This was developed by Eugene Stoner and the ARES corporation in the late 70's early 80's and is based on an M113 chassis. It was CH-47 sling load deployable:
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/m113lighttank.htm
By Colonel Charles Lehner (R) and 1LT Mike Sparks IN, USAR
"Never bring a knife to a gunfight" Colonel Lehner writes:
When I was chief of the Land System Division at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), I started a project called Armored Combat Vehicle Technology. ACVT was soon embraced by General Bernard Rogers, Chief of Staff. U.S. Army, and marine Brigadier General Al Gray, Director of Combat Developments at Quantico. Our primary objective was the development of a fixed wing parachute drop and helicopter-transportable light tank. I contracted with Gene Stoner at ARES for the development of a 75mm High Velocity Automatic Cannon, and with Win Barr at AAI Corp for the development of the 75mm telescoped ammunition [a depleted uranium Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot APFSDS) round and a High Explosive Air Defense round with Navy Mark-404 IR proximity fuze]. AAI also built a 14.5 ton light tank using a cut down M113A3 chassis. We put on a demo at the Boeing Plant in Philadelphia carrying the light tank under a CH-47D helicopter on a short sling flying nap-of-the earth at 110 knots.
Air Defense
The 75mm gun fired at a rate of 1 shot per second. A burst of 4 shots was enough to bring down a jet fighter flying evasively at about 4000 meters range and kill a Hind or Havoc Helicopter at about 4000 meters range (both with a probability of a kill of about 90%.
Ground Combat
A 3-shot burst with APFSDS rounds would kill a T-72 Tank head-on at about 2000 meters range with a probability of kill at about 90%. I believe that the light tank is in a combat vehicle museum in Manassas, VA. I also believe that ARES still has a 75mm cannon at Port Clinton, Ohio, along with a number of rounds of ammunition.
TRASANA at White Sands ran a Force-on-Force Carmonette simulation that showed the RDF light tank performing better than the M1 heavy tank firing hand-loaded 120mm rounds in a delaying action scenario in the Fulda Gap in Germany.
I contacted the Assistant Commandant at the Air Defense School at Fort Bliss who was very much interested in the 75mm gun, but the missile advocates picked the Martin Air Defense Anti-tank (ADATS) system which turned out to be too expensive; so the Air Defense guys wound up with a Stinger mounted HMMWV instead. The multi-purpose 75mm gun is by far the most cost-effective anti-tank/assault/anti-aircraft weapon system possible!
The M113A3/75mm ADA Gun System as a Light Tank for Airborne/Air Assault Forces
To reduce costs we propose the ARES 75mm gun be placed on top of a M113A3 Gavin with band-tracks to reduce weight by 2,000 pounds and improve road speed to 60 mph. Another benefit of using the M113A3 is that its large troop volume can be used to store a couple hundred 75mm rounds. Applique armor and other enhancements for the M113 Gavin family can be incorporated to the M113A3/75mm light ADA/Assault tank as fielded.
"Gentlemen:
The old 76mm gun with which the Light tank is pictured would be preferable for several reasons. First, the hypervelocity telescoped ammo is suitable only for kinetic energy projectiles against armored vehicles. We will be sending this weapon platform against guerrillas, terrorists and narco-criminals in remote areas. Second, the autoloader is not a proven system. The machinery itself takes up valuable ammunition space and prevents round switching in combat, which personal experience tells me will happen. We are going to need a four man crew with a BOG, (BOw Gunner), not two men in a tank hunter......Which by the way, the 76mm gun would do superbly.
Also, the ammunition suite which comes with the 76mm is fully developed. HE, HEAT, WP, Cannister, and SHOT are all available, as they are manufactured for the several vehicles worldwide which still use the cannon. The weapon, in my understanding, devolves first from a naval 3 inch deck gun, then to the M4A2 Sherman in both USMC and Russian WWII service, and most lately to the Walker M-41 Bulldog tank still in use by the Taiwan Army. That, gents, is a long enough period of service to get the bugs worked out.
This vehicle is, in my opinion, the best that can be developed for the foreseeable future. Equipped with an electric drive and band tracks, it would also be stealthy enough to serve as the backup tank for a reconnaissance unit mounted in either Lynx or Gavin vehicles. We need to get this critter in production and service ASAP/NOW
Respectfully,
Ralph Zumbro