American 'SuperHeavy' Tank

I was over in the 'APC's in WWII' thread, and FramerT posted a link to a site with this:

Heavy Tank T28

(Scratchbuild by Hans van Oerle) America did also try out a superheavy tank. This enormous 85-ton monster was the largest and heaviest American designed tank of World War II. Its used double springs based on the Sherman HVVS springs. Only two were built and the project was terminated in 1947.









Does anybody out there in wonderland have any more info on this bad boy?? I mean, really, that last pic makes it look like it towed it's outer two treads behind it, and screwed 'em on before going into combat.

You've GOT to be kidding????

I'm not much of a tank-guy, but this kind of stuff just fascinates me.

-whatever

-Lou

 

Here's the British version of the Heavy assault concept too:

A39 Tortoise
(From this favourite site on British Armour).



For some reason those picture's aren't displaying for me in Lou's post, is there one of the T28 towing it's detachable set of tracks behind it?

Very strange indeed.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

I ran into the same thing, Poop.... right-click on the picture frame with the red 'X', and then click on 'Show Picture' and they should pop in.


...if not, well.....I don't know what to tell you.

EDIT: I re-linked the photos in the original post to PhotoBucket - hope that helps!

But, yes, it was showing the same thing as your post... the outer two treads were attached and towed behind!

What's up with THAT???

And, after you got bushwhacked, how much did you have to pay one of the guys to get out and screw 'em back on???


Amazing.

-whatever

-Lou

 

Google Image Result for http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/modern/dmt28-1.jpg

 

Good grief!!

Here's one of these monsters you can actually go out and crawl around on!! (Just don't let the armed guards see you!)

it's located at the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.








I wanna play on THAT thing in the worst way!

-whatever

-Lou

 

Imagine the Bailey bridges required to get that thing across rivers. You think the Germans had problems with their Tigers....

 

There were several similar attempts at heavy tanks. The T29-32 were four in the 65-72.5 ton range with 105mm and 155mm weapons. The T28 wasn't really a tank, but my understanding was that the side tracks were only removed for transport and installed back at the depot before they headed out.

 

The American and British Versians of the JagdTiger if you ask
me...now all we need is Italian and Japanese ones....no, too unlikely.

 

I have had this photo saved in my 'What's that' file for a couple of years. I had no idea what is was until now. Who would have thought it, a T28 towing its extra tracks. I'm really glad I saved the pic now..

 

Hmmm, just noticed, The T28 looks quite like a StuG from behind, and if I haden't known better I would have mistaken it for a StuG.

 

I used to date a girl that.....well......never mind!
(...she had a GREAT personality, though!...)

-whatever

-Lou

 

Great pic, Bod! From everything I've read, they only made two of those beasts, and one burned up!

That really shows the detail on the inside of the removeable tracks that the modeler in that first link indicated was unavailable.

-whatever

-Lou

 

I see a sleeve on the drive sprocket.
Couple o pins, and yer good to go, after the rest is bolted on of course.
Perhaps "notched" as well.
It would then function as the inside one. With more stress on the drive shaft (ask Okla St.).
Framer had a good point;
All the diss-ing of German super heavies (for various reason) would all apply to these brutes as well.
Begs the question (hope no one is playing B-S Bingo), why ?

 

Quoting from the link that FramerT provided above:

One 'dumb' feature are the two very visible brake drums carried on the outside of the T28. These attach to the track-sprocket of the outboard track units when they are detached from the vehicle. This weird tracked trailer had NO regular brakes! To keep it from overrunning the towing vehicle, crew members, on FOOT, wrapped ropes around these drums, and pulled! This created a drag, slowing the trailer. It worked, but won't win any prizes for elegance! Oh, well, remember that this was only a prototype vehicle. If it had gone into production perhaps something better would have been used.

​

So, when they were dragging their extra treads around, evidently somebody had to get out and walk along with them.

I can just imagine the scene inside that tank:

"Where's Larry.... it's his turn to walk the treads."
'U-m-m-m.... he's in the bathroom, sir."
"Well, somebody bang on the door and get him out of there and tell him to get outside and walk those treads!!! If anybody wants me, I'll be in the kitchen."

​

Thats a seriously big tank.

-whatever

-Lou

 

Manufactured by Winnebago, the new Tank UV,
Hunt, fish, camp, crush, and blow the snot outta stuff.
Fun for the whole family.
What it lacks for mileage, it makes up for in safety.

You could probably find it on Google Earth. I doubt it's moved in a while.

 

37°53'48.34"N 85°58'30.10"W

Believe it or not, that indistinct blob is probably the beast itself.
I'd thought it might be the one above??, but other nerds seem to have looked harder than I.

Edit:- the blob above is apparently the XM1 Abrams, found an overlay that names all the tanks/blobs parked there.

 

I just found this site. looks great. I seen this tank over the summer. I was blown away when I saw it I had no idea that we made such a huge tank.

 

Hey, Tyree!

Welcome to the forum - I've got a couple of quick questions for you regarding the T-28 at the Patton Museum.....













1) Did they let you play on it?

2) If not .... uhhmmmm...... were there a lot of 'guards' around?

...just curious..

Once again, welcome to the forum, and I encourage you to make a post and introduce yourself on the New Members Forum, which will give you an opportunity to meet everyone.

-whatever

-Lou

 

something i just gotta have to buy.