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M36 tank destroyer
M36 tank destroyer
M36 tank destroyer
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The M36 tank destroyer, formally 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage, M36, was an American tank destroyer used during World War II. The M36 combined the hull of the M10 tank destroyer, which used the M4 Sherman's reliable chassis and drivetrain combined with sloped armor, and a new turret mounting the 90 mm gun M3. Conceived in 1943, the M36 first served in combat in Europe in October 1944, where it partially replaced the M10 tank destroyer. It also saw use in the Korean War, where it was able to defeat any of the Soviet tanks used in that conflict. Some were supplied to South Korea as part of the Military Assistance Program and served for years, as did re-engined examples found in Yugoslavia, which operated into the 1990s. Two remained in service with the Republic of China Army at least until 2001.[citation needed]

Key Information

The vehicle is also known by the nickname General Jackson, or just Jackson, which was originally assigned to the vehicle by the Ordnance Department in November 1944 for publicity purposes, such as in newspapers, but does not appear to have been used by troops in the field during the war.[2][3][4]

Doctrine

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U.S. combined arms doctrine on the eve of World War II held that tanks should be designed to fulfill the role of forcing a breakthrough into enemy rear areas.[citation needed] Separate GHQ tank battalions would support infantry in destroying fixed enemy defenses, and armored divisions would then exploit the breakthrough to rush into the enemy's vulnerable rear areas. U.S. tanks were expected to fight any hostile tanks they encountered in their attack, but the mission of defeating massed enemy armored counterattacks was assigned to a new branch, the Tank Destroyer Force. Tank destroyer units were meant to counter German blitzkrieg tactics. They were to be held as a reserve at the corps or army level, and were to move quickly to the site of any massed enemy tank breakthrough, maneuvering aggressively and using ambush tactics (charging or chasing enemy tanks was explicitly prohibited) to destroy enemy tanks. This led to a requirement for fast, well-armed vehicles. Though equipped with turrets (unlike most self-propelled anti-tank guns of the day), the typical American design was more heavily gunned, but more lightly armored, and thus more maneuverable, than a contemporary tank. The idea was to use speed and agility to bring a powerful self-propelled anti-tank gun into action against enemy tanks.

Design

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With the advent of heavy German tanks such as the Panther and Tiger, the standard U.S. tank destroyer, the M10, was rapidly becoming obsolete, because its main armament, the 3-inch gun M7, had difficulty defeating the thick frontal armor of the newer tanks past several hundred yards. In late summer 1942 American engineers had begun examining the potential of a new tank destroyer armed with a 90mm gun, and produced the prototype 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage T53, which placed the 90 mm gun in an open mounting at the rear of an M4 Sherman chassis. In August 1942, it was agreed to immediately produce 500 vehicles, with 3,500 more later. The Tank Destroyer Force objected, arguing that the design of the T53 was too rushed. The 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage T53E1 proved to be even worse, and the contract was canceled.

In October 1942, the Ordnance Department tested mounting the experimental 90 mm gun T7 into the turret of an M10 tank destroyer. General Andrew Bruce, head of the Tank Destroyer Force, objected to the project, favoring the lighter Gun Motor Carriage M18 'Hellcat', but was ignored. Mounting the 90 mm gun was straightforward, but the gun proved too heavy for the M10's turret, and a new turret was designed with power traverse, and a massive counterweight to balance the gun. The first two M36 prototypes, designated 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage T71 were completed in September 1943. Initially, a request for full production was denied as 90 mm guns were already being studied for use on tanks, but Army Ground Forces approved the project in October 1943, and tests began. The ring mount on the left side of the turret for the .50 caliber Browning M2HB antiaircraft machine gun was changed to a pintle mount at the rear. It was decided that production vehicles would use the chassis of the M10A1 tank destroyer, as the M10A1 had superior automotive characteristics, and significant numbers were available. After testing, an initial order for 300 vehicles was issued. The T71 was designated upon standardization on 1 June 1944 as the 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36.

Production

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Production of M36, M36B1, and M36B2[5]
Month M36 M36B1 M36B2
April 1944 25
May 1944 100
June 1944 120
July 1944 155
August 1944 100
October 1944 75 50
November 1944 290 93
December 1944 348 44
May 1945 10 50
Post-war 190 674
Total 1,413 187 724

After July 1943, the appliqué armor (add on armor) bosses on the hull side of later M10A1s were omitted as the armor kits were never manufactured. The M36 initially retained the M10A1's "stirrup" gun rest on the rear hull; crews were unhappy about the lack of a travel lock to hold the 90 mm gun in a fixed position when in motion, and many improvised their own from travel locks taken from tanks. A double-baffle muzzle brake was fitted to all vehicles after the first 600, beginning in early November 1944. A folding travel lock better-suited to the 90 mm gun was added to the rear hull at about this time. The gun itself was also modified with a better equilibrator and more powerful elevating mechanism.

