T29 Heavy Tank

The Heavy Tank T29 was an American heavy tank project started in March 1944 to counter the new German heavy tanks. The T26E3 (M26 Pershing), weighing around 45 tonnes, was not considered heavily enough armed or armored to counter the Tiger II, which weighed closer to 70 tonnes. The T29 was not ready in time for the war in Europe, but it did provide post-war engineers with opportunities for testing the engineering concepts in artillery and automotive components.

The T29 was based upon a lengthened version of the T26E3 hull and featured heavier armor, an uprated Ford GAC engine providing about 770 bhp gross, 650 bhp net, more comfortable controls for the driver, and a massive new turret incorporating the high velocity 105 mm gun T5. It weighed about 70 tons and was highly comparable to the German Tiger II in terms of both firepower and protection. Other trial models had Allison V1710 V12 engines.

Developed at the same time and closely related to the T29, the T30 Heavy Tank was virtually identical but mounted a 155 mm gun T7 and featured a more powerful engine and an extra crew member to help load the gun. In 1945, with the war in Europe already over, the T29 and T30 were classified "limited procurement" and a small order proposed on the basis that their large guns and heavy armor would be useful for attacking Japanese bunkers. Army Ground Forces command, however, objected to the deployment of such heavy vehicles and the war ended before the issue was resolved, so only a small batch of pilot models were constructed.

The final variation of the T29 concept, the Heavy Tank T34, mounted a 120mm gun based upon the then-current 120mm anti-aircraft gun. There were only two prototypes, one converted from one of the T29 pilot models and one converted from a T30. Once again, the end of the war curtailed further development, but the experience gained with the T34 was valuable in the development of the M103 heavy tank.

The T29 featured a coincidence rangefinder projecting from both sides of the turret.

There are a couple surviving T29s on post at Fort Benning, Georgia. One is located in front of the National Armor & Cavalry Museum.