The heavy tank M36 Jackson was an American heavy tank with a cannon powerful enough to destroy a Tiger or a German Panther.

 

To counter any attack by German heavy tanks, the U.S. Army decided to study the construction of a tank, equipped with a Canon 90 mm M3 able to eradicate all heavily armoured tank. Indeed,. the tank M10 Wolwerinewith 76 mm gun showed signs of weakness on large thickness of armour.  This study will bear its fruit in Europe when American troops will face the Panther and tiger.

Officially called "90-mm Gun Motor Carriage M36 tank destroyers", he received the nickname of "Jackson" in reference to the American general Thomas Stonewall Jackson.

Studies began based on the chassis of the M10 - A1 tank, which ended in 1942. It was in March 1943 the first prototype, T71 Gun Motor Carriage, made his entry in the official tests. Following these rather conclusive tests, 500 models were ordered. In June 1944, it will receive its official name, the M36 tank.

As for each tank destroyer, the turret will be open on top to save weight but also to improve the capabilities of observation of the crew. He will receive a counterweight at the rear of the turret (to counter the weight of the gun at the front), in which it will be possible to 11 rounds. On the ground, it was common to find a second machine gun on the hull, next to the co-pilot.

 

 

These tanks saw combat for the first time in September 1944 in Europe and immediately gained an excellent reputation because they were only to be able to out harm German heavy tanks at long range.

During the second world war, 1400 M36 tanks were built.

 

After war, roof kits were put in place to protect the crew from shrapnel.

Their use continued during the war of Korea, where they measured the heavily armoured tanks straight out of Russian plants. Namely also the French used them during the first Indochina war.

They equipped until the 1990s (Bosnia and Croatia) Yugoslav army and Pakistan.