MBT-70, was Re: Advanced Guided Missile systems

At 23:39 03/07/98 -0500, you wrote:
SNIP
>The MBT-70 project was going to be the new-and-improved MBT to replace 
>the M-60.  Joint project with US and Germans, who have somewhat 
>different ideas about tank design philosophy in first place.  Was 
>overly complex--kneeling suspension is just one example.  Supposed to 
SNIP
>
>John M. Atkinson

One hilarious problem was whether to use metric or Imperial standards on
MBT-70; they compromised- American bits would be Imperial, German bits
metric!  Hows that for letting bureaucrats decide technical matters?
Another feature was the integrated fighting compartment; i.e. the driver
was
in a forward-pointing subturret INSIDE the main turret.  This meant a)
that
his view was often terrible and b) that his position changed rapidly and
unpredictably within the tank, so c) he puked a lot.

Rob

"Rob Paul

Dept of Zoology
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