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Description
Update!
The revised version can be found here: [link]

World of Tanks [link] contest "Design Your American Vehicle" (Sept. 1-15) had me inspired to do just that. Design my own World War II era tank! Using heavy influences from the M4 Sherman series and the M24 Chaffee light tank.

I present the T19 "Custer" light tank.

T19 Custer

Designed: 1942
Year built: 1943
Number built: 200

Weight: 24.8 short tons
Length: 17.15ft/5.23m (w/o gun); 18.53ft/5.65m (w/gun)
Width: 11.6ft/3.53m
Height: 9.15ft/2.79m

Crew: 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver)

Armor: 50 mm front; 50mm side; 40mm rear; 60mm turret
Main Arm: 76mm M8L32
52 rounds
Alternate: 105mm howitzer
22 rounds
Secondary Arm: 2x Caliber .50 Browning T27E6
550 rounds
Engine: Chrysler Series H3208 Hemi
Engine Top Speed: 40mph/64kmh road; 30mph/48kmh off-road
Engine HP: 320 hp at 2,400 rpm
Power/Weight: ~1:155 lbs.
Suspension: Torsion bar suspension
Operational Range: 100mi/161km

Notes:

This tank and its history are pure fiction.

7th U.S. Cavalry, 2nd Reconnaissance Troop
New Guinea Campaign, Pacific Theater - January 24, 1943 to December 31, 1944

Tank design based in part on the successes of the upgraded M4A3E8 Sherman and captured PzIII. Designed for the European theater, but instead sent to the Pacific where it's open field maneuver capabilities are hampered by island terrain and heavy jungle. The alternate config. replaces the 76mm main gun for a 105mm howitzer best used for bunker busting heavily entrenched enemy fortifications and used as infantry support.

Tank was quickly phased out of field testing with the adoption of the M24 Chaffee.

Overview:
Using captured German Panzer tanks and looking to improve upon the mobility of the United States Army's mechanized divisions, the War Department contrcted several firms to develop and produce the next generation of American Light Tanks. One of the manufcturing firms that bid for the contract was current wartime producer Chrysler. Best known for it's current engine systems that powered the M4, T1, and T29 front line tanks.

The T19 Light Reconnaisance Tank is a result of using tried-and-true manufacturing techniques, and incorporating innovations discovered from reverse-engineering captured vehicles from several engagements. Powering the vehicle, Chrysler developed the H3208 Hemi V8 drive system. Supporting the gun motor carriage is a simple, yet effective torsion bar suspension system.

Development of the model T19 started mid-1942 with initial production models coming off of the manufcturing lines in 1943.

Capabilities:
The Custer is a comparativly fast light tank, on par with the American M5 Stewart and the German's Leopard light tanks. The Chrysler H3208 engine produces a measured 320 horse power at 2,400 rpm, giving the vehicle a ratio of 1 to 155 pounds. The high ground clearance, light body construction and effective suspension combined with the engine power make this tank an effective and agile mobile gun platform.

Recognizing the need for fire power, the T19 is armed with a primary 76mm cannon, a common armament mounted on many American tanks and anti-tank vehicles. To continue the U.S. doctrine of infantry support, the hull carries one Caliber .50 Browning T27E6 model heavy machine gun, with another one mounted in the turret mantlet. An optional machine gun mount on top of the turret gives either the Commander or Loader a tertiary weapon system.

Battle History:
Since the T19 was originally a test platform, only 200 models were ever produced. While specifically designed for the European theater which required greater mobility, the T19 was assigned to the 7th U.S. Cavalry, 2nd Reconnaissance Troop during the New Guinea Campaign in the Pacific Theater. Remembering their fallen general from unit history and being the first to adopt the new war machine, the tank crews quickly nicknamed the T19 after General George Armstrong Custer.

First field tested during the Salmaua-Lae campaign in September 1943, 20 T19s were beached at Lae assigned with the 7th U.S. Cavalry along with the 7th Division's 25th Infantry Brigade and the U.S. 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment landing at Nadzab. While the island was shrouded in fog and rain, the weather quickly changed by early morning allowing a clear approach and landing.

While the T19 performed according to specs on the beaches, the design's original European Theater ideal of mobility was soon hampered by the rough terrain and thick jungles of the Pacific island. With it's thin armor, the tank was at risk for becoming crippled from anti-tank weapons used by Japanese forces. Changing roles from forward recon to infantry support, the T19 soon became a valuable asset to infantry forces in three other campaign operations. However, with the introduction of the M24 Chaffee later on, the T19 project was canceled.

Variants:
During the Pacific Theater engagements and the role of forward reconnaisance to infantry support, the T19A1's 76mm gun was replaced with a bunker-busting 105mm howitzer to dislodge heavily entrenched and fortified enemy positions. The heavier calliber weapon transformed the tank into a short ranged, mobile artillery carriage while the machine gun mounts maintained the Custer's infantry support mission.

