We (USA and West Germany) spent 6 billion dollars on all of our MBT-70s. (Note that only six were built.) Of the five built by Allison Division of General Motors, only two survive. One is in Aberdeen Proving Ground, and the other (the one we have) was used as a low-profile target. Our MBT-70 has been hit with armor-piercing bullets, and even a HEAT round. The HEAT round went through one side of the turret and melted a hole out the other end. There is no hope of restoring this tank because of a lack of spare parts and where to find spare parts. One of the unique things about this tank is that the driver is in the turret rather than the chassis. The driver had a good view as long as the MBT-70 wasn’t in any combat, but as soon as the tank enters combat, the driver has to squeeze into a cramped little hole and look through periscopes. This didn’t make the test drivers happy and nausea could be induced because the driver’s seat moved with the turret. The other main feature was the tank’s ability to “squat�. From a high of 28 inches while moving and 4.5 inches when firing, both to lower the silhouette and to provide a stable firing platform.
- pineyI have a question, since the Army doesn't give away tanks only loans them out on paper is there any chance that the ex Aberdeen vehicles could be reclaimed and sent to either of the new collections? (Lee or Brag)
Piney
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