M103

120 mm Gun Tank M103 - an overview of options

T43 - heavy tank based on a series of T29, the cannon caliber 120 mm; 6 prototypes, 1951
T43E1 - serial variant; 300 pcs, due to manufacturing defects denied to the service; 1953-1954
T43E2 - a prototype with a modified internal arrangement of the towers, the electric rotating turret instead of hydraulic and new targeting system; 2 conversion 1955-1956
M103 - a modified variant of the T43E1 for the U.S. Army with the removed defects; 74 conversion 1957
M103A1 - a modified variant of the T43E1 for the USMC, a new rangefinder and ballistic computer, electric rotation of the turret; 219 conversion 1959
M103A2 - upgrading M103A1 on the standard coming out of the M60, diesel engine, new range finder; 153 conversion 1964
Heavy Recovery Vehicle M51 - recovery vehicle on the chassis of the M103, 1954-1955
Manned Evasive Target Tank - M103A2 adjusted for target practice for training operators TOW, 1977

Hunnicutt, R. P. Firepower: a History of the American Heavy Tank. The Presidio 1988. ISBN: 0891413049.
tanks-encyclopedia.com

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T 43

In 1946, declared the ministry of defence of the programme War Department Equipment Review Board led by Joseph W. Stilwellerem, the squadron of the U.S. Army's new tanks. The decision has been given on the development of light tanks T 41, medium tanks T41 and heavy tanks on the basis of the T29, T30, T32, T 34. Furthermore, it was decided on the suspension of the development of tank destroyers.
Two years later, the situation was reassessed in particular in the field of heavy tanks. After the tests of prototypes of the heavy tanks of the polygon in the Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Knox as the most promising evaluated the heavy tank T 34, armed with a cannon of the caliber of 120mm. The Tank was, but it's too heavy, against the demands was about 10 tuntěžší.
Ordnance Committee Minutes (OCM) 32530 from 1948 to the year entered the new technical requirements for a heavy tank and assigned him the designation of the T43. The crew of the tank should have only four members - commander, řídič, a gunner, a loader.

The original use of the engine V-12 Continental AV-1790, it was even on the version of the tototo engine with a sectional view of a turbocharger on the performance of the 1041Hp.
Gun caliber 120 mm was fitted into a common carriage T140 together with a machine gun caliber 12,7 mm. In this lafetace belonged on the tříválcové brzdovratné device.

Sights should consist of dálkoměru, panoramic peryskopu, telescope shooter and mechanical balistického computer.

Armor should be the strongest on the front plates of the hull of a thickness of 127 mm and tilted from the axis 58°. At the front of the tower should be a slope of 60°.
When the design works at the Detroit Tank Arsenal has occurred to change the shape and some of the parameters, but the sign of the tank remained.
Ballistic tests have shown that cast the armor plates on the eliptickém cross section to reduce weight at the same ballistic resistance. A mock-up was presented in December 1949. Change the assignment of the project was specified in the Ordnance Committee Minutes 33333 from 24 April 1950, the year. Together with odlévaným the breastplate was added to the ring of the tower on the 2159mm. The crew has been increased to 5 members. Furthermore, it was decided to change the brzdovratného device. Further, it was removed from the project range finder, a ballistic computer, a panoramic periscope. These steps, it was assumed that the weight not more than 55 tons.

7. November 1950 there was a change of labelling of the american tanks. From this point on, it was a tracked tank 102mm T43 (OCM 33476).

The first prototype was tested in December 1951 on the edge of the polygon Aberdeen Proving Ground. Chrysler took over 3 leave the tank at the Detroit Tank Arsenal. Chrysler has brought to the project many changes which have once again earned change the name of the tank on the 120mm T43E1 (OCM 34359 from the year 1951 to the year).

