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Chrysler TV-8

1954 COLD WAR X-TANK

History of the Chrysler TV-8

The Cold War era prompted a great deal of weapons design due to the persistent threat of full-scale nuclear or conventional war between the West and the Soviet Union. This has led many of the major U.S. services to consider all possible battlefield solutions, no matter how exaggerated or unrealizable concepts may initially appear. The Chrysler TV-8 Concept is considered a new medium tank for the U.S.

Army, with a self-propelled weapon system, capable of amphibious use, and light enough for air deployment in European hotspots. It relies on a unique arrangement with the fuselage above the track drive components. The hull section doubles as the turret, housing the main combat components as well as the engine and four crew members.

Although initially equipped with conventional engines, it is believed that one day the TV-8 will also be powered by a nuclear fission-based device.

The TV-8 was simply considered and cancelled upon realizing that the unique concept had little advantage over existing tank designs. His end ended on April 23, 1956.

This hull/turret section would carry the 90mm T208 main gun armament, proving effective against most Soviet armour at the time. A hydraulically driven ram directs the 90mm projectile to the breech of the gun.

In addition to this weapon, there are a pair of .30 caliber machine guns buried in the round surface of the hull (coaxial brackets). A pair of turret-mounted .50 caliber heavy machine guns are mounted on the hull and can be operated remotely from the vehicle.

The tracked undercarriage assembly has four wheels on one side of the fuselage with the drive sprocket mounted forward. Drive comes from an in-house Chrysler V8 unit rated at 300 horsepower, which will be connected to a pair of generators that drive a pair of electric motors connected to the drive sprocket itself.

The engine was installed in a compartment at the rear of the fuselage.

Engineers estimate the total weight of the TV-8 to be 25 tons, of which at least 15 tons are located in the fuselage/turret structure and 10 tons are located in the track drive area. Built-in amphibious capabilities include self-supporting flotation and water jets for propelling the craft as it approaches the beach.

Vehicle dimensions shown are 8.9m long, 3.4m wide and 2.9m high.