This M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer called Easy Tiger is in private ownership but can be seen at many of the military vehicle events during the summer in Britain.

Working WW2 M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer Easy Tiger in Britain. Reg No. 40191688

Spcifications

The 90mm Gun Motor Carriage, M36 was never called the 'Jackson' during WW2. It was given the nickname after the war by a model kit company and the name stuck.  This tank destroyer is armed with a 90 mm main gun. 47 rounds could be carried on the vehicle. It was also armed with a cal.50 (12.7 mm) Browning M2HB machine gun and some also mounted a Browning M1919 machine gun . The five man crew (commander, driver and three gunners) were protected by armour that ranged between 108 mm to just 9 mm.

It was 7.46 m (24 ft 6 in) long including the gun and 5.97 metres (19 ft 7 in) without the gun. It was 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in) wide and 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in) tall. It was powered by a Ford GAA V-8 gasoline petrol engine that produced 450 hp. It had a maximum road speed of 48 km/h (30 mph) and an operational range of around 192 miles before it needed to refuel. It had Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS).

Working WW2 M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer Easy Tiger in Britain. Reg No. 40191688

This tank's history

The owners believe this tank destroyer took part in the Battle of the Bulge as part of the US Army 703 Tank Destroyer Unit (703 TD). It then served in Korea and the middle east. America loaned the tank to the Israeli Army to help fight Syria and Egypt. It was then shipped back to the USA and put into storage. It was then given to the Bosnian Army where it was kept in a maintained condition. A T55 Soviet diesel tank engine was retro fitted to the vehicle in Bosnia.

British tank importer Marcus Glen purchased the tank and shipped to to Britain. The present owners obtained it in 2012. M36 Jackson crew veterans have told the owners that they did not like the metal cover that was later issued to each tank destroyer. The little slit gave a limited view of potential targets and threats. It restricted access in and out of the tank. Most crews did not use them if they had the option.

The M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer Easy Tiger was armed with a 90mm main gun

M32 Jackson Tank Destroyer Variants

The original M36 had a 90 mm gun turret on a 3" GMC M10A1 hull (M4A3 chassis): 1,298 were produced/converted. The M36B1 had a 90 mm gun turret on a Medium Tank M4A3 hull and chassis: 187 were produced/converted. The M36B2 had a 90 mm gun turret on a 3" GMC M10 hull (M4A2 chassis) powered by a GM 6046 diesel (conjoined twin 6-71s): 287 were produced/converted.

A canvas tarpaulin was fitted across the open turret to keep out rain and snow on the M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer

The first M36 prototype was completed in March 1943. It was characterized by a new turret mounting the 90 mm M3 gun on a standard M10 chassis. The prototype designated T71 Gun Motor Carriage passed all tests with success, proving lighter and thus more agile than the regular Sherman M4A3 and order for 500 was issued. Upon standardization the designation was changed to “90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36” in June 1944.

These were produced by the Fisher Tank Division (General Motors), Massey Harris Co., American Locomotive Co. and Montreal Locomotive Works (chassis) and hulls by the Grand Blanc Arsenal. The M36 was based on the upgraded M10A1 Wolverine hull, whereas the B2 was based on the regular M10 chassis/M4A3 diesel.

The M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer's gun lock was at the rear of the vehicle. A metal platform near the engine hatch enabled addition stores and ammunition to be tied down on the back.

Like all US tank destroyers, the turret was open-topped to save weight and provide better peripheral observation. However of the turret design was not a simple repeat of the sloped plates of the M10 but rather a thick casting with front and side slopes and a backwards recline.

A bustle acting as turret basket was welded on this casting to the rear, providing extra ammo storage (11 rounds) as well as acting as a counterweight for the M3 main gun (47 rounds, HE and AP).

M36 Jackson crews would place a wooden plank across the front of the hull and add sandbags for additional protection.

