M551 Sheridan Ideas and Inspiration

[GTX_Admin]

Hi folks,

A thread for your M551 Sheridan tank ideas and inspiration.

To start with, I have just purchased a 1/35 Vietnam/Cold War one - thinking of replacing the 152 mm Gun/Launcher with a normal cannon - either 90mm or 105mm and doing it up as a light tank for third world nations...maybe something African or South American.

Regards,

Greg

[Jeffry Fontaine]

The Vietnam/Cold War one - thinking of replacing the152 mm Gun/Launcher with a normal cannon - either 90mm or 105mm and doing it up as a light tank for third world nations...maybe something African or South American.

The real M551 was trialed with the 76mm gun from the M41 Walker light tank and in later years when "Light Divisions" and the buzz word was "Rapid Deployment Forces" the M551 was tested with a 105mm gun that I believe was called a low-recoil weapon that had been developed by Royal Ordnance.  Of course finding a better looking turret for the M551 would be nice.  I am not overly impressed by the original turret and often wonder what other turret could possibly fit on the M551 hull.  I went so far as picking up the Trumpeter K1A1 ROK MBT kit just to see if the turret would work on the M551 hull.  It was a bit wide but certainly looked functional. 

[GTX_Admin]

Yes, I know:

With 76mm gun:



With 105mm gun:



I don't actually mind the look of the turret.  I think it has some definite shot traps but still it looks attractive to me...in an odd sort of way.

I figure the regunned M551 could be a light export tank much in the same theme as the later Stingray:



As I said, maybe a South American or African user...any suggestions?

Regards,

Greg

[finsrin]

I would go with 76mm or M48 tank 90mm.  Thinking rapid deployment weight concerns.

[GTX_Admin]

I would go with 76mm or M48 tank 90mm.  Thinking rapid deployment weight concerns.

Maybe, though in my case I am thinking not so much rapid deployability but rather cheapness (hence exportability).  Plus, I don't want those stink in third world dictators (who might be overthrown any day) to have my latest, greatest MBT.

Mind you, that said, I am tending towards the 90mm option.

Regards,

Greg

[simmie]

The Sheridan turret has a shot trap problem, especially round the back.  But do what the Israelis do and hang a curtain of chains across.  I think they did that on the rear of the Merkava's turret.

[Weaver]

How about a complete imported turret, such as a GIAT FL-10/FL-11 (AMX-13 type) or the later TS-90 (Panhard ERC-90 turret - don't know if there's a kit though).

Hobbyboss do LAV-150s with a MECAR and Cockerill 90mm gun turrets: how about those?

[dy031101]

Wasn't a project combining Sheridan hull with Stingray turret entered into the Armored Gun System programme?

I was thinking of combining the suspension and roadwheel scheme of M56 Scorpion or even Lorraine 40t with the Sheridan though.  And yeah, a 90mm gun.

[GTX_Admin]

Real world M551 under trial by Australian Army:

[Maverick]

One wonders if my brother Blackhats would have preferred the Sheridan over the Bucket.  Certainly more firepower & agility, but would we have wanted the issues the vehicle had?

Regards,

John

[GTX_Admin]

Real world M551 concepts:












Seems I doubled up the pics here and left one out.

[Volkodav]

Old topic but with the woulda coulda shoulda build I began thinking along the lines of a 35, 40 or even 50mm Autocannon armed Sheridan

[GTX_Admin]

Old topic but with the woulda coulda shoulda build I began thinking along the lines of a 35, 40 or even 50mm Autocannon armed Sheridan

Go for it!

[Weaver]

That one with the short 105mm howitzer looks like a goer: a US equivalent of the 2S9 Nona http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2S9_Nona

[Feldmarschall Zod]

Maybe armed with a 60 mm HVMS gun?

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Maybe armed with a 60 mm HVMS gun?

Thinking the same thing almost.  A main gun of 57mm that was auto-loading/rapid fire like the Bofors 57mm that was used on the Combat Support vehicle based on the Marder IFV.  The 60mm would work just as well but that was developed much later.  So maybe as an "upgrade" to the Sheridan perhaps?  I had an idea for a 75mm or 76mm armed Sheridan but I can not find a suitable turret to replace that lopsided POS that comes in the kit. 


BTW, the 105mm howitzer turret Sheridan could be done if you can find the  resin LVTH-6 turret conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5 kit.  There are currently two resin conversions available and it is reported to be a complete LVTH-6 kit coming soon from AFV Club (Hobby Fan). 


