- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
The M3 medium tank was a medium tank in service in the American armored divisions from 1940 to '46, which was put into service starting from 1941 given the need for the US Army to have a medium tank capable of fighting in the field their German counterparts, the Panzer III and IV. The tank soon became known for its massive firepower, its armor and its large silhouette which made it highly visible. In September 1941, the prototype of the carriage that would become known as the M4 Sherman was presented, the worthy successor to the Lee. In view of the replacement of the Lee with the Sherman, plans began in December of the same year to re-use the M3 tank as an anti-aircraft platform. In early 1942 it was decided to use the hull of the T26 75mm Gun Motor Carriage, a soon-to-be discarded anti-aircraft prototype, to create a prototype of the M3 Lee hulled anti-aircraft vehicle. It was decided to arm the vehicle with a 40 mm Bofors gun produced under license, and at the end of the works the vehicle was called the T36 40mm Gun Motor Carriage. Two prototype examples of this vehicle were built, which were completed in August 1942, but testing could not begin until December of the same year due to the lack of a fire control system. Testing can then begin, first at Aberdeen Proving Ground and then at Camp Davis. During the tests, several problems were discovered, such as the fact that the vehicle was cramped for the crew, the lack of ventilation in the turret, the little transportable ammunition and the shape of the turret, which allowed the gun to be loaded only at an elevation of + 10th. In July 1943 the vehicle was officially abandoned, and the prototype was subsequently scrapped.
Armaments and propulsion.
The tank was armed with a Bofors 40 mm L/60 M1 gun of Swedish origin produced under license. The weapon was placed in a rotating turret that could fire the weapon up to +80° elevation, but which only allowed reloading at +10°. The vehicle was equipped with a supply of 100 ammunition, enough for just under a minute of continuous fire. Fire control was to be provided by a T10 computer, which after calculating the necessary target azimuth and distance data, which data would then be used by a T9 remote control system. The optics were provided by the T27 and T28 telescopes.
In terms of engine, the tank features the classic M3 Lee engine, a 400 hp Continental R-975-EC2 petrol engine, which could push the vehicle up to a maximum speed of 42 km/h.
Specifications.
Spoiler
Mass: 30 tons
Length: 5.64 m
Width: 2.72 m
Height: 3.2 m
Crew: 4
Engine: 1x Wright-Continental R975 EC2400 HP
Maximum speed: 42 km/h
Maximum armor: 50 mm
Armament: 1x Bofors 40 mm L/60 M1 with 100 rounds
Elevation: -2°/+80°
Pictures and drawnings.
Sources.
Spoiler
T36 40mm Gun Motor Carriage
The Freakiest Anti-Aircraft Half-Tracks -
T52 - the Sherman with a Ball Turret -
T36 Twin 40mm AA - US Armor & Vehicles | Gallery
M3 Lee/Grant and M4 Sherman Family of Vehicles
https://forum.gamer.com.tw/Co.php?bsn=20947&sn=41895
Director (military) - Wikipedia
M3 Lee - Wikipedia
美利坚柯利安——T36 40mm火炮运载车 - 哔哩哔哩
Doc USA Nomenclature du Matériel | AMM - Association des Maquettistes du Montpeliérain
The Bofors Gun - Terry Gander - Google Libri
Blog de las Fuerzas de Defensa de la República Argentina: 02/01/2024 - 03/01/2024
M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank
造完了却发现没用！尴尬的二战美国防空车，一个个都没赶上趟
"Чудище обло, огромно, стозевно и лаяй" - краткая история M3 Medium Tank - mika_blin — LiveJournal
