The M551 Sheridan (named after Union General Philip Henry Sheridan of the War of Secession) is a light reconnaissance tank developed by General Motors from 1960 under the designation XM551. The first production vehicle was completed in June 1966. Production lasted until 1970. It was designed as an air-transportable reconnaissance tank. It was equipped with the technically advanced but vulnerable M81 152 mm combination weapon, which could fire both conventional ammunition and the MGM-51 Shillelagh anti-tank missile
The Sheridan entered service with the United States Army in 1967. At the urging of General Creighton Abrams, then US commander of US forces in Vietnam, the M551 was deployed to Vietnam from January 1969. The first units to use the Sheridan in Vietnam were the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry and the 1st Squadron, 11th ACR. By the end of 1970, more than 200 Sheridans had been deployed to Vietnam and they remained in frontline service until the last US armoured cavalry unit, the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry was redeployed back to the United States in April 1972.
The Sheridan had several distinct advantages: It did not get stuck in the mud as often as the 52-tonne M48 Patton, and it did not throw the chain as often. This made the small tank very popular with its crews. Its light weight and high mobility proved valuable, and it proved an effective anti-personnel weapon when used with M657 HE ammunition or M625 canister ammunition.
The Army began to phase out the Sheridan from 1978, although there was no real replacement at the time. However, the 82d Airborne Division was able to keep them until 1996.
Plastic model kit
- brand new, highly detailed moulds
- PE parts
- link-and-length tracks
scale 1:35
unbuilt / unpainted
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