As the initial contract was for 300 vehicles, General Motors' Fisher Tank Arsenal produced the last 300 M10A1 tank destroyers in January 1944 without turrets for immediate conversion to M36s, which took place from April to July 1944. The contract was later increased to 500 vehicles, as it was decided that existing M10A1s were also to be converted to M36s. The requirement was later increased to 600 vehicles on 15 May 1944. As it was found that the M10 tank destroyer had struggled against German tanks like the Panther and especially the Tiger during the Normandy campaign, the contract was increased to 1,400 vehicles on 29 July 1944. This caused problems, as only 913 of the 1,413 M10A1s that had been completed could be requisitioned from training units. Due to the lack of M10A1 hulls, it was decided to finish up the initial production run by mounting M36 turrets onto M4A3 Sherman hulls (which had the same engine as the M10A1) with the necessary internal changes; these were designated M36B1. The production of 187 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36B1 ran from October to December 1944. From June to December 1944, Massey-Harris converted 500 M10A1s into M36s. From October to December 1944, American Locomotive Company converted 413 M10A1s into M36s. The Army reduced the 1,400-vehicle objective for 1944 to 1,342 vehicles. 350 more conversions were scheduled for 1945; this number was increased to 584. A final batch of 200 M10A1s was converted by the Montreal Locomotive Works in May 1945.

The supply of M10A1s eventually ran out, so it was decided in January 1945 that M10 hulls would be used for all further conversions. American Locomotive Company converted 672 M10 hulls into the 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36B2 beginning in May 1945. A further batch of 52 M36B2s was completed by the Montreal Locomotive Works in May 1945.

Combat use

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World War II

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90 mm GMC M36 during the Battle of the Bulge in January 1945

The first 40 M36s were not shipped overseas until September 1944, and entered combat in October 1944. The US First and Ninth Armies used M36s to re-equip tank destroyer battalions attached to armored divisions. The 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion began re-equipping on 30 September 1944. The Third US Army used them to re-equip towed battalions. The 610th Tank Destroyer Battalion (Towed) began retraining on 25 September 1944.[6] The first tank destroyer battalion to receive the M36 in early September, the 776th, was in transit from Italy at the time and did not use them in combat until October 1944. By the end of 1944, seven tank destroyer battalions had converted to the M36; the M36 had mostly replaced the M10 by the end of the war.

Yugoslav M36 Jackson in Pivka - retrofitted with 500 hp diesel, 1991

The M36 was well-liked by its crews, being one of the few armored fighting vehicles available to US forces that could destroy heavy German tanks from a distance. An 814th gunner, Lt Alfred Rose, scored a kill against a Panther at 4,600 yards (4200 meters),[7] the maximum range of the telescopic sight. However, the Panther's 82 to 85mm thick glacis plate[8] could deflect shots at certain angles from the 90 mm gun at just 150 yards (137 meters). Testing done in December 1944 by the 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion concluded that the M36's 90mm Gun would theoretically not be able to penetrate the frontal armor of a Tiger II at any range with the ammunition that was available to them. and that it was tactically viable to engage Panther tanks from the side.[9][10]

Korean War

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The M36 was used by the US Army in the Korean War. It could destroy any Soviet-made AFV encountered there. One postwar modification was the addition of a ball-mounted machine gun on the co-driver's side, as in many other armored fighting vehicles of the time. Due to the shortage of M26 and M46 tanks, the M36 became one of the preferred armored vehicles for U.S. Military Assistance Program transfers.[11]

The M36 was classified as a tank by the Republic of Korea Army despite being a self-propelled gun. The South Korean army, which began the war without having a single tank, pushed for the creation of an armored unit and acquired the first six M36s for training in late October 1950. During the war, the South Korean Army received about 200 M36/M36B2s from the US, and operated 9 tank companies. Each company was assigned to the frontline infantry division, and each tank platoon, consisting of five M36s, was attached to an infantry regiment for fire support missions. South Korean M36s retained the latest updates such as the M3A1 main gun and turret top armor. These Korean War GMCs also installed machine gun ball mount for the assistant driver to fight against infantry. The M36 played a powerful role by direct firing at the enemy's position during the battle for high ground. Since it was operated by Koreans, command and communication between infantry and armored units were smooth, and it had a significant effect on boosting morale.[12][13]

During the Battle of White Horse during 6–15 October 1952, the 53rd Tank Company, assigned to the 9th Infantry Division, contributed to the victory by bombarding the side of the enemy's offensive force and suppressing heavy weapons deployed on the enemy-occupied highlands. In the Battle of Betty Hill on 15–16 July 1953, the 57th Tank Company of the 3rd Tank Battalion provided direct fire support for a platoon defending the highlands overnight, which claimed the lives of 300 communist soldiers. However, the M36 had limitations for large-scale operations due to the equipment already being retired from the U.S. military: spare parts were scarce, and it was difficult to obtain further fully functional vehicles. Servicing became even harder because units were scattered around infantry units. Therefore, the Korean Army began operating in large numbers, forming three armored battalions in early 1953.[12]

Indo-Pakistani Wars

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A Pakistani M36B2 at an operational base in the 1960s.

Pakistan procured between 25 and 75 M36B2s in 1956, which were refurbished second-hand units from US stocks.[14] Its 90 mm gun had better performance than the 76 mm M4A1E6 Shermans used by the Pakistani Armoured Corps. The M36s were called "Tank Busters" in the Pakistan Army they were disliked by soldiers of the Pakistani Armoured Corps.,[15][16] primarily due to its complexity and unforgiving nature for new and inexperienced operators. Colonel M. Yahya Effendi who served with the 11th Cavalry in the 1965 war recollects that:

It was an awkward fighting vehicle in every sense. The synchronization of the engines was a nuisance for the mechanics, and while driving, an inexperienced or flappy driver could smash the single plate clutch by sudden release, thus immobilizing the vehicle.[15]

