| The T23 was one of the T20 series of medium tanks designed to replace the M4 Sherman and were the first of the T20 series tanks to be completed. They were the only ones to
be placed in production and 250 examples were produced alongside the M26.
The T23's electric drive mechanism was a novel way to move a tank, having been previously tested in the M6A2 heavy tank , and worked by having the GAN engine power an
electric generator which in turn drove two traction motors which were connected to the tank's final drives. This allowed the engine to operate at its most efficient speed at all
times since there was no direct connection between the engine and tracks, and also allowed an infinitely variable turning radius. T23 was fitted with the same VVS suspension
as the Sherman, and later the T23's turret was adopted for use on the 76mm gun M4s. Although it was proposed to standardize T23 as the medium tank M27 once it had been
fitted with torsion bar suspension (making it T23E3), it was not adopted due to maintenance problems and concerns over training of maintenance personnel to deal with the
electric drive system.
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VARIANTS OF THE SERIES
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GENERAL RECOGNITION POINTS
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- Six small roadwheels with top rollers.
- Sprocket rear, Idler front.
- Sharply sloping glacis plate with MG mount on right-hand-side.
- Central exhaust on hull rear plate.
- Near-vertically sided turret with single tube main armament.
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WEBSITES
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DOCUMENTS
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DISCUSSION FORUM
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