A blueprint-style technical drawing of a T61 Heavy Tank in olive green, with text "T61 HEAVY TANK" and "68 TONS" on a blue grid background.

### T61 Heavy Tank Design Proposal **Project Overview** The T61 Heavy Tank is conceived as the pinnacle of American armored engineering in the early Cold War era, a direct counter to the escalating Soviet heavy tank programs exemplified by the IS-3's sloped armor and heavy firepower, the IS-7's extreme mobility for its weight class, and the Object-279's advanced protection concepts. Weighing in at approximately 68 tons, the T61 embodies a "quality over quantity" doctrine, prioritizing technological superiority and survivability over mass production. Its estimated unit cost—roughly four times that of the contemporary M48 Patton (around $200,000 per unit in 1950s dollars)—reflects the integration of cutting-edge systems, making it a prestige asset for elite armored divisions rather than a frontline workhorse. Upon formal adoption, it will be redesignated the M61A1, with incremental upgrades for reliability and logistics. The T61's combat role fuses the indomitable frontal assault prowess of the German King Tiger—capable of withstanding hits from lesser threats at close range—with the M103's long-range precision fire support, enabling it to neutralize multiple enemy tanks in rapid succession from standoff distances exceeding 2,000 meters. Its design philosophy emphasizes a low-silhouette profile for enhanced concealment and hull-down operations, achieved by relocating the entire four-man crew (commander, gunner, loader/assistant gunner, and driver) into an expansive turret See more