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T55E1 gun motor carriage

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(Redirected from T55E1 Gun Motor Carriage) US prototype tank destroyer
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T55E1 motor carriage
TypeGun motor carriage
Place of originUnited States
Production history
No. built1
Specifications
Mass30,200 lb (13.7 t)
Length23 ft 5 in (7.14 m)
Width9 ft (2.7 m)
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Crew4

Main
armament
3 inch gun
90 rounds
Secondary
armament
.50 M2 Browning Machine Gun
400 rounds
Engine2 x Cadillac. 8-cylinder V type, water-cooled engines
110 hp x 2
Power/weight16,04
Suspension8x8 wheel
Maximum speed 60 mph (97 km/h)

The T55E1 3-inch gun motor carriage was a prototype vehicle developed by the Allied Machinery Manufacturing Company in 1943 for the US Army. An eight-wheel drive vehicle, the T55E1 was armed with one three-inch gun in a limited traverse mounting and a supporting .50 caliber machine gun.

Development

Cook Brothers had developed an unusual vehicle for desert conditions. This had two four-wheel-drive bogies each with its own engine. Steering was by pivoting the front bogie. They then developed their design into a tank destroyer with two engines at the rear. There was sufficient interest from the Army for a contract for development as the T55. Testing led to modifications to the pilot as the T55E1. Further testing confirmed that it was not suitable and the T55E1 was cancelled.

Power was from two Cadillac eight-cylinder water-cooled engines. Production began in 1943, however by this time preference had shifted to tracked anti-tank vehicles, and the T55E1 was cancelled.

References

  • Crow, Duncan; Icks, Robert Joseph (1976). Encyclopedia of armoured cars and half-tracks. Chartwell Books. ISBN 978-0-8900-9058-9.
  • Haugh, David. Searching for Perfection: An Encyclopaedia of U.S. Army T-Series Vehicle Development (1925-1958).
American armored fighting vehicles of World War II
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American armored fighting vehicle production during World War II


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