The first prototype was armed with a gun caliber 120 mm T 122, in other experiments it was replaced by the cannon of the caliber 120mm T123. Cannon had the same ballistic performance as the cannon T53W. U (T 123 was added to the working pressure of the 48 000 psi ( 3375 kg/cm2). Deposit was made into the carriage T 140 but the new brzdovratné the device was neučíné therefore, at the end of the project was to gun equipped with a relatively small four brzdovratnými the cylinder. The new bed was given a designation of T 154 (OCM 22834 out of 10 lipca 1951). The cannon for this lafetaci got the designation T123 E1.

The prototypes of the tank are easily recognizable thanks to the old type of command turrets with five glasses and one fixed periscope. Those same turrets were mounted on tanks M 47.
Serial tanks were getting turrets from Chrysleru of the tank, the M48 to which he was fastened in the machine gun of 12.7 mm, with the possibility of control from the inside of the tower.
The driver had slowed 3 gun T 36. Serial tanks had a gun T 25, tanks v no 5 to 60 should peryskop M26. At the end of the production drivers had available gun M 27.
The night vision has made it possible for the driver to mount the noktovizor T41 ( M24)

Production of the 300 tanks T 43E1 gave Chrysleru in Nevarku work for the years 1953-1954. For the tests in the Fort Knox were selected tanks 6 prototype and serial car no 8. tests were conducted in 1954. Tanks together fled 7 028 km and fired 176 missiles. Tests revealed nekompabilitu management system fiber optic sights and the tower according to the specifications of the CONRAC,further overheating of the space combat during the shooting and the bad ventilation of the flue gases, this meant that the tank was unable to services in units of the U.S. Army.

The prototypes were conserved in August 1955, and expected to solve the assigned studies. The problem has been solved by the delivery of a further seal ring on the hub.
In November, the Material Requirements Review Board (Commission for the armament material of national defence) proposed 98 changes to the tank met the CONARC. In addition to the installation of the new tower and the fire control system. The changes were accepted
And the resolution of the OCM 36 177 has the tank been allocated 120 mm M103.

M 103 was armed with a cannon caliber 120mm T123E1 in the imposition of M89 together with machine guns, caliber 7,62 mm Browning M1919A4E1. The commander had available věžičku M4 on which was mounted a remote controlled machine gun 12.7 mm.

Drive catered to the engine of the AV 1790-5B (in other versions of the AV-1790-7, -7B, -7C ) and the transmission CD-850-4A
(or CD-850-4B). After the confirmation of finance has been confirmed by the reconstruction of the 74 tanks from the 80's for the U.S. Army according to the standard of the M 103. The remaining 6 tanks were left in the original state for the different experiments.
In January 1958, were the first tanks of the M 103 allocated 899-tankovému regiments, which was stationed in the federal republic.

Even before he had CONRAC take the tank T43E1 to the service, it was clear that do not meet the requirements of the office for armaments, was assigned the project of total reconstruction and modernisation of the structure to meet the required standards.
The rebuilding have been identified 3 prototypes, but in the end was předělávány only two ( According to the OMC 35 247 22.4.1954)
Designation of the project was " tracked tank 120 mm T43E2.
The first prototype arrived at the edge of the polygon Aberdeen Proving Ground in February 1956, the second of the polygon in Fort Knox in červenu 1956.
The main changes compared to the predecessors in the redevelopment of the tower and the fire control system. The tower was also equipped with a basket and the position of the shooter (mířiče) has been moved a lot ahead on the right side of the gun. The hydraulic drive of the tower was replaced by electric. The right fiber coaxial machine gun was replaced by a telescopic back-mířidly.
The master got a new sterooptický rangefinder T 52. Was electrically coupled with the ballistic computer gunner T33 and together with the new periscope T44E1 accounted for these devices fire control system.

Training in the shootings in Aberdeen Proving Ground has been sighted corrosion especially in particular parts and the holes used for the exhaust gas (not to be confused with the úsťovou brake) and partly by the system profuku mainly. A variety of experiments finally led to the fact that the actuator of the flue gases have been removed.

