- Yes
- No
Hello everybody!
Well, in 2015 I suggested a version of T23, known as E3
But to stay in chronological order, I will show all the versions, from the oldest to the last.
The T23 is an American medium tank.
Experimental medium tank. Developed from the end of 1942 through the summer of 1944. The vehicle was never mass-produced, nor saw combat.
T-23 with vertical volute suspension
T-23 E3 with torsion bar suspension
and:
T-23 E4 with muzzle break HVSS suspension
which in other words, is just the T25 hull with the Sherman E8 turret
Official designation: T23 Medium Tank
Alternative notation:
Start of design: 1942
Date of construction of the first prototype: 1943
Stage of completion: built six prototypes and 248 series T23.Lineup medium tanks “twentieth” series, the development of which was initiated in 1942, T20 and T22 one is not limited. Along with the T22 was issued specification for the design of an alternative embodiment, equipped with undercarriage with suspension on the vertical coil springs. However, a new project, designated T23, created not only for the use of ready-made components, well-established in production. The main feature of its design was the electric transmission, which commissioned the development of the company General Electric. The reason for the choice of this element were the positive test results of the heavy tank T1E1, which used the same type of transmission.
In total, not to deviate from the accepted scheme, has been ordered three prototypes: T23 (with a gun caliber 76.2 mm), T23E1 (with 75-mm gun and automatic loader) and T23E2 (also with a 76.2-mm gun ). As the work plans changed and the last two of the project remained only on paper.
Housing tank T23 to T22 design was similar and was a box, assembled from sheets of steel armor. The upper front plate thickness of 64 mm was mounted at an angle of 47 °, and the bottom - at an angle of 53 °. Side body armor plates were made of 51 mm thick and plumbing. Broneliste aft mounted at an angle of 10 °, had a thickness of 38 mm.
The layout of the body was a classic. In the front part there is a separation of management, where the left is the driver’s seat, and the right - his assistant, who also served the exchange of 7.62-mm machine gun. The fighting compartment was in the middle of the hull on the roof which was made two hatches, armor closable lids swing out and cut-out turret ring diameter of 1750 mm. The tower housed the main armament, which included 76.2-mm gun M1 and M34 on a gun carriage coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun Browning M1919A4. However, for this had to introduce a counterbalance weight 800 pounds (363 kg). Sights and observation devices remained unchanged. On the roof of the tower is a pin for mounting an anti-aircraft machine gun 12.7 mm. In the vertical plane is induced in the instrument could range from + 25 ° to -10 °. The maximum speed of rotation of the tower, equipped with both manual and driven gidravticheskim was 24 ° per second.
The crew consisted of five people. In the tower were the commander (rear-right), artillery (front-right) and loader (rear-left). In front of the building houses the driver (left) and his assistant (right), also serves as the maintenance of the course the gun.
Engine-transmission compartment housed in the rear of the hull. The tank T23 installed gasoline engine Ford GAP, which aired first on electric power, and from him - two traction motors. Thus, a direct link between the power plant and a crawler gear missing, increasing the service life.
Chassis prototype T23 basic elements borrowed from the series tank M4. Applied to one side, it consisted of the following components:
Three carts with two double road wheels, suspension on vertical coil springs;
Three support rollers (in brackets are attached to the top of the carriages);
The front steering wheel and the track tensioning mechanism;
Rear steering wheel lantern meshing;
Krupnozvenchataya caterpillar recruited from T51 steel shoe width 406 mm and 152 mm increments.
The pilot sample T23 (serial number 3098787) was built in January 1943 and became the first tank “twentieth” series, will go on trial. The machine has earned positive reviews and showed good dynamic performance, small turning radius and a maximum speed of 35 miles \ h.However, the Military Commission noted a number of shortcomings. Appeared weak mechanism pointing guns in the vertical plane and the tower was too close for three tankers. This required significant changes to the design of the tank. In particular, there was a need to increase the free space inside the tank for more convenient work crew. Moreover, the length of the gun barrel was shortened to 5 calibers, which corresponded 38.1 cm.
After evaluation of the entire set of changes, it was decided to proceed to the design of two different towers and carriages. The first sample was based on a gun carriage T79 and 75-mm gun from the tank M4 (with periscopes M4 and M6), while the second sample was used improved carriage T80 and completely redesigned the frontal part of the tower. Ammunition in both cases was 42 shots, but the second option was preferred as the tower proved to be more balanced. However, the second prototype T23 sent to trial in March 1943, was modified in the carriage T79 tower. The tests did not reveal serious flaws that allowed in May 1943 to sign a contract for the supply of 250 series of tanks.
Production T23 was established Detroit Arsenal in November 1943 and continued until December 1944 inclusive. From prototypes serial T23 T80 features a new gun carriage, upgrade your weapons M1A1 caliber 76.2 mm, 2-inch M3 smoke grenade launchers on the turret, commander’s cupola with round visibility and a rotating hatch driver.
