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T20E3 Medium Tank
Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the T20E3 medium tank to expand the inclusion of the T20 series of medium tanks for the US ground forces tech tree in War Thunder. The T20E3 was essentially the T20 fitted with a torsion bar suspension system.
History
Development of a replacement for the Medium Tank M4 began in the spring of 1942, almost immediately after the M4 Sherman was standardized. This project was initiated as the M4X program, which eventually produced the Medium Tank T20. On August 26, 1942, the Ordnance Committee approved development of three variants: the T20 with the 76 mm M1A1 gun, the T20E1 with the 75 mm M3 gun and an autoloader, and the T20E2 with the 3-inch M7 gun. The T20 chassis had a lower silhouette and a more compact hull than the Sherman, retaining the VVSS suspension and drivetrain details. This reduction in size was made possible by the use of the new Ford GAN V-8 engine paired with a rear transmission and rear sprocket drive layout, eliminating the tall transmission tunnel that had been so distinctive on the Sherman.
In September 1942, the Armored Force recommended that one T20 pilot be completed with a torsion bar suspension and wider tracks to improve ride quality and reduce ground pressure. By February 1943, this led to the designation of a fourth variant: the Medium Tank T20E3, armed with the 76 mm M1A1 gun and fitted with a torsion bar suspension. The T20E3 pilot, registration number 30104303, was completed on July 1, 1943. Its suspension system used six dual disc road wheels per side, each mounted on support arms connected to torsion bars running transversely across the hull. This arrangement allowed up to eight inches of wheel travel, with shock absorbers installed on the first two and last two road wheels. The tank was originally built with three pairs of dual return rollers, later increased to five pairs per side.
Upon completion in July 1943, the T20E3 was held back by the manufacturer to correct several defects. After a fire incident, much of the vehicle had to be rebuilt, incorporating components from the original T20 pilot. Once completed, it was shipped to Aberdeen Proving Ground for trials against M4 medium tanks equipped with VVSS. The results showed that the T20E3 provided a smoother ride than VVSS-equipped Shermans, but its shock absorbers and mountings required reinforcement. Transmission issues also emerged and necessitated further fixes; the Ordnance Committee recommended cancellation of the T20 program in December 1944.
Although the T20E3 project was ultimately discontinued, its torsion bar suspension was not wasted. The system would be carried forward into 1944 designs, such as the M26 Pershing and M24 Chaffee.
Specifications
T20E3 Medium Tank
General Characteristics
Crew: 5
Dimensions:
Length: 294 in (747 cm)
Width: 127 in (323 cm)
Height: 97 in (246 cm)
Fire Height: 76 in (193 cm)
Tread: 105 in (267 cm)
Gun Overhang: 67 in (170 cm)
Ground clearance: 16 in (41 cm)
Ground pressure: 12.8 psi (88.3 kPa)
Powertrain:
Engine: Ford GAN
Net: 450 hp (456 ps) @ 2,600 rpm
Gross: 500 hp (507 ps) @ 2,600 rpm
Transmission: Torqmatic, 3 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Gear Ratios:
1st: 1.63:1
2nd: 0.74:1
3rd: 0.39:1
Reverse: 1.17:1
Weight:
Unstowed Weight: 31.25 US tons (28.35 metric tons)
Combat Weight: 33.75 US tons (30.62 metric tons)
Performance:
Power-to-Weight Ratio:
Net: 13.3 hp/US ton (14.6 hp/metric ton)
Gross: 14.8 hp/US ton (16.3 hp/metric ton)
Maximum speed:
Sustained, level road: 30 mph (48 km/h)
Short periods, level: 35 mph (56 km/h)
Armament & Armor
Main Armament:
76mm Gun M1A1 in Mount T79 in turret
Traverse: 360° (hydraulic & manual)
Traverse Rate: 24°/second
Elevation: -10° to +25° (manual)
Firing Rate: 20 rpm
Stabilizer: Gyrostabilizer (elevation only)
Ammo: 68 rounds
Secondary Armament:
1 x .50 cal M2 HB: Anti-aircraft pintle mount (300 rounds)
1 x .30 cal M1919A4: Coaxial mount (2,500 rounds)
1 x .30 cal M1919A4: Bow mount (2,500 rounds)
Armor Protection:
Hull:
Front Upper: 2.5 in (64 mm) @ 47°
Front Lower: 2.5 in (64 mm) @ 53°
Sides: 2.0 in (51 mm) @ 0°
Rear: 1.5 in (38 mm) @ 10°
Top: 0.75 in (19 mm) @ 90°
Floor Front: 1.0 in (25 mm) @ 90°
Floor Rear: 0.5 in (13 mm) @ 90°
Turret:
Front: 3.5 in (89 mm) @ 0°
Sides: 2.5 in (64 mm) @ 0-13°
Rear: 2.5 in (64 mm) @ 0°
Top: 0.75 in (19 mm) @ 90°
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Sources
Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series - R. P. Hunnicutt (2015)
Tank Archi…
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Sources
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
5 Likes
+1 would this be foldered with the T20?
1 Like
i would love techtree T20
1 Like
l2ulan
October 30, 2025, 10:21pm
4
if not Comet then why Comet shaped?
1 Like
This needs to be added in the tech tree! +1
so it basically is copy-paste, second underperforming tank to 6.3?
More options for the 6.3 lineup are always welcome.
“underperforming”
It is not. Its mobility, gyrostabilizer, and small profile more than compensate for it. The T20 currently ranks as the top-performing 6.3 tank with the highest kills per spawn and kills per death according to Statshark. The T20E3 would simply serve as another excellent backup option.
The torsion bar suspension should provide the T20E3 with a smoother ride, and when combined with its gyrostabilizer, it would offer superb accuracy while on the move. Although the T20E3 is slightly heavier and has a bit less power-to-weight ratio than the T20, this difference wouldn’t drastically alter its overall gameplay performance.
4 Likes
i dont appreciate copy pastes
it quite is. Its armanment is 4.7 material, it moves slightly worse than t-34-85, it has weak armor capable of bouncing solely because bugthunder, and it gets oneshotted easilly.
of course it is, no one plays it except such who “ah its good for 6.3” :/
At least this would go to the country that it belongs to instead of being sent to a random nation tree just because some foreign mechanic huffed the exhaust fumes one time.
