New in 2018: Army looks to add a light tank to its formations

MSG (Join to see) why couldn't they just give the Bradly better weapons?

In 1978 the Army started the High-Survivability Test Vehicle (Lightweight) (HSTV-L) initiative to find a vehicle to replace the Sheridan, but ultimately the program came to naught - despite the program yielding a promising vehicle. The engine of the HSTV(L) was an Avro-Lycoming M-650 gas-turbine with an output of 650 horsepower and rapid acceleration. The turret of the HSTV(L) was less than a meter tall. The most remarkable part of the turret is the main armament – an ARES 75mm auto-cannon. This gun used a revolving breech to speed reloading as well as new case-telescoped ammunition with a combustible case. Recoil was largely taken up by a recoil piston, and the rest by a recoiling breech. The HSTV(L) had a two-man crew with the Commander doubling as a gunner. The ARES auto-cannon also had a M-240 as a coaxial machine-gun. In an unusual twist, the driver can fire the coaxial machine-gun in an emergency, though he cannot fire the auto-cannon. The Commander’s sights were located in an armored head atop the turret, and consisted of an advanced FLIR imager, an image intensifier (primarily for day use), and a standard telescopic coincidence sight as a backup. A ballistic computer and a laser rangefinder were located in the turret, with the laser firing from a coaxial position opposite the coaxial machine-gun. Both the Driver and the Commander/Gunner can use direct binocular or monocular sight interfaces to access the information from their sight heads, or may view them on an LCD screen. I was selected to be the Data Systems Officer on this vehicle and it was impressive.

http://tanknutdave.com/the-american-hstvl-tank/

The M-551 Sheridan or the (Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle) was the last Army Light Tank. I was in the last Sheridan Class at Ft Knox in March 1978 (I am in the loaders hatch). It was a fun vehicle to drive and had superior mobility. Firing the 152 MM main gun was a trip though.