Light tank of the USSR. Tanker's manual: light tanks of the USSR

Main work leading historian of armored vehicles! The most complete and authoritative encyclopedia of Soviet tanks - from 1919 to the present day!

From light and medium to amphibious and heavy, from experienced combat vehicles built on the model of the captured Renault FT 17 during the Civil War, to the formidable T-72 and T-80, which are still in service with the Russian army - this encyclopedia provides comprehensive information about ALL types of domestic tanks, without exception, their creation, improvement and combat use in the Great Patriotic War and numerous local conflicts of the past century.

COLLECTOR'S EDITION illustrated with 1000 exclusive diagrams and photographs.

LIGHT TANKS OF THE 1940S

The T-26, the only infantry escort tank in service with the Red Army in the 1930s, by the end of the decade no longer fully satisfied the achieved level of tank building development. The increased power of anti-tank artillery did not leave the T-26 with its 15 mm armor any chance of surviving on the battlefield. The experience of fighting in Spain clearly demonstrated this. T-26s, which easily dealt with weakly armed German and Italian tanks and wedges, became equally easy prey for their anti-tank guns. However, all Soviet (and not only Soviet) tanks that did not have anti-ballistic armor found themselves in a similar situation at that time. In the eternal duel between armor and projectile, the latter won a temporary victory.

That is why on August 7, 1938, the Defense Committee adopted a resolution “On the system tank weapons", which contained a requirement in less than a year - by July 1939 - to develop new models of tanks that would meet the conditions of a future war in terms of armament, armor and maneuverability. In accordance with these requirements, the development of new tanks began in several design bureaus.

At the Leningrad Experimental Mechanical Engineering Plant No. 185 named after S.M. Kirov by a team of designers led by S.A. Ginzburg was designing a light infantry escort tank "SP". In the summer of 1940, this tank, object 126 (or T-126SP, as it is often called in the literature), was manufactured in metal. In terms of its armor protection, it was equivalent to the T-34 medium tank - its hull was welded from 45 mm thick armor plates, with the exception of the 20 mm bottom and roof. The frontal, upper side and rear hull sheets had inclination angles of 40...57°.

The upper frontal plate had a driver's hatch. An observation device was mounted in its cover. To the left of the hatch, in a ball mount, there was a 7.62-mm DS-39 machine gun, from which the radio operator fired. Opposite his workplace there was also a surveillance device. Two more devices were mounted in the frontal zygomatic sheets.

The welded faceted turret housed a 45-mm cannon mod. 1934 and a coaxial 7.62-mm DT machine gun. There was a rectangular hatch in the roof of the turret for landing the crew, and in the rear wall there was a round hatch for dismantling the gun. Holes for firing from personal weapons were cut in the lid of this hatch and in the walls of the tower, closed with pear-shaped plugs. There were four observation devices located along the perimeter of the turret roof, and a commander’s panorama was mounted in the hatch cover.

The tank was equipped with a V-3 engine - a 6-cylinder version (“half”, as they sometimes say) of the V-2 diesel engine. With a power of 250 hp. it allowed the 17-ton combat vehicle to reach speeds of up to 35 km/h. The fuel tank capacity of 340 liters provided a highway range of up to 270 km.

The chassis of the tank consisted of six non-rubber-coated dual small-diameter road wheels on board, three non-rubber-coated support rollers, a rear drive wheel, and a non-rubber-coated guide wheel. The track rollers had internal shock absorption. The caterpillar chain is a small-link lantern with an open hinge. A special feature of the car's chassis was its torsion bar suspension.

A 71-TK-Z radio station with a whip antenna was installed in the tank hull next to the radio operator’s position. The cannon and machine guns' ammunition consisted of 150 rounds and 4,250 rounds of ammunition (the same rifle cartridges were used in the DT and DS machine guns).

In 1940, the tank passed factory and military tests well. However, the State Commission proposed reducing the weight of the vehicle to 13 tons by reducing the thickness of the armor from 45 to 37 mm. In addition, cramped working conditions for crew members were noted. They tried to eliminate the last drawback on the second sample of the tank - the DS-39 machine gun was removed, and its embrasure was closed with an armored cover with bolts. In addition, steps have been taken to reduce track wear by replacing non-rubber-coated road wheels with rubber-coated ones.

In the fall of 1940, “object 126” was transferred to the Leningrad Machine-Building Plant No. 174 named after K.E. Voroshilov, where, on its basis, in a short period of time - a month and a half - a group of designers under the general leadership of I.S. Bushneva and L.S. Troyanov developed a new version of the light tank - “object 135” (not to be confused with the T-34-85). Active participation S.A. was involved in the design. Ginzburg and G.V. Gudkov. According to other sources, this vehicle was developed in parallel with “object 126” and was preferred due to its better tactical and technical characteristics. In January 1941, the tank was made in metal and, after successfully passing factory and state tests under the designation T-50, in February 1941 it was adopted by the Red Army.

