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An prototype of an American-German project .
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 750 x 562px
File Size 38 kB
The MBT-70 was a very interesting concept, anf FAR ahead of it's time.
It had a number of very promising features...
- A 20mm (instead of .50cal/12.7mm) AA gun, which could fold down when not in use
- It could gun-launch ATGMs for longer ranged anti-tank capability, and also as an equalizer against helicopters
- Putting the crew entirely within the turret greatly increased their survivability
- The kneeling suspension enabled high speed and stability on roads when lowered, and excellent cross-country mobility when raised
- the front and rear suspensions could be raised and/or lowered independently, allowing for high gun elevation and depression
- Either of the proposed engines would have resulted in a phenomenal 400-mile range
- It was the first heavy-weight Main Battle Tank in the Western Bloc to boast a low profile
- The MBT-70 had the very first built-in laser rangefinder of any Western Tank
- The MBT-70 had the first laminated armor of any Western tank
- The MBT-70 had the first blow-off panels, to prevent crew injuries by overpressure
- A unique drivetrain allowed the MBT-70 to drive at full speed in reverse
- The MBT-70 demonstrated the first 40mph+ speeds in a Western Main Battle Tank
- The powerpack was fully modular, and could be replaced in 15 minutes
- The German MBT-70 had the very first auto-loader that could cycle unitary cartridge ammo in the size and weight class of the 120mm round
...but it wasn't without it's problems, either...
- At $1.2 Million (in 1969 US Dollars!) it literally cost more than it was worth
- While the German and US Armies were able to select interchangeable engines, they couldn't agree on whether to use a 120mm gun, or a 152mm gun (which were NOT interchangeable)
- The Shillelagh ATGMs fired from the 152mm gun had a HUGE minimum range, and wore-down the gun tube very rapidly
- The revolving Driver's station proved to be awkward and disorienting, and increased the vehicle's overall complexity
- The caseless ammo designed for the American 152mm gun had a high propensity for cooking-off in exrteme heat, including when the gun was hot from rapid firing
-
It had a number of very promising features...
- A 20mm (instead of .50cal/12.7mm) AA gun, which could fold down when not in use
- It could gun-launch ATGMs for longer ranged anti-tank capability, and also as an equalizer against helicopters
- Putting the crew entirely within the turret greatly increased their survivability
- The kneeling suspension enabled high speed and stability on roads when lowered, and excellent cross-country mobility when raised
- the front and rear suspensions could be raised and/or lowered independently, allowing for high gun elevation and depression
- Either of the proposed engines would have resulted in a phenomenal 400-mile range
- It was the first heavy-weight Main Battle Tank in the Western Bloc to boast a low profile
- The MBT-70 had the very first built-in laser rangefinder of any Western Tank
- The MBT-70 had the first laminated armor of any Western tank
- The MBT-70 had the first blow-off panels, to prevent crew injuries by overpressure
- A unique drivetrain allowed the MBT-70 to drive at full speed in reverse
- The MBT-70 demonstrated the first 40mph+ speeds in a Western Main Battle Tank
- The powerpack was fully modular, and could be replaced in 15 minutes
- The German MBT-70 had the very first auto-loader that could cycle unitary cartridge ammo in the size and weight class of the 120mm round
...but it wasn't without it's problems, either...
- At $1.2 Million (in 1969 US Dollars!) it literally cost more than it was worth
- While the German and US Armies were able to select interchangeable engines, they couldn't agree on whether to use a 120mm gun, or a 152mm gun (which were NOT interchangeable)
- The Shillelagh ATGMs fired from the 152mm gun had a HUGE minimum range, and wore-down the gun tube very rapidly
- The revolving Driver's station proved to be awkward and disorienting, and increased the vehicle's overall complexity
- The caseless ammo designed for the American 152mm gun had a high propensity for cooking-off in exrteme heat, including when the gun was hot from rapid firing
-
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