M551 Sheridan - Academy's No. 13011, released in 2005
The first Armored Recon Airborne Assault Vehicle M551 Sheridan tanks rolled off the assembly line in 1965, with many changes from the 12 original prototypes; the most noticeable was the far more angular, welded aluminum, hull shape for better ballistic protection, new road wheels and floatation gear. Powered by a 300 HP V6 water-cooled, turbocharged diesel, its six speed transmission (four forward - two reverse) and high horsepower to weight ration gave it a 40 MPH top speed, with 375 mile range from its internal 160 gallon fuel tank. Capable of being air-dropped by parachute, this feature gave way to the far more reliable Low Attitude Parachute Extraction System (LAPES) where the M551, mounted on a pallet was pulled from a low flying C-130 Hercules by drogue and then main parachutes. Originally designed to be fully amphibious, like the Russian PT-76, the production vehicle was changed and used canvas flotation screens for river crossing but could not be used for amphibious landings. The main armament consists of a 152mm M81 gun/missile launcher capable of firing conventional ammunition and the MGM-51 Shillelagh antitank missile (20 conventional rounds and 8 missiles) as well as a 7.62 mm M240 machine gun and a .50 caliber M2 HB antiaircraft machine gun. It also carried an M129 telescopic sight for the main gun, and an M44 infrared night sight mounted on the turret roof. The M551 Sheridan saw limited action towards the end of the Vietnam War, saw action in Operation Just Cause in Panama (1989), and was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield. Currently, 300 Sheridan's are used by the Opposing Forces Regiment at the National Training Center as "enemy" tanks in combat training.
