T29
- For the Soviet tier 3 premium Medium Tank, see T-29.
T29
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[Client Values; Actual values in
1,450,300 Cost |
1150330 HP Hit Points |
63/63.523.95/66.8 t Weight Limit |
- Commander
- Gunner
- Driver
- Radio Operator
- Loader
- Loader
720800 hp Engine Power |
35/12 km/h Speed Limit |
2023 deg/s Traverse |
11.4333.4 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio |
YesYes Pivot |
// mm Hull Armor |
279.4/127/102279.4/127/102 mm Turret Armor |
AP/APCR/HE
AP/APCR/HE Shells |
96/2800/68
1000/4800/680 Shell Cost |
115/115/185320/320/420 HP Damage |
128/177/38198/245/53 mm Penetration |
r/m ▲
16.67 r/m Standard Gun ▲
4.55 Rate of Fire Standard Gun |
▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲
1917.05 Standard Gun ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲
1456 Damage Per Minute Standard Gun |
m ▲
0.38 m With 50% Crew: 0.471 m ▲
0.42 Accuracy With 50% Crew: 0.52 m |
s 2.3 s 2.7 Aim time |
2626 deg/s Turret Traverse |
360° Gun Arc |
-10°/+15°-10°/+15° Elevation Arc |
12663 rounds Ammo Capacity |
2020 % Chance of Fire |
m 350 m 370 View Range |
m 395 m 745 Signal Range |
Additional Statistics
(Top Configuration)
Camouflage
- Stationary: 5.1%
- When Moving: 2.9%
- When Firing: 1.4%
Terrain Resistance
- On Hard Ground: 1.06
- On Medium Ground: 1.44
- On Soft Ground: 2.49
Dispersion Change Values
- Turret Contribution
- Rotation: 0.17
- Shot Recoil: 3.84
- Suspension Contribution
- Acceleration: 0.21
- Turning: 0.21
With 100% Crew
VII
1450300
The T29 is an American tier 7 heavy tank.
Development of this experimental heavy tank started in 1944. The prototype was built in 1947. The vehicle featured the 105 mm T5E1 gun. After the war, the mass production of heavy tanks was deemed unreasonable, and only a few prototypes of this vehicle were built.
Generally considered one of the best tanks of its tier, if not downright overpowered, the T29 is a solid combination of firepower, armor and mobility. Stock, it comes with the inefficient 76 mm M1A2 gun, but can immediately equip the powerful 90 mm M3 gun if it was researched previously from the M6, which will prove sufficient against most opponents it faces while the tank advances down the upgrade path. The 105 mm gun that you are able to mount later is very powerful and lethal, as it can penetrate almost any tank in its tier and still can penetrate some higher tier tanks and can pack quite a punch. The most notable feature of the T29 is its large and extremely well-armored turret, strong enough to bounce shots even from tier 9 tanks if faced frontally and with good angling. For this reason, the T29 performs exeptionally well when placed in a hull-down position. The frontal hull armor of the T29 is also quite robust if angled properly.
The T29 leads to the T32.
Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables
Modules
Tier | Engine | Engine Power (hp) |
Chance of Fire on Impact (%) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ()
| |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VII | Ford GAZ | 720 | 20 | 556 | 43500 | |
VIII | Continental AV-1790-3 | 800 | 20 | 569 | 59000 | |
VIII | GMC Allison V1710-E32 | 760 | 20 | 556 | 48500 |
Tier | Suspension | Load Limit (т) |
Traverse Speed (gr/sec) |
Rmin | Weight (kg) |
Price ()
| |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VI | T84E1 | 63.5 | 20 | 0 | 11500 | 13400 | |
VII | T84E3 | 66.8 | 23 | 0 | 11500 | 22000 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Frontal turret armor is almost 100% invulnerable against even many tier 9s, inarguably the best hull-downer in tier.
- Frontal armor can bounce quite a few at tier tank shots if you get the angling down.
- Large tracks and decent side armor can soak up shots if you dont over-expose them
- Top gun has excellent pen and great alpha; handling is also decent, especially with VStab mounted
- Decent speed and traverse once fully upgraded ( for a tier VII Heavy anyway ).
Cons:
- DPM and accuracy is not very good, especially compared to the Tiger.
- Huge size makes this tank very easy to spot, also draws arty fire due to very large and thinly armed engine bay
- The lower glacis and MG port are frighteningly weak and easy to pen.