Their first combat use by the Pakistan Army was in early September 1965 during Operation Grand Slam at Chumb when 11 M36B2s under the command of Major Mian Raza Shah of the 11th Cavalry fought against AMX-13s of the Indian 20 Lancers. Despite winning the battle, the M36s had performed poorly; only two M36s were in fighting condition after the confrontation; most had broken down in the early hours of the battle, with a few (including the CO's M36) being knocked out by Indian fire.[16][15][17]

The M36s saw more action on the Lahore Front. In the Battle of Phillora, the Pakistani 11th Cavalry, which had twelve M36B2s along with its main force of M48s, fought an intense five-day battle against Centurion MBTs of the Indian Poona Horse and Hodson's Horse. At one instance on 11 September, mechanic Daffadar Haq Nawaz took command of an M36B2 whose commander had been injured, and destroyed two Indian Centurions before his M36B2 was fatally hit.[16][15] At the Chawinda, the Guides Cavalry was equipped with a squadron of M36B2s, deployed to guard the artillery units. The M36B2 was phased out of the Armoured Corps after the war.[16][18]

Indian soldiers stand beside a knocked out Pakistani M36B2.

Despite being obsolete by the time of the 1971 War, some independent squadrons of the Pakistani Armored Corps received a number of M36B2s. A depleted squadron of M36B2s of "Manto Force" saw action during the Battle of Chumb while 14th Independent Armored Squadron took part in the Battle of Barapind.[15]

Other wars

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Yugoslav M36 in Maribor, 1958

M36s were also exported after World War II to various countries. They were used by the French army during the First Indochina War. The Republic of China Army acquired eight ex-French examples in 1955. They were stationed in Kinmen Island group, and saw combat during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958. They were deemed more maneuverable than the bigger M48A3 and later CM11/12 MBTs, while being more powerful than M24 and M41 light tanks. As of April 2001, at least two still remained in service with troops in Lieyu Township.

Another recipient was Yugoslavia, which received 399.[19] The engine was later replaced by the 500 hp Soviet-made diesel engine used in T-55 main battle tanks. Yugoslavian M36s participated in the Slovenian War of Independence (1991) and Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995), but they were withdrawn immediately from service with the Croatian Armed Forces after the war. M36s were also used by Serbian forces in Bosnia and Croatia, and they were used during the Kosovo War as decoys for NATO air strikes.

Armor

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Tito inspects an M36 armored unit

American tank destroyer doctrine emphasized speed and gun power over armor. As the M10 and M36 were not purpose-built tank destroyers (they were based on tank chassis) they were not as fast as the Tank Destroyer Force wanted. General Andrew Bruce criticized the M36 due to it being too slow.[20] The armor configuration of the M36 was identical to that of the M10A1, save the turret. The thickness of the M36's armor ranged from 0.375 to 5.0 in (9.5 to 127.0 mm).

The lower hull had 1 in (25 mm) thick armor on the sides and rear. The rounded, cast transmission cover was 2 in (51 mm) thick. Like the M10, the M36 did not have an extra 0.5 in (13 mm) floor plate under the driver's and assistant driver's stations to provide additional protection against mines. The glacis plate was 1.5 in (38 mm) thick, sloped at 55 degrees from the vertical, and had eight large bosses on it to attach appliqué armor plates. The sides and rear of the upper hull were 0.75 in (19 mm) thick, sloped at 38 degrees from the vertical. Earlier M10s converted to M36s had 12 appliqué armor bosses on each side of the M36's upper hull. The rear upper hull plate was used for storage of the vehicle's pioneer tools; an axe, a crowbar, a mattock handle and head, a double-sided 10 lb (4.5 kg) sledgehammer, and a track tensioning wrench, so no appliqué armor bosses could be fitted there. The sides and rear of the upper hull had angled extensions or covers over the upper run of track. These extensions often got in the way of fitting duckbill extended end connectors, used to reduce ground pressure on soft ground, and were often removed, along with the front fenders, by maintenance units. The hull roof plate ranged from 0.75 in (19 mm) thick over the driver's and assistant driver's stations and turret ring, to 0.5 in (13 mm) thick over the engine compartment.

The M36B1 had the hull armor configuration of the late production M4A3 Sherman tank.

The sides of the M36's rounded turret were made of rolled armor plate 1.25 in (32 mm) thick. A massive hollow cast counterweight was welded to the rear of the turret to balance the heavy gun. The top was 0.38 to 1 in (9.7 to 25.4 mm) thick, the sides were 1.25 in (32 mm) thick, and the rear was 1.75 to 5 in (44 to 127 mm) thick. The rounded cast gun shield was 3 in (76 mm) thick.

Armament

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Primary

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The M36 tank destroyer used an M10A1 chassis (the M36B1 used an M4A3 Sherman chassis, while the M36B2 used an M10 chassis) mounting a large, open-topped turret mounting a 90 mm gun M3. The gunner aimed the gun using the M76F telescope. The 90 mm gun M3 was the standardized version of the experimental T7, a derivative of the 90 mm gun developed as a vehicle-mounted antitank weapon. The M36 carried 47 rounds of main gun ammunition, 11 of which were stowed in the hollow counterweight, while 36 rounds were stowed in the sponsons. For combat use, the 90mm gun M3 could fire five types of ammunition:

  • M77 AP-T shot
  • T33 APCBC-T shot
  • M82 APC/HE-T shell
  • M71 HE shell
  • T30E16 (M304) HVAP-T shot

