United States' T20 medium tank

Design

As a result of a desire by the Armored Forces Board to install a 90 mm gun into the M4A3 Medium Tank the Ordnance Department approved the building of pilot models in May 1942.⁴

A wooden mock-up was made by Fisher and was approved by the Ordnance Department in September 1942.^1,4

Three prototypes were ordered, and each had a different turret and gun for testing.^1,4

Turret

The turret on the T20s was cast.⁴ The loader had a rectangular double hatch.⁴

T20E3

In July 1943 the Ordnance Department proposed that the T20E3 would be standardized as the M27B1 Medium but this was denied.⁴

T22

The T22 prototype was authorized for construction in late 1942.⁴ They were similar to the T20E1.⁴

The T22E1 had an automatic loader installed which moved the commander to the left side.⁴ The automatic loader didn't function well.⁴

Transmission

The biggest problem the T20s and T22s had was that the transmission wasn't reliable.⁴

Production

• T20: 3¹
• T22: 1¹, 2⁴
  • Manufacturer: Chrysler Corporation^1,4

Variants

• T20: 76 mm gun.^1,4
• T20E1: 75 mm automatic gun.^1,4 HVSS suspension.^1,4 The shock absorbers were located on the front and rear bogies.⁴ Hull machine gun mount was square.⁴ Completed in June 1943.⁴
• T20E2: 3"⁴/77 mm gun.¹ Torsion bar suspension.¹
• T20E3: 76 mm gun.¹ Had torsion bar suspension.⁴ Hull machine gun mount was round.⁴
• T22: Built by Chrysler.^1,4
• T22E1: Pilot vehicle number 1.⁴ Had automatic loader manufactured by United Shoe Machinery Company.⁴
• T22E2: Was to be armed with a 3" gun but wasn't built.⁴

Usage

Never used overseas.¹

Specifications

	T20	T20E1	T20E3	T22
Crew	Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner, loader.2 51,2,3		Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner, loader.2 52,3	53
Physical Characteristics
Weight	65,758 lb2,3 30.13 tons1 30,616 kg1		67,500 lb2,3	69,000 lb3
Length w/gun	18' 10"1,3 5.5 m1		18' 10"3	20' 0.25"3
Length w/o gun	18' 10"2		18' 10"2
Height	8'1,2,3 2.4 m1		8'2,3	7' 9"3
Width	9' 10"2,3		9' 10"2,3	9' 10"3
Ground clearance
Ground contact length
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	76 mm M11,2,3,4	75 mm4	76 mm M12,3,4	76 mm3
Secondary
MG	3: MG3 2: 7.62 mm (.30 cal) MG1 12.7 mm (.50 cal) MG1 2: .30 cal Browning MG2 .50 cal Browning MG AA2		3: MG3 2: .30 cal Browning MG2 .50 cal Browning MG AA2	3: MG3
MG - coaxial	1: .30 cal MG4		MG - coaxial
MG - hull	1: MG4		1: MG4
MG - antiaircraft	1: .50 cal MG4		1: .50 cal MG4
Side arms
Quantity
Main	702		702
Secondary
MG	6,0002		6,0002
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	641 122, 622 1.5" - 2.5"3		122, 622 1.5" - 2.5"3	1.5" - 2.5"3
Hull Front, Upper	2.5"@47°4
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear
Hull Top
Hull Bottom
Turret Front	3.5"4
Turret Sides
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	Ford GAN1,2,3	Ford GAN4	Ford GAN2,3,4	Ford GAN3
Cylinders	V-81,2,3	V-84	V-81,2,3	V-83
Net HP	4701,2,3	5004	4702,3	4703
Cooling	Water3		Water3	Water3
Transmission	Hydramatic	Hydramatic4	Hydramatic4
Capacity
Performance
Traverse	360°2		360°2
Speed - Road	25 mph1,2,3 40 kph1		35 mph2,3	25 mph3
Speed - Cross Country
Range - Road	100 miles1,2 161 km1		100 miles2
Turning Radius
Elevation Limits	-10° to +25°2		-10° to +25°2
Fording depth	4' 8"2		4' 8"2
Trench crossing
Vertical Obstacle
Suspension (Type)	HVSS2,4		Torsion bar2,4
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires
Track width	1' 4.5"2	1' 4 9/16"4	1' 6"2,4
Track centers/tread