The U.S. Army's final light tank was the M551 Sheridan, a truly unique weapon. Though it certainly wasn't without its great strengths, it also had shortcomings in some key areas.

Summary and Key Points: The M551 Sheridan Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle served as the backbone of the U.S. Army's armored corps before the advent of the Abrams main battle tanks.

The current M1 Abrams main battle tank (MBT) was named for ... The 6-cylinder Detroit Diesel engine produced 300 horsepower and propelled the M551 at maximum speeds of 43 miles per hour on paved ...

Well, the amphibious M551 light tank, better known as the Sheridan, wasn't the worst of its kind to enter combat, far from it. Still, it was hardly anything to write home about most of the time ...

In the end, the Army spent $1.3 billion on the M551 Sheridan “Armored Reconaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle”—which was definitely a tank, regardless of the nomenclature—and produced more ...

In the 1980s and early 1990s, the M551 Sheridan filled that role ... much easier than on most versions of the Abrams tank,” Reese says. The engine resides in the front of the tank and major ...

The vehicle appears to have been updated with reactive armor blocks and a grill/slat armor over the engine spaces ... from the heavier tank to the new lighter model. M551 Sheridan light tank.

COLUMBIA - The American Legion Post 202 hosted a celebration Saturday for the arrival of a Sheridan M551 Tank. Post 202 acquired the tank in poor condition in May from Augusta, Kansas.