Under restoration in the American Heritage Museum’s restoration workshop, the original World War II vintage M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer is making great progress this spring! Under the supervision of our team leader Dick Moran, a team of volunteers have been hard at work over the winter and spring. One of the major efforts has been reconfiguring the engine compartment and transmission back to original WWII standards with a Ford GAA V-8 engine as this particular M36 was one of 399 purchased by Yugoslavia and re-engined with a 500-hp Soviet diesel engine used in the T-55. The reconfiguration process has been extensive, but once complete, the M36 will operate like it did in WWII with a freshly overhauled GAA engine.
The M36 was completely stripped over the winter and was fully sandblasted inside and out in February and March and has been primed for paint. Interior components are being reinstalled after restoration and repaint and the Jackson is well on its way to completion! See the in-progress photos in the gallery below and click on an image for a full-size image.
M36 Jackson Restoration – April 2023
Official Unveiling on Tank Demo Weekend, May 27-28!
We are planning an official unveiling at our Tank Demonstration Weekend scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-28, 2023 at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA. If you want to see this awesome tank destroyer in action that weekend, get your tickets at this link!
WWII Tank Rides Available for Pre-Booking on M36 Jackson!
Once in operation, the M36 Jackson will join the M4 Sherman and M24 Chaffee in the Tank Experience Program, allowing visitors the opportunity to experience what it is like to crew a real WWII tank! The M36 Jackson will be available for tank rides on select weekends from May through November each year at $195 per person for a 10 minute ride. The tank destroyer can accommodate 5 passengers per ride with four standing positions in the turret and one seated position in the hull gunner position.
We are NOW offering digital gift certificates for the M36 Jackson if you are interested in pre-purchasing your position for rides this summer! Click here to learn more and purchase your certificate online! By pre-purchasing your ride, you’ll help fund the final month of restoration on the tank to get it ready to roll on May 27!
A Short History of the M36 Jackson
The M36 Jackson was a highly effective tank destroyer used by the United States during World War II. It was designed to counter the German Panther and Tiger tanks, which had proven to be formidable opponents for the earlier American tanks.
The M36 combined the hull of the M10 tank destroyer, which used the M4 Sherman’s reliable chassis and drivetrain combined with sloped armor, and a new turret with a powerful 90mm gun, which was capable of penetrating the armor of the German tanks from a long range. The vehicle had a relatively low profile, which made it harder for the enemy to spot and target it. It also had a top speed of 45 mph, which allowed it to quickly move to strategic positions on the battlefield.
The M36 saw action in various theaters of the war, including in Europe and the Pacific. It proved to be a valuable asset to the American military, often being used in combination with other vehicles such as the M4 Sherman tank.
After the war, the M36 continued to be used by the United States in the Korean War and as an export to other nations, even being re-engined by Yugoslavia with a 500 hp Soviet-made diesel engine used in T-55. Today, the M36 Jackson is a rare sight with only a few preserved in museums and private collections.
SPECIFICATIONS
Armament: 90 mm gun M3 cannon, one .50 cal. MG
Crew: 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver)
Engine: 450 Horsepower Ford GAA, 1,100 cubic inch V-8
Range: 150 miles
