Talk:M551 Sheridan

The most ironic part of the M551 story is that it was created in order to give the US forces an amphibious tank, causing the existing T-92 design to be abandoned. However, for all the trouble, it appears that the swimming system of the M551 was never used in combat. - This isn't entirely honest. The M551 was designed to traverse the north south rivers of Europe. At the end of the Cold War, this need disappeared.

The 'Toys' section. There have been toys and scale models made of countless military vehicles, ships, and aircraft. What's the importance of mentioning such replicas of this particular vehicle?

combustible cartridge casing; electrical breach operation

It's worth mentioning that at least in the early model, the main gun's conventional rounds incorporated a combustible cartridge casing, which eliminated the need to deal with a large, smoking hot, ejected casing inside the Sheridan's cramped turret. This feature necessitated a CO2 scavenging system inside the gun tube, to eliminate any burning fragments that might otherwise have ignited the next round as it was chambered. The ammunition had to be protected from exposure to moisture (which could interfere with combustion of the casing), and elastic waterporoof jackets were used for that purpose. These "elastic" waterproof jackets were designed to be disposable, they were made of black colored rubber, and came from the factory with it already installed on the round. Before inserting the round either into the breech, or into the Sheridan tank's stocked asbestos preformed shell holder (glove), the black rubber covering was peeled off, as it easily ripped during the process.

An interesting feature of the gun itself is that the breach mechanism was electrically operated, rather than being recoil operated as conventional main guns were. Since there was no spent casing to eject, there was no need to harness the recoil energy that, in a conventional design, was used to eject the spent casing. Presumably the electrically operated breach was easier on the missile -- and also easier on the loader, who would otherwise have had to give the heavy conventional round a vigorous push in order to trip the closing mechanism of a conventional breach.

Intro paragraph

I'm not qualified to replace it, but the author of the intro paragraph expresses some irrelevant (not to mention highly subjective) sentiments about other Cold War technology.

Production History

I removed the horribly POV paragraph in Production History. The Little Internet Kitty 22:04, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

Someone asked why 88,000 missiles...

Several reasons.

First, the Sheridan wasn't the only planned user for the missile. The M60A2 and possibly the M60's replacement (Originally the MBT-70) were also intended to use the missile. All three designs were intended to be used in the European theater in case of Soviet attack and therefore stockpiles of missiles were laid in in case of that conflict ever occuring.

Second, US Crewmen are trained (on most systems) with a combination of simulated, subcaliber, and war-issued ammunition. So, missiles had to be avalible for both training and qualification on all of these systems.

Third, unless there is a need for massive numbers over a long period of time, it is easier and cheaper to contract out in bulk orders so the contractor can set up a manufacturing line, build the missiles as rapidly and efficiently as possible, and then close out the line. Then, if more missiles are needed later, it gives the oppurtunity for upgrades to be built into the follow on design, a new line set up and manufacture to begin again.

Deathbunny 01:51, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

Only air deployable tank?

I disagree. During world war 2, the Russians have air-deployed the light T-60 tank once or twice. Nothing much, but saying that Sheridan had the monopoly for air-deployment is a bit exaggerated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.87.105.34 (talk) 19:04, August 27, 2007 (UTC)

Just Cause Service

Several weeks prior to the start of Operation Just Cause, 4 Sheridans from the 82nd were flown secretly into Panama, airlanded at Howard AFB, and attached to the 193rd Infatry Brigade (TF Bayonet). They were furter attached down to the 4th Bn, 6th Infantry (Mechanized) (TF Gator). They fought in support of the attack on the Commandancia and were in action several hours before the 8 mentioned in the main body of this article were dropped at Torrijos/Tocumen. After the fight at the Commandancia, they and other armored vehicles were formed into an ad hoc unit termed TF Panzer, which provided a mobile strike force for JSTOF forces as they raided high value targets for the next several days. The Sheridans provided much needed large caliber direct fire capability for support of assaults on reinforced concrete building - such as the Commandancia compound - however, their HEAT warheads severly limited their effectiveness, as no HEP rounds were in service for its gun/launcher.67.181.14.90 (talk) 08:45, 5 January 2009 (UTC)

Just a follow-up. The 4 M551 Sheridans attached to TF Bayonet arrived in Panama in November 1989. See "Operation Just Cause in Panama City 1989" by Lawrence Yates. He discusses their employment in some detail. Note # 14 documents their secret arrival in country the month prior to Just Cause. The Commander of TF Gator has a different opinion of the Sheridan's main gun's performance in that conflict than I do, as you will see from reading it. Here's the link:

http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/Block/chp10_Block%20by%20Block.pdf 67.181.14.90 (talk) 06:05, 8 January 2009 (UTC)