Like the French AMX 50 project, it was to feature an oscillating turret and was also to receive a 153 mm gun.

Due to the large size of the one-piece ammunition, a maximum of 18 rounds were able to be carried.

The oscillating turret was the most armored section of the vehicle, with a 5.0 in (130 mm) plate angled at 60 degrees.

This was however far slower than medium tanks at the time such as the M48 and Soviet T-54/T-55, which could easily reach 40–50 mph (64–80 km/h).

A significant downside of the T57 was its very low range of 80 mi (130 km) due to its very inefficient engine, a similar issue that had also befallen the M103.

The T57 project was commenced on 12 October 1951 to design a 120 mm armed tank with an oscillating turret and autoloader.

On January 17 the US Ordinance Committee cancelled the project with both turrets scrapped and the hulls returned to a supply depot for future usage.