![]() ![]() In September Wilson chose General Motors over Chrysler to take over production of the M48 Patton. In 1953 the Pentagon began a reversal of the President Truman administration policy of a broad production base in favor of Wilson's "single, efficient producer" concept. ![]() In May 1954 the tank was debuted publicly at a demonstration at the Newark tank plant. Wilson nixed an October 1953 exhibition for the American Ordnance Association at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Seeking to keep the tank out of public sight, Secretary of Defense Charles E. Details about the tank, including production plans and specifications, were tightly held. Some 300 tanks were built in 1953–54, initially designated T43E1. Its long-ranged 120 mm cannon was designed to destroy enemy tanks at extreme distances. Like the contemporary British Conqueror, the M103 was designed to counter Soviet heavy tanks, such as the later IS-series tanks or the T-10 if conflict with the Eastern Bloc broke out. ![]() Officials said the tank would "out-slug any land-fighting machine ever built." The first T43 pilot model was completed in November 1951. Keller, with overseeing its design, and construction at the company's new Newark, Delaware, tank plant. Keller, the son of Chrysler Board Chairman K.T. In January 1951 it awarded Chrysler a $99 million contract to produce the tank. Army made blueprints for a heavy tank reference design. Introduced in 1957, it served through 1974, by which time evolution of the concept of a main battle tank considered heavy tanks obsolete. The M103 Heavy Tank (officially designated 120mm Gun Combat Tank M103, initially T43) was a heavy tank that served in the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps during the Cold War. ![]()
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