Overall, the tests went well due to the requirements of the CONRAC, after the removal of minor defects and the subsequent standardization of the tank was capable of service in the U.S. Army. In this period, but it was decided that will no longer generate new units armed with heavy tanks. The project has been marked as closed with the possibility of immediate production in the case of the needs of the army. Units of the marine corps, but decided on the reconstruction of 219 tanks T43E1 from 220 according to the standard of the E2. Therefore, it was issued OCM 36 540 of 13.red 1957 in which the modernized tank was given the official name of the M 103 A1. The reconstruction was completed in 1959.
Although the U.S. Army showed interest in the redevelopment of the 74 tank M 103, in February 1959 but has been making efforts to borrow 72 tank M 103 A1. To borrow has finally been made and the tanks were dislokovány in west Germany.

A little earlier the main staff issued the doctrine of the "Doctrinal and Organizational Concepts for Atomic-Nonatomic Army During the Period 1960-1970" (abbreviated as PENTANA) and were evaluated during the israeli war and the comparison with tanks IS-3 have seen the emergence of the project ROCAD (Reorganization of the Current Armored Division), and suddenly began to miss
heavy tanks. The new panzer division should consist of 360 tanks of which should be 306 armed with a cannon of the caliber of 90 mm and 54 of the cannon of the caliber 76mm.
Vypůjčená tanks later returned back to the USMC. The european event, but pointed out that if the tank further in the service is necessary to improve the drive and improve the transmission efficiency. So, when he was in the arms of the established tank M 60, decided to marines for the evolution of the power unit and the fire control system. In the middle of the summer of 1961 there were 3 tanks shipped to the reconstruction and it was for them a reserved designation M103A1E1. In march 1962 it was upgraded tank tested again in Aberdeen Proving Ground, the second a converted tank tested at Fort Knox .
The third tank remained at the factory in Detroit, where he carried out tests for determining the minimum number of service work.
The biggest change was in the exchange of the engine type Continental AVDS-1790-2A and a new transmission block with the transmission type of the cross-drive CD-850-6 and the magnification of the fuel tanks on the 440 US gallons. The tank acquired a far better range of the original 80 miles to almost 300mil.
It was further improved thermal insulation, which reduce the thermal emission of the surrounding area. The master got a new rangefinder XM24 (M24).The new ballistic computer M14E1 allowed to use the ammo type of HEAT.
Were also installed aluminum pulleys used in the tank, the M60, have also been used and aluminum rolling wheels.
In August 1962, it was decided about the conversion of 153 tanks of the marine corps to a new standart + aluminum pulley.
In February 1963, it was modernized tank assigned the designation M 103 A2.
In 1968 it was rebuilt 52 remaining in the tanks. Which is a total of 205 tanks of this version (some sources 218ks).
In ledtech 1972 -74 tanks were vyzařovány of prvolinijových units.

On the chassis of the M 103 was built and engineer recovery tank M 51


TTD the First prototype of the T43:
Weight: 54 431 kg
Crew - 5
Length with gun forward: 11394,4 mm
The length of the hull: 6992,6 mm
Width: 3749 mm
The height of the ceiling turrets commander: 3218,2 mm
The diameter of the ring of the tower: 2159 mm
Pressure on land: 0,871 kg/cm2 (12,4 dogs)

Pancéřování:
Korba
Frontal armor: bottom 102 mm off the top of my 127 mm
Hips: 76 mm
Croup: the bottom 25 mm, the top of the handle 38 mm
Ceiling of 25 mm
Chassis: front 38 mm,centered 25 mm, rear 13 mm
Armor head the ball
Forehead from 267 mm to 102 mm
The turret : the forehead - 127 mm, side 83-70 m, rear - 51 mm, ceiling - 38 mm

Výzbroj:
120mm Cannon caliber 120 mm type T122 in the bed of the T140
2x machine gun 12.7 mm HB M2E1 in the bed of the T140 with alternative armament of machine guns 7,62 mm M1919A4E1
1x PL machine gun 12.7 mm HB M2 on the ceiling of the tower
Ammunition: 34 rounds caliber 120mm
6800 rounds of caliber 12,7 mm
5225 cartridges caliber 7.62 mm for M1919A4E1

