T95 medium tank

For other uses, see T95 medium tank (disambiguation).

T95 Medium Tank
Type	Armored fighting vehicle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designed	1955-1959
Specifications
Crew	4
Armor	Fused silica embedded in cast steel armor
Main armament	90 mm T208
Secondary armament	12.7 mm M2 machine gun
Engine	AOI-1195, GM12V71T gasoline engines 550 - 570 hp
Fuel capacity	780 liters

The T95 was an American series of prototype medium tanks developed from 1955 to 1959. These tanks used many advanced or unusual features, such as siliceous-cored armor, the APFSDS-firing 90 mm T208 smoothbore gun in a rigid mounting without a recoil system, a new transmission, and the OPTAC fire-control system, which incorporated an electro-optical rangefinder mounted on the right side of the turret. In addition, although the tanks were designed with a torsion beam suspension, a hydropneumatic suspension was fitted, and one of the tanks was fitted with a Solar Saturn gas turbine for demonstration purposes.

The siliceous cored armor consisted of fused silica, which has a mass efficiency of approximately three versus copper-lined shaped charges, embedded in cast steel armor for an overall mass efficiency of 1.4. The early APFSDS penetrators fired by the T208 had a low length-to-diameter ratio, this being limited by their brittle tungsten carbide construction, with a diameter of 37 mm, although they had a high muzzle velocity of 1,525 meters per second. The rangefinder, the T53 Optical Tracking, Acquisition and Ranging (OPTAR) system, emitted pulsed beams of intense but incoherent infrared light. These incoherent beams scattered easily, reducing effectiveness in mist and rain and causing multiple returns, requiring the gunner to identify the correct return after estimating the range by sight. This, combined with the large and vulnerable design of the transmitter and receiver assembly, led to the abandonment of the OPTAR system in 1957.

History

Development

In the early 1950s, work began in the US to develop an eventual replacement to the M48 tank, the operational medium tank at the time. In September of 1954, out of many submitted plans, two main examples were chosen – one of them, the T95; the other, the T96, which used a heavier gun and a 105 mm round. Both tanks used smooth-bore barrels with a fixed mount and no recoil system. In November 1956, it was finally decided that nine tanks would be produced. Four of them would be original T95s. One would be a T95 with a 90 mm gun on a mount with a recoil system, receiving the designation T95E1. The remaining four would use the T95 chassis and the T96 tower, and were designated the T95E4.

Production

Because the T96 towers were not yet constructed (they were never completed), it was decided that of the four T95E4s, two would be fitted with the M48A2 tower, and the other two were fitted with T54E2 towers and with 105-mm T140 barrels.

The first T95 variant to go into production was the T95E2, in May 1957. The T95E3 was produced in July of the same year, and the first original T95s were ready in February 1958.

Description

The T95 tank was created using a traditional design with a control compartment in the front, the main weapons compartment in the center, and the engine compartment in the rear. The tank had a four-man crew, consisting of a commander, a targeting systems operator, a loader, and a mechanic/driver.

The mechanic-driver’s work area is in the front control compartment along the length of the vehicle. Above the mechanic-driver’s seat, in the upper armored section, there is a hatch with a movable cover. In combat mode, observation and reconnaissance of the area can be achieved with the help of three periscopic visual devices, the middle of which is equipped with a night-vision infrared camera from the T161. Ammunition stores are located on either side of the mechanic-driver’s chair.

Hull and tower

The hull of the tank is welded, and the front is a single massive casting. The upper part of the “nose”, or front, or the hull has a thickness of 95 mm and is at an angle of 65 degrees from vertical. The thickness of the roof and floor of the hull around the control compartment is 51 and 19 mm respectively; the thickness of said areas is 25 and 13 mm, respectively, around the main crew and engine compartments. The thickness of the main side plates is 102 mm up front down to 32 mm around the engine.

The cast tower is installed to a base with a diameter of 85 inches (the same as the M48). The thickness of the front part is 178 mm, and 78 mm for the sides. The shape of the tower is elongated compared to the M48. The aimer’s seat is situated to the right of the main gun in the front of the tower. The commander’s seat is also in the tower with a built-in 12.7 mm M2 machine gun, with an M28 periscopic sight for aiming. For 360-degree vision, 5 Triplexes are installed in the tower. Primary shells are stored in the lower section of the tower, which is within the hull.

Armament

The T95 and the T95E1 are equipped with a 90 mm smooth-bore gun from the T208. The T95 equipment was installed on a fixed mount and was stabilized on two surfaces. The T95E1 equipment was installed on a recoil mount, but lacked stabilization systems. All T95 models were equipped with T320 armor-piercing rounds, which had a tungsten core, diameter 40 mm, and an initial velocity of 1520 meters per second. These rounds could successfully penetrate a 127 mm armor plate when fired at a 60 degree angle from 2000 yards. A standard T95 was equipped with 50 rounds.