By design and appearance The T-50 was very similar to the 126th, but at the same time it had significant differences. It was created taking into account experience combat use tanks in Finnish war and the results of tests in the USSR of the German tank Pz.III, carried out in the summer of 1940. The T-50 hull sheets were connected by welding and were located at large angles of inclination. Maximum thickness The frontal and side armor of the hull and turret was reduced from 45 to 37 mm. The hull stern plate became 25 mm, and the thickness of the roof and bottom increased to 15 mm. In the upper frontal plate, with a slight offset to the left of the longitudinal axis of the tank (almost in the center), there was a driver's hatch with a viewing device; there was no front-facing machine gun. Two more observation devices were installed in the frontal cheekbones of the hull.

The turret was welded and streamlined, reminiscent of the turret of the T-34 tank, but differed from it in the placement of three crew members. At the rear of the turret roof (not without the influence of the Pz.III) a commander's cupola was installed, the eight viewing slots of which were closed by armored flaps. The turret had a small hatch for signaling. Two rectangular hatches in the roof were intended for landing crew members in the tower. The door in the stern plate served to dismantle the gun. On the sides of the turret there were observation devices for the gunner and loader, covered with round armored covers.

The armament composition was not entirely typical for Soviet tanks. The 45-mm cannon, again not without the influence of the German Pz.III, was paired with two 7.62-mm DT machine guns. The KRSTB radio station was located in the tank turret next to the commander's position.

By reducing the thickness of the armor plates, introducing the principle of differentiated armor, which made it possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle to 13.8 tons, and installing a V-4 engine with a power of 300 hp. (a forced version of the V-3 diesel engine) managed to achieve a significant increase in speed: from 35 km/h for the “126 object” to 52 for the T-50. Two fuel tanks with a total capacity of 350 liters provided a highway range of up to 344 km. The chassis used road wheels with internal shock absorption and an individual torsion bar suspension.

Serial production of the T-50 was to be carried out at plant No. 174, for which purpose, from January 1, 1941, production of the T-26 there was discontinued. However, the restructuring of production for the technologically more complex T-50 proceeded very slowly, and in the first half of 1941 the plant produced only 116 OT-133 flamethrower tanks. Serious difficulties also arose with the development of production of the V-4 diesel engine at Kharkov plant No. 75. But the T-50 tank was supposed to replace the T-26 in the troops, and according to the original plan for the rearmament of the armored forces of the Red Army, it was supposed to be the most massive (the first order for the T-34, as is known, was only 600 vehicles). In 1940–1941, this plan, however, was adjusted as a result of the decision to form mechanized corps. But for them, no less than 14 thousand T-50s were needed. The fact that the T-50 was considered as a full-fledged component of the country’s tank fleet can be judged by the joint resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR “On increasing the production of KV, T-34 and T-50 tanks, artillery tractors and tank diesel engines by III and IV quarters of 1941”, adopted after a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee on June 25.

At the cost of incredible efforts, in 1941 they managed to produce 50 tanks. In August, plant No. 174 was evacuated - mostly to the city of Chkalov (Orenburg), where it resumed production of tanks in December, and, in addition, to Nizhny Tagil and Barnaul. An attempt to launch production of the T-50 at plant No. 37 in Moscow was unsuccessful. The main limiting factor in the production of the T-50 was the engines. Priority in planned tasks was given to the V-2 diesel engine. In particular, at plant No. 75, which had by that time been evacuated to Chelyabinsk, the removed V-4 engines were dismantled into components for the V-2. Therefore, on October 13, 1941, the State Defense Committee decided to build two factories in Barnaul, one for the production of T-50 tanks and the second for the production of V-4 diesel engines for these tanks. However, on February 6, 1942, in accordance with the decision of the State Defense Committee, production of the T-50 and its engines was stopped altogether. Plant No. 174 in Chkalov, having produced 15 tanks in 1942 (apparently, they were assembled from the stock they brought with them), switched to production of the T-34.

There is very little information about the combat fate of T-50 tanks. Nevertheless, it is known that in August 1941, the 1st Tank Division, stationed in the Leningrad Military District and taking part in the battles in the Kingisepp area, had 10 tanks of this type. In the fall of 1941, several T-50s were part of the troops of the 7th Army defending in the Petrozavodsk direction. During these battles, one such vehicle was captured by the Finns and was used until the end of 1954.

As for the Red Army, one T-50 tank, for example, was included in the 5th Guards Tank Brigade back in 1943.

There is no reliable information about how the “fifty” performed in combat. However, there is no doubt that of the three modern Soviet tanks put into service on the eve of World War II, the T-50 turned out to be the most structurally proven and balanced, optimal in terms of the totality of combat and operational qualities. In terms of armament, armor and mobility, it was superior or not inferior to the German medium tank Pz.III, being significantly smaller in size and combat weight. The T-50 turret, which had the same clear diameter as the T-34, housed three crew members, which ensured the division of their functional responsibilities. True, in this case, the disadvantages became a continuation of the advantages. Even with a 45-mm cannon placed in the turret, it was cramped for three tankers. Therefore, the commander's cupola had to be moved to the right side, and the commander had to sit half-turned to the axis of the tank. Perhaps it made sense to limit ourselves to a two-man tower with a large number surveillance devices, like “object 126”. This was acceptable for a light tank. All foreign analogues, the main light tanks of World War II - the Stuart, Valentine and even the Chaffee created in 1944 - had two-man turrets.

