Near Jefferson City in Cole County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
M551 Sheridan Tank
Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 11, 2022
1. M551 Sheridan Tank Marker
Service: 1969-1996
Width: 9.1 feet
Weight: 34,000 lbs.
Range: 348 miles
Length: 20.6 feet
Height: 7.5 feet
Crew: 4 personnel
Engine: GM Detroit diesel, 6 cylinder turbo 300 hp
Speed: 43 mph (road), 3.6 mph (swimming)
Armament: M81 152 mm rifled cannon (20 rds), MGM-51 Shillelagh missile (9 rds), M2 50 caliber machine gun (1000 rds), M73 machine gun 7.62 mm (3000 rds)
The M551 Sheridan went into production in 1966 to fulfill the Army's requirement for an air droppable light tank that could cross waterways. The Sheridan tank featured relatively lightweight aluminum armor and a newly designed 155 mm main gun that could fire conventional ammunition as well as the Shillelagh anti-tank missile. The new light tank was initially popular with crews because it rarely was immobilized or threw track compared with the M48 Patton tank. The lightweight armor and unproven main gun came at a cost. The tank was susceptible to land mines and rocket propelled grenades and had a rate of fire one fourth as fast as Patton tank crews. Despite the M551's technical problems, the Sheridan extended its life by specializing as an airborne tank, and masquerading as enemy tanks during training exercises at the NTC (National
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • War, Vietnam. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.
Location. 38° 32.937′ N, 92° 4.359′ W. Marker is near Jefferson City, Missouri, in Cole County. Marker can be reached from Logistics Road north of No More Victims Road. Marker is outside Missouri Military Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2409 Logistics Rd, Jefferson City MO 65101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. F-15 Eagle Fighter (a few steps from this marker); 75 mm Pack Howitzer on M8 Carriage (a few steps from this marker); Spanish-American War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); M901 ITV "Hammer Head" (within shouting distance of this marker); Freedom Corner (approx. 4.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.4 miles away); Jefferson City National Cemetery (approx. 5 miles away); A National Cemetery System (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jefferson City.
Regarding M551 Sheridan Tank. A photo I.D. is required to view the marker outside the museum because it is at a military site.
Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 11, 2022
2. M551 Sheridan Tank Marker
Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 11, 2022
3. M551 Sheridan Tank
Outside the Missouri Military Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 14, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
