History
Since its combat debut on March 23, 1943, in Tunisia, the M10 Wolverine, armed with the 3-inch Gun M7, proved effective against most German armor then in service. However, even before its first action, the Ordnance Committee was already considering the improvements for the M10 chassis. On March 18, 1943, they recommended installing the new 76 mm Gun M1 in a redesigned turret on the M10A1 chassis. This modification promised to reduce overall weight by about three tons compared to the standard M10. The proposal was approved and given the designation 76 mm Gun Motor Carriage T72.
The turret for the T72 was a lightweight derivative of the T23 medium tank’s turret. It used a modified version of the T80 gun mount, lacking the coaxial .30 cal machine gun and fitted with a thinner 1.5-inch gun shield. Armor protection was deliberately reduced: 1.125 inches on the turret sides and rear, while the top remained open like the M10 and M36. The mount, designated the 76 mm Gun Mount T2, had powered traverse but no stabilizer, and the direct sight telescope was repositioned to address complaints raised on earlier M10s.
To counterbalance the lightweight turret, a bustle was added at the rear, which also carried 27 ready rounds. Combined with improved sponson racks for 72 more, the T72 carried a total of 99 rounds, 45 more than the M10.
Two pilot turrets were ordered for installation on M10A1 hulls. The first T72 arrived at Aberdeen Proving Ground in March 1943, followed by the second in April. Testing confirmed a weight savings of 4,350 lbs compared to the M10. The new turret provided more internal space for the crew, though at the cost of thinner frontal armor protection.
Meanwhile, development of the T70 GMC (later standardized as the M18 Hellcat) was progressing in parallel. The T70’s superior torsion-bar suspension and excellent mobility quickly overshadowed the T72’s performance. By February 1944, Aberdeen recommended halting work on the T72 and suggested that, if necessary, the T70’s turret could be adapted to the M10 chassis. With increasingly heavy German armor appearing on the battlefield, the 76 mm gun was also seen as insufficient. This led to a shift toward the 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage T71, which was standardized as the M36 Jackson, rendering the T72 redundant.
The T72 project was cancelled on 17 February 1944. Neither pilot was ever sent to the Tank Destroyer Board for evaluation, though at least one remained at Aberdeen for experimental work with rigid gun mounts.
