The M36 Jackson arrived in Europe September 1944 and proved to be an immediate success. Its 90-millimeter gun made it the most lethal armored vehicle in the American arsenal and more importantly, capable of defeating German heavy armor.
When was the M36 Jackson used?
This new armoured weapon was called the M36. Jackson. It started service in the U.S. Army in April 1942. It saw combat in Europe in September 1944.
Why is the M36 called Jackson?
This new tank hunter was known by the soldiers as “Jackson” in reference to the Confederate general of the Civil War Stonewall Jackson, or “Slugger”. Officially, it was named “M36 tank destroyer” or “90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36” by the ordnance and US Army at large.
When was the M36 made?
1943
M36 tank destroyer
| 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36 | |
|---|---|
| Designed | 1943 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors Massey-Harris American Locomotive Company Montreal Locomotive Works |
| Unit cost | US$51,290 (equivalent to $754,031 in 2020) (M36) |
| Produced | April–August 1944 October–December 1944 May 1945 |
Are tank destroyers tanks?
tank destroyer, a highly mobile lightly armoured tank-type vehicle that was used to fight tanks in World War II. Tank destroyers tended to have relatively thin side and rear armour, and the gun was mounted in an open turret or in a casemate that had only a limited traverse.
How good was the M36 tank destroyer?
The M36 was with its 90mm gun able to penetrate heavy german tanks even at long distances. As common of US Tank Destroyers, it had an open topped turret to aid in observation, altough this left it vulnerable to artillery fragments and the like.
What is an M36 Jackson tank?
M36 Jackson. The 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage, M36 often refered to by its nicknames Jackson or Slugger, was an American Tank Destroyer first deployed in 1944 to counter the heavy tanks being field by nazi-Germany at the time.
What does M36 mean?
The 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage, M36 often refered to by its nicknames Jackson or Slugger, was an American Tank Destroyer first deployed in 1944 to counter the heavy tanks being field by nazi-Germany at the time.
How did the M36 penetrate the German Panther tank?
In an engagement with a German Panther tank at 1500 yards, an M36 of the 776th TD Battalion was able to penetrate the turret armor which became the commonplace preferred target, along with the sides, rather than the glacis. Tigers were harder to handle and needed to be engaged at smaller ranges.
