The PT-76’s unveiling posed an interesting question for the US Army in the mid-1950s: continue with the development of the T92 light tank, armed with the same gun as the M41 Bulldog it was to replace while being air-liftable at the cost of not being amphibious, or scrap the design and create a new vehicle that could also be capable of amphibious operations. The Army picked the latter, cancelling the T92 program altogether in favour of the XM551 program, later known as the M551 Sheridan in US service. During development, questions were raised about the availability of the MGM-51 Shillelagh due to developmental troubles, which led the Army to trial various other configurations for the Sheridan’s armament options. Among these options was a Sheridan fitted with the same 76mm gun as the M41 and T92, as well as a prototype fitted with a 105mm howitzer. However, the Army was concerned that this would reduce the Sheridan’s effective firepower and rejected both. Ultimately, the Army decided to simply adopt the Shillelagh later and use conventional rounds in the interim, thus killing the short-lived 76mm-armed Sheridan concept altogether.
The M551 (76) was introduced during Update “Air Superiority” as the main reward for Battle Pass: Season XIV, “Airborne General”. Its most notable trait is its two-plane stabilizer, giving the vehicle the unique advantage of being able to fire on the move effectively. While unable to fire HEATFS like the T92, its high mobility and stabilizer mean this Sheridan is more versatile than its 76mm-armed brethren, allowing it to be much more aggressive on the front lines. However, its thin armour makes it incredibly vulnerable to artillery and aerial assaults, making good positioning paramount to performing effectively.