1 - mask; 2 - DT machine gun; 3 - TMFP optical sight; 4 - ball installation; 5 - DT machine gun magazine; 6 - turret stop handle; 7 - mask lifting mechanism; 8 - sight forehead; 9 - TNSh gun; 10 - sleeve outlet tube; 11 - cartridge belt guide; 12 - turret rotating mechanism; 13 - lever to turn off the rotary mechanism; 14 - charging handle.

The T-50’s armament was quite sufficient for 1941 and even 1942: the 45-mm 20K cannon at a distance of 500 m could successfully fight all types of Wehrmacht tanks. It was well known to the tank crews, and in addition, the warehouses had large number shells for this weapon.

For 1943, the 20K was already rather weak, but just at that time, OKB No. 172 created, tested and recommended for adoption the 45-mm VT-42 tank gun with a barrel length of 68.6 calibers and an initial armor-piercing projectile speed of 950 m /With. The VT-42 gun differed from the 20K in its very dense layout, which made it possible to assemble it even into a single turret of the T-70 tank. There would be no problems at all with installation in the T-50 turret. The shell of this gun at a distance of 500 m penetrated the frontal armor of any German tank, except Pz.IV Ausf.H and J, "Panther" and "Tiger".

It left a reserve for modernization, including in terms of enhancing armor protection, and the high specific power of the tank - 21.4 hp/t! For comparison: T-34 - 18.65, Stuart - 19.6, Valentine - 10, Pz.III - 15 hp/t. The 300-horsepower diesel engine could confidently drag 45 mm armor.

Summarizing all of the above, one can only regret that mass release The T-50 was never developed.

A story about the T-50 light tank would not be complete without mentioning another example of it. In 1941, as part of the technical requirements for the T-50, the Leningrad Kirov Plant developed and manufactured “object 211”. The lead designer of the tank was A.S. Ermolaev. The welded hull of the combat vehicle had a narrowed nose with a driver's hatch. The welded tower had a streamlined elongated shape. Armament and power point were identical to the T-50 tank from factory No. 174. The “Kirov” version was somewhat lighter than the “Voroshilov” one, but did not have significant advantages over it, and the shape of its hull was less successful. After the start of the war, work on “object 211” at the Kirov plant was stopped, and the only prototype produced took part in the defense of Leningrad.

It would not be superfluous to add that according to the same TTT, the combat vehicle project was also completed by a group of graduates of the VAMM named after. Stalin, who worked under the general leadership of N.A. Astrov. This project was rejected at the stage of the mock-up commission.

As mentioned above, in May 1941, Moscow plant No. 37 received the task of mastering the production of the new generation light tank T-50. The received task shocked the plant management - its modest production capabilities clearly did not correspond to the new facility. Suffice it to say that the T-50 had a complex planetary 8-speed gearbox, and gear cutting production has always been at this enterprise weak point. At the same time, the workers of Plant No. 37 came to the conclusion that it was possible to create a new light, no longer amphibious, but quite combat-ready tank for direct infantry escort in the given conditions. In this case, it was assumed that the used engine-transmission unit and chassis of the T-40 would be used. The hull should have had a more rational shape, reduced dimensions and enhanced armor.

1 - air cleaner; 2 - main gear; 3 - gearbox; 4 - engine; 5 - final drives; 6 - starting shaft; 7 - drive wheel; 8 - support roller; 9 - support roller; 10 - guide wheel.

Convinced of the feasibility and advantages of such a solution, chief designer N.A. Astrov, together with the senior military representative of the plant, Lieutenant Colonel V.P. The Okunevs wrote a letter to I.V. Stalin, in which they substantiated the impossibility of producing the T-50 tank and, on the other hand, the reality of quickly mastering the production of a new tank, and in mass quantities, with the widespread use of automobile units and advanced technologies for their manufacture. The letter, in accordance with the established procedure, was dropped in the evening into the mailbox at the Nikolsky Gate of the Kremlin, at night Stalin read it, and in the morning Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR V.A. arrived at the plant. Malyshev, who was assigned to work on the new machine. He examined the model of the tank with interest, approved it, discussed technical and production problems with the designers and advised replacing the DShK machine gun with a much more powerful 20-mm ShVAK automatic cannon, well-used in aviation.

Already on the evening of July 17, 1941, a decree was signed State Committee Defense No. 179 “On the production of T-60 light tanks at plant No. 37 of Narkomsredmash,” which stated:

"1). Allow the People's Commissariat for Medium Engineering (plant No. 37) to produce the T-60 land tank based on the T-40 amphibious tank in the same dimensions and with the same weapons as the T-40 tank. In connection with the thickening of the armor, allow the tank hull to be made of homogeneous armor that is equally strong in terms of bullet resistance.

2). In this regard, to stop production of T-40 amphibious tanks and Komsomolets tractors at plant No. 37 from August.”

