Why is the MBT-70 Super Tank Project Described in 4 Words?

It would fail: MBT-70 was a joint tank project initiated by the United States and West Germany in 1963 to develop a new generation main battle tank. Aimed at addressing the weaknesses of existing tanks such as the Leopard 1 and M60, the MBT-70 featured advanced technologies such as a 152 mm autoloading main gun capable of firing both conventional shells and Shillelagh anti-tank missiles.

-It also had an innovative suspension system that allowed the tank to adjust its silhouette according to different combat scenarios.

-However, the project faced numerous difficulties, including disputes over design elements such as the gun and engine, problems with caseless ammunition that raised safety concerns, and the tank’s excessive weight, which made it unsuitable for European bridges and rail transport.

-These problems caused increased costs and delays, and ultimately caused both countries to abandon the project. The experience paved the way for the development of the Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams tanks.

MBT-70: Ambitious US-German Tank Project That Never Started

It was a good idea. Take two countries that are adept at designing tanks (the Americans and the West Germans) and build a supertank.

They could learn from armored weaknesses in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where tanks were destroyed by anti-tank missiles, and begin building a joint US-West German tank from scratch.

Meet MBT-70

At least that was the idea. The resulting tank, called the MBT-70, would have long-range firepower and a newfangled suspension that improved gunnery and targeting; These were all enviable traits.

But the technology proved costly, testing took too long to get into service, it was too heavy, and ammunition was below average. The MBT-70 never made it into mass production. Here is a brief history of tanks, from idea to failure.

Existing Main Battle Tanks Had Problems

The West Germans and Americans wanted better protection and survivability to develop tanks, the main battle tanks of the period. Leopard One and M60.

These tanks had their weak points, and if there had been armored maneuver warfare against the Soviets in Europe, it could have been disastrous.

Can’t we all get along?

Designers began working on what would become the MBT-70 in 1963. Things didn’t go so well at first. Both West Germans and Americans initially disagreed on armored tactics.

They resented each other’s plans for the tank’s gun and engines, and the teams came up with different designs for both. They couldn’t agree on whether to use the metric system or not, and communication wasn’t the best.

Try New Armor

However, both groups of engineers believed that the armor “steel layered tungsten alloy…uniform rolled steel armored” for the inner protective shell. The purpose was to provide protection against 105 mm bullets used by the Soviets at the time.

This would give the crew confidence that they would be protected against Soviet tanks and anti-armor missiles.

His Suspension Was a Selling Point

The resulting tank featured a ahead-of-the-game suspension system. It can lower the silhouette, making him a more difficult target. The tank could then be lifted when it was time to transport it quickly on roads or across flat terrain.

This would also allow the turret to fire on distant targets from a greater height or be used in cities where enemy soldiers fought from the second or third floors of buildings.

Caseless Ammunition and High Velocity Powered Weapon

This 152 mm autoloading main gun had the range to enable the tank to fire beyond the range of anti-tank missiles. And this 152mm gun can also shoot down its own Shillelagh anti-armor missiles. A 20 mm anti-aircraft gun can provide protection against aircraft and helicopters.

The MBT-70 was also faster than all existing Soviet tanks. Testers liked its agility and acceleration. It gave tankers peace of mind by providing protection against chemical attacks.

Then Problems Accumulated

But there was a problem with the gun. A new specieswithout case” round. This was supposed to be lighter – this was logical – but it did not help that the bullets did not burn completely and burning elements still remained in the barrel, a dangerous result that hindered subsequent firing. Without a lot of heat, there was moisture, which caused the bullet to expand and not fit into the weapon.

It Was Too Heavy and Expensive

The designers also made a mistake and did not foresee that the tank would be too heavy for the bridges and wagons in Europe. This was a fatal flaw that could make the tank unusable in combat.

These problems increased production time. The tank was over budget and late. So the West Germans and Americans gave up on the MBT-70 and continued designing it. Leopard Two And M1 Abrams. It was disappointing that the two allies did not treat the project well. It could have been a language barrier or disagreement with the metric system that caused communication problems.

The biggest problem was the heavy weight of the armor; this prevented him from wandering around Germany’s training grounds as they prepared for war with the Soviets. So MBT-70 was drawn.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. EastwoodPhD is the author People, Machines and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former US Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood.

All images are Creative Commons.