 | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 252, 1002 1" - 3.25"3 (Actual thickness to horizontal) |
Front: 5"4 Side: 2-2.5"4 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 765 3"5, 3.25" (4") |
|
| Hull Front, Lower | 2.75-4" (4") | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 645 1.75" (1.75"), 2.5"5 |
|
| Hull Sides, Lower | ||
| Hull Rear | 1 5/8" (2") | |
| Hull Top | 1" | |
| Hull Bottom | 1" | |
| Turret Front | 1005 3.25" (3.25"), 3.93"5 |
3.5"4 |
| Turret Sides | 3.25" (3.25") | 3.5"4 |
| Turret Rear | 3.25" (3.25") | |
| Turret Top | 1" | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Wright G-2001,2,3 | Wright Whirlwind G2004 |
| Bore / stroke | ||
| Cooling | Air4 | |
| Cylinders | 94 | |
| Capacity | ||
| Net HP | 8005 | 750@2,150 rpm4 |
| Power to weight ratio | ||
| Compression ratio | ||
| Transmission (Type) | Torque converter, 2 forward, 1 reverse. T1E1: Electrical.2 |
Electric4 2 forward, 1 reverse4 |
| Steering | Controlled differential4 | |
| Steering ratio | ||
| Starter | Electrical4 | |
| Electrical system | 24-volt4 | |
| Ignition | Magneto4 | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline4 | |
| Octane | ||
| Quantity | 464 gallons | 350 gallons4 |
| Road consumption | 0.42 mpg4 | |
| Cross country consumption | ||
| Performance | ||
| Traverse | 360°2, electrical | Power or manual4 |
| Max speed | 22 mph1,2,3,5 35 kph1, 35.4 kph5 |
27 mph4 |
| Cross country speed | ||
| Road radius | 100 miles1,2,5 161 km1,5 |
146 miles4 |
| Cross country radius | ||
| Turning radius | 74' | |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +30°2 | |
| Fording depth | 4'2 | 48"4 |
| Trench crossing | 11'2 | 11'4 |
| Vertical obstacle | 3'2 | 42"4 |
| Climbing ability | 31° (60%) slope4 | |
| Suspension (Type) | HVSS with double bogies of 4 wheels each and 2 tracks each side.2 | Horizontal volute springs4 4 two-wheeled bogies4 |
| Wheels each side | 4x24 | |
| Return rollers each side | 34 | |
| Tracks (Type) | Double, rubber block, rubber bushed, double pin shoe4 | |
| Length | ||
| Width | 2' 1.75"2,5 0.654 m5 |
25.75"4 |
| Diameter | ||
| Number of links | 1004 | |
| Pitch | 6"4 | |
| Tire tread | ||
| Track centers/tread | 7' 9"2,5 2.362 m5 |
7.8'4 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