It should be noted that in this resolution we're talking about not about the classic “sixty”, but about the T-60 (030) tank, externally identical to the T-40, with the exception of the rear hull plate and better known under the unofficial designation T-30.

It was planned to involve five factories of the People's Commissariat of Medium and Heavy Engineering in the production of the T-60: No. 37 (Moscow), GAZ (tank production - plant No. 176), Kolomna Locomotive Building Plant (KPZ) named after. Kuibysheva, No. 264 (Krasnoarmeysky shipyard in the city of Sarepta near Stalingrad, which previously produced river armored boats) and the Kharkov Tractor Plant (KhTZ), which, unfortunately, quickly disappeared due to the urgent evacuation. At the same time, the Moscow automobile plant "KIM", the "Red Proletary" plant and the Mytishchi machine-building plant No. 592 were attracted to produce tank units. The power units were to be supplied by GAZ. Armored hulls with turrets for plant No. 37 - Podolsk and Izhora plants, for GAZ - Vyksa and Murom. ShVAK aircraft cannons came from the Kovrov plant No. 2 and from the Tula arms plant No. 535. From the end of 1942, the Mednogorsk plant No. 314 and the Kuibyshev plant No. 525 also began to supply them, but they made little - only 363 pieces.

The production of openwork steel tracks for all factories was entrusted to the Stalingrad Tractor Plant named after. Dzerzhinsky (STZ), which had a powerful molding and foundry shop.

For the T-60 tank (already in version 060), designer A.V. Bogachev created a fundamentally new, more durable all-welded hull with a significantly smaller armored volume than the T-40 and a low silhouette - only 1360 mm high, with large angles of inclination of the front and rear sheets, made of rolled homogeneous armor. The smaller dimensions of the hull made it possible to increase the thickness of all frontal sheets to 15–20 mm, and then to 20–35 mm, side sheets - up to 15 mm (later - up to 25 mm), aft - up to 13 mm (then in some places up to 25 mm). The driver was located in the middle in a forward-protruding wheelhouse with a frontal shield and an upper entrance hatch that folded down in a non-combat situation. The driver's viewing device - a quick-change mirror glass block "triplex" with a thickness of 36 mm was located in the frontal shield (initially and on the sides of the wheelhouse) behind a narrow gap covered by an armored flap. An emergency hatch was located in the bottom, 6-10 mm thick. For external access to the engine and transmission units there was a removable front armor cover in an inclined frontal sheet, an upper side over-engine sheet with adjustable air flow and a rear aft one with exit blinds, which simultaneously covered two 320-liter gas tanks located in a compartment isolated by an armored partition. Two round hatches were used to refuel them. The turret sheet, 10 (13) mm thick, was also removable.

The new tower is only 375 mm high, designed by Yu.P. Yudovich, more technologically advanced than on the T-40, had a cone-shaped octagonal shape. It was welded from flat armor plates 25 mm thick, located at large angles of inclination, which significantly increased its resistance to fire. The thickness of the front zygomatic armor plates and weapon mantlet subsequently reached 35 mm. The roof, 10–13 mm thick, had a large commander's hatch with a round lid. In the side faces of the tower to the right and left of the shooter there were narrow slits equipped with two triplex-type viewing devices. The turret was shifted to the left side by 285 mm from the hull axis. The guidance mechanisms of the rifle installation - horizontal gear and vertical screw (+27...-7°), developed for the T-40, did not require changes. It should be noted that some armored hull factories, previously associated with boiler making, retained the production of round conical turrets for the T-60, similar to the T-40 turret.

On the second prototype of the T-60 (060), instead of the DShK, they installed a rapid-firing 20-mm ShVAK-tank cannon with a barrel length of 82.4 calibers, created in record time at OKB-15 together with OKB-16 based on the wing and turret versions of the aircraft gun SHVAK-20. Refinement of the gun, including based on the results of front-line use, continued in parallel with the development of its production. Therefore, it was officially accepted into service only on December 1, and on January 1, 1942, it received the designation TNSh-1 (Tank Nudelman-Shpitalny) or TNSh-20, as it was called later. For ease of aiming, the gun was placed in the turret with a significant offset from its axis to the right, which forced adjustments to be made to the readings of the TMFP-1 telescopic sight. The table range of a direct shot reached 2500 m, the sighting range was 7000 m, the rate of fire was up to 750 rounds/min, the mass of a second salvo of armor-piercing shells was 1.208 kg. With certain skills it was possible to conduct single shooting. The gun had a belt feed with a capacity of 754 shells (13 boxes). The spent cartridges were ejected from the turret outward through a gas outlet tube under the barrel armor, and the belt links were ejected along a guide on the bottom of the tank, while they scattered and were practically unable to jam the control systems. The ammunition consisted of fragmentation tracer and fragmentation incendiary projectiles and armor-piercing incendiary projectiles with a tungsten carbide core and a high initial speed V o =815 m/s, which made it possible to effectively hit light and medium armored targets, as well as machine gun points, anti-tank guns and manpower of the enemy. The subsequent introduction of a sub-caliber armor-piercing incendiary projectile increased armor penetration to 35 mm. As a result, the T-60 could fight at short distances with early German Pz.III and Pz.IV medium tanks when firing at the side, and at distances up to 1000 m - with armored personnel carriers and light self-propelled guns.

