M56 Scorpion – Photos & Vidéo

Photo galery d’un Scorpion M56, Le M56 Scorpion était un canon antichar automoteur américain non acolé, qui comportait un canon M54 de 90 mm avec un simple bouclier anti-explosion et un compartiment d’équipage non protégé. Il devait être transporté par hélicoptère ou par larf d’avion.

Source: Wikipedia

The M56 Scorpion was a self-propelled gun designed to support airborne units as a light tank destroyer that could be transported by cargo plane or deployed by parachute or glider. The vehicle was produced from 1953 to 1959, but it was not popular and was quickly replaced by the Sheridan light tank. The Scorpion was occasionally used to provide artillery support in Vietnam.
The M56 Scorpion had a 90 mm M54 gun with a simple blast shield and an unprotected crew compartment. It had no armor except for the 5 mm thick shield. It carried 29 rounds of ammunition and had a four-man crew (commander, gunner, loader and driver). The M56 Scorpion was powered by a Continental A01-403-5 gasoline engine that developed 200 horsepower at 3,000 rpm, allowing a maximum speed of 28 mph and a maximum range of 140 miles. It had rubber-tired run-flat road wheels and front drive sprocket wheels. It had infrared driving lights but no NBC protection and was not amphibious.
The M56 Scorpion was a fully tracked vehicle with a low profile and high mobility. It could be easily transported by air and dropped into combat zones. It had a high-velocity gun that could penetrate most enemy tanks at medium range. However, it also had many drawbacks, such as its lack of armor, limited ammunition, poor crew protection, low reliability and high maintenance. The M56 Scorpion was a specialized weapon that required careful tactics and coordination to be effective.