What were the army tanks made of?

Answer 1

Up until the Vietnam War, US tanks were built from steel. With the one exception of the M551 Sheridan light tank (17 tons); which was officially designated as the Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle and first fielded in January 1969 directly into the Vietnam War.

The Sheridan had an aluminum hull with a steel turret and 152mm main gun. It was the only US tank that could swim and was air transportable. The M551 also fired a caseless tank round, no empty shell casing ejected from the breech after firing, as they did in the M48 Patton tanks after firing.

After Vietnam, the M1 Abrams MBT (Main Battle tank) entered service in about 1983. The Abrams (named after the last US commander in Vietnam, General Creighton Abrams) is constructed from classified man made materials similar to the Kevlor helmet and protective body armor worn by current troops; as well as other metals. The M1 also fires a semi-caseless tank shell, not as caseless as the Sheridan did, as a metal cap ejects from the breech after firing in the M1.

Answer 2

The Vietnam War was the last time US tanks were constructed from homogeneous steel; meaning from all of one kind of metal. These were the M46, M47, and M48 Patton tanks. The M46 Patton fought in the Korean War, the M47 Patton never saw action with US forces, and the M48 Patton served with the US Marine Corps and US Army in Vietnam. In 1969 the US Army fielded it's first all new type of tank, the M551 Sheridan light tank (17 tons) officially designated the Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle. The Sheridan was designed, built, and fielded directly into Vietnam in January 1969. The M551 was issued to Armored Cavalry units in Vietnam, and was constructed of aluminum with an all steel turret and 152mm main gun. It was amphibious and air transportable. The Sheridan also fired a caseless 152mm shell; no empty shell ejected from the breech after firing. After Vietnam, today's new tanks are constructed of composites, like the kevlor helmet and protective armor for troops, the M1 Abrams (named after the last US Army commander in Vietnam, General Creighton Abrams) is built from classified man made materials, along with other metals. The Abrams MBT (Main Battle Tank) also fires a semi-caseless tank shell, only the back cap ejects...similiar to the old Sheridan tank, the majority of the tank shell (cartridge) dissolves upon firing within the cannon's breech. However, with the M551 Sheridan, the whole cartridge dissolved within the breech, there was NO back cap that ejected.

Answer 3

Military armored vehicles (tanks in particular) were traditionally built of steel during the WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam War. In the Vietnam War however, the US did field an aluminum built tank, the M551 Sheridan. The M551 had an aluminum hull but a steel 152mm gun & turret. Post Vietnam War tanks are made of composite materials which are classified to the public.