二次世界大戰資料庫 (WW2DB)

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe 90-mm Gun Motor Carriage M36 tank destroyers, nick named Jackson for Confederate States of America general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, were designed to counter any potential heavily-armored German tanks, which later came true in the form of Panther and Tiger tanks. The design based on the M10 chassis was first completed in 1942, and the first prototype was completed in Mar 1943 as the T71 Gun Motor Carriage; after testing, an order for 500 was issued. In Jun 1944, the designation changed to its M36 final form. Like all American tank destroyers in this era, the turrets were open-topped as a weight-saving measure, while this feature also allowed better observation. They first saw combat in Sep 1944 in Europe, and immediately gained a good reputation for being one of the few models of Allied vehicles that could knock out heavy German tanks from a distance. About 1,400 M36 Jackson tank destroyers were produced during WW2.

ww2dbaseAfter the war, folding armored roof kits for the open-tops were manufactured to provide protection from shell fragments.

ww2dbaseM36 Jackson tank destroyers were used in the Korean War, and were effective in fighting all models of Russian-made armored vehicles used in Korea. During the conflict in Indo-China, the French forces also employed some M36 Jackson tank destroyers. They were also used by forces in Yugoslavia (including Croatia and Bosnia in the 1990s) and Pakistan.

ww2dbaseThrough the design's production life, 1,298 of M36 design, 187 of M36B1 design, and 287 of M36B2 design were built.

SPECIFICATIONS

M36

Machinery	Ford GAA V-8 gasoline engine rated at 450hp
Suspension	Vertical volute spring suspension
Armament	1x90mm M3 gun (47 rounds)
Armor	9mm to 108mm
Crew	5
Length	7.46 m
Width	3.05 m
Height	3.05 m
Weight	29.0 t
Range	240 km

Photographs

Visitor Submitted Comments

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1.  Bll says:
31 Oct 2009 11:02:40 AM

The M-36 first saw combat in Europe in 1944
it was a potent tank destroyer, and was armed
with the 3.5 inch weapon, that could destroy
and penetrate the armor of both the Panther
and Tiger.
By 1945 1,949 had been built, after W.W.II some vehicles remained in service during the
post-war years.
Yugoslavia used the vehicle in the 1990's.