The M82 armor-piercing capped shot was the main round used for engaging enemy tanks. It had a large explosive filler to increase damage after penetration. It was capable of penetrating 129 mm (5.1 in) of armor angled at 30 degrees from the vertical at 500 yd (0.28 mi; 0.46 km) and 122 mm (4.8 in) of armor at 1,000 yd (0.57 mi; 0.91 km). The T30E16 HVAP shot was capable of penetrating 221 mm (8.7 in) of armor angled at 30 degrees from the vertical at 500 yd (0.28 mi; 0.46 km), and 199 mm (7.8 in) of armor at 1,000 yd (0.57 mi; 0.91 km).[20] The T30E16 HVAP round had difficulty with the highly sloped glacis plate of the German Panther tank, so the T33 AP shot was developed to solve this problem. The T33 shot was a normal substitute standard M77 armor piercing shot that was heat-treated to improve its hardness and fitted with a ballistic windshield to improve its drag characteristics.[21] The T33 and T30E16 were only issued in very small numbers towards the end of World War II. The M71 high explosive shell was used for indirect fire, or engaging enemy infantry, antitank guns, light vehicles, or other soft targets.

Secondary

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The M36 tank destroyer was equipped with a single .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M2HB machine gun for anti-aircraft or anti-personnel use, with 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Due to the difficulty in firing the .50 caliber machine gun directly to the front, the pintle was often repositioned to the front of the turret, or a .30 caliber (7.62 mm) Browning M1919A4 machine gun mounted there. The M36B1 retained the bow machine gun of the M4A3 Sherman tank, and had 2,000 rounds of ammunition for it. The crew had their personal weapons for self-defense.

Variants

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90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36B2 on display at the former Military Museum of Southern New England in Danbury, Connecticut
90 mm Gun Motor Carriage T71
Prototype 90 mm gun turret on 3-inch GMC M10A1 hull. Turret redesigned and standardized as M36
90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36
90 mm gun turret on M10A1 GMC hull. 300 built at Grand Blanc from April–July 1944 with 413 at American Loco Co Oct-Dec 1944 and 500 at Massey-Harris June-Dec 1944 by converting M10A1. Montreal Loco Works built 85 in May–June 1945.[22]
90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36B1
90 mm gun turret on M4A3 Sherman hull and chassis. 187 built at Grand Blanc October–December 1944.[22]
90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36B2
90 mm gun turret on M10 hull. Armored covers for turret were added to some M36B2s. 237 produced by converting M10s at American Loco in April–May 1945.[22]

Former operators

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See also

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References

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Sources

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

M36 tank destroyer

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The M36 tank destroyer, formally designated the 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36 and commonly known as the Jackson or Slugger, was a self-propelled developed during specifically to counter the increasing threat posed by heavy German armored vehicles such as the Panther and tanks. Mounting a powerful 90 mm M3 gun adapted from on the modified chassis of the earlier , the M36 combined mobility with long-range firepower, achieving a combat range effective against enemy heavy tanks at normal engagement distances of up to 1,000 yards. Introduced to U.S. Army tank destroyer battalions in the fall of , it served extensively in the European Theater of Operations from October 1944 onward, marking it as one of the most successful American s of the war. Conceived in early amid concerns over the inadequacy of the M10's 3-inch gun against upgraded German armor, the M36's development prioritized rapid production by utilizing existing M10A1 with a new open-topped turret featuring a rear for storage and . A total of 2,324 units were produced between July 1944 and September 1945, including variants such as the M36B1 (built on an M4A3 Sherman hull for improved reliability) and the M36B2 (using standard M10 ). These vehicles were operated by crews of five; the M36 and M36B1 were powered by a Ford GAA V-8 liquid-cooled gasoline engine rated at 450 horsepower, while the M36B2 used a GM 6046 developing 375 horsepower, providing a top road speed of 30 mph and an operational range of approximately 150 miles, though its thin armor (9–38 mm) left it vulnerable to return fire and required tactics in line with U.S. . The M36 proved highly effective in late-war engagements, such as the and the push into , where its 90 mm gun could penetrate the frontal armor of most Axis tanks at 1,000 yards, outperforming all prior U.S. anti-tank systems in direct confrontations with heavy armor. Post-war, surviving units remained in U.S. service until the mid-1950s and were supplied to allies including , , and , with some seeing action in conflicts like the (by U.S. forces) and earlier Arab-Israeli wars. Its legacy underscores the evolution of U.S. doctrine toward versatile, gun-heavy mobile anti-tank platforms.

