The question of T24/T40/M9 tank destroyers

[karlik]

Hi!
Tel me please, how many T24/T40/M9 tank destroyers were produced? I've seen variants 24,27,50 and prototypes only.

[OldBill]

"British and American Tanks of World War II" (Chamberlain and Ellis) p111 says that 3" GMC (Gun Motor Carriage) T24 was cancelled after trials showed the vehicle to be too tall and its gun mounting too complicated. No info on the numbers of prototypes produced.
3"GMC T40 (standardised as M40) was originally supposed to be for 50 vehicles, but only 28 of the guns were available, and as the M10 would probably be in production before the M40 could be completed, it too was cancelled. Here's a link to another forum with some amplifying information.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/weapons-te ... -were.html

[karlik]

Thank you!

[OldBill]

YAQW. FWIW, I've always thought we screwed up by not using the design and making the M40 into something akin to the SU-85/SU100, in effect, use the automotive components of the M3 Grant and its hull with more armor, slope the glacis, and install a limited traverse 3" gun.