T30 Heavy Tank

T30
Type	Heavy tank
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	trials only
Used by	United States of America
Production history
Designer	Unknown
Designed	Pilot models start it in April 1945
Manufacturer	Unknown
Unit cost	Unknown
Produced	1947
Variants	T30E1, T30E2, and T58
Specifications
Weight	68.7 metric tons (T30) (145,000 lbs) 59.9 metric tons (T58) (132,000 lbs)
Length	11.57 m (37ft 11in) (with the gun) (T30) 10.82 m (10ft 5in) (with the gun) (T58)
Width	3.80 m (12ft 5in) (T30) 3.3 m (10ft 5in) (T58)
Height	3.20 m (10ft 5in)
Crew	6 (T30) 1.Command 2.Gunner 3.Driver 4.Radio Operator 5.Loader 6.Loader 4 (T58) 1.Command 2.Gunner 3.Driver 4.Radio Operator
Armor	Hull Armour (mm)front 102 sides 76 rear 51 Turret Armour (mm)front 279 sides 127 rear 102-280mm (maximum) (T30) 127mm (maximum) (T58)
Main armament	155mm L/40 T7 smoothbore gun (T30) (34 rounds) 155 mm L/40 T7E1 gun (T30E1) 155 mm L/40 T180 gun (T58) (32 rounds)
Secondary armament	M2 HB .50 cal (coaxial) and M1919A4 .30 cal (bow)
Engine	Continental AV1790-3 air-cooled 704 hp (525 kW) (net) (T30) 810 hp (600 kW) (T58)
Power/weight	10 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion-bar
Operational range	Unknown
Speed	26.5 km/h (16.5 mph) (T30) 35.2 km/h (21.9 mph) (T58)

The T30 Heavy Tank was a World War II American tank project developed to counter new German tanks, such as Tiger I, Tiger II, or Maus, or Soviet heavy tanks, such as JS-1 or JS-2. The T30 was designed at same time as the T29 Heavy Tank. Pilot models were started in April 1945 and were delivered in 1947. The 155 mm gun fired two-piece (shell and charge) ammunition. The loader was assisted by a powered rammer. The T30 was fitted with one of the largest guns ever used on an American tank. The notably high, rounded edge, turret was needed to accommodate the standing loader and large gun mount. It could carry a mixed assortment of 34 AP (Armored Piercing) or HE (high-explosive) rounds.

A variant designated T30E1 had an additional hatch at the back of the turret for ejecting the shell casings. Another variant of the tank was the T30E2. The weight of the T30 shell was 43 kg (95 lbs) and the charge 18 kg )(39lbs), a total of 61 kg (141 lbs) for the whole ammunition, which made it difficult to handle.

T58

A post-war era variant designated T58 had the conventional turret replaced with an oscillating version that allowed the fitting of an automated loader. And the surviving examples are in Fort Knox, Kentucky area.