Development

Tank Destroyer Doctrine

The U.S. Army's tank destroyer doctrine emerged in the as a response to the perceived threat of massed armored attacks, particularly after observing the tactics in during 1939-1940. Prior to , the doctrine emphasized the creation of specialized, highly mobile units equipped with powerful anti-tank guns mounted on lightly armored chassis, designed specifically to intercept and destroy enemy tanks rather than providing direct support to or integrated armored operations. This concept separated anti-tank roles from medium tanks, which were reserved for exploitation and infantry accompaniment, aiming to concentrate firepower efficiently against armored breakthroughs. The doctrine evolved significantly with the publication of Field Manual 17-10 in , which initially stressed the principle of "destroy tanks with tanks" through armored force engagements, but quickly shifted toward dedicated battalions as a more specialized solution. Influenced by early war experiences, the established the Center at Camp Hood, Texas, in to train these units, adopting the "Seek, Strike, Destroy" to encapsulate their aggressive, mobile role. This transition culminated in the deployment of the , armed with a 3-inch , which became the standard vehicle for these battalions by , prioritizing speed and firepower over heavy armor to outmaneuver and outgun enemy panzers. By mid-1943, combat reports from , including the Battles of Kasserine Pass, highlighted the inadequacy of existing U.S. anti-tank weapons against upgraded German armor such as the Panther and tanks, which featured thick sloped plating and long-barreled 75mm and 88mm guns capable of defeating American vehicles at long ranges. This prompted an urgent doctrinal and materiel push for a more potent weapon, leading to the development of a 90mm gun-equipped to restore firepower superiority and maintain the mobile ethos. The M36 was conceived as a direct response, entering production to equip battalions facing these escalating threats in . Lt. Gen. , as commander of , played a pivotal role in shaping and institutionalizing the program from 1941 onward, directing the allocation of resources and the formation of over 100 battalions while insisting on their independence from armored divisions. Debates within the Army centered on turret design, with advocates for open-top configurations arguing they enhanced crew visibility, reduced weight for greater mobility, and accelerated production by minimizing armor requirements, ultimately prevailing over proposals for fully enclosed turrets that would have increased protection but compromised the doctrine's emphasis on rapid deployment.

Design and Engineering

Development of the M36 began in early 1943, with the first pilot vehicles completed by mid-1944, entering production in July 1944. The M36 utilized the chassis of the M10A1 tank destroyer, derived from the medium tank, as its base, incorporating the vehicle's characteristic sloped hull for improved ballistic protection and its system to maintain mobility across varied terrain. This chassis choice allowed engineers to leverage proven components, including the Ford GAA V-8 engine, while adapting the hull for the demands of a dedicated anti-tank role. The overall design emphasized simplicity and speed of assembly, drawing on existing Sherman production lines to minimize development time. The turret represented a significant innovation, featuring an open-top configuration mounted on a modified M10 turret ring to accommodate the larger 90 mm M3 . A rear extension was incorporated to manage the 's substantial , housing counterweights and providing space for the recoil mechanism without compromising the vehicle's balance. The turret offered full 360-degree manual traverse, with limited power assistance in later models, and the provided an elevation range of -10° to +30° for engaging targets at various distances. Sighting was facilitated by the M71C telescope for the gunner, ensuring accurate aiming in combat conditions. The crew consisted of five members: commander, gunner, loader, driver, and assistant driver who also served as radio operator, arranged to optimize within the confined space. Ammunition storage was integrated internally, with capacity for up to 47 rounds of 90 mm projectiles, distributed in racks around the fighting compartment to support sustained fire. Engineers faced challenges in balancing the vehicle's weight of approximately 29 tons with its mobility, achieved through lightweight turret construction and retention of the Sherman's 500 horsepower engine, while retrofitting surplus Sherman parts enabled rapid integration without major redesigns. These adaptations addressed the doctrinal need for a mobile platform capable of mounting a heavy against superior enemy armor.

Production

Manufacturing Process

The M36 tank destroyer was primarily produced by the Fisher Body Division of at its Grand Blanc Tank Arsenal in , along with the in , with manufacturing beginning in late 1943 for initial preparations and full production ramping up in 1944. These facilities leveraged the existing infrastructure from earlier tank destroyer and medium tank programs to meet urgent wartime demands. The assembly process started with hulls sourced directly from M10A1 tank destroyer production lines, which shared the reliable chassis design, allowing for seamless integration without major retooling. Turrets were constructed by together rolled plates into an open-topped structure at Fisher Body facilities, providing a lightweight yet robust mounting for the 90 mm gun. After hull completion, the turret was mated to the , followed by installation of the main armament, with interiors modified to accommodate additional 90 mm ammunition storage racks. Standardized and riveting techniques, carried over from M10 and programs, accelerated output by utilizing pre-existing jigs, fixtures, and setups. To ensure reliability under wartime constraints, the U.S. Army Ordnance Department conducted rigorous through on-site inspections at manufacturer facilities, verifying weld integrity, component fit, and overall assembly standards before acceptance. Adaptations for material shortages included simplified interior fittings and the repurposing of surplus M10A1 hulls from stocks, which minimized new material requirements and expedited conversions without compromising core functionality.

Production Quantities and Timeline

Production of the M36 tank destroyer commenced in April 1944, with initial deliveries to U.S. Army units occurring in October 1944. By September 1945, total U.S. production reached 1,413 M36 vehicles, alongside 187 M36B1 variants built on M4A3 Sherman hulls and 724 M36B2 variants utilizing standard M10 chassis. These figures encompassed output from primary manufacturers including the Fisher Body Division of General Motors, Massey-Harris Company, American Locomotive Company, and Montreal Locomotive Works, leveraging shared components from the M10 tank destroyer for manufacturing efficiencies. Monthly production peaked at over 100 units in late 1944, driven by urgent demands for enhanced anti-tank capabilities in , before tapering off in 1945 as Allied victories reduced the need for additional vehicles. The decline aligned with the overall contraction of U.S. armored vehicle output following Germany's surrender in May 1945. Further orders for the M36 series were cancelled in 1945 amid a doctrinal shift toward versatile medium tanks like the , which integrated tank destroyer roles into a single platform. Post-war, surviving M36s underwent limited conversions for storage, with many reactivated during the from 1950 onward to equip U.S. and allied forces against North Korean T-34s.

