DBWI: The W.Allies stick with the M4 Sherman over the M23 Ulysses.

Nick P

Donor
Talking about that thing just to the right of the bow mg that wouldn't look out of place on a Starbuck's counter...

On the front is a section of spare track. These were often placed there as extra armor.
On the front right wing is the tow rope or tie down strap and the headlights.
 
On the front is a section of spare track. These were often placed there as extra armor.
On the front right wing is the tow rope or tie down strap and the headlights.
Thanx...never would have pegged that as a track section...
 
5. The controversy of the choice of the M23 for production vs the T20, T22, T25, & T26 is another matter. The better armor of the T25 or T26 did recommend them, but losses of the T23 due to lesser armor were smaller than often argued. It had the same armor layout as the others, and low hull profile. Which kept hits and penetrations below that of the M4. Conversely production of the heavier armored T25 or T26 hulls would not have slowed production or created a significant gap. That the T26 hull served as the basis for the post war M46, 47, 48 tank hulls suggests it could have been a good choice in 1943 as well.


Though in the end, did do the M23A1
T23E3.jpg
where Chrysler switched over to the torsion bar suspension that had a better ride than the HVSS.

While the electric drive had its share of bugs at first, Drivers enjoyed the easy operation and superior turning ability, plus being able to neutral turn, spin in place.
That's something the T25 could not do, though GM said their Allison division was working on an improved final drive that would allow that, as well as being more reliable, smaller in size and efficient than the Torqmatic transmission.

While that transmission while fine in the lighter Buick made M-18, the slightly beefed up unit set for the T25 series wouldn't have been ideal, let alone in the heavier T26 prototypes.

While the Torqmatic had 3 speeds, plus the slip provided by the hydraulic converter, the electric drive had superior range of speeds, plus full torque at all speeds. Its main drawback was the increased amounts of Copper used in the drivetrain, that led to more steel cartridge cases in place of brass by 1945. The expected maintenance issues never really appeared in the ETO, that appeared in the postwar Desert Wars
 
Top