HSTV(L)

The High Survivability Test Vehicle (Lightweight) (HSTV(L)) was a U.S. Army light tank manufactured by AAI Corporation. It was developed under the Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Armored Combat Vehicle Technology (ACVT) program.[1]

History

The High Survivability Test Vehicle (Lightweight) arrives at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection at Fort Benning, now Fort Moore, in 2021

In early 1977 the Army selected proposals from AAI and Pacific Car and Foundry for HSTV(L) concept feasibility analysis.[2]

Pacific Car's proposal mounted the Ares Incorporated 75 mm gun in an external elevating trunnion mount alongside a coaxial 25 mm M242 Bushmaster autocannon. Twenty-two 75 mm ready rounds (Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot and high explosive) could be carried in a magazine and thirty-three more could be carried in hull storage.[3]

In December 1977, the Army awarded the HSTV(L) fabrication contract to AAI.[2]

Meeting the HSTV(L)'s weight target was one reported early challenge. As of September 1981, there were no significant problems reported with the HSTV(L).[4]

Martin Marietta expressed interest in a joint venture with the AAI Corporation to enter a version of the HSTV-L into the U.S. Army's Armored Gun System competition. The corporation apparently decided that the technology was not sufficiently advanced to proceed with radical changes in the HSTV-L to meet the new AGS requirements, therefore, they did not bid on the program. [5]

Design

HSTV(L) mockup c. 1979
HSTV(L) c. 1983

The HSTV(L) has a crew of three. The arrangement is unconventional, with gunner and driver being located in the hull and only the commander being located in the turret.[1]

The engine is an gas turbine Avco Lycoming 650 turboshaft developing 650 horsepower.[1]

Armament

Armament consists of an Ares 75 mm gun/XM274 a coaxial 7.62 mm M240 machine gun and a commander's M240.[1] AAI had originally planned to place a 0.50 caliber (12.7 mm) heavy machine gun at the commander's hatch.[3]

The AAI design as originally proposed called for sixty 75 mm rounds. As built, the test vehicle had only 26 rounds, but provisions existed for the original 60 rounds in the turret.[3]

Armor

As a prototype light vehicle, the HSTV(L) carried only basic light armor. The vehicle's frontal armor scheme consisted of 1 inch (25.4 mm) of rolled homogenous armor (RHA) angled at 80 degrees forming the upper glacis, with additional plates angled at 55 and 78 degrees forming the vehicle's lower glacis.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Foss, Christopher F., ed. (1985). "Light tanks". Jane's Armour and Artillery 1985–86 (6th ed.). London: Jane's Publishing Company. pp. 154–155. ISBN 0-7106-0820-9.
  2. 1 2 Foss, Christopher F., ed. (1983). "Light tanks". Jane's Armour and Artillery 1983–84 (4th ed.). London: Jane's Publishing Company. pp. 129–131. ISBN 0-7106-0781-4.
  3. 1 2 3 Hunnicutt 2015, p. 147-160.
  4. ↑ "Toward New Combat Vehicle Armament". Army Research, Development & Acquisition Magazine. 22 (5): 9–11. September–October 1981. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Freeman, Major Marshall A. (5 April 1991). The Army Needs a Strategic Armored Gun System—Now! (PDF) (War College Individual Study Project). U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks. p. 31. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

Sources

  • Hunnicutt, Richard Pearce (2015) [1995]. Sheridan: A History of the American Light Tank. Vol. 2. Battleboro, VT: Echo Point Books & Media. ISBN 978-1-62654-154-2.
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