T28 Super Heavy Tank

:" For other uses, see T28 or T95 (disambiguation)"

Infobox Weapon
name= T28/T95 GMC


caption=
origin= United States
type= Super-heavy tank destroyer
is_artillery= yes
is_vehicle= yes
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer= Pacific Car and Foundry
unit_cost=
production_date=
number= 2
variants=
spec_label=
weight= 95 short tons (86.2 metric tonnes)
length= 36 ft 6 in (11.1 m)
part_length=
width= 14 ft 11 in (4.39 m)
height= 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
crew= 4
cartridge=
caliber= 105 mm
barrels=
action=
rate=
velocity=
range=
max_range= 12 mi (19 km)
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation= 19.5° to -5°
traverse= 10° right, 11° left
armour= 12 in (300 mm)
primary_armament= 105 mm T5E1 gun, with 62 rounds
secondary_armament= .50-cal machine gun, with 660 rounds
engine= Ford GAF V-8 gasoline
engine_power= 500 hp (372 kW)
pw_ratio= 5.8 hp/tonne
transmission=
payload_capacity=
suspension= double track
clearance=
wingspan=
propellant=
fuel_capacity=
vehicle_range= 100 mi (160 km)
speed= 8 mph (13 km/h)

The T28 (also called 105 mm Gun Motor Carriage T95) was a prototype heavily armoured tank destroyer, designed for the US Military during World War II. It was originally designed to be used to break through German defenses at the Siegfried Line, and was later considered as a possible participant in an invasion of the Japanese mainland. Although sometimes referred to as a super-heavy tank the T28 was, in reality, a very heavy tank destroyer, and was re-designated as the "105 mm Gun Motor Carriage T95" in 1945. In 1946 it was renamed again, to "T28".

History

The T28 was designed as a counter to the German heavy tanks, such as the Maus [cite web |url=http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkampfwagen-viii-maus-porsche-typ-205-tiger-iip.htm |title=Achtung Panzer! - Maus |accessdaymonth=7 October |accessyear=2008 ] and the E-100. [cite web |url=http://www.panzerworld.net/e-100 |title= Panzer World - E-100 |accessdaymonth=7 October |accessyear=2008] It was also set to be used for attacking the German Siegfried Line. Other countries' super-heavy tanks which never saw service included the British A39 Tortoise, [cite web |url=http://www.provehicles.co.uk/top-10-heaviest-and-biggest-military-tanks-ever/ |title= Top 10 Heaviest Tanks - Tortoise A39 |accessdaymonth=7 October |accessyear=2008] the French Char 2C, [cite web |url=http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/france/France-Heavy.html |title= France - Char 2C |accessdaymonth=7 October |accessyear=2008] and the Soviet SMK [cite web |url=http://www.onwar.com/tanks/ussr/profiles/psmk.htm |title= OnWar - SMK |accessdaymonth=7 October |accessyear=2008] and T-100.

It was first conceived in the spring of 1945, too late to be used in World War Two. The original name for the project was to be T28. Pacific Car and Foundry Company designed it for the final push in Europe, but by the time the first tank was completed and ready for combat, the war was over. The original plans called for five prototype vehicles to be built, and eventually for a total of twenty-five tanks to be constructed.

Renaming and cancellation

Because this vehicle did not have a turret, the T28 more closely resembled a self-propelled gun and was redesignated as the T95 Gun Motor Carriage in 1945, but in June 1946, the vehicle was, again, redesignated Super Heavy Tank T28. This first renaming was still not exactly correct as it has been argued that it was neither a super-heavy tank nor a self-propelled gun, but that it was in fact a very heavy tank destroyer.

Two prototypes of the T28 were produced. They underwent intensive evaluation trials at both the Aberdeen Proving Grounds and the Fort Knox facilities, until 1947, by which time the superior T29 and T30 heavy tanks were available. The T29 mounted the same gun in a conventional rotating turret. The T30 was developed with a larger-caliber gun and more powerful engine. Because of this the T28 program was terminated in October 1947.

Surviving vehicles

Only two vehicles were ordered and neither saw combat. One was heavily damaged by an engine fire during trials and was scrapped. The other was reported broken up and sold for scrap, yet it was discovered abandoned in a back field at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in 1974. It is unknown where it spent the intervening 27 years. It is the sole remaining example of these tanks and is exhibited at the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Kentucky. [ [http://www.knox.army.mil/PattonMuseum/vehicles.htm Patton Museum List of Exhibits] ]

Design

The T28 was designed and manufactured by Pacific Car and Foundry.cite web |url=http://www.battletanks.com/articles.htm |title=Battle Tanks |accessdaymonth=2 October |accessyear=2008] The original plan was to build five prototype vehicles, with a production total of 25. Its total weight when fully equipped would have reached 95 short tons (86 tonnes).cite web |url=http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/UnitedStates/heavytanks/HeavyTanks.html |title=United States - Heavy Tanks |accessdaymonth=1 October |accessyear=2008] Because of the tank destroyer's great weight, it used four tracks instead of two, each 12.9 inches (328 mm) wide. The outer tracks could be detached for easier transport. After removal they could be fixed together to make a unit that could be towed behind the tank. Because of its extreme weight and low engine power, the T28 had extremely limited obstacle-crossing ability and couldn't cross any of the portable bridges available at the time, and so was considered impractical in the field and not suitable for production.

Turret and armament

It had no conventional turret, giving it a comparatively low profile. Its main armament was a 105 mm T5E1 gun, in a ball-shaped gun mantlet set into the hull front. The gut was not set on a turret because this was to be a frontal-assault vehicle. The traverse was limited to 10° right and 11° left, and elevation from 19.5° to -5°. When traveling, the gun was locked at the maximum elevation. It also had an M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun mounted above the commander's hatch. The main gun had a muzzle velocity of 3,700 feet per second (1,130 m/s), with a range of up to 12 miles (19 km).

Armor and engine

The armor was very thick compared to other tanks of the time, up to 12 inches (300 mm) thick on the front. This was considered heavy enough to provide protection from the 8.8cm/L71 cannon used by German heavy tanks.cite web |url=http://www.tonyrogers.com/weapons/t28.htm |title=Tony Rogers - T28 |accessdaymonth=5 October |accessyear=2008] The lower hull front had 5.25 in (130 mm) of armour, and the sides 2.5 in (64 mm). The hull was cast steel and extended two thirds of the length of the track assembly set to the rear . The suspension system and lower hull were covered with 4-in (100 mm) thick steel skirts. The engine was a gasoline-powered Ford GAF V-8, delivering 500 hp, which gave the underpowered vehicle a top speed of about 8 mph (13 km/h) and greatly limited its obstacle-climbing capability.

Comparisons

Comparison to the alternatives

Comparison to other country's designs

See also

* List of prototype WWII combat vehicles
* Super-heavy tank

References