T23 (known as M27 in the provided link) Medium Tank

[dy031101]

Found this as part of my online "research" for a VVSS/HVSS-equipped medium tank after M4 Sherman.

Fascinating.  I've always liked transitional items- this one has the suspension design of the M4 Sherman while the rest of the hull would become part of the evolution path leading to the M26 Pershing- even the turret and 76mm gun would find their way to upgraded Shermans.

Too bad that an earlier effort (T22) with transmission of the Sherman tank modified for rear sprocket drive didn't work out...... does anyone know how the transmission proved troublesome?

[NARSES2]

My ref unfortunately just says " Unsatisfactory transmission arrangements and the need for larger guns led to the cancellation of these vehicles in Dec 1944"

Interestingly one of the two prototypes was modified with a new turret and a automatic 75mm gun and became the T22EI

[jcf]

The use of the M27 designation for the T23 and the history on that page are good examples of What-If?.  

The standardization of the torsion-bar suspension equipped T23E3 as the M27 had been proposed but was rejected.

Three of the T23 vehicles were equipped with HVSS units.