Main Battle Tank 70 - The two layers are spaced 127mm apart, the inner being smooth mild steel (46mm), and the outer being hard rolled steel (34mm).

The MBT-70 (German: KPz 70 or KpfPz 70) was a joint American-West German main battle tank project in the 1960s.

Main Battle Tank 70

Main Battle Tank 70

The MBT-70 was developed by the United States and West Germany during the Cold War, intended to counter a new generation of tanks developed by the Soviet Union under the Warsaw Pact. The new tank was to have a number of advanced features such as hydropneumatic "neeling" suspension and tire crew placement on a large turret, and was equipped with a 152mm XM150 gun/launcher, conventional ammunition and a Shillelagh missile for combat. of long distance. .

Main Battle Tank Mvt 70

The plan faced significant challenges from the start, including poor communication and coordination between the American and West German teams working on the project. The U.S. Army and the German Bundeswehr had different requirements that were not reconciled and resolved before the project could move forward without cancellation.

In the late 1960s, development of the MBT-70 was over budget. West Germany pulled out of the project due to new cost and demand differences. The United States continued development of the MBT-70 (which evolved into the XM803) until 1971 when the program was canceled, and funds and technology from the MBT-70 project were directed to the development of the M1 Abrams. West Germany recklessly developed the Leopard 2 as its main battle tank.

The founder of the joint German-American main battle tank program was the US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. After serving in the US Air Force during World War II, McNamara became a "baby boy" at the Ford Motor Company, where he later rose to president. McNamara's interest in German engineering was demonstrated when he was head of Ford. He oversaw the development of the canceled Ford Cardinal - a canceled project involving the redesign of a small family car designed by Guinier in the US and Germany for the US and other international markets. This, along with lower development costs, will hopefully bring a new competitive product to international markets.

As Secretary of Defense, McNamara began to apply his industrial management methods to military production. At that time, NATO member states had many different weapon systems and these often lacked common ammunition, fuel and parts; Some weapons, including tanks, were made jointly. Although West Germany used the American M48 Pattons, it had a history of excellence in the production of armored vehicles and was known to be moving forward with plans to design, develop and build its own tanks. McNamara regarded Germany as the most important member of NATO and believed that joint development would provide better weapons that could be used by other NATO members.

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US Armor has long pressed the Pentagon to fast-track new main battle tank designs. Consequently, McNamara's one-year service schedule was opposed by Sear's artillery officers, who believed an entirely new MBT was urgently needed. Others questioned McNamara's emphasis on German engineering, arguing that Germany's collective prowess in tank design and engineering was declining and out of step with post-World War II innovation. In American arms circles, it was believed that there would be a transfer of net technology to Germany and there was a general belief that Britain would make a good ally. However, McNamara's choice of Germany was due to the country's excellent economic situation, following its successful reconstruction after the war: the so-called "economic miracle". Germany is therefore in a good position to commit financially to a project of this magnitude,

In order to create a tank that would meet the standards of both armies, in August 1963, Germany and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding that specified certain required characteristics and organized a Joint Engineering Agency and a Joint Design Team with equal representatives from both sides. . the country. Despite these measures, conflicts between the different gender practices of each country plagued the MBT-70 project throughout its development.

In 1963, Gerald Wellborn G. Dalvin, a former tank commander, was selected to lead the American team as project manager. Three contractors—Chrysler Defense, General Motors, and a joint venture between Ford and FMC—were likely to be contractors on the US side. Dolwin chose GM, expecting the company to bring more fresh ideas to the table than longtime tank maker Chrysler. For the Germans, the German Development Agency was created as a joint venture of several German companies.

Main Battle Tank 70

For the first phase of development, GM engineers work with German engineers in Augsburg. In this respect, the Americans are in charge of the Germans. For the second phase, the system has been changed: Germans take over the management of the GM factories in Detroit.

Kpz 70 In Erprobung\

There was controversy over every part of the design: the use of metric and SAE units on rifles, gins, and separately manufactured tanks. This last argument was, by far, the most controversial. Disagreements grew between McNamara and German Defense Minister Kai-Uwe von Hassel, who could not resolve it in a common way. An agreement was made for both parties to use their own recommended measurements in the parts they created. The Americans agreed to use metric in all packing areas.

This was resolved by agreeing to use a common metric standard across all interface connections. The resulting controversy caused a delay in the development schedule, and increased the budget of the projects.

Another national difference is the different estimation methods. In manufacturing, confusion about which projection method is used can lead to manufacturing errors such as holes placed on the wrong side.

The German companies involved in the project resisted the exchange of intellectual property and aggressively pushed the use of their technology. This is due to the differences in the collection systems of both countries. In the US, Ptagon paid for the research and development to gain full ownership of the research. In contrast, German companies conducted research at their own expense and expected to preserve the fruits of their labor forever.

M1a2 Abrams Main Battle Tank

In October 1966, Dalvin resigned to take command of the War Department. Major General Edwin H. The plan was considered at least moderately successful when Burba took over the project.

However, many problems arose with the political future of the tank. The design was completed in 1965, and the cost of the program is estimated at $138 million. With the construction decision in 1968, it increased to $303 million. The following year critics presented a different estimate of more than half a billion, accounting for other additional costs.

Many Americans, both inside and outside the project, including General Creighton Abrams, expected German participation in the plan. Burba was succeeded by Brigadier General Bernard R. in mid-1968. Luczak admitted that German cooperation was not working. Luczak received support from Deputy Secretary David Packard, who in January 1970 initiated the Tank Partnership agreement.

Main Battle Tank 70

By 1965, the German Leopard 1 and the American M60 were the new main battle tanks in their country's service. They had the M68 105mm gun (made from the British 105mm L7) and were designed to counter the Soviet T-54/55 tanks, which they did successfully, according to Israel's combat experience. But the same experience clearly showed that the next generation of Soviet tanks can increase firepower and protection, and that both designs will be put at a disadvantage by the new line gun on the T-62. A rehabilitation project is planned for the leopard,

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Internal system. Gunner's station in front right, commander's station behind him, rotating driver's hood slightly hidden to left of turret.

Many features of the MBT-70 were ahead of their time. The car used an advanced hydropneumatic suspension system that allowed for high cross-country speeds despite weighing 45 tons (50 short tons). The suspension can be raised or lowered at the driver's command, keeping the bottom of the tank just 4 inches (100 mm) off the ground, or up to 28 inches (710 mm) for cross-country runs.

The MBT-70 is designed with a low silhouette, unlike the M60, which is one of the tallest tanks ever built. The MBT-70 is less than 6 feet (1.8 m) from the ground to the roof of the turret. This left no room for the driver, who had to be moved to the turret. He was placed in a turret that was designed to rotate so that when the turret rotated he would always face the same direction. He can rotate the dome around so that the tank can be driven backwards at full speed.

The US version features the new Continental AVCR air-cooled V-12 diesel with 1,470 horsepower (1,100 kW). German versions initially used the same Daimler-Bz design, but were later transferred to the 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW) MTU design. The MTU unit is possible

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