The MBT-70, a joint endeavor between the United States and West Germany in the 1960s, was envisaged as a revolutionary super tank capable of overcoming any battlefield challenge.

This ambitious project was conceived in the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a conflict that highlighted the need for improved main battle tanks capable of surviving modern anti-tank threats.

The design boasted innovative features such as advanced hydropneumatic suspension, a powerful 152mm auto-loading gun capable of firing Shillelagh anti-armor missiles, and a steel-layered tungsten alloy armor to withstand 105mm shells used by Soviet tanks at the time.

Despite these promising capabilities, the MBT-70 faced a myriad of problems. Disagreements over design specifications and development approaches, including a debate over measurement systems, underscored the lack of cohesion between the American and West German teams.

The Americans favored a 152mm gun with caseless ammunition, while the West Germans leaned towards a 120mm smoothbore gun.

The American 152mm gun faced issues with caseless rounds not burning completely and causing blockages, as well as swelling due to moisture.

The communication barrier between the two teams further exacerbated these technical difficulties, with the German engineer Abraham Gubler pointing out that the project was “developed and engineered by actual experts” and the issues primarily stemmed from the Shillelagh missile guidance system, which he described as a “single point of failure.”

Despite the design’s innovations, the MBT-70’s heavy weight made it unsuitable for European bridges and infrastructure, limiting its mobility where it was needed most.

The MBT-70’s most controversial feature was its design to house all crew members within the turret, including the driver in a contra-rotating cupola, intended to ensure the driver always faced forward regardless of turret orientation.

This concept led to disorientation and motion sickness among the drivers, becoming a critical stumbling block.

Ultimately, cost overruns and the technological complexity of the MBT-70 led to its cancellation. The tank’s projected ballooning costs were five times the original estimates.

Although the MBT-70 was never mass-produced,Here is the tanks short history from idea to flop, its legacy is not one solely of failure.

In 1970, the ambitious US and West German super tank project was abandoned.

The emergence of the USSR’s T-62 and T-64 earlier had urged the western allies to quickly produce a reliable tank en masse, and it seemed the MBT-70 would not fulfill that role.

The U.S. redirected its efforts, eventually culminating in the production of the M1 Abrams, while West Germany developed the Leopard 2, both of which remain formidable main battle tanks in service today.

Relevant articles:
– Why the MBT-70 Super Tank Project Failed Horribly, The National Interest
– MBT-70 Super Tank Was a Total Failure, The National Interest
– MBT 70 family, Secret Projects Forum
– MBT-70: The Epic Fail ‘Supertank’ Collab Between America and West Germany, SOFREP