T28 Super Heavy Tank

T95 Gun Motor Carriage
Type	Tank destroyer/Super-heavy tank
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	United States
Production history
Manufacturer	Pacific Car and Foundry
Produced	1945
No. built	2
Specifications
Weight	95 short tons (86.2 metric tons)
Length	36 ft 6 in (11.1 m)
Width	14 ft 11 in (4.39 m)
Height	9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Crew	4
Armor	12 in (305 mm)
Main armament	105 mm T5E1 gun, with 62 rounds
Secondary armament	.50 cal (12.7 mm) Browning heavy machine gun, with 660 rounds
Engine	Ford GAF V-8 gasoline 500 hp (372 kW)
Power/weight	5.8 hp/tonne
Suspension	double tracks, horizontal volute spring
Operational range	100 miles (160 km)
Speed	8 mph (13 km/h)

The T28 Super Heavy Tank was an American heavily armored tank self-propelled gun designed for the United States Army during World War II. It was originally designed to be used to break through German defenses of the Siegfried Line, and was later considered as a possible participant in the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland.

The 100-ton vehicle was initially designated a heavy tank, it was re-designated as the 105 mm Gun Motor Carriage T95 in 1945, and then renamed in 1946 as the Super Heavy Tank T28.

Only two prototypes were built before the project was terminated. It was the heaviest tank the United States has ever manufactured.

Initially named Heavy Tank T28 when construction was authorized in 1944, the design did not fit in the usual categories of vehicles leading to reclassification. As it did not have its armament in a revolving turret, Ordnance requested a name change to 105 mm Gun Motor Carriage T95, the change becoming official in March 1945. However, due to its heavy armor and armament — while self-propelled guns in United States service were lightly armored — it was renamed Super Heavy Tank T28 in June 1946 by OCM 37058.

The T28/T95 was designed to be used for attacking the heavy defenses expected of the German Siegfried Line. The 105mm T5E1 gun selected was known to have very good performance against concrete and "expected to be extremely effective at reducing heavy fortifications" After the vehicle passed trials, the German Siegfried Line had already been infiltrated and overwhelmed by the allied forces, so the designers decided to have the T28/T95 tanks to fight on the Japanese mainland later in the war. The Atom bombs (Little Boy and Fat Man) dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima ended the Pacific conflict in Japan before the tank was able to be transported overseas.

The need for an assault tank was first identified in 1943, Ordnance proposing that 25 vehicles could be ready for operations. A conference in March 1944 between Ordnance Department and Army Ground Forces resulted in agreement to build five. The Pacific Car and Foundry Company were supplied with the design in March 1945, completed final design and had the first hull welded by August. By the time the first tank was completed and ready for combat, the war was over. The plan for five was reduced to two.

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Wikipedia