The Nuclear Tank: Chrysler's TV-8

There were a lot of wacky tank concepts spawned during the early Cold War, but probably the most insane was the Chrysler TV-8 nuclear powered tank, developed as part of the US Army's ASTRON tank program. What could possibly go wrong with an amphibious tank running off of nuclear fuel that also has a turret heavier than its hull? A lot, I imagine.

Check the channel "About" section for the link to the creator of my profile picture.

Sources:
Abrams: A History of the American Main Battle Tank - R.P. Hunnicutt
Patton: A History of the American Main Battle Tank - R.P. Hunnicutt
The Army's Nuclear Power Program: The Evolution of a Support Agency - Lawrence H. Suid
Astron Concept Studies - Ordnance Tank Automotive Command
Chrysler TVS Tank Concept - Defense Engineering Division Chrysler Corp.


Songs used (in order from first to last):
Subnautica - Into the Unknown
Halo 3: ODST - Rain (Deference for Darkness)

Sound mods:
Epic Thunder (Pre-release)
Armored Warfare Crew Voices

Reddit: /u/spookston
Discord: See my Patreon page.

#warthunder​​​​​​​​​​​​ #tanks​​​​​​​​​​​​ #tankhistory

[frankdrebin]

*"Ah, don't worry. A Nuclear Reactor in a Battletank! What should go wrong?"*
~Chrysler Engineers

[tubbles]

Move over Maus, there’s a new record for chonkiest turret.

[__ManMilk]

Tv8: gets shot in the reactor
Tv8: explodes
Enemy team: well that guy just shut himself. Why’s my arm feel funny?

[spehhhsssmarineer]

Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.

[Deltax]

Gaijin be like "stick it at 9.7"

[irinashidou]

In game

Option 1:Let it kill the entire enemy team

Option 2:Enemy team kills it and immediately ends the game

[Blarghsauro]

Obj.279: finnaly a worthy oponent! *Our* battle will be legendary

[truck-kun]

When somebody think putting a nuclear bomb to a refrigerator is a good idea.

[vitallist_vr]

"Let's make a tank with a big turret and a nuclear reactor what could go wrong"
Chrysler

[CollinTheSav]

"well fed tick than a tank"

Yep seems about right.

[zr_]

If this gets added to War Thunder, upon the tank's destruction, the reactor would contaminate the surrounding area and would slowly injure the crew of any vehicle within a certain radius of it, unless the vehicle is one of a handful tagged as having CBRN protection (pretty much exclusive to high-tier stuff without oscillating turrets).

[Skip.]

50s-60s tanks are my absolute favorite. The designers were like “right, what if we did this, but the whole thing is made of uranium”

[joseffrolik]

I wouldn't mind if TV-8 is going to be some event tank in WT

[FirstDagger]

1:33 Even Spookston isn't immune to HEAT "produces a molten copper jet", which has been disproven by actual US Army testing. Edit: Reference ARL-SR-150

[jamesharding]

Engage the linkage, Omnissiah! We shall have our victory!

[auroraborealissaltmineswarlord]

spookston:"ive seen people claim that a prototype was made but that is just not true"
me:"ferb, i think i know what we're doing today"

[carsandstickmanlover]

Wow, didn't know such a thing. Thanks, I learned something new lol

[barrybend]

3:10 the big reason in Sci-fi mech development that Nuclear fission engines are a terrible idea. Looking at you Gundam SEED.

[randomguy]

The tank that transended universes and came from the Fallout universe

[CRISPFELLA]

Honestly, I wish people talking about this tank would focus less on the fact that there is a nuclear power plant proposed. It doesn't seem to be the main focus of the vehicle. This would be very interesting to see for a war thunder mod or something similar.