Mířidla:
Sagittarius : the rangefinder T42, periscope T35
Commander: cross-sections in the dome, periscope T35
Driver: gun T36
The auxiliary driver: periscope M13

Pohon:
V-12 cylinder (90°), Continental AV-1790-5C on the performance 810 Hp at 2800 rpm
Transmission CD-850-4 with two speeds for moving forward and one back
Hanging on the torsion bars
Strips of a width 711 mm type T96 l or T97

Komunikace:
Radios: SCR 508 or SCR-528, in 3 to 8 series AN/GRC
Intercom: 4x AN/VIA-1

Max. speed on the road: 40,2 km/h
Wall: 660 mm
Brod: 1 219,2 mm
Trench: 2 286 mm
The climb: 60%
Range: 127 km (80 miles)

TTD M103:

Weight: 56 699 kg
The crew of 5
Length with gun forward: 11394,4 mm
The length of the hull: 6992,6 mm
Width: 3749 mm
The height of the ceiling turrets commander: 3 558,5 mm
The diameter of the ring of the tower: 2159 mm
Pressure on land: 0,906 kg/cm2

Pancéřování:
Korba
Frontal armor: bottom 114 mm off the top of my 127 mm
Hips: hill 51 mm, the bottom 44 mm
Croup: the bottom 25 mm, the top of the handle 38 mm
Ceiling: 25 mm
Chassis: front 38 mm,centered 25 mm, rear 13 mm
Armor head the ball
Forehead from 267 mm to 102 mm
The turret : the forehead - 127 mm, side 137-70 m, rear - 51 mm, ceiling - 38 mm

Výzbroj:
120mm Cannon caliber 120mm M58 (T123E1) in the bed of the M 89 (T154)
2x machine gun 7,62 mm M1919A4E1
1x PL machine gun 12.7 mm HB M2 on the ceiling of the tower
1x M2 with a grenade launcher

Ammunition: 33 rounds caliber 120mm
900 rounds of caliber 12,7 mm
8150 ammo caliber 7,62 mm for M1919A4E1
90 rounds of caliber 7,62 mm for the M2
8 hand grenades

Mířidla:
Sagittarius : the rangefinder M14, M20A1 periscope
Commander: vizitýry in the dome, periscope M 17
The driver periscope T26 or M27 + night periscope M 24
The auxiliary driver: periscope M13

Pohon:
V-12 cylinder (90°), Continental AV-1790-5B,AV- -1790-7, AV-1790-7B or AV-1790-7C on the performance of the 810 Hp at 2800 rpm
Transmission CD-850-4A or CD-850-4B with two speeds for moving forward and one back
Hanging on the torsion bars
Strips of a width 711 mm type T96 l or T97, T97E1, T97E2

Komunikace:
Radios: in 3 to 8 series AN/GRC, AN/ARC-3 or AN/ARC-27
Intercom: 4x AN/VIA-1

Max. speed on the road: 33,8 km/h
Wall: 914,4 mm
Brod: 1 219,2 mm
Trench: 2 286 mm
The climb: 60%
Range: 127 km (80 miles)

TTD M103A1:

Weight: 56 699 kg
Crew: 5
Length with gun forward: 11394,4 mm
The length of the hull: 6992,6 mm
Width: 3749 mm
The height of the ceiling turrets commander: 3 558,5 mm
The diameter of the ring of the tower: 2159 mm
Pressure on land: 0,906 kg/cm2

Pancéřování:
Korba
Frontal armor: bottom 114 mm off the top of my 127 mm
Hips: hill 51 mm, the bottom 44 mm
Croup: the bottom 25 mm, the top of the handle 38 mm
Ceiling: 25 mm
Chassis: front 38 mm,centered 25 mm, rear 13 mm
The armor of the forehead of a gun: the forehead from 254 mm to 102 mm
The turret : the forehead - 127 mm, side 137-70 m, rear - 51 mm, ceiling - 38 mm

