M36 Gun Motor Carriage (Jackson / Slugger)

History of the M36 Slugger (Jackson/Slugger)

The US Army uses the powerful M10 series as the standard WWII tank destroyer. About 6,700 were built from 1942 to 1943 and were also used by the Allies. It was developed on the chassis of the M4A3 Sherman medium tank family, making them large, difficult targets, but logistically friendly.

The main armament is an adequate 76.2mm main gun. Although capable of fighting the German medium-range tanks of the war, that changed with the arrival of the Panther and Tiger I series of heavy tanks - their frontal armor protection and heavy main guns were greatly improved.

The M10's days seem to be numbered, as its basic main gun system is proving increasingly inadequate against a new generation of enemy tanks.

As soon as the M10 entered mass production, the U.S. Department of Ordnance considered upgrading the M10 series and tested the M10A1-designed 90mm M3 high-speed anti-tank gun (built from the Sherman M4A2 hull). However, the M10 turret in its current form was not suitable for this gun, so a new turret design was started.

In the modified form, the vehicle received the prototype designation "T71 GMC" (GMC = "Gun Motor Carriage"). The T71 was officially designated "M36 GMC" in June 1944, and deliveries to the European front began at the end of the year.

Another variant, based on the Sherman M4A3 hull and mounted with a 90mm gun, was converted into a tank destroyer, becoming 187 examples of the "M36B1". A similar "M36B2" powered the M10 hull with a 90mm turret on the M4A2 chassis and diesel engine. 287 of this type are converted like this.

Like other American armoured vehicles lacking any creative names, the British stepped in after the famous American Civil War general "Stonewall Jackson" and called the M36 "Jackson" (in line with M5 General Stewart, M3 General Lee/Grant and M4 General) . Sherman). For others, it's simply called "Slugger".

Approximately 1,772 M36s of all types - both new and retrofitted - were eventually completed. Of these, 1,298 consisted of the original M36 base model (M10A1 hull/M4A3 chassis).

Power for the M36 frame is provided by a Ford GAA 8-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 450 hp (M36B2 is equipped with a diesel engine). This results in a top speed of 26 mph in ideal conditions and a range of 150 miles.

The powerplant works with a synchronized transmission system that allows five forward and one reverse speed settings. The vehicle was driven by five people, including the driver, tank commander, gunner and two ammunition operators. The turret-mounted 12.7mm machine gun can be operated by any member of the turret crew, as only the driver sits alone in the front left compartment of the hull.

However, he was the only crew member protected from small arms fire and the elements. The rest of the operators live in the tower.

The vehicle's height exceeds 10 feet, making it an attractive target for enemies. She weighs nearly 28 tons, making her a hulking and somewhat bulky beast that can deftly traverse the woods or country streets.

Like the M10 series, the chassis is suspended using Sherman's typical Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) system.

In action, the M36 series performed quite well, being hastily generated M4 Sherman conversion descendants. It provides the necessary firepower for current battlefield needs and is in sufficient numbers to function in many European engagements. Of course, the type was overshadowed by the arrival of the M18 Hellcat tank destroyer, which proved to be lightweight, fast, maneuverable, reliable and properly equipped. Towards the end of the war, the use of special tank destroyer battalions came to an end, as these vehicles were now assigned to regular mechanized groups that fought alongside main battle tanks and infantry units. In this role, they could also act as self-propelled guns and self-propelled guns, while benefiting from air cover from Allied fighter jets.

According to U.S. Army doctrine, tank destroyers were killed at the end of the war in 1945.

In addition to World War II combat, the M36 also served in the upcoming Korean War, which proved to be a mix of World War II and Cold War weapons from all sides. In the conflict, the M36 performed well alongside the acclaimed Soviet T-34 medium tank, which did a good job of repelling the German invasion of World War II along the Eastern Front. In the First Indochina War, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and much later the Croatian War of Independence and the Bosnian War of the 1990s, foreign factions fought one after another - proof of stunning design and the M36's ultimate global range .

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

47x90mm bullet

1,000 x 12.7mm ammo

Changes