{rolloThe M551 Sheridan was developed in the early 60's to replace the M41 light tank, designed for airborne droppings, whin thin armour to improve the speed in order to satisfy the needs as recon unit. Something like an experiment that didn't work as well as expected. Between 1966 and 1970, a total of 1700 were built, and in 1995 just one battallion is equiped with this tank.
The main innovation in this design relies in the main gun, a new 152 mm weapon capable of firing two different types of ammo, a 152 mm conventional round, or the then new Shillelagh antitank guided missile. The Sheridan had several important drawbacks, as its thinner armour, which made it terribly vulnerable for anti-tank mines, and the shillelagh missile, which results far less accurate and effective than expected, what severely reduced its AT capability. Also, it was underpowered to open his own way in the Vietnamese jungle. The Cavalry Divisions in Viet Nam didn't like to replace their M-48s for Sheridans.}
