Evening star., 1941-11-28
Army Disc|oses Plan
For RivetIess Tanks
To Cost s Millions
Five Plants to Produce
Welded and Cast Steel
Hul!s and Turrets
By NELSON SHEPARD.


Elimination of riveted armor
plates in future light and medium
Army tanks is contemplated in a
new large-scale production program
being initiated by the Ordnance De-
partment, it was announced today.
Commitments totaling S53,500,000
have been given to five forging
plants to produce welded and cast
steel tank hulls and turretS.
Information concerning this phase
of tank production was contained
in a report by Maj. Gen. Charles M.
Wesson, chief of ordnance, to Under
secretary of War Patterson, who is
in charge of procurement.
Negotiations for other manufac-
turing facilities are in progress,
Undersecretary Patterson an
nounced, and the facts win be made
public upon their completion.
60-Ton Tank Ready Soon.
No announcement was made about
the Army's new 60-ton tank. which
will roll out of the Baldwin Locomo-
tive works at Eddystone, Pa, within
the next two weeks. 1t was under
stood. however. from the War De-
partment statement, that all welded
tanks will be adopted for future
production and this may also apply
to the new 60-ton tanks, comparable
in size to the "heavies" being used
by both the Russian and German
armies.
Gen. WeSSon reported to the
Undersecretary," the War Depart
ment statement said, that produc-
ton plans have for some time con-
templated the complete elimination
of the riveted type of construction
on all combat vehicles"
The department added, however,
that no orders have been issued for
canceling production of tanks where
riveting is used. This production
will be carried out" it said
officials said that as in the ordi-
nary case of automobile production,
the changing of new methods of
armor plate required time and care
full planning The Army already has
large orders for riveted tanks which
remain to be filled, and there is no
intention, it was said, of interfering
with this phase of the program.
The report of Gen. Wesson is
somewhat at variance with state
ments made yesterday at a press
conference by Secretary of War
Stimson. Secretary Stimson said
some rivetleSs tanks have been pro-
duced as a result of long expert
mentS. but he added that the depart
ment has adopted no policy with re-
spect to replacing the earlier type of
riveted tanks. The impression he in
tended to convey. officials explained
today. was that the department had
not ordered production of riveted
tanks stopped, as reported in some
news dispatches, because they had
been found to be death traps" for
the crews.
U. S. Tanks Used In Libya.
Gen. Wesson's report explained
that the new commitments, which
will be followed by contracts, are
required to provide for cast steel
tank hulls and turrets. These hulls
and turrets will be used, he said, to
carry forward the enlarged program
for production of new medium and
light tanks. The mediums, now
the largest in use by our Army
weigh % tons, while the light tanks
are of 13 tons.
A minimum of 80 per cent of
future production will have the cast
steel hull. the report explained The
balance will be of welded construc-
ton.
Despite much criticism that has
been aimed at the riveted tanks.
American-madel lights and mediums
are now being used with success in
the battle of Libya. Official reports
received here were said to confirm
press dispatches that the perform
ance of these tanks, which are swift
and heavily armored, has been very
satisfactory
The rivets which join together the
steel plates of the hull and turret
were admittedly the cause of some
accidents to men in tanks" when
hit direct by heavy explosive shells.
This sometimes drives the rivets
inside the tank.