To the left of the gun, in the same mount paired with it, there was a DT machine gun with 1008 rounds of ammunition (16 discs, later 15). It was possible to easily remove the machine gun and use it outside the tank with the bipod and shoulder rest attached. In combat practice, this situation often occurred. In principle, in case of urgent need, it was possible to remove the gun, which in weight (68 kg) differed little from the common one heavy machine gun"Maxim", but rigidly securing it for firing outside the turret was difficult and therefore was not practiced.

In terms of armament and mobility, the T-60 tank generally corresponded to the German Pz.II, which was widely used at the beginning of the war and which appeared later reconnaissance tank Luchs, slightly superior to them in armor protection, range and maneuverability on soft soils. Its armor was no longer only bulletproof, it provided protection at a distance of up to 500 m from shells from light infantry 75-mm guns, 7.92-mm and 14.5-mm anti-tank rifles, 20-mm tank and anti-aircraft guns, as well as 37-mm mm anti-tank guns, common in 1941–1942 in the Wehrmacht.

Meanwhile, on September 15, 1941, Moscow plant No. 37 produced the first production T-60, but due to the evacuation that soon followed, production was stopped on October 26. In total, 245 T-60 tanks were made in Moscow. Instead of Tashkent, which was initially planned, the plant was evacuated to Sverdlovsk: on the territory of the Metalist factories, the car repair shop named after. Vojvodina and a branch of Uralmash - for a total of three industrial sites, where the equipment arrived from October 28 to November 6. Together with part of the KIM plant evacuated there, a new tank plant No. 37 was formed (chief designer G.S. Surenyan, then N.A. Popov). Assembled on it since December 15, 1941, mainly from parts brought from Moscow, the first 20 T-30 and T-60 tanks passed through the streets of Sverdlovsk on January 1, 1942. During the first quarter of 1942, 512 vehicles were already produced. In total, until September 1942, 1144 T-60s were produced in the Urals, after which Plant No. 37, briefly producing the T-70 tank, stopped independent tank building, switching to the production of components and assemblies for the T-34 tank, as well as ammunition.

The workshops of the Kolomna Machine-Building Plant named after. Kuibysheva. In October 1941, some of them, including the workshops that produced T-60 tank hulls for plant No. 37, were evacuated to the city of Kirov to the site of the Kirov Machine-Building Plant NKPS named after. May 1st. A new plant No. 38 was created here, and already in January 1942 the first T-60 tanks came out of its gates. Since February, the plant began their planned production, while simultaneously supplying other enterprises with cast track tracks, which were previously made only by STZ. During the 1st quarter, 241 cars were produced, until June - 535.

Another enterprise involved in the production of the T-60, plant No. 264, received technical documentation for the tank in a timely manner, but subsequently drove the vehicle independently, without resorting to the help of the parent plant, but also without trying to modernize it. On September 16, 1941, it was joined by workers from the evacuated KhTZ who were familiar with tank building and who, while still in Kharkov, began mastering the production of the T-60. They arrived at plant No. 264 with a backlog of tools, patterns, stamps and tank blanks already prepared, so the first armored hull was welded by September 29th. The transmission and chassis units were to be supplied by the STZ tank production (plant No. 76). Extremely loaded with the production of the T-34 and V-2 diesel engines, moreover, at the end of 1941, it turned out to be their only manufacturer, STZ, and plant No. 264, which supplied it with armored hulls and welded turrets for the “thirty-four”, could not give the same attention to the light T-60 attention. Nevertheless, in December we managed to assemble the first 52 cars. In January 1942, 102 tanks were already delivered, and in the first quarter - 249. In total, by June 1942, 830 T-60s were produced here. A significant part of them participated in Battle of Stalingrad, especially in its initial phase.

The main and largest plant producing the T-60 was GAZ, where N.A. arrived for permanent work on October 16, 1941. Astrov with a small group of Moscow colleagues for design support of production. He was soon appointed deputy chief designer of the tank building plant, and at the beginning of 1942 he received the Stalin Prize for the creation of the T-40 and T-60.

In a short time, the plant completed the production of non-standard technological equipment and on October 26 began mass production of T-60 tanks. Armored hulls for them began to be supplied in increasing quantities by the Vyksa Crushing and Grinding Equipment Plant (DRO) No. 177, and later by the Murom Locomotive Repair Plant named after. Dzerzhinsky No. 176 with its powerful boiler production, technologically similar to a tank hull, and, finally, the oldest armored plant in Kulebaki No. 178. Then they were joined by part of the Podolsk plant No. 180 evacuated to Saratov to the territory of the local locomotive repair plant. And yet armored hulls there was a chronic shortage, which hindered the expansion of mass production of the T-60. Therefore, soon their welding was additionally organized at GAZ.

In September, only three T-60 tanks were manufactured in Gorky! But already in October - 215, in November - 471! By the end of 1941, 1,323 vehicles were produced here.