Výzbroj:
120mm Cannon caliber 120mm M58 (T123E1) in the bed of the M89A1
1x machine gun 7,62 mm M37
1x PL machine gun 12.7 mm HB M2 on the ceiling of the tower
1x M2 with a grenade launcher

Ammunition: 38 rounds caliber 120mm
1 000 rounds of caliber 12,7 mm M37
5 250 ammo caliber 7,62 mm for
90 rounds of caliber 7,62 mm for the M2
8 hand grenades

Sights:
Sagittarius : the rangefinder M14, M20A1 periscope
Commander: 4x M 17, rangefinder M 15
Driver: 3x periscope T26 + night periscope M 24
The auxiliary driver: periscope M13

Drive:
V-12 cylinder (90°), Continental AV-1790-5B,AV- -1790-7, AV-1790-7B or AV-1790-7C on the performance of the 810 Hp at 2800 rpm
Transmission CD-850-4A or CD-850-4B with two speeds for moving forward and one back
Hanging on the torsion bars
Strips of a width 711 mm type T96 or T97, T97E1, T97E2

Communication:
Radios: in 3 to 8 series AN/GRC, AN/ARC-3 or AN/ARC-27
Intercom: 4x AN/VIA-1

Max. speed on the road: 33,8 km/h
Wall: 914,4 mm
Brod: 1 219,2 mm
Trench: 2 286 mm
The climb: 60%
Range: 127 km (80 miles)


TTD M103A2:

Weight: 58060 kg
Crew: 5
Length with gun forward: 11231,9 mm
The length of the hull: 6992,6 mm
Width: 3749 mm
The height of the ceiling turrets commander: 3 558,5 mm
The diameter of the ring of the tower: 2159 mm
Pressure on land: 0,928 kg/cm2

Pancéřování:
Korba
Frontal armor: bottom 114 mm off the top of my 127 mm
Hips: hill 51 mm, the bottom 44 mm
Croup: the bottom 25 mm, the top of the handle 38 mm
Ceiling: 25 mm
Chassis: front 38 mm,centered 25 mm, rear 13 mm
The armor of the forehead of a gun: the forehead from 254 mm to 102 mm
The turret : the forehead - 127 mm, side 137-70 m, rear - 51 mm, ceiling - 38 mm


Výzbroj:
120mm Cannon caliber 120mm M58 (T123E1) in the bed of the M89A1
1x machine gun 7,62 mm M37
1x PL machine gun 12.7 mm HB M2 on the ceiling of the tower
1x M2 with a grenade launcher

Ammunition: 38 rounds caliber 120mm
1 000 rounds of caliber 12,7 mm M37
5 250 ammo caliber 7,62 mm for
90 rounds of caliber 7,62 mm for the M2
8 hand grenades

Mířidla:
Sagittarius : the periscope M 29, ballistic computer M14A1
Commander: 4x M 17, rangefinder M 24
Driver: 3x periscope M27 + night periscope M 24
The auxiliary driver: periscope M13

Pohon:
V-12 cylinder (90°), Continental AVDS- - 1790-2A on the performance of the 750 Hp at 2400 rev/min
Transmission CD-850-6 or CD-850-6A with two speeds for moving forward and one back
Hanging on the torsion bars
Belts of the type T 101

Communication:
Radios: in 3 to 8 series AN/GRC, AN/ARC-3 or AN/ARC-27 (which allow communication with the air force)
Intercom: 4x AN/VIA-1

Max. speed on the road: 37 km/h
Wall: 914,4 mm
Brod: 1 219,2 mm
Trench: 2 590 mm
The climb: 60%
Range: 483 km (300 miles)


Source+ photos:
Modern Amrican Armor - Combat Vehicles of the United States Army Today - Steven J. Zaloga and Lt.-Col. James W. Loop - Arms And Armor Press, 1982,
M103 Heavy Tank - AFV Weapons Profile #41 - Col. Robert J.Icks - Profile Publication, 1972
Standard Catalog Catalog of U.With. Military Vehicles - Second Edition" - David Doyle - Kruse Publicaton, 2003
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