CyberModeler Masterpiece Models LVTH-6 Conversion Product review
Aircraft Resource Center - Robin Model resin 1:35th scale LVTH-6 conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5
Philippine Defense Forum - LVTH-6 conversions for the AFV Club LVTP-5
Hobby Link Japan - Masterpiece Models resin 1:35th scale LVTH-6 turret conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5
HobbyEasy - Robin Model resin 1:35th scale LVTH-6 conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5

[GTX_Admin]

Seems I left one out on the previous page...it's now there.  Can you spot it?

[Feldmarschall Zod]

Maybe armed with a 60 mm HVMS gun?

Thinking the same thing almost.  A main gun of 57mm that was auto-loading/rapid fire like the Bofors 57mm that was used on the Combat Support vehicle based on the Marder IFV.  The 60mm would work just as well but that was developed much later.  So maybe as an "upgrade" to the Sheridan perhaps?  I had an idea for a 75mm or 76mm armed Sheridan but I can not find a suitable turret to replace that lopsided POS that comes in the kit. 


BTW, the 105mm howitzer turret Sheridan could be done if you can find the  resin LVTH-6 turret conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5 kit.  There are currently two resin conversions available and it is reported to be a complete LVTH-6 kit coming soon from AFV Club (Hobby Fan). 


CyberModeler Masterpiece Models LVTH-6 Conversion Product review
Aircraft Resource Center - Robin Model resin 1:35th scale LVTH-6 conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5
Philippine Defense Forum - LVTH-6 conversions for the AFV Club LVTP-5
Hobby Link Japan - Masterpiece Models resin 1:35th scale LVTH-6 turret conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5
HobbyEasy - Robin Model resin 1:35th scale LVTH-6 conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5

Thanks for the links Jeff. Now to figure out a scenario for a 105 version.

[Weaver]

Maybe armed with a 60 mm HVMS gun?

BTW, the 105mm howitzer turret Sheridan could be done if you can find the  resin LVTH-6 turret conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5 kit.  There are currently two resin conversions available and it is reported to be a complete LVTH-6 kit coming soon from AFV Club (Hobby Fan). 


CyberModeler Masterpiece Models LVTH-6 Conversion Product review
Aircraft Resource Center - Robin Model resin 1:35th scale LVTH-6 conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5
Philippine Defense Forum - LVTH-6 conversions for the AFV Club LVTP-5
Hobby Link Japan - Masterpiece Models resin 1:35th scale LVTH-6 turret conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5
HobbyEasy - Robin Model resin 1:35th scale LVTH-6 conversion for the AFV Club LVTP-5

That turret's very similar, but it's not the same:

1. The Sheridan turret has a flat top surface right to the back, but the LVTH-6 one is chamfered at the back of the bustle.

2. The Sheridan turret has a flat glacis plate but the LVTH-6 one is rounded.

Having said that, there's no reason in whiff-world why you couldn't put the LVTH-6 turret on the Sheridan anyway and whifjitsu the back story to match. Maybe they decided they wanted the Sheridan 105 but the budgets were tight so they adapted the LVTH-6 one instead?

By the way, I LIKE that turret: I've long been an advocate of a "proper" fire support vehicle with a short-barreled howitzer capable of direct or indirect fire.
 

[Feldmarschall Zod]

I do wonder what the turret race diameter difference is between the M551 and the LVTH6 is.

[Volkodav]

Had another thought, either a casemate type assault gun / tank destroyer, or an S-Tank type vehicle built on the Sheridan platform to provide DFS and DF / AT to light units.

[Weaver]

Here's something that just struck me (no idea if it's practical in detail, mind)...

You know how the BMP-3 has a 100mm gun AND a 30mm Autocannon? Well how about a British Sheridan turret that has the Scorpion's low-velocity 76mm gun AND a 30mm RARDEN in a common cradle with say, 45 deg of elevation?

[Volkodav]

Here's something that just struck me (no idea if it's practical in detail, mind)...

You know how the BMP-3 has a 100mm gun AND a 30mm Autocannon? Well how about a British Sheridan turret that has the Scorpion's low-velocity 76mm gun AND a 30mm RARDEN in a common cradle with say, 45 deg of elevation?

yes yes yes

[Volkodav]

Or......a 120mm breach loading mortar with an independently elevating 25 or 30mm and a coaxial MG

[GTX_Admin]

Here's something that just struck me (no idea if it's practical in detail, mind)...

You know how the BMP-3 has a 100mm gun AND a 30mm Autocannon? Well how about a British Sheridan turret that has the Scorpion's low-velocity 76mm gun AND a 30mm RARDEN in a common cradle with say, 45 deg of elevation?

I like...