| T34 Heavy Tank | |
|---|---|
 A T34 at the Aberdeen Proving Ground | |
| Type | Heavy tank |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | Trials only |
| Used by |
 United States Army |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1945-1948 |
| No. built | 2[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 65.1 t |
| Length |
43 ft 3 in (13.18 m) gun forward 32 ft 10 in (10.01 m) gun aft |
| Width | 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m) over sand shields |
| Height | 10 ft 7 in (3.23 m) over cupola |
| Crew | 6 (driver, gunner, loader, assistant loader, commander, assistant driver) |
|
| |
| Armor |
hull front 102–203 mm (4.0–8.0 in) maximum gun shield 279 mm (11.0 in) maximum turret front 303 mm (11.9 in) [2] |
Main armament | 120 mm T53 L/60 rifled gun (34 rounds) |
Secondary armament |
2 x .50 in (12.7mm) M2HB AA (1,500 rounds), coaxial & pintle-mounted 1 x .30 in (7.6 mm) Browning M1919A4, bow & coaxial (2,500 rounds) |
| Engine |
1,649 cu in (27.02 L) Continental AV-1790-3A1 air-cooled 810 hp (600 kW) net at 2800 rpm |
| Transmission | General Motors CD-850-1 crossdrive, three speeds (two forward, one reverse) |
| Suspension | torsion-bar |
| Fuel capacity | 350 US gal (290 imp gal; 1,300 L) |
| Maximum speed | 22 mph (35 km/h) (on road) |
The T34 Heavy Tank was an American design for a heavy tank. It was evolved from the T29 Heavy Tank and T30 Heavy Tank in 1945, sporting a 120 mm (4.72 in) modified anti-aircraft gun. Extra armor plating was applied to the rear of the turret bustle as a counterweight for the heavier 120mm T53[3][4] main gun. The vehicle was deemed too heavy and no production orders were placed.[5]
Development[]
In 1945, encounters with heavy German tanks and tank destroyers such as the Tiger II and Jagdtiger lead to a new project to counter these new threats. It was built on the same chassis as the earlier T29 and T30, which was a lengthened version of the T26E3 chassis.[6]
Survivors[]
There is at least one surviving example in National Armor and Cavalry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia.[7][8]
References[]
- ↑ Hunnicutt, R.P. (1988). Firepower: A History of the American Heavy Tank. Presidio Pr. pp. 94. ISBN 978-0891413042.
- ↑ Hunnicutt, Firepower, p.197.
- ↑ Sirchby, ~ (2018-01-20). "The 120 mm T53" (in en). https://thearmoredpatrol.com/2018/01/20/the-120-mm-t53/.
- ↑ Hunnicutt, R.P. (March 1, 1988). Firepower: A History of the American Heavy Tank. Presidio Pr. pp. Page 94. ISBN 978-0891413042.
- ↑ "Heavy Tank T34". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_heavy_tank_T34.html.
- ↑ Sirchby, ~ (2018-01-20). "The 120 mm T53" (in en). https://thearmoredpatrol.com/2018/01/20/the-120-mm-t53/.
- ↑ Holloway, Mark (2018-08-23). "T34 Heavy Tank". https://www.flickr.com/photos/137837832@N07/42418526890/.
- ↑ "The museum where the Army's tanks never die, they just get repainted (PHOTOS)" (in en-US). 2018-05-25. https://www.guns.com/news/2018/05/25/the-museum-where-the-armys-tanks-never-die-they-just-get-repainted-photos.
7. "Heavy Tank T34" (console.worldoftanks.com › vehicles › usa › A13_T34_hvy)
In World of Tanks, World of Tanks Blitz, and War Thunder. The T34 is a tier VIII tank in World of Tanks and World of Tanks Blitz and a tier IV tank in War Thunder
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The original article can be found at T34 Heavy Tank and the edit history here.