![]() ![]() This was operated by a control in the Loader's position. In case of emergency, it also allowed for a quick exit of the turret. This allowed full access to the interior of the turret, easy removal of the gun and loading system, and quick ammunition resupply. ![]() If needed, the entire turret roof had the ability to raise up via hydraulic systems and could rise to almost a full 90 degrees. The traditional hatches in the turret roof were not the only point of entry, however. The Commander was situated at the right rear of the turret underneath a rotating vision cupola.Īccess into the turret either by way of the hatch on the left of the turret roof for the loader or another atop the Commander's cupola at the rear right. The Loader sat to the left of the gun, with the gunner on its right. The turret crew consisted of the Gunner, Loader, and Commander. The collar was then attached to the 73-inch turret ring. This motion was actuated by a hydraulically powered mechanism, though manual operation was possible in a case of mechanical failure. The maximum elevation was 15 degrees and the maximum depression was 9 degrees. This body was attached to a fully cast collar by trunnions, forming the fulcrum point of elevation and depression. The angles of the casting provided numerous deflective surfaces against incoming rounds. The body of the turret was a single cast piece with the 90mm gun protruding from a long 'nose'. The two halves were welded together in the center. The hull of the tank was made up of two parts: The front half was a long rounded casting of steel homogeneous armor, it was 4 inches (101.6 mm) thick and angled at 60 degrees, while the rear was welded steel armor plate. Turrets of this design allowed the use of autoloader mechanisms as the gun was fixed in place, meaning the loader did not have to be re-aligned with the breach after every shot.Įquipment Schematic drawing of a T69 tank Hull The upper part, or 'body', carries the gun moving up and down on a set of trunnions providing vertical traverse. The lower half, or 'collar', is connected to the turret ring and provides horizontal rotation. ![]() These turrets have a fixed gun in a two-part turret. ![]() Oscillating turrets, made famous by the French AMX-13, were a new feature at this time. T69 T69 at Aberdeen Proving Groundįurther studies by the Rheem Manufacturing Company found that it would be possible to pair the T139 90mm gun with an autoloader if the equipment was mounted in an oscillating turret. This led to its use as the base hull for the T69. A few of the tanks would be kept for experimentation and further development. The T42 itself would never make it to full-scale production, having never met all of the Military's needs and expectations. This spawned the Medium Tank M47 Patton II. As a quick solution to this problem, it was decided to take the turret of the T42 and mount it on the M46 hull. This gave rise to the infamous "Korean Tank Panic". However, the T42 was still halfway through development when the Korean War started in June 1950. It did, however, retain the same basic dimensions and the five road-wheel running gear. The T42 was based on the T37 light tank prototype, but had increased armor protection and carried a T139 90mm gun (which would later be serialized as the 90mm Tank Gun M41) in a brand new turret. The T42 medium tank was originally designed to replace the M46 Patton. These two were based on the hull of the M103 Heavy Tank. It also ran parallel to the 120mm armed T57 and the 155 mm armed T58 Heavy Tank projects, both of which also featured autoloading systems and oscillating turrets. The T69 project followed on from the T71 Light Tank project, which featured a 76mm autoloading gun in an oscillating turret. The unique feature of the T69 among other medium tanks then in development was its oscillating turret and autoloading system. This tank would form the basis of the T69 project. One of the tanks to spring from the design program was the Medium Tank T42. These tanks, however, were still very similar to vehicles of World War II era and did not make use of newer technologies that had begun to appear. The M4 Sherman was getting obsolete and was in the process of being replaced by the M26 Pershing and the upgraded M46 Patton. In the early 1950s, the United States Military began a design program to develop tanks that would replace those currently in service. Developed on the basis of the T42 experimental medium tank in mid-50s, the vehicle never entered mass production. The T69 was a prototype American medium tank with an oscillating turret mounting a 90mm cannon with an eight-round drum autoloader. ![]()
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