Failed Tanks! Chapter 9:The M6 Heavy Tank

It's a blockhouse! It's a bus!
NO, it's a Failed Tank!

The M6 is a literal MONUMENT to Engineering Folly.

It's the size of a house (and several times as heavy), yet it's poorly-armored and weakly-armed; it's fuel supply and engine output are massive, yet it's top speed and maximum range are pathetic; it has the largest crew of any US-designed tank ever to see service, yet the crew is overworked.

Of all the US tanks that saw service in World War 2, the M6 is the least-known, and there's some VERY good reasons for this.

When you inject outside influence, uneduacted decision-making, and a militant ignorance of Engineering, Logistics, battlefield realities, and tank design trends, the only possible result is a Failed Tank --- and that's exactly how the M6 came into existence.

Watch this presentation, and you'll see why...


NOTE: As with other Failed Tanks episodes, VickersIndependent helped-out on this one!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• M6
• Heavy
• Tank
• US
• Army
• Ordnance
• Corps
• Meddling
• Baracks
• on
• tracks
• White
• Elephant
• Failure
• Deathtrap
• Non-Engineering
• Debacle

[GreyFergy101]

Well i heard that they were thinking of mass producing it to replace the sherman for the d day landings.

[BlacktailDefense]

@GreyFergy101 Crikey, it would have been a second Dieppe Raid!

[SALordBaxter]

Well at least the M6 in world of tanks is good. Do you play that game at all Blacktail?

[BlacktailDefense]

@SALordBaxter Unfortunately, no. My computer isn't a recent model, and I'm not too keen on online gaming.

[GreyFergy101]

@SALordBaxter He should talk to the germans about the maus lol, i play that game and are going for the m6 too.

[BlacktailDefense]

@GreyFergy101 As it happens, one of the upcoming chapters WILL be on the Maus (I think I had it marked for Chapter 23).

[kaneCVR]

1st of all, the M4 sherman had TERRIBLE armor. As did most american tanks. 2nd, lots of them were equipped with 90mm anti-tank and 105mm HE cannons. Fire power over was superior to the sherman, witch could not dream to dent a Panther or Tiger unless they were using tungsten rounds and got very lucky to face it at a vulnerable angle. 3rd, 22mph was a good top speed for a heavy tank.

It's still a crappy tank tough. It's armor was insufficient compared to it's counterparts.

[Acclamator55]

FAIL

[hardcorecrusher12]

and wtf why would the infrastructure of europe do,nt hold a 66 ton tank? king tigers who weigted 70 tons could drive over most bridges and roads.

[hardcorecrusher12]

the only big problem was that just like the german tanks it was hard and difficult to produce. but it had the best power to weigth ratio of almost all the heavy tanks. if the americans taked the m6 into action they would have a far better and effective tank on the battlefield who also could figth tigers with its 90mm gun. this video is just full of unsourcebl crap

[hardcorecrusher12]

i think the m6 was a great tank because it size and apearance would have a fear factor and it was better armed then the sherman its gun was an high velocity 76mm much more effective then the sherman 75mm and also the sherman wasnt even better protected the m6 had 100mm of frontal welded armor the sherman did have around 75mm front armor. and also they where planning to install a 90mm gun in the m6 comparable to the 90mm of the pershing but because the project was canceld it didnt came that far

[GreyFergy101]

@BlacktailDefense Lol too true!