While production was unfolding became a higher priority projects and T25E1 T26E1, which resulted in a reduction of the order of 200 copies. It later emerged that the new tanks will not appear until the second half of 1944, so that the land troops were forced to order the same 50 tanks. However, their number included two experienced T25, which is an upgrade T23 with 90 mm cannons. The total number of series T23 was 248 copies.
During extensive testing program carried out with the participation of series of tanks on the ground in Fort Knox, had been further improvements in the power plant. In addition, one T23 piloted be equipped to overcome water obstacles and fully sealed enclosure. Together in the army tanks T23 considered unsuitable for use in combat. The reason was the difficulty in the maintenance of tanks and combat some excess weight. Thus, all serial T23 remained in the United States and used primarily for the training of personnel.
However, the history of the T23 did not end there. In April 1943, Ordnance Committee recommended to gather additional pilot model equipped with torsion bar suspension. The tank was designated T23E3, and its development from December 1943 the company was engaged in Chrysler. Without waiting for the start of the test standardized army tank under the designation M27, and as it turned out - much hurried. Initially, the assembly was initiated, but in total managed to collect only. The main differences, as expected, were to the chassis, which used six dual road wheels with individual torsion bar suspension and track shoes width of 19 inches. Also, the first two and the last two road wheels equipped with additional shock absorbers. Tower and much of the equipment borrowed from the 19th serial tank. T23E3 prototype was sent to Detroit Arsenal on August 29, 1944 where it was to ship for testing at Fort Knox. Later, at the site in Aberdeen conducted comparative tests of buildings and T23 T23E3. Positive results were obtained, but to mass production is not reached due to changes in technical requirements for medium tank.
The last modification was the pilot model T23E4. Evaluate the success of the type HVSS suspension was decided to equip the same chassis is one of the most experienced T23. The corresponding order was received from the Ordnance Committee in the spring of 1943, however, the calculations carried out by specialists Corps Of Engineers, have shown that the width of the tank was 131 dpi - it was 5 inches more than the established standards. Then, instead of developing a new model was proposed to upgrade three series T23. These tanks have received HVSS suspension and tracks T80, also came to the test in Fort Knox. In general, the experiment proved to be very successful, but in connection with the termination of the war HVSS T23 were not accepted for mass production.
Also on the basis of T23 in early 1943 preparing a project “tank killer” . Actually it was the anti-self-propelled unit with a modified upper part of the body and the fixed open top deck house instead of the tower. The main armament is a 90 mm gun. Layout was self-propelled rassotren military commission, but further work on a tank destroyer were not conducted since entering the troops with tanks analogichnm weapons. Parallel refused design heavy ACS on the same chassis, equipped with a 155-mm gun M1 or 8-inch howitzer M1.
T22 and T23 prototypes
Problems with the Torqmatic dictated a return to the M4 transmission, and resulted in the T22, which also tested an autoloader, thus reducing the turret crew to just two. In 1943, the need to replace the M4 was not apparent, and the U.S. Army Ordnance decided to test several electrical systems on the next T23, mainly the transmission. An electrical transmission was also being tested by Porsche at the same time in Germany, and had the advantage of giving a more quick response and flexibility in torque when dealing with rugged and hilly terrain. General Electric pioneered this system, coupling a generator to two traction motors. The Ordnance Department lobbied for their production and, after an initial series of prototypes, ordered a full series of medium tanks fitted with the new 76 mm (3 in) M1A1 gun. These entered service but, because of maintenance and supply problems, only operated on U.S. soil for the duration of the war, mainly for training purposes. The T23 cast turret was compatible with the M4 turret ring and allowed tests for several features. Overall, 250 were delivered between November 1943 and January 1945. The M4E6 introduced in the summer of 1943 was fitted with this new turret and a M1A1 76 mm (3 in) gun, too long for the regular M4 turret.
T23 series
Ford GAN V8 engine with electric transmission.
T23: 76 mm gun and vertical volute suspensionT23E3: 76 mm gun and torsion bar suspension
Like the T20 and T22, T23’s with the 75 mm automatic gun and 3 inch gun were planned but never constructed. The T23 was actually the first of the T20 series prototypes completed and was found to be highly maneuverable. The Design was classified “limited procurement” in May 1943 and 250 T23’s were ordered, although the design was never standardized or issued to front line units. Production models featured the T80 turret that would later be used in modified form on the upgunned M4 variants. The T23 was not adopted for service partly because of its untried transmission system and partly because the design had poor weight distribution and excessive ground pressure. In an attempt to rectify this, two further variants were ordered, the T23E3 with torsion bar suspension and the T23E4 with horizontal volute suspension. The T23E4 was cancelled before the design was completed, but the T23E3 prototype was completed and the Torsion bar suspension was found to have reduced the ground pressure by 20% compared to the T23.
If anyone wants to use the information to make a suggestion, feel free.
I personally think that besides being easy for Gaijin to introduce into the game, as its parts already exist here in WT.
He would be a very important addition for Americans, regardless of whether it is on the tree, as an event or as a premium