T29 heavy tank

T29
T29 heavy tank in U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection, 2022
TypeHeavy tank
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1944 - 1950
Used byUnited States Army
Production history
Designed1944–1945
ManufacturerPressed Steel Car Company
Detroit Arsenal
No. built8
VariantsT29, T29E1, T29E2, and T29E3
Specifications (T29)
Mass64.2000 metric tons; 70.7684 short tons; 63.1861 long tons (combat loaded)
Length37.95 ft (11.57 m) gun forward
25 ft (7.6 m) gun aft
Width12.46 ft (3.80 m) over sand shields
Height10.49 ft (3.20 m) over cupola
Crew6 (driver, assistant driver, commander, gunner, loader, assistant loader)[1]

Armorhull front 102 mm (4.0 in) @ 54°=228 mm (9.0 in)
Side 76 mm (3.0 in)
Rear 51 mm (2.0 in)
turret front 203–305 mm (8.0–12.0 in)
Side 158 mm (6.2 in)
Rear 102 mm (4.0 in)[1]
Main
armament
105 mm gun T5E1 (63 rounds) (T29E1, T29E3)
105 mm gun T5E2 (63 rounds) (T29, T29E2)
Secondary
armament
2 x .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2HB machineguns, coaxial
1x .50 M2HB flexible AA (2,420 rounds)
1x .30 Browning M1919A4, bow (2,500 rounds)
Engine1,649 cubic inch (27 liter) Ford GAC V12[1] gasoline
750 hp (560 kW) net at 2800 rpm
Power/weight11.68 hp/tonne (net)
TransmissionGeneral Motors CD-850-1 crossdrive, three speeds (two forward, one reverse)
Suspensiontorsion-bar
Ground clearance18.8 in (48 cm)
Fuel capacity300 US gallons (1,140 liters)
Operational
range
100 miles (160 km)
Maximum speed 22 mph (35 km/h)

The T29 Heavy Tank was an American heavy tank project started in March 1944 to counter the appearance of the German Tiger II heavy tank. The T29 was not ready in time for the war in Europe, but it did provide post-war engineers with opportunities for applying engineering concepts to artillery and automotive components.

  1. ^ a b c Hunnicutt 1988, p. 197.
  2. ^ Hunnicutt 2015, p. 306.