- Turret roof oddly enough is able to be hit from ground level and is very thin; The cupola can be a liability at close range
- Stock grind will be severely painful if coming from the M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo
Performance
The T29, although capable of leading an assault, can be very hard to coax out of a defensive position if it keeps its hull hidden and only exposes its strong turret, which can only be somewhat-reliably penetrated by higher tier Tank Destroyers (specifically the tier 8 and 9 tech tree Chinese ones with the top guns and with HEAT, but the inaccuracy and rarity of them mostly negates this). If put into a tier 8 or higher battle, it will have more difficulty avoiding damage unless it is put in a hull-down position. The turret armor can bounce almost any shell and fight back with good results. The T29 does need to attempt to keep all of it's opponents inside of a relatively small arc in front of its armor to control the fight though. The T29 is somewhat slow although its acceleration is acceptable once the engine has been upgraded, making it somewhat less swift than German/Russian offerings on flat ground but not behind most player packs. Therefore, it is highly advised to research the 90mm gun first if you have not already, and then research mobility upgrades to increase responsiveness. If you did not research the 90mm gun on the M6, and you have no free exp to use, then this tank virtually hamstrings teams as the stock 76 mm prevents a (typically high on the battle listings) heavy from performing a key aspect of its role against its equals on the other team.
The T29, while not as notorious as the IS/IS-2 for its alpha damage, is often considered by many as one of the most powerful Tier 7 vehicles due to its acceptable mobility, powerful and well-handled gun and extremely resilient turret armor. While its hull armor is obviously weaker, the side armor and thick tracks is still enough to employ side-scraping tactics and its front hull can resist low-tier guns up to 175mm penetration. In comparison to other Tier 7 hull armor, only the Tiger(P) and Black Prince (as well as the premium IS-2) have any reasonable hull armor.
Early Research
- The 90mm Gun carries over from the M6 (or if you previously played the T20) and should be installed immediately. The 76 mm is insufficient for anything at this tier. Free XP is strongly recommended if you came from the M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo and don't have the 90mm M3.
- First, research the upgraded suspension, as it makes the T29 more durable to tracking shots, slightly improves mobility, and most importantly gives it the ability to mount the heavy 105mm cannon (though torsion bars allow mounting of 105).
- Next, research the 105mm Gun T5E1. The 38mm penetration boost is significant, and will provide much needed firepower against tougher opponents. Keep in mind that the listed rate of fire applies only when this gun is used with the upgraded turret. With the stock turret it is only 4 rounds per minute! It may be preferable to keep the 90mm until the upgraded turret has been unlocked.
- The top engine should follow in order to increase the speed and maneuverability of the vehicle.
- Finally, the top turret should be researched, which will provide +100 hitpoints, increase the fire rate for all guns and add the distinctive rangefinder "ears" to the appearance of the T29. Note that these "ears" count only as spaced armor; shots passing through will not cause damage.
Suggested Equipment
External Reviews and Opinions
Gallery
Historical Info
Technical info
On 1 March 1945, an order for 1200 T29 tanks was recommended by the U.S. Army. The new heavy tank was powered by the Ford GAC V-12, liquid- cooled engine developing 770 horsepower at 2800 rpm. The engine was coupled to the new cross-drive transmission developed by General Motors. The latter combined the functions of a transmission, steering gear, and brakes in a single unit. With the original cross drive model EX-120, the driver used an electric control system to operate the transmission under normal conditions. Two mechanical manual steering levers also were provided for emergency use. Lack of sensitivity and feel with the electric control resulted in its replacement by a mechanical system also using a single control lever, usually referred to as the "wobble stick". The manual steering levers were retained for emergency use. Separate controls were provided for the driver and assistant driver (bow-gunner).When delivered to the Army, the T29s were fitted with the CD-850-1 version of the cross-drive transmission. This unit incorporated two hydraulically-selected gear ranges driving through a single phase torque converter. Part of the power was transmitted through a mechanical path, bypassing the torque converter. This mechanically transmitted power, as well as that from the torque converter, was applied equally to both output shafts except when steering. At that time, all of the mechanical power was applied to one side to provide the speed difference required for steering. Braking for the vehicle was by means of built-in disc brakes actuated mechanically by foot pedals in the driver's compartment. A later version of the cross-drive was installed during the testing program. Designated as the CD-850-2, it replaced the single phase torque converter with a polyphase unit. This later model was more efficient at high speeds and acted as a fluid coupling after the point of 1:1 torque multiplication was reached. The great advantage of the cross-drive transmission was its simplicity of operation, which greatly eased the task of the driver. Pushing the wobble stick to the left or right steered the tank in that direction when the transmission was in first or second gear. The same action in neutral caused the vehicle to pivot in place with one track going forward and the other in reverse. Such action greatly increased the ability of the tank to extricate itself from difficult terrain where less agile vehicles would be stuck. Many components in common with the medium tank M26 Pershing were used in the new heavy tanks. The T80E3 tracks were the 23 inch T80E1 tracks of the Pershing fitted with five inch extended end-connecters, giving a total width of 28 inches. Power was transmitted to the tracks through sprockets at the rear of the vehicle. Eight road wheels per side increased the ground contact length to reduce the ground pressure of the tank which weighed over 70 tons, combat loaded. The hull was a welded assembly of armor castings and rolled plate similar to the M26. The same maximum thickness of four inches was retained on the upper front, but the angle was increased on the T29 to 54 degrees from the vertical. The driver and assistant driver (bow-gunner) were seated on the left and right sides of the front hull respectively. The latter operated the .30 caliber machine gun ball mounted in the front armor. Both the driver and assistant driver were provided with a single periscope in their hatch covers.
