US Heavy Tanks Icon set 1.0

[oragus]

Hello everyone. I read Mark's "Kitty Killer" thread years ago and have wanted to create these large developmental heavy tanks. I have finally done it. I hope everyone enjoys these historical vehicles. They were a pleasure to create for myself and the community. The vehicles in this set are the T28 Super Heavy Tank, T29, T30, T32, and the T34 Heavy Tanks. The M6 Heavy Tank has its own thread. Enjoy everyone!

The "Kitty Killer" thread:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com//showthread.php?t=34738

[RecruitMonty]

Originally Posted by oragus

Hello everyone. I read Mark's "Kitty Killer" thread years ago and have wanted to create these large developmental heavy tanks. I have finally done it. I hope everyone enjoys these historical vehicles. They were a pleasure to create for myself and the community. The vehicles in this set are the T29, T30, T32, and the T34 Heavy Tanks. The M6 Heavy Tank has its own thread. Enjoy everyone!

The "Kitty Killer" thread:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com//showthread.php?t=34738

Outstanding!

[DRG]

Since we allow " what if " to the end of 1946 I will consider adding ones that would conceivably be available for field trials up to 12/46 in the Prototype UC

[oragus]

Thank you Monty.

[oragus]

If you decide to add them and we get some "what if" scenarios or campaigns, I look forward to playing them. Thanks for the consideration Don.

[DRG]

It would be helpful to have the dates these things were available for testing. Since there seems to be some interest in this I'm sure someone has the specs

[oragus]

Check the "Kitty Killer" thread. I believe there are dates there plus stats.

[oragus]

If you need more than that Mark or I should be able to find the answer. Not sure what Mark's source is, but mine is the R.P. Hunnicut book Firepower.

[MarkSheppard]

Firepower by Hunnicutt says:

14 SEP 1944: OCM 25117 recommends development of a new heavy tank series with four pilots.

They are

2 x T29 (105mm T5E1 Gun)
2 x T30 (155mm T7 Gun)

7 DEC 1944: US Army Ground Forces (AGF) recommends that Ordnance develop a modified Pershing with heavier armor due to success of the M4A3E2 "Jumbo". The "interim" solution was to produce the T26E5 "Jumbo" Pershing with thicker armor and a modified final drive with a lower gear ratio and the ultimate solution being a new design (aka T32).

8 FEB 1945: OCM 26606 recommends construction of four pilots of a heavy assault tank using as many M26 pershing components as possible to be the "objective" assault tank. The tank is designated T32.

1 MAR 1945: OCM 26825 recommends procurement of 1,200 T29 heavy tanks.

MAR 1945: T32 pilot production approved.

10 APR 1945: T32 mockup almost completed; and 80% of drawings for the pilots had been released.

12 APR 1945: 1,152 T29 were approved for procurement.

Late APR 1945: Four additional T29 series pilots were authorized, with one of them getting the 120mm T53 Gun and being designated T34.

17 MAY 1945: OCM 27662 recommends that two T30 Pilot tanks be equipped with the 120mm T53 Gun, derived from the 120mm AA Gun, and so designated as T34 Heavy Tank.

31 May 1945: T34 pilot production approved.

9 AUG 1945: OCM 28680 recommends that T32 Pilots #3 and #4 be completed to a modified design (T32E1) with rolled front hull armor plate, no bow machine gun and the drivers' hatches were changed to a pivoting design, allowing them to be opened without intefering with a traversing turret.

AUGUST 1945: World War II Semi-Formally Ends with Surrender of Japan. Program significantly cut back -- it may have been actually cut back after V-E Day. More research at National Archives is needed.

23 AUG 1945: OCM 28848 approves actually building ten T29 pilots for postwar evaluation.

DEC 1945: The first T29 Pilot #1 is redesignated T29E1 and diverted to General Motors for the development of a modified Allison V-1710 engine as a tank engine.

LATE 1945: T30 power train changed from Wartime Ford GAC to the air cooled Continental AV-1790-3 engine.

15 JAN 1946: T32 Pilot #1 completed and shipped to Aberdeen.

19 APR 1946: T32 Pilot #2 completed and shipped to Aberdeen.

14 May 1946: T32 Pilot #3 (T32E1) completed and shipped to Aberdeen.

19 JUN 1946: T32 Pilot #4 (T32E1) completed and shipped to Aberdeen.

10 JUL 1947: OCM 31654 reduces T29 pilots to just eight.

24 JUL 1947: OCM 31668 authorizes diversion of one T30 pilot as the T30E1, to test out a semi-automatic power assisted loader. (You still needed to place the shell on a ramming tray).

OCT 1947: First T29 arrives at Aberdeen (T29E1)

1 APRIL 1948: OCM 32107 designates the T29 Pilot #2 with the new T5 Turret as the T29E2. It had a MIT-designed computing gun sight that was tied into a hydraulic traverse/elevation system.

APRIL 1948: Second T29 Arrives at Aberdeen, along with first T30.

MAY 1948: Third T29 Arrives at Aberdeen. This tank was equipped with the T31E1 rangefinder and was designated T29E3. The T31E1 was a 9 foot stereoscopic rangefinder.