Technical Specifications

Armor and Protection

The M36 tank destroyer's armor was constructed from rolled homogeneous steel, emphasizing lightweight construction to support rapid mobility in line with U.S. tank destroyer doctrine. The hull's upper frontal plate measured 38 thick, sloped at 55 degrees from vertical, while the lower front was 51 thick at 56 degrees, which provided reasonable protection against small arms and light anti-tank rounds but offered limited resistance to heavier German anti-tank guns such as the 75 Pak 40. Side hull armor was 19–25 thick and mounted vertically, while the rear hull plating was also 19–25 thick at a shallow 9-degree angle, leaving the vehicle susceptible to flanking from medium-caliber weapons. The turret featured 76 mm armor on the at 0 degrees and 25 mm on the sides at 10 degrees, with the roof remaining completely open to facilitate quick and gun handling. This open-top configuration, a deliberate choice, enhanced but rendered the crew highly vulnerable to shrapnel from and mortar fire, as well as overhead attacks from aircraft or . The hull included mounting bosses for armor kits on the sides, though such additional plating was rarely applied in field units due to limited production and prioritization of speed over enhanced defense. Under tank destroyer doctrine, which called for massed, mobile anti-tank formations to counter tactics rather than standalone armored engagements, the M36's thin armor was deemed acceptable as the vehicle was intended to avoid direct hits through , rapid repositioning, and preemptive strikes. This philosophy proved effective against small arms and fragments but inadequate against penetrating rounds from 75 mm or larger German guns, often resulting in if struck. To mitigate risks, primary —47 rounds total—was stowed with 36 in the hull sponsons away from the fighting compartment and 11 in the turret , reducing the chance of immediate propagation to the area upon penetration. Additionally, some M36s were equipped with an optional .50 caliber on the turret ring for suppression of and low-flying threats.

Primary Armament

The primary armament of the M36 tank destroyer was the 90 mm Gun M3, a high-velocity weapon adapted from an anti-aircraft role to provide potent anti-tank capability. This gun fired Armor-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped (APCBC) rounds with a of approximately 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s), enabling effective engagement of heavily armored targets at extended ranges. With standard APCBC ammunition, it achieved penetration of approximately 140 mm of armor at 1,000 yards (914 m) against a 30-degree obliquity , a significant improvement over the 3-inch guns of earlier destroyers like the M10, which lacked the power to reliably defeat late-war German heavy tanks such as the beyond 500 yards. The M36 carried 47 rounds of 90 mm ammunition, stored in the sponsons and a behind the turret, with loading performed manually through a vertical sliding breech block. Common types included the M26 Armor-Piercing (AP) round for general anti-tank use, the T33 High-Velocity Armor-Piercing (HVAP) round with a core for enhanced penetration against thick armor ( of 3,350 ft/s or 1,022 m/s), and the M48 High-Explosive (HE) round for soft targets and support. The HVAP variant extended penetration to about 198 mm at 500 yards, addressing vulnerabilities against sloped German armor designs. Fire control was managed via the M51 periscope-type sight, which provided the gunner with a 3× or 6× magnification for precise ranging and aiming in direct-fire scenarios. The system supported a maximum of 10 rounds per minute under optimal conditions, though sustained rates were lower due to manual loading. The effective anti-tank range was approximately 1,500 yards (1,372 m), allowing M36 crews to engage threats from defensive positions before enemy guns could respond effectively. This combination of firepower and sighting made the 90 mm M3 particularly suited to the U.S. doctrine of and long-range interdiction.

Mobility and Crew

The M36 tank destroyer was propelled by a Ford GAA V8 liquid-cooled gasoline engine, which developed a gross output of 500 horsepower at 2,600 rpm, providing the vehicle with a maximum speed of 26 mph and an operational range of approximately 150 miles on roads. This powerplant, derived from the chassis, allowed the M36 to achieve cross-country speeds of 20 to 25 mph, aligning with U.S. that prioritized rapid maneuverability to counter enemy armored threats. The engine's of 950 ft-lb at 2,200 rpm contributed to effective acceleration despite the vehicle's 31-ton combat weight. The suspension system employed a vertical (VVSS) setup, consisting of three dual-wheel bogies per side for a total of six road wheels, along with a front drive , rear idler, and three return rollers per side. This configuration, adapted from the M4A3 medium tank, offered good ride quality over rough terrain and a ground pressure of about 12 psi, enabling the M36 to traverse soft ground without excessive bogging. Overall dimensions included a hull length of 19 feet 7 inches, a width of , and a of 10 feet 9 inches over the antiaircraft mount, facilitating transport by rail or while maintaining a low for tactics. The M36 accommodated a crew of five: commander, gunner, loader (assistant gunner), driver, and assistant driver. The commander oversaw targeting and vehicle positioning from the turret, using the SCR-528 radio for battalion-level coordination and tactical updates, while the gunner aimed the main weapon and the loader managed ammunition handling. Drivers and assistants focused on navigation and obstacle clearance, with training emphasizing quick setup times—often under five minutes—to exploit the vehicle's mobility in fluid combat scenarios. For secondary defense, a .50 caliber M2HB machine gun was mounted on a flexible rail atop the turret for anti-infantry and anti-aircraft fire, carrying 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Variants