Crew
The large cast turret was installed on an 80 inch diameter ring well forward on the hull. The turret armor thickness varied from seven inches on the front to four inches on the rear. A crew of four manned the turret with the tank commander seated under a cupola in the center of the turret-bustle. The gunner was located in the right front of the turret and was provided with a direct-sight telescope in the gun mount and a periscopic sight in the turret roof. The two loaders worked in the rear of the turret ring, one on each side of the cannon. Two hatches, one on each side, were located in the turret roof in addition to the hatch in the commander's cupola. A circular pistol port was installed in the right side wall of the turret. The 105mm gun T5E1, installed in the combination gun mount T123, was a long-barreled weapon with a muzzle velocity of 3000 feet per second using the 39 pound armor piercing shot (AP) T32. During tests, a 24.6 pound hypervelocity armor piercing shot (HVAP) T29E3 achieved a muzzle velocity of 3700 feet per second. A 33.5 pound T30E1 high explosive shell (HE) was provided with a reduced muzzle velocity of 2500 feet per second. A total of 63 rounds of 105mm ammunition was stowed in the turret and hull. Two .50 caliber machine guns were mounted coaxially on the left side of the 105mm gun. Another .50 caliber machine gun was fitted on a pedestal mount in front of the left loader's hatch on the turret roof. Ventilation was provided by two 1500cfm blowers. One was mounted in the turret roof to the right rear of the commander's station, and the other was located in the front hull roof between the driver and the assistant driver.
History
An order for the T29 tank was approved on 12 April 1945, but the numbers were reduced to 1152. Also in April, four additional prototype T29s were authorized, but later, it was directed that one of these was to be armed with the 120mm gun T53 and redesignated as the heavy tank T34. This was only one of the many changes to the program with the approaching end of hostilities. After the end of the war in the Pacific, the production contract with the Pressed Steel Car Company, Inc. was terminated with one T29 completed and a second partially finished. All material was transferred to Detroit Arsenal for the completion of ten prototypes for postwar development studies authorized on 23 August, 1945. Later, the total of T29 prototypes was reduced to eight.
Models
The first T29 arrived at Aberdeen Proving Ground in October 1947. By this time, there was no longer any requirement for production of these heavy tanks and the test program was limited to evaluating the various power train components for application to new tank designs. Two additional T29s arrived at Aberdeen in April and May 1948 and they also were used in the endurance and engineering test programs.T29 number 1 was diverted to General Motors Corporation for the installation of a modified version of the Allison liquid-cooled V-12 aircraft engine. To accommodate the new power package consisting of the Allison V-1710-E32 engine and the CD-850-1 cross-drive transmission, the tank hull was lengthened by 1 31/32 inches. The new engine developed 870 gross horsepower at 2800 rpm and weighed about 1600 pounds dry. This vehicle, armed with the 105mm gun T5EI in mount T123, was designated as the heavy tank T29E1 in December 1945. T29 number 2 was fitted with what was designated as the heavy tank turret T5. This turret was equipped with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology combination hydraulic power turret traversing and elevating mechanism and computing sight. The tank was armed with the 105mm gun T5E2 in mount T123E2. OCM 32107, dated I April 1948, designated the T29 with the T5 turret as the heavy tank T29E2. At this point, a brief description of the guns and mounts is in order. The 105mm gun T5E1 was installed in mount T123, which used three recoil cylinders on top of the gun cradle. This design was modified to have two recoil cylinders on top of the cradle and one on the bottom. This new mount was the T123E1 and the cannon modified to fit it was the 105mm gun T5E2. Installation of the power traversing and elevating system in the T29E2 tank required further modification of the mount, and it received the new designation T123E2. Heavy tanks T29 numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were all armed with the 105mm gun T5E2 in mount T123E1.