[MarkSheppard]

From Kitty Killers:

T29 Specs:

6 man crew
Combat Weight: 70.75 tons

HULL
Upper Front: 174mm effective
Lower Front: 132mm effective
Front Sides: 76mm effective
Rear Sides: 51mm effective
Upper Rear: 52mm effective
Lower Rear: 40mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective

TURRET
Gun Shield: 203-279mm effective
Front: 206mm effective
Sides: 127mm effective
Rear: 102mm effective
Top: 38mm effective

105mm Gun T5E2
Loading: Manual (6 rds/min with 2 loaders)
Stablizer: None

Vision:
T143E1 Telescope
M10E5 Periscope

1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
2 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount

Ammo Load:
63 Rounds 105mm
2420 rounds .50 Caliber
2500 rounds .30 caliber

-----------------------------------------------

T29E3 Specs:

6 man crew
Combat Weight: 72 tons
Speed: 22 MPH

HULL
Upper Front: 174mm effective
Lower Front: 132mm effective
Front Sides: 76mm effective
Rear Sides: 51mm effective
Upper Rear: 52mm effective
Lower Rear: 40mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective

TURRET
Gun Shield: 203-279mm effective
Front: 206mm effective
Sides: 127mm effective
Rear: 102mm effective
Top: 38mm effective

105mm Gun T5E1
Loading: Manual (6 rds/min with 2 loaders)
Stablizer: None

Vision:
T31E1 Range Finder
T93E2 Telescope
M10E5 Periscope

1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
2 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount

Ammo Load:
63 Rounds 105mm
2420 rounds .50 Caliber
2500 rounds .30 caliber

---------------------------------------------

T30 Specs
6 man crew
Combat Weight: 71.3 tons
Speed: 22 MPH

HULL
Upper Front: 174mm effective
Lower Front: 132mm effective
Front Sides: 76mm effective
Rear Sides: 51mm effective
Upper Rear: 52mm effective
Lower Rear: 40mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective

TURRET
Gun Shield: 203-279mm effective
Front: 206mm effective
Sides: 127mm effective
Rear: 102mm effective
Top: 38mm effective

155mm Gun T7
Loading: Manual with hoist and spring rammer (2 rds/min with 2 loaders)
Stablizer: None

Vision:
T143E1 Telescope
M10E9 Periscope

1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount

Ammo Load:
34 Rounds 155mm
2200 rounds .50 Caliber
2500 rounds .30 caliber

---------------

Statistics of 155mm T7 Gun:
40 calibers
2 rounds/minute with two loaders

It was never provided with an AP shot as far as I can tell; but I would imagine a 95 pound HE shell would mess up any tank's day; and given the calibre of the gun, a HEAT round from it would be truly terrifying.

-------------------

T34 Specs
6 man crew
Combat Weight: 71.8 tons
Speed: 22 MPH

HULL
Upper Front: 174mm effective
Lower Front: 132mm effective
Front Sides: 76mm effective
Rear Sides: 51mm effective
Upper Rear: 52mm effective
Lower Rear: 40mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective

TURRET
Gun Shield: 203 to 279mm effective
Front: 184mm effective
Sides: 127mm effective
Rear: 203mm effective
Top: 38mm effective

120mm Gun T53
Loading: Manual (5 RPM with 2 loaders)
Stablizer: None

1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount

Vision:
T143E2 Telescope
M10E10 Periscope

Ammo Load:
34 Rounds 120mm
2090 rounds .50 Caliber
2500 rounds .30 caliber

----------------------

120mm Gun T53 Specs:
60 Calibers
5 RPM, two loaders

AP Shot:
198mm @ 30 degrees @ 914m
173mm @ 30 deg @ 1829m

HVAP Shot:
381mm @ 30 deg @ 914m
318mm @ 30 deg @ 1829 m

------------------------------

T32 Specs
5 man crew
Combat Weight: 60 tons
Speed: 22 MPH

HULL
Upper Front: 216mm effective
Lower Front: 184mm effective
Sides: 76mm effective
Rear: 52mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Front Floor: 25mm effective
Rear Floor: 13mm effective

TURRET
Gun Shield: 298mm effective
Front: 309mm effective
Sides: 199 to 154mm effective
Rear: 152mm effective
Top: 25mm effective

90mm Gun T15E2
Loading: Manual (4 RPM)
Stablizer: None

1 x .50 Caliber M2 HB Flexible AA on commanders hatch
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Coaxial
1 x .30 Caliber M1919A4 Bow Mount

Ammo Load:
54 Rounds 90mm
550 rounds .50 Caliber
4000 rounds .30 caliber

Vision:
M77E1 or M71E4 Telescope
M10E4 Periscope

--------------------------

90mm T15E1/2 Gun Data:
70 Calibers

Penetration:

T43 AP Shot (APBC-T; 3,200 ft/sec)
132mm @ 30 degree angle @ 500 yds
127mm @ 30 degree angle @ 1000 yds
124mm @ 30 degree angle @ 1500 yds
122mm @ 30 degree angle @ 2000 yds

T44 HVAP Shot (APCR-T; 3,750 ft/sec)
244mm @ 30 degree angle @ 500 yds
221mm @ 30 degree angle @ 1000 yds
196mm @ 30 degree angle @ 1500 yds
173mm @ 30 degree angle @ 2000 yds

------------------

Superheavy Tank T28 (105mm GMC T95)
4 man crew
Speed: 4
Combat Weight: 95 tons

HULL
Gun Shield: 292mm effective
Upper Front: 305mm effective
Lower Front: 266mm effective
Upper Sides: 118mm effective
Lower Sides: 152mm effective
Rear: 52mm effective
Top: 38mm effective
Floor: 25mm effective

105mm Gun T5E1
1 x .50 Caliber in AA Mount

Loading: Manual (4 RPM)
Stablizer: None

Ammo Load:
62 Rounds 105mm
660 rounds .50 Caliber