The Assault Tank T14, or T14 Heavy Tank, was a joint Anglo-American project initiated during World War II to produce a heavily armored infantry support tank capable of operating alongside Allied forces in Europe. Conceived in 1942, it aimed to combine British infantry tank doctrine with American production methods and components.
Technically, the T14 was designed with heavy armor and robust firepower, intended to survive in high-intensity battlefield conditions. It featured up to 133 mm of frontal armor, making it one of the most heavily armored American tank designs of the war. The hull was cast and sloped to increase effective thickness and deflect incoming rounds.
The T14 was powered by a Ford GAZ V8 engine, delivering 520 horsepower, coupled to a Torqmatic transmission. Despite its considerable weight of 42.6 tonnes, it could achieve a top road speed of 28 km/h (17.5 mph). The suspension system was a modified version of the Sherman’s vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS), adapted to support its heavier frame.
Its main armament was the 75 mm M3 gun, the same weapon used on early Sherman tanks, mounted in a cast turret. While adequate early in the war, the gun was considered underpowered by the time the T14 neared completion. Secondary armament included one .30 caliber coaxial machine gun, a .30 caliber bow gun, and a .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun on the turret roof.
The tank was crewed by five men: commander, gunner, loader, driver, and bow gunner. Internally, it was arranged similarly to American tanks, with a spacious fighting compartment and relatively easy access for maintenance.
Only two prototypes were completed—one by the U.S. and one shipped to Britain for trials. However, both nations lost interest as newer, more effective tanks like the M26 Pershing and Churchill VII entered service. The T14 was never mass-produced.
This T14 Assault tank was photographed in the Bovington Tank Museum storage.