Description
Update!
The revised version can be found here: [link]

World of Tanks [link] contest "Design Your American Vehicle" (Sept. 1-15) had me inspired to do just that. Design my own World War II era tank! Using heavy influences from the M4 Sherman series and the M24 Chaffee light tank.

I present the T19 "Custer" light tank.

T19 Custer

Designed: 1942
Year built: 1943
Number built: 200

Weight: 24.8 short tons
Length: 17.15ft/5.23m (w/o gun); 18.53ft/5.65m (w/gun)
Width: 11.6ft/3.53m
Height: 9.15ft/2.79m

Crew: 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver)

Armor: 50 mm front; 50mm side; 40mm rear; 60mm turret
Main Arm: 76mm M8L32
52 rounds
Alternate: 105mm howitzer
22 rounds
Secondary Arm: 2x Caliber .50 Browning T27E6
550 rounds
Engine: Chrysler Series H3208 Hemi
Engine Top Speed: 40mph/64kmh road; 30mph/48kmh off-road
Engine HP: 320 hp at 2,400 rpm
Power/Weight: ~1:155 lbs.
Suspension: Torsion bar suspension
Operational Range: 100mi/161km

Notes:

This tank and its history are pure fiction.

7th U.S. Cavalry, 2nd Reconnaissance Troop
New Guinea Campaign, Pacific Theater - January 24, 1943 to December 31, 1944

Tank design based in part on the successes of the upgraded M4A3E8 Sherman and captured PzIII. Designed for the European theater, but instead sent to the Pacific where it's open field maneuver capabilities are hampered by island terrain and heavy jungle. The alternate config. replaces the 76mm main gun for a 105mm howitzer best used for bunker busting heavily entrenched enemy fortifications and used as infantry support.

Tank was quickly phased out of field testing with the adoption of the M24 Chaffee.

Overview:
Using captured German Panzer tanks and looking to improve upon the mobility of the United States Army's mechanized divisions, the War Department contrcted several firms to develop and produce the next generation of American Light Tanks. One of the manufcturing firms that bid for the contract was current wartime producer Chrysler. Best known for it's current engine systems that powered the M4, T1, and T29 front line tanks.

The T19 Light Reconnaisance Tank is a result of using tried-and-true manufacturing techniques, and incorporating innovations discovered from reverse-engineering captured vehicles from several engagements. Powering the vehicle, Chrysler developed the H3208 Hemi V8 drive system. Supporting the gun motor carriage is a simple, yet effective torsion bar suspension system.

Development of the model T19 started mid-1942 with initial production models coming off of the manufcturing lines in 1943.

Capabilities:
The Custer is a comparativly fast light tank, on par with the American M5 Stewart and the German's Leopard light tanks. The Chrysler H3208 engine produces a measured 320 horse power at 2,400 rpm, giving the vehicle a ratio of 1 to 155 pounds. The high ground clearance, light body construction and effective suspension combined with the engine power make this tank an effective and agile mobile gun platform.

Recognizing the need for fire power, the T19 is armed with a primary 76mm cannon, a common armament mounted on many American tanks and anti-tank vehicles. To continue the U.S. doctrine of infantry support, the hull carries one Caliber .50 Browning T27E6 model heavy machine gun, with another one mounted in the turret mantlet. An optional machine gun mount on top of the turret gives either the Commander or Loader a tertiary weapon system.

Battle History:
Since the T19 was originally a test platform, only 200 models were ever produced. While specifically designed for the European theater which required greater mobility, the T19 was assigned to the 7th U.S. Cavalry, 2nd Reconnaissance Troop during the New Guinea Campaign in the Pacific Theater. Remembering their fallen general from unit history and being the first to adopt the new war machine, the tank crews quickly nicknamed the T19 after General George Armstrong Custer.

First field tested during the Salmaua-Lae campaign in September 1943, 20 T19s were beached at Lae assigned with the 7th U.S. Cavalry along with the 7th Division's 25th Infantry Brigade and the U.S. 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment landing at Nadzab. While the island was shrouded in fog and rain, the weather quickly changed by early morning allowing a clear approach and landing.

While the T19 performed according to specs on the beaches, the design's original European Theater ideal of mobility was soon hampered by the rough terrain and thick jungles of the Pacific island. With it's thin armor, the tank was at risk for becoming crippled from anti-tank weapons used by Japanese forces. Changing roles from forward recon to infantry support, the T19 soon became a valuable asset to infantry forces in three other campaign operations. However, with the introduction of the M24 Chaffee later on, the T19 project was canceled.

Variants:
During the Pacific Theater engagements and the role of forward reconnaisance to infantry support, the T19A1's 76mm gun was replaced with a bunker-busting 105mm howitzer to dislodge heavily entrenched and fortified enemy positions. The heavier calliber weapon transformed the tank into a short ranged, mobile artillery carriage while the machine gun mounts maintained the Custer's infantry support mission.