I had thought that it had to do with the year it came out or it was desighned but maybe I am confusing that with the MBT-70. So why are the M-24, M-41, M-47, M-60, and so on called what they are. Also while we are on the topic, What system do the Soviets use to do the same thing?

I'm pretty sure the Soviets are by year (example: T-26, T-28, T-34, T-35, T-55, etc.), but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the American method.

Nic

Kinda the same question here to, or maybee the same as Andrews post. But why do all the US tanks, and some weapons start with the letter "M"

for ex. M-60 ( Machine gun ) M-60 ( TANK ) M1A1, M-16, M79, M4, etc. etc.??

Mike

Here's the best I could come up with.
The letter T was used to indicate "Test Vehicle." Ms were used to indicate "Model" number when it entered production. The letter A was to indicate interior or exterior improvements to the vehicle. An E was sometimes used to indicate a major external revision.

Here's a good rundown on the Army Nomenclature System: A.N.S.

Hi Armor Tanks46 here - The American tanks were origally designated in the project, design, and developement stages by the designation T series for test. Any experimental modification was indicated by a suffix in the E series for experimental ie T1E1 etc. When the vehicle was accepted for service, standardised, and given a designation in the M series. The M number may not bear any relation to the original "T" designation. However this changed towards the end of WW2 ie T24 became M24, T26 to M26. This designation process was used for every item of US military equipment so it was possible to have a M3 medium tank, light tank, gun mount, M3 rifle etc. So you must distinguish each piece by its title i.e. Medium Tank M3. This information can be read from British and American Tanks of WW2 by Chamberlain and Ellis. As for the Russians I believe the thier deisgnations were based on MS first for experimental and testing and then given the BT or T designation. I believe the model was based on the design year. I would have to read over several of my references to give an exact answer. All early pre WW2 russian tank design were based on 5 year plans. Some of the inital models were given designations or names refering to the different factories which produced them ie ZIS and GAZ trucks were produced at different factories. If I come up with a more definative answer I 'll write back. Hope this helps. I tried to add an additional post but it wouldn't take it so I am going to add to this one. The Russians used a simple complex system for designating tanks etc because it followed no ryhme or reason. for instance the "T" stood for tank. Thats it. BT stood for the Russian "Bystrochodyi Tank "or Fast Tank. SU was for the Russian "Samochodnaja Ustanovka "or self propelled gun. The KV series was named after its designer Klimenti Voroshilov and made in Kirov. The JS series was named after Josef Stalin and made in the Urals. The ZIS trucks were named after Stalin and it stood for Zarod Imeny Stalin. When he fell out of favor it became ZIL - Zarod Imeny Likhachev (a former director as ZIS). If anyone has any other information, questions, or references please post I would be interested in reading them. This information came from "Fighting Vehicles of the Red Army by Perrett, The Observers Fighting Vehicle Directory by Vanderveen, and T-34 by Squandron.Tanks46.

A former topic on the subject:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/2448&page=1

After WW2, Korea and Vietnam, the Army started using the "year" as the development date to show when the vehicle was going to come into action. It only worked for the M-60 since the MBT70 was a wash. The "date" method also showcased how old the tank design was. With the M1, M2 and M3, the Army decided to just re-start the numbering. Sort of a fresh start.

I just received an email from the Army Historical Foundation concerning the "M" 's and other letters and numbers in the U.S. Army nomenclature system. I know a few here have answered on the subject, and were right on with their answers. I just thought it would be nice to share from the experts. Here's the email sent to me:

Dear Mr. Fortier:
Thank you for your inquiry. I contacted Dr. Peter Kindsvatter, the Command Historian for the Ordnance Center and School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. I am forwarding his response which should answer your question.
I hope this information helps. Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions. Also, could you please respond back and let me know where you are from (city and state) and how you learned about the Army Historical Foundation? As a nonprofit organization, we are required to maintain statistics on any assistance we provide. Than k you and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Matthew Seelinger
Historian
Army Historical Foundation

Matt, I can give you a general answer, although I don't have the documents that specifically outline the nomenclature/numbering process. When the Army officially adopted ("standardized") a piece of equipment, it was given an "M" designation (for "model") and a number. The number reflected the year that the equipment was standardized (i.e., M1919 Machinegun). Starting in 1920 (I think), the year designation was abandoned for a sequential numbering system (that for whatever reason did not always stay in sequence) for each family of equipment (hence M2, M3, M4 medium tanks). Experimental models were given a "T" designation ("Test") until adopted, when the "M" replaced the "T" (and, I have noticed, sometimes the number changed, sometimes not--not sure about the rhyme or reason there). Hence the T26 Tank became the M26 tank. A modification/improvement to an existing model earned it an "A" designation. (For example, the M16 Rifle became the M16A1 Rifle with the addition of a forward assist, the chroming of the chamber, and other improvements.) A model earned an "E" designation ("Experimental") for changes/improvements that were experimented with but not as yet officially standardized. Hence the M4A3E8 Sherman tank, the E8 indicating it was fitted with a 76mm gun that was an improvement over the 75mm gun. Sometime in the 1950s/early 1960s, the "T" designation went away, and experimental pieces of equipment were designated "XM" ("experimental model"). If standardized, the "X" was dropped. Hence the XM114 reconnaissance vehicle became the M114 reconnaissance vehicle. Hope this helps.
Pete Kindsvatter

Pretty cool ehh?

Its funny that this should come up. I was watching a marthon of Mail Call and this question came to mind (based on the earlier posting here). So I sent Mail Call an email. Lets see if he agrees with Kencelot's response.

Ken--Could you tell us more about the Army Historical Foundation, like what they do and what kinds of questions they can answer? I have never heard of it before.......

Nic

Nic, I personally do not know too much about it. I've been using their site for quite some time now. When I went there to research the nomenclature I found nothing, so, I figured "what the heck, I'll send them an email and see what happens".
They are not government run, they run by donations and grants and memberships. Very nice organization. They also have a bookstore with other goodies.
Here's their website: Army Historical Foundation, Inc.