In the 1960s, a collaborative effort between the United States and West Germany aimed to create a new main battle tank known as the MBT-70. This project was intended to address the capabilities presented by Soviet tanks, necessitating several advancements in aspects like armament, armor, turret design, and suspension systems. However, significant differences in design philosophy, measurement systems, and escalating costs led to the project’s collapse in 1969 when West Germany withdrew after only about twelve prototypes had been produced.
Following this exit, the U.S. pursued the development of a successor vehicle termed the XM803. Unlike the earlier joint venture, this tank would rely solely on American-made parts. Development began shortly after West Germany’s departure, but it too was ultimately scrapped due to a common military project downfall: budget constraints. Essentially, the anticipated production costs exceeded the original fiscal plan.
Congress had aimed to save approximately $200,000 per unit compared to the existing M60 MBT, but as expenses continued to climb, that target became unattainable. Consequently, the XM803 project was disbanded. Nevertheless, the U.S. military did not lose everything; critical elements from both the XM803 and MBT-70 influenced the designs of the celebrated M1 Abrams MBT and Germany’s renowned Leopard 2 MBT. Only one XM803 prototype was completed from an MBT-70 prototype, which is now part of the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
The XM803 — the failed tank that led to the M1 Abrams
When the U.S. initiated its new design process, General Motors, tasked with developing the XM803, adapted the preliminary MBT-70 blueprints to focus on reducing expenses. The tank was designed with a weight of 57 tons and could achieve a maximum speed of 40 mph on smooth terrain or 14 mph on a 10% incline. It was equipped with an XM150E6 152 mm gun, which could also launch MGM/MTM-51C Shillelagh missiles with a range of up to 5,200 meters (17,060 feet).
The XM803 included an autoloader that could store 24 rounds and fire them at a rate of around eight per minute. Moreover, it featured an M85 heavy machine gun positioned on top, along with a remote-controlled General Electric M73 machine gun. As development progressed, costs skyrocketed beyond the established budget limits mandated by Congress. Despite various attempts to curb the expenses associated with the XM803, these efforts were unsuccessful. Ultimately, Congress redirected funding to the XM-1 design initiative instead.
The new project received $20 million in funding. Upon completion, it resulted in the M1 Abrams MBT, manufactured by General Dynamics. The development of the M1 took several years, with the first tank entering service in February 1980. The Abrams series drew more influence from the MBT-70 than from the XM803, yet the cancellation of the latter enabled funding for the program that produced the M1 Abrams, a revolutionary tank that became one of the most tested and acclaimed military vehicles of the late 20th century.
