M103 tank (US/USMC)

[Pibwl]

US Army:

Unit 303 M103 Heavy Tank is available much too early (6/52 - 12/60). According to Hunnicutt's "Firepower...", a production of T43E1 tanks started only in 1953, but they had a lot of teething problems, weren't accepted by the Army and were all stored in 1955. Only in 4/56, after proposing improvements, they were standardized as M103 (although their modernization could have lasted some time). Only from 1/1958 they were deployed in one battalion in Europe. They were used until 4/1963 there.

It should have stereo RF. According to a Polish article in nTW 12/2007, basic M103 took 33 rounds (increased to 38 in following variants), and had no Heat ammo. Also AFV Weapons Profile 41 on M103 (from 1972) mentions only AP-T, HE and smoke ammo.

Formations 300, 301 need dates' change according to this unit.

Form. 301 Heavy Tank Co consists of two tanks and five 3-tank platoons - according to Hunnicutt it should be six platoons, without HQ tanks (total: 18), so maybe just the third tank should be added? (there was also one jeep in each platoon, if we want to be overly precise).

304 M103A1 - they were only used in 1959-62 period, borrowed from the Marines. It should have stereo RF and a significantly improved FC over the M103, with a ballistic computer (still without Heat ammo).


USMC:
276 M103A1 Hvy Tank - stereo RF, improved FC, no Heat as above.

273 M103A2 Hvy Tank - it had an improved FCS, but it seems, that apart from giving a possibility to fire Heat ammo, it wasn't great difference. I've found no mention on a presence of night vision sights - only xenon reflectors in M103A2.

Michal

Edit: Hunnicutt also gives 33 rounds for M103, 38 for the rest.
M103A2 was a bit faster due to better engine - 37km/h or 23 mph.