SU-100 and M36 'Jackson' (new project) - September 26, 2023
Hello everyone. It's me Antony, back with another blog in 2023. We are now on September 26 - past the half of 2023. Now that I'm working and my 7th semester has started, my time for Blogs decreased to some occasions. At least it is good to be back at work.
I'm still waiting for any news related to the new civil service exam of this year - with some to the education and health departments; and the subscriptions to be open in case I plan to apply for another public job. Like I said before, I may give it a shot, but it will be the same thing as before - Reserve my days and my spare-time for study. If I fail, it would be another civil service performed, with my money being spent for nothing.
For the calling process to work as a teacher, I definitely gave up due to the lack/low number of vacancies for mathematics teachers. My mom said for December they might re-open the subscriptions. However, I'm not sure I plan to do that in case I'm going to wait for too long until they reach to my position and then I announce my interest for that vacancy.
Enough of that, let's go for the important. For today, I'm going to bring two new projects I started recently. As always, I'll never get tired of starting new projects while I have a load of them to conclude.
The first new tank I started is the Soviet SU-100. As always, I like to share the story of planes, vehicles, ships, weapons and more.
The SU-100 (Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 100, lit. "Self-propelled installation" 100) is the Soviet heavy tank destroyer, developed from the SU-85 with a 100 mm D-10S. It was used extensively during the last year of World War 2 and saw service for many years afterwards with the armies of Soviet allies around the world. The SU-85 was developed from the chassis of the T-34 tank, replacing the turret with a larger, fixed superstructure that allowed a larger gun to be fitted: the 85 mm D-5 gun, providing dramatically upgraded firepower compared to the 76.2 mm gun that equipped the initial models of the T-34. However with the introduction of the T-34-85 in 1943, the main Soviet tank destroyer was rendered obsolete but the engineers came with a new design for a tank destroyer, capable of taking down modern German tanks like the Panzer IV, StuG III, Tiger I and Panther. The new tank was armed with a 100 mm D-10S and had the front armor increased from 45 to 75 mm (1.8 to 3.0 in) in thickness with a constructional armor slope of 55 degrees, making armor as effective as 125 mm, which forced the Panzer IV and StuG III to all but the closest ranges and the Tiger I having to close in at less than 1 km. Additional improvements were the commander's workplace, as it now was made in a small sponson on the right side of the hull; combined with the commander's cupola this improved the commander's effectiveness. Mass production began in September 1944 and it quickly became popular with Soviet tank crews as its gun could penetrate virtually any German tank then in service until being outmatched by the Tiger II. The gun was excellent, capable of knocking down the Tiger I at 2 km with APCBC rounds while its APHE rounds could penetrate a max of 218 mm of armor. The SU-100 especially saw extensive service during the last year of the war. It was used en masse in Hungary in March 1945, when Soviet forces defeated the German Operation Frühlingserwachen offensive at Lake Balaton; and in the Battle of Berlin where the SU-100's HE rounds could deal with heavy fortifications. After WW2 the SU-100 remained in service with the Red Army well after the war; production continued in the Soviet Union until 1947 and into the 1950s in Czechoslovakia. It was withdrawn from Soviet service in 1967 but many vehicles were transferred to reserve stocks. Some exist to this day in the Russian Army holding facilities. Many Warsaw Pact countries also used the SU-100, as did Soviet allies such as Egypt, Angola and Cuba. A few SU-100 were delivered to Yugoslavia after the war, under the designation M-44. The SU-100 saw service in the fighting that accompanied the 1956 Suez Crisis, in which the Egyptians used SU-100s against Israel's M4 Sherman tanks. The vehicle was also utilized in the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Here's the images of the SU-100:
The SU-100 has been a midterm project while I was working on the T-34-76. The idea is to make its fixed casemate with the 100 mm D-10S gun. Then I'd add its other components like the commander cupola, some two pieces next to it (I guess it's the commander sight or ventilation device). So far it is looking good, aside from the detail around the gun's base.
In order to continue the tank without mixing too much, I saved it in a separate project file - keeping the T-34 with its own.