Heavy lank T29 number 8 was armed with the 105mm gun T5EI in mount T123. This vehicle was modified to provide for the installation of the range finder T31E1 and telescopic T93E2 in mount TI36. Provision also was made to install panoramic telescopes T141, T144, and T145 to evaluate their use during indirect fire with the 105mm gun. The T141 and T144 telescopes were used in the gunner's periscopic sight mount, and a T156 mount for the T145 telescope was fitted into the turret roof. All this was part of a program to study the effectiveness of integrated fire control systems. The same program also utilized a modified version of the medium tank T25E1. When fitted with the new fire control system, T29 number 8 was redesignated as the heavy tank T29E3. The T31E1 range-finder was a stereoscopic instrument with a base length of nine feet. It was not connected to the other fire control system components and was operated by the tank commander, who manually relayed the range information using the control box just below the range finder. When the range and the desired lead were set into the control box, it was transmitted by flexible shafting to the telescope mount T136. Thus the gunner could give his undivided attention to tracking the target. Unfortunately, it did not work very well in practice. The tests at Aberdeen showed that backlash, as well as windup and binding of the flexible shafting, introduced serious errors into the system. However, the test program did show that the stereoscopic range-finder was particularly useful for spotting purposes and sensing bursts. It also emphasized the necessity for a range-finder, if first-round hits were to be obtained at ranges over 1000 yards.T-series prototypes
The T29, T30, T32, and T34 series of tanks were used to evaluate numerous experimental components after World War II. Although too late for the war for which they were designed, they provided invaluable service in developing these components for later tanks. Much of the work which made the early AV-1790 engine and the CD-850 transmission a reliable power package utilized these tanks. Later, they were used in the development of other power train components such as the XT-1400 transmission, which was tested in the T30.
Mk.VII | M6 | T28 | T29 | T30 | T32 | T34 | M103A2 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crew | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
Length | 10,43m | 8,43m | 11,12m | 11,56m | 10,9m | 10,83m | 11,77m | 11,23m |
Width | 3,66m | 3,12m | 4,54m | 3,8m | 3,8m | 3,76m | 3,8m | 3,63m |
Height | 3,12m | 3,00m | 2,86m | 3,22m | 3,22m | 2,81m | 3,22m | 3,56m |
Weight | 39,5t | 57,4t | 86,3t | 64,25t | 64,74t | 54,5t | 65,2t | 58,1t |
Engine power |
Liberty 338hp |
G-200 960hp |
GAF 500hp |
GAC 770hp |
AV1790 810hp |
GAC 770hp |
AV1790 810hp |
AV1790 750hp |
Max. speed | 8,8km/h | 35km/h | 12,8km/h | 35km/h | 35km/h | 35km/h | 35km/h | 37km/h |
hull armour (angle) |
12mm (28) |
83mm (30) |
305mm | 102mm (54) |
102mm (54) |
127mm (54) |
102mm (54) |
127mm (60) |
side armour | 12mm | 70mm | 152mm | 76mm | 76mm | 76mm | 76mm | 51mm |
Turret armour (mantlet) |
16mm | 83mm (102mm) |
- | 178mm (279mm) |
178mm (279mm) |
298mm (298mm) |
178mm (279mm) |
127mm (254mm) |
top armour | 6-10mm | 25mm | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm |
bottom armour | 6-8mm | 25mm | 25mm | 25mm | 25mm | 25mm | 25mm | 38mm |
Gun | 2x57mm Hotchkiss |
75mm M7 37mm MB |
105mm T5E1 |
105mm T5E2 |
155mm T7 |
90mm T15E2 |
120mm T53 |
120mm M58 |
Secondary armament |
5x7,62mm Hotchkiss |
2x12,7mm HB M2 2x7,62mm M1919A4 |
12,7mm HB M2 |
3x12,7mm HB M2 7.62mm M1919M4 |
2x12,7mm HB M2 7.62mm M1919M4 |
12,7mm HB M2 2x7.62mm M1919M4 |
3x12,7mm HB M2 7.62mm M1919M4 |
3x12,7mm HB M2 7.62mm M37 |
Historical Gallery
Historical Accuracy Errata
* The Continental AV1790 engine was only mounted on the T30 and M103 heavy tanks. Its configuration on the T29 is fake.
- The 105 mm T5E1 gun was the T29's only main armament. The other gun configurations are fake.