In 1942, despite the creation and adoption of the more combat-ready light tank T-70, parallel production of the T-60 continued at GAZ - until April (in total for 1942 - 1639 vehicles), at Sverdlovsk plant No. 37 - until August , at plant No. 38 - until July. In 1942, all factories produced 4,164 tanks. Plant No. 37 delivered the last 55 vehicles at the beginning of 1943 (until February). In total, since 1941, 5839 T-60s have been produced, the army has accepted 5796 vehicles.

The first mass use of the T-60 dates back to the Battle of Moscow. They were available in almost all tank brigades and individual tank battalions defending the capital. On November 7, 1941, 48 T-60 tanks from the 33rd Tank Brigade took part in the parade on Red Square. These were Moscow-made tanks; Gorky's T-60s first entered battle near Moscow only on December 13th.

T-60s began arriving on the Leningrad Front in the spring of 1942, when 60 vehicles with crews were allocated to form the 61st Tank Brigade. The story of their delivery to the besieged city is not without interest. They decided to transport the tanks on barges with coal. It was good from a camouflage point of view. The barges delivered fuel to Leningrad, became familiar to the enemy, and not every time they were actively hunted. In addition, coal as ballast provided river vessels with the necessary stability.

Combat vehicles were loaded from the pier above the Volkhov hydroelectric power station. Log decks were laid over the coal, tanks were placed on them, and the barges set sail from the shore. Enemy aircraft were never able to detect the movement of our military unit.

The baptism of fire of the 61st Tank Brigade occurred on January 12, 1943 - the first day of the operation to break the siege of Leningrad. Moreover, the brigade, like the 86th and 118th tank battalions, which were also armed with light tanks, operated in the first echelon of the 67th Army and crossed the Neva across the ice. Units equipped with medium and heavy tanks were brought into battle only on the second day of the offensive, after a bridgehead 2–3 km deep had been captured and sappers had strengthened the ice.

The T-60 crew, which included the company commander of the 61st Tank Brigade, Lieutenant D.I., showed particular courage, heroism and resourcefulness during the offensive. Osatyuk, and the driver-mechanic was Sergeant Major I.M. Makarenkov. This is how this episode is described in the collection “Tankmen in the Battle of Leningrad”: “Having rushed forward at dawn on January 18 near Workers’ Village No. 5, they noticed three tanks. The Volkhovites wanted to jump out of the car and run towards them, but... they saw that it was Hitler’s tanks going on a counterattack. What to do? It is pointless to start a duel with the enemy on your little one, which has a 20-mm cannon... The decision was made instantly! The tank commander gave a command to the driver: “Retreat to that grove, on the edge of which our guns took up firing positions!”

The tank, maneuvering, making unexpected and sharp turns, eluded the fire of Nazi tanks. And Osatyuk fired at them, trying to blind and stun the enemy. The duel lasted several minutes. There were moments when it seemed that the armored monsters were about to overtake, fall upon and crush. When there were about 200 meters left to the grove, Osatyuk’s car turned sharply to the left. The lead Nazi tank also turned around, but came under fire from our guns and burst into flames. Then the second tank was hit, and the third left the battlefield.

“Now, Vanyusha, go ahead!” the commander ordered the driver. Having caught up with their company, they saw an interesting picture - the tankers drove the enemy infantry into a huge pit. The Nazis stubbornly resisted and threw grenades at our tanks. It was clear that there was no time to delay: the Nazis would have time to dig in. Osatyuk orders Makarenkov to make a trail to the cliff and lay a track. Then the tank, picking up speed, rushed towards the pit, flew through the air and crashed into the Nazis.

"Well done! - the lieutenant shouted. “Now act!” The car rushed at high speed along the bottom of the pit, destroying the Nazis with fire and tracks. After making several circles, the tank slowed down, reached the middle of the pit and stopped. It was all over. Your people have arrived...”

This combat episode perfectly illustrates the old tank “truth” - the indestructibility of a tank is proportional to the square of its speed. However, measures were taken to strengthen the armor protection of the tank. At the suggestion of the Izhora armored research institute-48, which was transferred from the People's Commissariat of the shipbuilding industry to tank building at the beginning of the war, several options for installing additional armored screens up to 10 mm thick on the front part of the hull and on the turret of the T-60 tank were developed and implemented on many vehicles.

As for the 61st Tank Brigade, its tanks were the first to link up with the troops of the Volkhov Front. For excellent fighting it was transformed into the 30th Guards. Lieutenant D.I. Osatyuk and driver-mechanic foreman I.M. Makarenkov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

T-60s also fought on the Southern Front, especially actively in the spring of 1942 in the Crimea, and participated in the Kharkov operation and in the defense of Stalingrad. The Germans called the T-60 “indestructible locusts” and were forced to reckon with them.