United States Variants

The produced limited variants of the M36 tank destroyer to meet urgent wartime demands for enhanced chassis options and engine compatibility, primarily during the final months of . The M36B1 variant utilized the hull and chassis of the M4A3 Sherman medium tank, which offered superior armor thickness and structural strength compared to the M10-derived hull of the standard M36, thereby improving crew protection against small-arms fire and shrapnel. This design change was necessitated by the exhaustion of M10A1 hull stocks in late 1944, allowing continued production of the 90mm-armed turret system on a readily available platform. A total of 187 M36B1 units were manufactured by Division at the Grand Blanc Tank Arsenal between October 1944 and January 1945. The M36B2 addressed supply chain issues by converting existing M10 chassis, which were based on the M4A2 Sherman hull equipped with the twin General Motors 6-71 diesel engines (designated 6046 powerpack), providing reliable operation in diesel-fueled units without requiring gasoline engine modifications. This interim solution ensured rapid fielding of additional 90mm gun motor carriages while Sherman hull production ramped up. Approximately 287 M36B2 vehicles were built or converted by the starting in May 1945. An experimental predecessor, designated the 90mm Gun Motor Carriage T71, served as the basis for the production M36; it featured the developmental T7 90mm mounted on an M10A1 chassis prototype completed in March 1943, undergoing testing to validate the open-top turret configuration and gun stabilization before standardization as the M3 and M36 vehicle.

Foreign Adaptations

Following , several nations acquired surplus M36 tank destroyers through U.S. military aid programs and modified them to extend their and adapt to local operational needs. These adaptations typically involved engine replacements for better and reliability, as well as additions for crew protection and communications, though the core 90mm armament remained unchanged. In , surplus M36s were rebuilt in the 1950s and 1960s and served in armored units during the of 1967. Pakistan received approximately 75 M36B2 variants in 1956 under mutual defense assistance, and these saw action during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War in defensive roles. and conducted post-war rebuilds on their acquired M36s to integrate them into Cold War-era forces. French examples were used in colonial operations and remained operational into the early 1970s. Similarly, Yugoslav M36s received machine gun mounts and radio upgrades, alongside engine overhauls for reliability. Other exported or scrapped M36 hulls in various nations were repurposed as artillery tractors or recovery vehicles, leveraging the robust M4 Sherman-derived chassis for towing heavy ordnance in non-combat roles.

Operational History

The M36 entered service with U.S. forces in during late 1944, replacing earlier models like the M10 in several tank destroyer battalions to counter the increasing threat posed by heavy German armor. The first combat deployment occurred in October 1944 with the 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion near , , where the vehicle's 90mm gun demonstrated superior penetration capabilities against Panther and tanks at ranges up to 1,000 yards. The 90mm M3 gun's ability to defeat frontal armor on most late-war German vehicles marked a significant upgrade, allowing M36 crews to engage effectively from hull-down positions. In the , commencing December 16, 1944, M36-equipped units including the 776th, 825th, and 610th Tank Destroyer Battalions were rushed to the front to stem the German offensive. Operating in harsh winter conditions, these battalions provided critical anti-tank support to divisions, ambushing advancing panzer columns and disrupting breakthroughs at key points like Werbomont and Stoumont. The 776th and 825th, in particular, halted multiple counterattacks by destroying armored spearheads, with forces overall claiming over 300 German tank and kills during the campaign—though exact attributions vary, the M36's firepower was instrumental in turning the tide. As Allied armies pushed into in early 1945, M36s supported the advance across the Rhine River during in late March, ferrying across engineer bridges to engage fortified positions and provide direct fire against remaining defenses. In subsequent urban combat, such as around the , the M36's open-top turret exposed crews to small-arms fire and grenades from German infantry, resulting in vulnerabilities that led to several vehicles being lost to close-quarters assaults despite their armored effectiveness against tanks. In the Pacific Theater, deployment of the M36 was limited due to logistical priorities in Europe and the nature of island-hopping campaigns, with no significant combat roles recorded by the war's end in August 1945.

Korean War

Following the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, the U.S. Army reactivated M36 tank destroyers from storage to bolster anti-tank capabilities in the theater, with the vehicles assigned to units supporting the Eighth Army. These reactivated M36s provided mobile firepower against North Korean T-34/85 tanks, which were the primary armored threat early in the conflict, and their 90mm guns proved capable of defeating the Soviet-designed armor at typical engagement ranges. M36s contributed to defensive efforts against Chinese People's Volunteer Army forces and supported infantry operations, where the vehicle's long-range fire destroyed T-34s in extreme cold and rugged terrain. The M36 also demonstrated versatility against Chinese human-wave infantry assaults, where its 90mm high-explosive shells effectively dispersed massed attacks, complementing machine-gun fire from supporting infantry. To counter the threats of artillery shrapnel and infantry anti-tank weapons, M36 crews improvised field modifications, including stacking sandbags on the hull and superstructure for added protection and attaching spare tracks as applique armor to deflect shaped-charge projectiles. These adaptations addressed the vehicle's relatively thin base armor, inherited from the M10 design, and improved survivability in Korea's close-quarters fighting. The M36's open-top turret allowed for rapid reloading but exposed crews to the elements and small-arms fire in these mountainous battles. As the war progressed, the M36 was gradually withdrawn from frontline service by mid-1952, replaced by the more heavily armored and multipurpose medium tanks, reflecting the U.S. Army's shift away from dedicated doctrine toward integrated armored support. Attrition was high due to terrain-related breakdowns, mines, and , though the type accounted for numerous enemy tank kills before its phase-out.

