About the M551 Sheridan:

The technical history of Armor is both colorful and dynamic in that it has always seethed with argument in the attempt to achieve the tank with the optimum of fire power, mobility and armor protection. The variety of required missions forced this to build two and even three types of tanks. But in the mid-fifties a significant change in the thinking of those who produce tanks occured. The pendulum, which had once swung through all the points of light, medium, and heavy, stopped and centered itself. The heavy tank was proving unwieldy and a maintenance headache. Its extra armor and slightly larger gun were insufficient compensation for the heavies' lack of mobility. Light tanks fared even worse. It was too large and not mobile enough in relation to its size for a combat role. And, what as even more serious, it was too heavy to be an airborne tank. In the early 1960's, however, the pendulum of change began to swing once again. New technological developments in the areas of weaponry, metallurgy and mobility made it possible to produce a light tank capable of correcting the serious problems. The culmination of efforts in this direction has been the introduction of the M551 General Sheridan. The Sheridan is air transportable and air droppable by currently existing aircraft. This gives U.S.A. tank with a capability for rapid strategic response. And the M551 swims with a water speed of 4mph. The Sheridan's barrier system gives the vehicle a free board of about 3 feet thereby enabling it to traverse rougher water than either the M113 or M114. In the area of main gun armament the Sheridan makes a total departure from all existing armor equipment save the prototype MBT 70 and M60-A1E2. The M551 is equipped with a XM-81E12 short barreled 152mm gun-launcher capable of firing the Shillelagh missile or conventional ammunition.

Features of the M551 Sheridan:

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A.A.F. Tank Museum
3401 U.S. Hwy 29B
Danville, VA  24540
434-836-5323   Fax: 434-836-3532