T-60s made up a significant part of the combat vehicles of the 1st Tank Corps (commander - Major General M.E. Katukov), together with other formations of the Bryansk Front, repelled the German offensive in the Voronezh direction in the summer of 1942. During the fighting, Katukov's corps, which formed a single battle group with the 16th Tank Corps, found itself in a difficult situation. This is how M.E. himself describes this situation and the actions of the T-60 tanks. Katukov:

“The Nazis, conducting continuous attacks, sought to find the most vulnerabilities in the battle formations of groups. Finally they managed to do it. In a sector where we had few fire weapons, the fascist infantry broke through the front line and penetrated our defenses. The situation has become threatening. Having made a breach, the Nazis continued to deepen the breakthrough in order to separate the group’s troops and reach their rear.

It should also be taken into account that at that moment the enemy was pressing along the entire front line, which means that all the available forces of our group - tanks and infantry - were fully involved. In my reserve there were two light T-60 tanks. But these “tiny” combat vehicles could only be called tanks conditionally. They were armed with 20-mm ShVAK cannons.

The reader probably has an idea of what a twelve-gauge hunting shotgun is. So the guns in service with the T-60 have the same caliber. The T-60s were not suitable for fighting against German tanks. But the “babies” acted excellently against enemy manpower and more than once inflicted enormous damage on the fascist infantry with their automatic fire. This happened both near Mtsensk and near Moscow.

And now, in the fateful hour of the German breakthrough, the “baby” tanks came to the rescue. When the fascist infantry penetrated our defenses for half a kilometer, if not more, I threw my last reserve into battle.

Fortunately, the rye at that time rose almost as tall as a man, and this helped the “little ones,” hiding in the rye, to get behind the Nazis who had infiltrated our battle formations. T-60s attacked the German infantry with heavy fire from a short distance. Several minutes passed, and the chains of the advancing fascists were thrown back.”

By the start of the counter-offensive of the Stalingrad, Don and Southwestern fronts on November 19, 1942, quite a few combat vehicles of this type remained in the tank brigades. Insufficiently armored and poorly armed, the T-60 had very low stability on the battlefield, becoming easy prey for enemy medium and heavy tanks. To be fair, it must be admitted that the tankers were not particularly fond of these lightly armored and lightly armed vehicles with fire-hazardous gasoline engines, calling them BM-2 - “mass grave for two.”

The last major operation in which T-60s were used was the lifting of the siege of Leningrad in January 1944. Thus, among the 88 tanks of the 1st Tank Brigade of the Leningrad Front there were 21 T-60 tanks, in the 220th tank brigade there were 18 of them, and in the 124th tank regiment of the Volkhov Front, by the start of the operation on January 16, 1944, only 10 combat vehicles were available: two T-34s, two T-70s, five T-60s and even one T-40!

Subsequently, the use of the T-60 continued as vehicles for escorting troops on the march, security and communications, for reconnaissance in force, combating landings, as artillery tractors for towing ZIS-2 anti-tank guns and divisional ZIS-Z, as command and training tanks. In this form, the T-60s were used in the active army until the end Patriotic War, and as art tractors - also in the war with Japan.

Based on the T-60 tank, it was produced rocket launcher BM-8-24 (1941), and prototypes of a tank with a 37-mm ZIS-19 cannon, a 37-mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (1942), and a 76.2-mm self-propelled artillery gun were developed and manufactured , anti-aircraft tank T-60-3 with two twin 12.7 mm DShK machine guns(1942) and the OSU-76 self-propelled artillery mount (1944).

At the end of October 1941, the team at the Gorky Automobile Plant design bureau began developing a new light tank, the T-70, armed with a 45-mm cannon. The main goal of this work is to increase firepower light tank. Its design had to make maximum use of the components and assemblies of the T-60 tank with the least amount of alterations so that the new vehicle could be put into mass production in as soon as possible. The design of the tank was carried out using a technique common in the automotive industry, which was unusual for tank designers. General types tanks were drawn life-size on special aluminum plates measuring 7x3 m, painted with special white enamel and lined into squares measuring 200x200 mm. In order to reduce the area of the drawing and increase its accuracy, a plan and full and partial transverse sections were superimposed on the main projection - a longitudinal section. The drawings were carried out with the greatest possible completeness, including all elements, components and parts of the internal and external equipment of the machine. These drawings served as the basis for control during the assembly of the prototype and even the entire first series of machines. The main advantage of such drawings was their high accuracy.

The tank was equipped with a power plant, which included twin carburetor engines. At the first stage of production of the vehicle, with the exception of increasing the number of road wheels from four to five per side and strengthening the torsion shafts, the tracks, road wheels, individual suspension elements and transmission units remained the same as on the T-60 tank. During mass production, their design was strengthened.

After the production of a prototype of the T-70 tank in December 1941, its sea trials and test firing with the main weapon were carried out. Compared to the T-60 tank, the vehicle had a higher specific power (15.2 versus 11 hp/t), a more powerful weapon (45 mm gun instead of 20 mm) and enhanced armor protection (45 mm armor instead of 20 –35 mm).

In January 1942, the T-70 tank was adopted by the Red Army. The date for the start of serial production of the vehicle was determined - March 1942. In April 1942, according to the drawings of the Gorky Automobile Plant, serial production of T-70 tanks was organized at plant No. 38 in Kirov.