The next components are the hatches for the driver and gunner, the sight from the T-34-75 / T-34-57 / T-34-85, the external fuel tanks, the Red Army markings, a nice texture and rigging the tank. After the SU-100, the next tank is the SU-85.
The second new tank I started is the American M36 Jackson. Officially known as the 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36; is an American tank destroyer built during World War 2, designed from the M10 Tank Destroyer with the 90 mm M3 cannon. During the conflict, the American main tank destroyers were the M18 Hellcat and the M10 Tank Destroyer (informally known as the Wolverine). With the arrival of modern German tanks like the Tiger I, Tiger II and Panther, both tank destroyers proved to be inadequate to face them due to its main armament, the 3-inch (76.2 mm caliber) gun M7 and the 76 mm gun M1, presenting difficulties to penetrate the thick frontal armor of these new tanks past several hundred yards. In late summer 1942 American engineers had begun examining the potential of a new tank destroyer armed with a 90 mm gun - which would also equip the M26 Pershing. After a series of trials and challenges, the new tank - an M10 redesigned to receive the 90 mm M3 was finally accepted with an order for 300 vehicles on 1 June 1944 as the 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36 - nicknamed as the M36 Jackson in the modern days. The first 40 tanks did not make it overseas until September 1944, and entered combat in October 1944. The US First and Ninth Armies used M36s to re-equip tank destroyer battalions attached to armored divisions. The 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion began re-equipping on 30 September 1944, replacing most of the M10s with M36s. The M36 was well-liked by its crews, being one of the few armored fighting vehicles available to US forces that could destroy heavy German tanks from a distance, with the first tanks destroyed at 4,200 yards (3,800 meters) and 4,600 yards (4200 meters). After the war, production ended in May 1945 with 2,324 units built, with variants like the M36 and M36B2 based on the M10 chassis; and the M36B1 based on the M4A3 Sherman hull and chassis. It was also employed in the Korean War due to the lack of M26 and M46 tanks to support the South Korean army to confront Soviet tanks that equipped the North Korean army. However, limitations like the lack of spare parts and the equipment being retired in the US became apparent, still the Koreans made extensive use of the M36. France, Pakistan, Yugoslavia, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Serbia and Croatia also operated the American tank destroyer.
Here's the images of the M36:
Just like the SU-100, the M36 has been a midterm project while I was working on the M4A1 Sherman. Since both the M10 and the M36 had the original M4A1's vertical suspension system, chassis and transmission box's housing, I dediced to reuse these components while the main armament had to be redesigned to receive a muzzle brake from the original 90 mm M3 gun. However I noticed that the component was used in the M36B2 variant while I plan to make the M36. But I plan to make it along its top cover to protect its crewmen from enemy fire and mortar frags.
The turret and the hatches remains from the M4A1 Sherman, with a redesigned gun mantlet, hull and chassis from the M10. It will take a while to make its own turret unless I find for more images. And I have to make the hatches later.
In order to continue the tank without mixing too much, I saved it in a separate project file - keeping the M4A1 Sherman with its own.
And now, more images of the M36 'Jackson':
Finally the M36 received its turret. It was a little tricky to make, but the first part was the tank shells storage, then its main structure. Similar to the M10, the M36 has an open turret. Also, I decided to separate the muzzle brake from the main gun. Yet, I plan to reuse it for the M26 Pershing.
The hatches had to be hidden since I'll make them. I decided to add the decals from the M4A1 on the M36 - from the US Army to the Saunders (Girls Und Panzer).
The next components are the hatches for the driver and gunner, the gun breech, the ammunition rack, the engine section, the rear lights (even though they're still there), the .50 caliber M2HB Browning machine gun, the gun support, the tools, the hull details, a nice texture and rigging the tank. After the M36, the next tank is the M10.
Well, that's it for now my friends. I hope you like this Blog. I don't have updates from my original works to share you. In case I have some spare time to enjoy, I'll be working on other things aside from Blender projects and my personal things. Until the time comes, you will be surprised to see them. See you next time.
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