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The M10 tank destroyer was a United States tank destroyer of World War II based on the chassis of the M4 Sherman tank fitted with the 3-inch (76.2 mm) Gun M7. Formally 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage, M10, it was numerically the most important U.S. tank destroyer of World War II and combined a reasonably potent anti-tank weapon with a turreted platform (unlike the previous M3 GMC, whose gun was capable of only limited traverse). Despite the introduction of more-powerful types as replacements, it remained in service until the end of the war, and its chassis was later reused with a new turret to create the M36 Jackson, which used a 90mm gun instead of the 76.2mm gun. It was christened the Wolverine by the British, although unlike other vehicle names such as the M4 Sherman, the name was not adopted by American soldiers,〔Bryan Perrett (2003), ''Impossible Victories]'', p 98, Barnes & Noble, ISBN 978-0-7607-3533-6〕〔Chris Henry & Brian Delf (2004), ''British Anti-tank Artillery 1939–45]'', p 23, Osprey, ISBN 978-1-84176-638-6.〕 who called it ''TD'' (a nickname for any tank destroyer in general) beyond its formal designation. ==Development== US combined-arms doctrine on the eve of World War II held that tanks should be designed to fulfill the infantry support and exploitation roles. The anti-tank warfare mission was assigned to a new branch, the tank destroyer force. Tank destroyer units were meant to counter German blitzkrieg tactics. Tank destroyer units were to be held as a reserve at the corps or army level, and were to move quickly to the site of any enemy tank breakthrough, maneuvering aggressively to destroy enemy tanks. This led to a requirement for very fast, well-armed vehicles. Though equipped with turrets (unlike most self-propelled anti-tank guns of the day), the typical American design was more heavily gunned, but more lightly armored, and thus more maneuverable, than a contemporary tank. The idea was to use speed and agility as a defense, rather than thick armor, to bring a powerful self-propelled gun into action against enemy tanks. The 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage T35 was the prototype of the M10. It was equipped with a 3-inch (76.2 mm) gun in a sloped, circular, open-topped turret, developed from the Heavy Tank T1/M6 turret, and mounted on an early-production Medium Tank M4A2 hull.〔Chamberlain & Ellis (1969) p140〕 At Tank Destroyer Command request, the design was modified to give a lower silhouette and "angled hull superstructure". This was built with thinner but sloped armor on the sides and rear, again using an M4A2 chassis; the test vehicle designated as 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage T35E1. The turret was then changed for a pentagonal welded one.〔Chamberlain & Ellis (1969) p140〕 In June 1942 the T35E1 was finalized as the 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10 and ordered into full production. In order to get more production, a design on the M4A3 chassis was also authorized as the M10A1 GMC. Towards the end of production the 76 mm gun M1 was installed in the last 300 or so M10s, as it was being fitted into the new production M4 Sherman tank at the time. The 76 mm M1 offered slightly better anti-armor performance than the previous 3" gun M7. The British converted some M10s to use their successful (76 mm) 17-pounder anti-tank gun, which they designated as "17pdr SP Achilles". The turret needed modification to take the longer gun. The 17-pounder was of a similar bore, but longer and using a larger propellant charge had far superior armor penetration capability. It was used by the British, Canadian and Polish armies in Italy and northwest Europe.〔(M10 Achilles IIC )〕 After World War II, a batch was acquired by the Republic of China Army as demilitarized surplus items. The vehicles' main guns were rendered useless prior to delivery and consequently replaced in 1949 with ex-Imperial Japanese Army 105mm infantry howitzers. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「M10 tank destroyer」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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