No hull machine gun

On the original design for the M36 Kackson Tank Destroyer there was no Hull Machine gun. The cal.50 (12.7 mm) Browning M2 heavy machine gun was installed on a pintle mount on the turret bustle. There was no coaxil machine gun next to the main 90mm gun. The M36B1 had a secondary Browning M1919 cal.30 in the hull. Postwar modifications on other veariants included the fitting of a hull ball mount Browning cal.30 machine gun on the co-driver’s position

Where can I see more M36 Gun Motor Carriage Jackson Tank Destoyers?

• M36 GMC - 2x Private collection, UK
• M36 GMC - Marcus Glenn Collection, UK
• M36 GMC - Kerry Cheese Collection, UK
• M36 GMC - 2x Private collection, Netherlands
• M36 GMC - Private collection, Belgium
• M36 GMC - Normandy Tank Museum, Catz, near Carentan, France
• M36 GMC - Arpaise, Italy
• M36 GMC - Gambatesa, Italy
• M36 GMC - Caserma 'De Carli' Cordenons, Italy
• M36 GMC - 2x Army Technical Museum, Lesany, Czech Republic
• M36 GMC - Muzeum Obrnene Techniky, Smrzovka, Czech Republic
• M36 GMC - 16x Park of Military History, Pivka, Slovenia
• M36 GMC - Muzejska Zbirka Naoruzanja Domovinskog Rata, Kralovac, Croatia
• M36 GMC - Memorijalni centar Domovinskog rata, Vukovar, Croatia
• M36 GMC - Dinara mount area, Croatia
• M36 GMC - 2x Miclic Range and Military Area, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• M36 GMC - Military Academy, Belgrade, Serbia
• M36 GMC - Serbian armed forces, Kosovo
• M36 GMC - Goce Delchev Army Barracks, Skopje, Macedonia
• M36 GMC - Etimesgut Tank Muzesi, Turkey
• M36 GMC - On the road between Ispahan and Yazd, Iran
• M36 GMC - Iran-Iraq War Monument, entrance to Taft (near Yazd), Yazd province, Iran
• M36 GMC - Chandigarh Museum, Chandigarh, India
• M36 GMC - Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, Beijing, China
• M36 GMC - 2x Armor Academy and military base, HuKou, Taiwan
• M36 GMC - ROC Marine Corps base, near Taipeï, Taiwan
• M36 GMC - Republic of China Military Academy, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• M36 GMC - Xinfeng Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan
• M36 GMC - Kinmen National Park military memorial, Taiwan
• M36 GMC - Seul War Museum, Seul, Korea
• M36 GMC - Tsuchira Tank Museum, Tsuchiura, Japan
• M36 GMC - Military Museum Of Southern New England, Danbury, CT, USA
• M36 GMC - Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles, Nokesville, VA, USA
• M36 GMC - 3x Private collection, USA
• M36 GMC - Veterans Memorial Museum, Huntsville, AL, USA
• M36 GMC - New Orelans, LA, USA
• M36 GMC - U.S. Cavalry Museum, Fort Riley, KS, USA
• M36 GMC - Larry Mogge Collection, KS, USA
• M36 GMC - Fort Bliss Museum, Fort Bliss, TX, USA
• M36B1 GMC - 11 Armoured Cavalry Division military base, Zagan, Poland
• M36B1 GMC - Memorijalni centar Domovinskog rata, Vukovar Croatia
• M36B1 GMC - 2x Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran
• M36B1 GMC - 4th Infantry Division Museum, Ft. Hood, TX, USA
• M36B1 GMC - 2x Private collection, USA
• M36B1 GMC - National Armor and Cavalry Museum, Fort Benning, GA, USA
• T71 M36 Pilot GMC - Army Center for Military History Storage Facility Anniston, AL, USA
• T71 M36 Pilot GMC - Institute of Military Technology, Titusville, FL, USA
• Source - Pierre-Oliver Buan - http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzers.html

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