Heavy Tank ASTRON Project

[Michel Van]

ASTRON
big tank build from 2 other small tanks
by Continental Motors, Hen and Chick concept

is there more information about this tank concept ?

source in Russian
http://tancist.livejournal.com/28040.html

 

[Nik]

They'd have horrendous mechanical problems with the articulation, and the area would be a bullet-trap...

I suppose they were inspired by the Union Pacific 'Big Boy' 4884 locos...

---
OT: Both my google-fu and high-speed link seem to have deserted me tonight: What was the lonnng, articulated logistics vehicle circa 'Nam era ?? I keep thinking 'Sidewinder'...

 

[Sea Skimmer]

Lots of heavy construction equipment operates reliably with articulation. I think the biggest problem is simply that it means by default you give up the ability to turn the tank within its own length. That isn’t real important in open terrain, but in a city or loading onto a ship or any other constricted place it’s a massive limitation. The bullet trap and general difficulty of armoring the area is certainly a concern, but I would point out that the flank armor on typical 1950s tanks usually sucked anyway and many of them had highly exposed suspension with no side skirts. Who needs flank armor when you can use Davy Crocket to suppress enemy infantry/

The articulation concept at least slightly serious for a while, and at least produced a large number of models and drawings. Same story with oscillating turrets. Those pictures in the link are all from the R.P. Hunnicutt American armored vehicle histories. Firepower and Patton are the mains ones for this kind of concept.

 

[starviking]

My worry would be how the loss of one engine would affect the tank's mobility. I'd also be worried about cumulative stress build-up where the two bodies joint the turret-support.

 

[Rickshaw]

Doesn't appear to be any vertical articulation in the design. Would make crest and ditch crossing, interesting, to say the least.

 

[Orionblamblam]

The articulation concept at least slightly serious for a while, and at least produced a large number of models and drawings.

More than that, it produced actual vehicles, such as the Lockheed "Twister."

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1844.0/highlight,twister.html

 

[Grey Havoc]

You've probably seen this already by now, but just in case you haven't:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,673.msg5146.html#msg5146

 

[Grey Havoc]

As to the Continental Motors Hen and Chick concept, it appears to have been designed to meet a requirement for a medium tank not a heavy one.

In Hunnicutt's book "Abrams" on p28 it says:
... it was directed that contracts be awarded to firms with recognised research and engineering staffs for the development of an X-weapon to perform the role of the medium tank. .. to be available for production 1958 (later 1961)
Ordnance Technical Committee minutes item 34753 24th April 1953 assigned the name ASTRON to identify the project.
Contractors were to be responsible for studying the X-weapon as a complete unit without restrictions being placed on any of the components. Seventeen proposals and bids were received from industry in response.
The following 10 pages in "Abrams" describe some of them. Some look fairly conventional. Others far from it.
It doesn't say what ASTRON stood for, if anything.
Official report pubd by OTAC, Center Line, Michegan, 1955

 

[Grey Havoc]

Speaking of ASTRON related projects, have a gander at Falcon/Aerie. Some more info on ASTRON in there as well.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Who needs flank armor when you can use Davy Crocket to suppress enemy infantry/

Via the Mother Jones blog:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiM-RzPHyGs&feature=player_embedded


EDIT: Here's a similar clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Pmf5p0AOA

 

[Conspirator]

my thing is is that if you were to put flex points where the turret base meets the two tank hulls it would improve performance in off road terrain AND almost forgot you could use them as pivot points for the turret for longer range and efficiency

 

[Foo Fighter]

Having seen quite a few of these project types I am unconvinced of their utility. I seriously doubt they could be reliable enough for combat use and would be a liability to the crews and units using them.

 

[sferrin]

There was a time during the late 80s where articulated tanks were the rage.






(Obviously not the 80s):

 

[Conspirator]

There was a time during the late 80s where articulated tanks were the rage.

View attachment 648528

View attachment 648529


(Obviously not the 80s):

the middle picture is what i was talking about in a sense with the flex points. you could use coilovers with ball jointed ends

 

[Bottleship]

Crysler "semi-trailer tank"

Размышления на тяжелую тему

Chrysler K и другие проекты американских тяжелых танков 1945–1946 годов

warspot.ru

136 tons (150 short tons), 155 mm gun, "maximum" armour (armour of 68-ton tank - front 10.5", side 2-4", rear 1.5", I think, actual armour of 136-ton tank - front between 12 and 18", side between 4 and 8", rear between 1.5 and 4")

But, this tank looks different.

 

[Michel Van]

more on ASTRON

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwVsImhJrAQ

 

[Grey Havoc]

Some more background on the X-Weapon component of the ASTRON project:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OX5xb-29Wg