| T29 | |
| Type: | Heavy tank |
| Origin: | United States |
| Is Vehicle: | yes |
| Service: | Trials only |
| Used By: | United States Army |
| Design Date: | 1944 - 1945 |
| Manufacturer: | Pressed Steel Car Company Detroit Arsenal |
| Number: | 8 |
| Variants: | T29, T29E1, T29E2, and T29E3 |
| Spec Label: | T29 |
| Weight: | 141500lb (combat loaded) |
| Length: | 37 ft 11.5 in (11.57 m) gun forward 32 ft 9 in (10 m) gun aft |
| Width: | 12 ft 5.5 in (3.80 m) over sand shields |
| Height: | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) over cupola |
| Crew: | 6 (driver, commander, gunner, 2 loaders) |
| Armour: | hull front 9 in (228 mm) maximum gun shield 11 inches (279 mm) maximum turret front 9 in (249 mm) |
| Primary 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) |
| Engine: | 1,649 cubic inch (27 liter) Ford GAC V12 gasoline |
| Engine Power: | 750hp net at 2800 rpm |
| Transmission: | General Motors CD-850-1 crossdrive, three speeds (two forward, one reverse) |
| Fuel Capacity: | 300 US gallons (1,140 liters) |
| Pw Ratio: | 11.68 hp/tonne (net) |
| Suspension: | torsion-bar |
| Clearance: | 18.8 in (48 cm) |
| Vehicle Range: | 100 miles (160 km) |
| 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.
The T29 was based upon a lengthened version of the T26E3 chassis and featured heavier armor; an upgraded 12-cylinder Ford GAC engine producing 750 hp at 2,800rpm, which gave it a power-to-weight ratio of 11.68 hp/t; more comfortable controls for the driver; and a massive new turret incorporating the high-velocity 105 mm gun T5E1. The T29E1 trialed the use of a Allison V1710 V12 engine.; while the T29E3 variant featured a coincidence rangefinder projecting from both sides of the turret, distinctively resembling "ears".
The tank weighed approximately 132000lb unloaded and 141000lb combat loaded. The hull armor consisted of a 102mm thick plate, which was sloped at 54 degrees. The turret had a maximum armor thickness of 279mm compared to 185mm [1] on that of the German Tiger II, increasing to 305mm on the mantlet; and had a traverse speed of 18 degrees per second, taking 20 seconds for a full rotation. The gun was able to elevate 20°+/-10° from horizontal.
The 105 mm gun was 7.06m (23.16feet) long[2] (66 calibers, 105 L67) compared to the 6.29m (20.64feet)[3] of the Tiger II's 8.8 cm KwK 43 (71 calibers long, 88/L71); and had a muzzle velocity of 914m/s. A total of 63 rounds were to be carried, with 46 in ammo racks; weighing 2.2 tons total. The T30E1 HE shell could pierce 1.3m (04.3feet) of concrete at 1500m (4,900feet), while the T29E3 High-velocity Armor Piercing could penetrate 360mm at 457.2adj=ri0NaNadj=ri0, and 292mm at 1828.8adj=ri0NaNadj=ri0.[4] The secondary armament consisted of two coaxial .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns mounted in the mantlet and an additional ball-mounted .30 caliber M1919 Browning in the right side of the hull, with provision for an additional .50 caliber anti-aircraft gun to be mounted on a pintle stem atop the roof.[5]
The tank had a modest cruising range of 160.9km (100miles). It could cross a trench 2.4m (07.9feet) wide, wade in water 1.2m (03.9feet) deep, climb a 1m (03feet) step, and could handle a 30-degree slope. The tank was also capable of pivoting on the spot. Suspension consisted of 8 double road wheels with rubber tires, 7 return roller on each side, and had the drive sprockets in the rear. The tank had a crew of six, with two acting as a loader for the gun.
The procurement of 1,200 T29s was proposed on 1 March 1945, and revised to 1,152 on 12 April 1945, but by shortly after the end of World War II, only one T29 had been produced, with a second partially completed. In August 1945, the order was cancelled entirely, and it was intended to procure ten T29s for postwar testing. This number was later reduced to eight in July 1947.
The T30 heavy tank was developed in conjunction with the T29. As originally intended, the only major difference between the two was the use of the 155 mm gun T7 gun in the T30. However, the decision was later made to equip the T30s with the Continental AV1790 engine, leading to the engine deck being redesigned. In addition, the heavier 155mm ammunition led to the T30 being given an additional loader. Two vehicles were produced, with a further two being diverted to the T34 heavy tank program.
The T34 heavy tank was the final variation of the T29 concept, using the same hull as the T30 but with the armament exchanged for a 120 mm gun based on the M1 anti-aircraft gun to further increase the armor penetration capability.
| T29 | T29E1 | T29E3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length (gun forward) | 455.51NaN1 | |||
| Width | 149.71NaN1 (over sandshields) | |||
| Height | 126.91NaN1 (over cupola) | |||
| Ground clearance | 18.81NaN1 | |||
| Top speed | 22mph | |||
| Fording | 421NaN1 | |||
| Max. grade | 60% | |||
| Max. trench | 6.25feet | |||
| Max. wall | 261NaN1 | |||
| Range | 100miles | 75miles | ||
| Power | 770hp at 2800 rpm | 870hp at 2800 rpm | 770hp at 2800 rpm | |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 10.91NaN1 | 12.31NaN1 | 10.71NaN1 | |
| Torque | 1560-1NaN-1 at 1600 rpm | 1800-1NaN-1 at 1800 rpm | 1560-1NaN-1 at 1600 rpm | |
| Weight, combat loaded | 141500-1NaN-1 | 141000-1NaN-1 | 144000-1NaN-1 | |
| Ground pressure | 12.20NaN0 (280NaN0 tracks) 14.90NaN0 (230NaN0 tracks) | 12.20NaN0 (280NaN0 tracks) 14.80NaN0 (230NaN0 tracks) | 12.40NaN0 (280NaN0 tracks) 15.20NaN0 (230NaN0 tracks) | |
| Main armament | T5E2 105 mm gun | T5E1 105 mm gun | ||
| Elevation, main gun | +20° / −10° | |||
| Traverse rate | 20 seconds/360° | |||
| Main gun ammo | 63 rounds | |||
| Firing rate | 6 rounds/minute | |||
There are two surviving T29s at the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection at Fort Moore, Georgia. One of these is a T29E3 with the distinctive rangefinder, while the other is a standard T29 model.