THE BEST TANK DESTROYER IN THE US ARMY

– sharp head with protective and ballistic tips, tracer APC-T M82 Projectile (808 m/s, 19,39 kg of 10.94 kg);

 

– pointed toe contrast solid, tracer AR-T Т77 Shot (821 m/s of 19.04 kg 10,9 kg);

 

and also:

 

– tracer armor-piercing HVAP-T М304 Shot (1021 m/s, 16,82 kg of 7.61 kg);

 

– steel selinocarpus high-explosive grenades NOT М71 Shell (823 m/s of 18.99 kg 10,55 kg).

 

Using armor-piercing shells gun M3 was capable of at ranges of 500 meters to hit the target, which had sloping armor thickness up to 120 mm, and a distance of 1500 meters armor to 110 mm (meet angle 60° from the vertical).

 

Optical sight M76D had a reticle for direct fire armor-piercing projectile M82 at a distance of up to 4600 m, although the fire would be in the range up to 600 m. 18 high-explosive grenade had the opportunity to fire at targets at a distance up to 18 000 m.

 

In gun ammunition consisted of 47 shots.

 

The auxiliary armament of the M36 consisted of heavy 12.7 mm machine gun М2НВ, who was in the turret on the roof of the turret rear bin. With it, you can effectively hit targets at maximum range 1500 m Combat rate of fire was 75 RDS./minutes, although the rate of fire was up to 450 – 500 RDS./min Ammunition gun was 1000 rounds placed on the 20 tapes in the stores-boxes.

 

Staff weapons were also five 7.62 mm carbines M1, accompanied 450 rounds in 30 stores. Had on self-propelled and hand grenades.

 

The layout of the M36 tank destroyer was a classic tank. Front – office transmission and control, then, in the center of the body combat with the tower, in the rear – engine compartment. The case itself consists of a rigid support structure with differentiated cannon-proof armor with the use of rational angles. Rolled sheets of armor steel Cabinet boxes were connected by welding.

The upper front of the machine sheet had a thickness of 51 mm and was mounted at an angle of 55°, and the lower glacis of the same thickness were cast and were at the same time the housing cover of the transmission. In the front of the case, under the tower were the drivers hatches welded to their covers-dash hatches. Side of the artillery consisted of sheets: in the lower part thickness of 25 mm and the upper is inclined at an angle of 38° 19 mm sheets. Feed – in the upper part had the form of a wedge at the bottom standing vertical sheets, all for 19 mm top of the hull consisted of two parts: the turret armor thickness of 19 mm and 10 mm above the engine compartment. At 13 mm the bottom there was an escape hatch, designed for crew egress in an emergency.

 

Modification М36В2 with Cabinet base М4АЗ differed mainly a more powerful armor. Thus, the thickness of the upper front part increased up to 64 mm, sides and stern – to 38 mm. the Roof had a 19-mm thickness, the bottom is in front of 25-mm, under the engine compartment 13.

 

Tower “Slugger” was set the same for all three models. She was solid, cylindrical shape of the feed housing. Massive niche played the role of counterweight to balance the weapon, the armor of her stern was thick and 127 mm Forehead tower was covered by a cast 76-mm mask; sides and stern had a thickness of 32 mm. Tower had no roof and was open on top, only a small front part and the niche was covered with light armor. Was considered that thus it was possible to reduce the gas content of the fighting compartment, in addition, to improve visibility and reduce some of the weight. However, on machines later releases tower top still covered steel flaps.

 

Engines self-propelled gun was equipped with two types. On modifications M36 and М36В1 installed 8-cylinder gasoline engine Ford GAA liquid cooling volume of 18.03 l; its power at 2600 rpm was equal to 450 HP At the time, the eponymous firm has created this motor for aviation, and initially it existed as a 12-cylinder. However, the US air force moved on to star motors of air cooling and the engine was unclaimed. And then it was offered for installation on tanks, which was altered in 8-cylinder variant.

 

Fuel tanks in the model M36 with a total capacity of 727 l were located in the sponsons engine compartment: two – 150 and l – 208 l 219 l. In the self-propelled gun variant М36В1 tanks have a capacity of 636 liters (659 l): two of them were located in the sponsons of the hull and two on both sides of the engine. Fuel was the gasoline of octane number not lower than 80.

 

On the modification М36В2 based on the chassis of the M10, put the spark of two engines. It was a diesel 6-cylinder General Motors 6046 Mod 71 liquid cooling with a total volume of 13.93 l, develops a total power of 410 HP at 2900 rpm Capacity of fuel tanks on such a machine – 625 L.

 

 

Self-propelled with troops onboard ready for the nomination. Belgium, 1944

 

 

Tower M36. In the center of the breech part of the cannon to the left of her is gunner’s station, on the right – charging

 

 

The scheme of equipment ACS M36

 

 

“Self-propelled” M36 at the Assembly point tank division

 

 

Service crew chassis

 

Transmission self-propelled guns were placed in front of the housing, the torque from the engine that was in the aft compartment, is transmitted to the propeller shaft it held in the box on the floor of the fighting compartment. On M36 and М36В1 the group included double-disk main friction clutch of the type D78123, double differential, single row side gears with herringbone gears. On М36В2 with the spark of two engines, there were two main clutch and connecting the reducer with herringbone gears.

 

Transmission installation – mechanical five-speed, synchronized. Side of the brake – band. The suspension had three anchor trolley on each side, which included two rubber carrier roller, single support roller on the rear side, and two vertical buffer springs. Drive sprocket rear.