Indo-Pakistani Wars

Pakistan procured approximately 75 M36B2 tank destroyers from the in as part of the Military Assistance Program, equipping them for in . These vehicles played a notable role in the Pakistani Army's defensive operations during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, particularly in the sector amid the , one of the largest tank engagements since . Deployed with the 6th Armored Division, including a squadron of M36s under the 25th Cavalry commanded by Major Shamim Manto, the destroyers supported Patton and Sherman tanks against Indian -led assaults in the Phillora-Chawinda area. Their 90 mm guns proved effective at long range, with M36 crews from the Guides Cavalry reportedly destroying at least two Indian tanks in ambushes before sustaining losses. Indian forces captured nine M36B2s during advances in the Phillora-Chawinda sector, though Pakistani troops recovered them following the and Indian withdrawal from the area. Overall, the M36 contributed to Pakistan's ability to blunt Indian armored thrusts in the plains and canal regions, with estimates suggesting they accounted for 20-30 enemy tank kills across the campaign, though exact figures remain disputed due to conflicting accounts from both sides. In the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, M36 usage was more limited, with surviving vehicles assigned to reconnaissance and defensive roles in the sector, such as with the I alongside Sherman tanks. Indian air superiority and rapid advances curtailed major armored clashes, reducing opportunities for the aging destroyers, which were increasingly vulnerable to anti-tank weapons like RPGs and recoilless rifles. Indian troops captured additional M36s during operations in the bulge and other western sectors, repurposing some with minimal modifications for indirect fire support as . By this conflict, the M36's open-top design and thin armor highlighted its obsolescence against modern threats, leading to its decommissioning in shortly thereafter.

Other Conflicts

The M36 tank destroyer saw limited but notable employment during the in the 1990s, where it served various successor states amid the breakup of . In the (1991–1995), units utilized M36s for direct fire support and anti-armor roles, leveraging the vehicle's 90mm gun against opposing armored threats in urban and rural engagements. These vehicles, inherited from the Yugoslav People's Army's stock of approximately 400 M36s supplied by the in the late and , proved reliable in low-intensity conflicts despite their age. During the Bosnian War (1992–1995), M36s were employed by the Army of the , as well as Serbian and Croatian forces, often in defensive positions. Their open-top design and mobility allowed for quick deployment as static pillboxes to protect key positions and supply lines, providing against and light vehicles. By the mid-1990s, many surviving units were decommissioned or scrapped due to challenges and the influx of modernized equipment, though some remained in reserve roles. M36s were also used by Serbian forces during the in 1999, often as decoys for air strikes. Israel received M36 tank destroyers from U.S. supplies post-World War II and employed them in armored operations during the 1967 , where they provided anti-tank support against Arab forces, though specific engagements are limited in records. The M36's global service extended into the late , with final active deployments in the 1990s among reserve units in and allied nations. Overall, M36s remained in limited service worldwide until the early 2000s, primarily in training or storage before complete retirement.

Operators and Legacy

Former Operators

The United States served as the primary operator of the M36 tank destroyer from 1944 to 1952, producing and fielding approximately 1,400 units for service in World War II and the Korean War. South Korea acquired M36 tank destroyers through U.S. lend-lease and military assistance programs starting in 1950, operating them during the Korean War until retirement around 1959, later replaced by M47 and M48 Patton tanks. Pakistan received M36 units in the 1950s under the U.S. Military Assistance Program (MAP), employing them until the 1970s, including during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. At least one M36 was loaned to for use in Middle Eastern conflicts. France operated M36 units from the late 1940s to the 1950s, primarily in postwar reconstruction and colonial conflicts such as the . Yugoslavia acquired M36 tank destroyers in the 1950s and maintained them in service until the 1990s, with some seeing use by successor states like and Bosnia during the . Several other nations received M36 tank destroyers through U.S. aid in the postwar period, including , , and , where they served in reserve or training roles until the 1970s or 1980s. Taiwan received 8 ex-French M36s in 1955 for use on Island; the Republic of China operated them in the 1950s. Iran acquired M36s postwar. Across former operators, the M36 was generally phased out by the 1980s as main battle tanks like the M48 and M60 became standard, though isolated examples remained in reserve units into the late .

Preservation and Modern Assessment

More than 30 M36 tank destroyers remain intact worldwide as of 2025, preserved primarily in museums and private collections. Notable examples include a restored vehicle at the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum at Fort Gregg-Adams, , which underwent refurbishment to operational standards using period-correct components. An M36 is displayed at Yad La-Shiryon Memorial and Museum near , . The Tank Museum at Bovington, , houses another specimen, though it requires track restoration for full mobility. Restoration efforts in the United States during the focused on sourcing original Ford GAA engines and 90mm gun assemblies to authenticate surviving hulls, with projects at institutions like the in , culminating in drivable exhibits by the early 2020s. Replicas constructed from surplus M10 chassis have supported historical films, such as mid-2000s World War II productions requiring period-accurate anti-tank vehicles for battle scenes. Modern historical assessments commend the M36's 90mm M3 gun for revolutionizing late-World War II tactics, enabling U.S. forces to engage German heavy tanks like the Panther and at ranges exceeding 2,000 yards, thus restoring firepower parity after the M10's shortcomings. However, critics highlight the open-top turret's vulnerability to shrapnel and fire, which exposed crews to high in fluid combat. Post-war evaluations deemed the dedicated doctrine a strategic misstep, as versatile main battle tanks proved more adaptable, leading to the U.S. Army's abandonment of specialized anti-tank units by the .

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