Medium Tank T23^1-10

The T23 was one of the T20 series of medium tanks designed to replace the M4 Sherman, ultimately culminating in the M26 Pershing. The T23 pilots were the first of the T20 series tanks to be completed, and the only to be produced serially besides the M26. The T23's electric drive mechanism was a novel way to move a tank, with a similar system having been previously tested in the heavy tank T1E1 (sometimes referred to as M6A2), and worked by having the GAN engine power an electric generator which in turn drove two traction motors which were connected to the tank's final drives. This allowed the engine to operate at its most efficient speed at all times since there was no direct connection between the engine and tracks, and also provided an infinitely variable turning radius. The vehicle could be driven from the turret or even outside by using controllers connected to the tank via cables. T23 was fitted with the same VVS suspension as the M4 Sherman, and the two tanks were further interconnected when the T23's turret was adopted for use on the 76mm gun M4s. Wet ammunition stowage was to be used: six wet ammunition racks were installed, three behind the driver and three behind the assistant driver. A 26-round ammunition rack on each side of the vehicle contained two removable water tanks, one on the sponson side and one in the forward compartment. The tanks were connected by tubes and held a total of ~7gal (~26L). In addition, four rounds apiece were stowed in containers attached to the vehicle wall directly above the 26-round racks that held ~2gal (~8L) of liquid. Two rounds apiece were stowed in containers on the wall directly above the 4-round racks. These held ~1.5gal (~6.8L) of fluid.

Although it was proposed to standardize T23 as the medium tank M27 once it had been fitted with torsion bar suspension (making it T23E3), it was not adopted due to maintenance problems and concerns over training of maintenance personnel to deal with the electric drive system. However, T23 eventually lived on as the M26, which had been designated T26E3. The T26 was a more heavily armored version of the T25, which was essentially a 90mm gun-armed T23.

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References

1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series. Bellingham, WA: Feist Publications, Inc., 1996.
2. TM 9-734 Medium Tank T23. Washington, DC: War Department, 24 March 1944.
3. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
4. Sola, Samuel, Vincent Bobkowski, and Kara Crocker. Weapon Mounts for Secondary Armament. Santa Monica, CA: G. O. Noville & Associates, Inc., April 1957.
5. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
6. AGF Board No. 2. Development of Armored Vehicles, volume 1: Tanks. 1947.
7. Tank Data, vol. 2. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: US Army Ordnance School, July 1958.
8. TM 9-1731B Ordnance Maintenance--Ford Tank Engines (Models GAA, GAF, and GAN). Washington, DC: War Department, 4 June 1945.
9. TM 9-1826B Ordnance Maintenance--Carburetors (Stromberg). Washington, DC: War Department, 1 April 1944.
10. TM 9-8625/TO 19-75CCA-7 Carburetors (Stromberg). Washington, DC: Departments of the Army and Air Force, 7 May 1953.

Last updated 29 Sep 2024.
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