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M551A1 SHERIDAN Markings: 3rd Battalion 73 Regiment, Co. B, 2nd platoon, attached to the 82nd Airborne Division
Built in 1966 the Sheridan replaced the M41 and M56 tanks then in service. Widely used in Panama, Vietnam and Desert Storm, the Sheridan incorporated many novel design features. The vehicle used an aluminum hull, and yet a steel turret was fitted. The driver's hatch rotated around the driver on a vertical axis, while the commander's and loader's hatches were more conventional. The vehicle sides under the steel shell were filled with closed cell polystyrene foam, which allowed for buoyancy so that the vehicle could float across water obstacles. In the picture above you can see a canvas tube on the top edge of the vehicle hull, this was where the swim curtain would have been stored. You can also see where the four smoke grenade launchers were positioned on the front side of the turret. This Sheridan is known to be one of 56 that went to Desert Shield on August 2, 1990 and was deployed to protect the port of Al Jubayl.
CREW: 4 COMBAT WEIGHT: 33,600lbs. GROUND PRESSURE 6.9 psi FUEL CAPACITY: 158 gallons MAX WATER SPEED: 3.6 mph MIN TURNING DIAMETER: Pivot CRUISING RANGE: 350 road MAX ROAD SPEED: 43 MPH ARMAMENT: 152MM Gun Launcher: 20 rounds Shillelagh missiles; .50 cal M2HB M G, 1000 rounds & 7.62mm M240 M G, 3000 rounds COST TO BUILD IN 1966: $294,930.00 each A.A.F. Tank Museum
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