The Board now categorized this class of light tank further beyond their reconnaissance and light action roles and devised that any new and similar developments be ready for the challenges of the modern battlefield beyond World War 2 Europe. This included re-envisioning the "light tank" class that, during the war, had been primarily made up of the M24 Chaffee. In late 1945, the American War Department Equipment Board sought to bring about changes that, in turn, would bring about something of a new face for the American Army. During that conflict, tanks were categorized by weight in classes aptly titled Light, Medium and Heavy characterized respectively by the M5 Stuart, M4 Sherman and M26 Pershing as examples (the M26 was later added into the Medium tank class). The origins of the M551 Sheridan actually lay in the years following the close of World War 2. While her Shillelagh missiles never really quite lived up to their billing (both figuratively and financially), her contributions to the American Army in the remaining decades of the Cold War are still of note. The qualities of this "little" system shown clear and her firepower and air-droppable qualities proved highly-effective when used in within her limitations and designed role. While results there were relatively mixed to some extent (an argument can be made that the Sheridan was never meant for this type of intimate jungle-based combat), the Sheridan went on to prove highly-successful in ensuing deployments involving direct enemy action in more urban environments. The system evolved from the need to counter a similar Soviet design of the time and was thrown into combat deployment during the Vietnam War.
MGM 51 SHILLELAGH PORTABLE
The M551 General Sheridan (or simply "Sheridan") was a light-armored and heavily-armed portable tank system utilized by the United States Army.