The T95E2 retained the armament of its predecessor, the M48A2. With a 90 mm gun, it could fire a 74 mm anti-armor shell at 915 meters per second for a range of 2000 yards. It was equipped with 64 rounds.

The T95E3 was armed with a 105 mm rifled gun from the T140 tank. With an initial velocity of 1079 m/s, the armor piecing capability at 2000 yards is 122 mm at a 60 degree firing angle. Standard equipment was 64 rounds.

The T95E4 was planned to have the smoothbore gun from the T210. In order to accommodate the extra length of the rounds (112 cm), the gun was moved forward, preventing stabilization. The initial velocity of the rounds were 1740 m/s, with a 152 mm armor-piercing capability at 2000 yards, 60 degree firing angle. Standard equipment – 40 rounds.

With the appearance of the 120 mm rifled gun of the T123, it was decided that it should be installed on two of the four planned T95E4s. This variant was designated T95E6. Initial velocity – 1070 m/s, armor-piercing capability of 122 mm at 2000 yards, 60 degree firing angle.

Fire-control system

The T95E2 and the T95E3 were equipped with a fire-control system, identical to the one used in the M48A2, with a stereoscopic rangefinder and a mechanical ballistics computer.

The T95 also had an FCS which had an OPTAR optic rangefinder, as well as an electronic ballistics computer. It also featured a periscopic sight from the T44 and a T50 ballistic drive.

The T95E1 used a simplified targeting system – a rangefinder and a ballistics computer were omitted.

Powerplant

Under the original proposal, T95 and T96 tanks had to be equipped with an X-shaped 750 hp 12-cylinder Diesel engine. However, because this engine was only in the early stages of development, it was decided to temporarily equip the tanks with a 4-stroke, 8-cylinder AOI-1195 gasoline engine. The engine was placed transversely and was connected with the four-transmission XTG-410. Three fuel tanks, with a total capacity of 780 liters, were installed in the engine compartment.

Despite higher fuel economy compared to the M48A2 engine, gasoline engines provided insufficient transport capability. At the same time, the development of the X-shaped diesel engine failed, so starting in mid-1958, other options were considered. As an interim measure, they decided to use a modified version of the civilian 12 cylinder, two-stroke, water-cooled, V-type, 570 hp GM 12V71T diesel engine.

A contract was signed with the Continental Motors Company in the development of the AVDS-1100 air-cooled diesel engine, and with Caterpillar to develop the LVDS-1100 water-cooled diesel engine. Both engines are quad-V-shaped, with an estimated 550 hp. However, tank testing with the three new power plants began after the retirement of the T95 program.

Chassis

Five-based with double wheels of large diameter without support rollers with torsion bar suspension. At the front and rear, rollers on each side of the hydraulic shock absorbers. On some of the tanks lightweight openwork road wheels were used.

Caterpillar treads were used, with rubber joints. The width of the tracks were 533 mm or 610 mm. The number of tracks in a tread was 80 and the length of the bearing surface was 4.2 m.

Retirement

During the development of T95 tank, it became clear that it would not have a significant advantage over the M48A2. Failure ended the development of X-shaped motor, an optical rangefinder, and the accuracy of smoothbore guns continued to be unsatisfactory. All this led to the closure of the project on July 7, 1960. At the same time, work on the T95E7 tower was continued, which led to the creation of the fairly successful M60A1 turret.

Versions and modifications

• T95 – The original tank, with a 90 mm smoothbore gun with a recoilless, fixed mount.
• T95E1 – Recoil mount, 90 mm gun, simplified fire-control system.
• T95E2 – Tower from the M48A2, 90 mm rifled gun.
• T95E3 – Tower from the M48A2, 105 mm rifled gun.
• T95E4 – Tower from the T96, 105 mm smoothbore gun.
• T95E5 – A T95E2 with a 105mm British rifled gun, never built.
• T95E6 – Tower from the T96, 120 mm rifled gun, never built.
• T95E7 – A T95E1 with a 105 mm British gun, never built.
• T95E8 – A T95E2 with a 12V71T diesel engine.

References

1. Hunnicutt R.P., "Abrams. A history of American main battle tank" Vol.2, Novato 1989

2. Ogorkiewicz, Richard M (1991). Technology of Tanks. Jane's Information Group Limited. pp. 48, 79, 174, 260, 326, 371. ISBN 0-7106-0595-1.

External links

• T95 series of experimental medium tanks at Jedsite (requires registration)
• 90 mm Gun Tank T95

See also

• T54
• List of vehicles of the U.S. Armed Forces