The general layout of the vehicle was fundamentally the same as that of the T-60 tank. The driver was located in the bow of the hull on the left side. The tank commander was located in the rotating turret, offset to the left side from the longitudinal axis of the hull. In the middle part of the hull along the starboard side, two engines paired in series were installed on a common frame, forming a single power unit. This design solution was implemented for the first time in domestic tank building. The transmission and drive wheels were located in the front.

The turret was equipped with a 45-mm tank gun mod. 1938 and a coaxial 7.62-mm DT machine gun, which was located to the left of the gun. For the convenience of the tank commander, the gun was shifted to the right of the longitudinal axis of the turret. The length of the gun barrel was 46 calibers, the height of the firing line was 1540 mm. The machine gun was mounted in a ball mount and, if necessary, could be removed and used outside the tank. The vertical aiming angles of the twin installation ranged from -6 to +20°. When firing, the following sights were used: telescopic TMFP (a TOP sight was installed on some tanks) and a mechanical one as a backup. The direct fire range was 3600 m, maximum - 4800 m. Rate of fire - 12 rounds/min. The gear rotation mechanism of the turret was installed to the left of the commander, and the screw lifting mechanism of the twin installation was installed to the right. The trigger mechanism of the gun was connected by a cable to the right foot pedal, and the machine gun - to the left. The tank's ammunition included 90 rounds of armor-piercing and fragmentation shells for the cannon (of which 20 rounds were in the magazine) and 945 rounds of ammunition for the DT machine gun (15 discs). On the first production vehicles, the gun's ammunition load consisted of 70 rounds. Initial speed an armor-piercing projectile weighing 1.42 kg was 760 m/s, a fragmentation projectile weighing 2.13 kg was 335 m/s. After firing an armor-piercing projectile, the spent cartridge case was ejected automatically. When shooting fragmentation projectile Due to the shorter recoil length of the gun, opening the bolt and removing the cartridge case was done manually. Created in the spring of 1942, a new armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile for a 45-mm cannon penetrated an armor plate 50 mm thick at a range of 500 m.

The welded faceted turret, made from 35 mm thick armor plates, was mounted on a ball bearing in the middle part of the hull and had the shape of a truncated pyramid. The welded joints of the turret were reinforced with armored angles. The frontal part of the turret had a cast swinging mantlet with embrasures for mounting a cannon, machine gun and sight. An entrance hatch for the tank commander was made in the roof of the turret. A periscope viewing mirror device was installed in the armored hatch cover, providing the commander with all-round visibility.

The power unit of the GAZ-203 (70-6000) consisted of two four-stroke 6-cylinder carburetor engines GAZ-202 (GAZ 70-6004 - front and GAZ 70-6005 - rear) with a total power of 140 hp. The engine crankshafts were connected by a coupling with elastic bushings. The flywheel housing of the front engine was connected by a rod to the starboard side to prevent lateral vibrations of the power unit.

The battery ignition system, lubrication system and fuel (except tanks) system for each engine were independent. Two fuel tanks with a total capacity of 440 liters were located on the left side of the aft compartment of the hull in a compartment isolated by armored partitions.

The mechanical transmission consisted of a double-disc dry friction main clutch (steel over ferodo); a four-speed automobile-type gearbox, providing four forward gears and one reverse gear; main gear with bevel gear; two side clutches with band brakes and two simple single-row final drives. The main clutch and gearbox were assembled from parts borrowed from the ZIS-5 truck.

The tracked propulsion unit included: two drive wheels with removable gear rims of lantern engagement with the tracks, ten single-slope support wheels with external shock absorption and six all-metal support rollers, two guide wheels with crank mechanisms for tensioning the tracks and two small-link caterpillars with OMSh. The design of the idler wheel and support roller was unified. The width of the cast track track was 260 mm.

Command tanks were equipped with a 9R or 12RT radio station located in the turret, and an internal intercom TPU-2F. Linear tanks were equipped with a light-signal device for internal communication between the commander and the driver and an internal intercom TPU-2.

During production, the tank's weight increased from 9.2 to 9.8 tons, and its highway range decreased from 360 to 320 km.

Since September 1942, Plant No. 38 and GAZ switched to producing T-70M tanks with an improved chassis. The gun's ammunition load was reduced to 70 rounds. As a result of the work on modernizing the chassis, the width and pitch of the tracks, the width of the road wheels, as well as the diameter of the suspension torsion bars and the gear rims of the drive wheels were increased. By increasing the track pitch, their number in one track was reduced from 91 to 80 pieces. In addition, the support rollers, stopping brakes and final drives were strengthened. The tank's weight increased to 10 tons, and its highway range decreased to 250 km.

A total of 8,226 tanks of the T-70 and T-70M modifications were produced.

Based on the T-70 and T-70M tanks, their components and assemblies, the SU-76, SU-76M self-propelled artillery mounts and the ZSU-37 self-propelled anti-aircraft mount were produced. In addition, prototypes of the T-90 light tank and SU-76D, SU-57B, SU-85B, SU-15 and SU-16 self-propelled artillery mounts were developed.

Since the combat properties of the T-70M tank at the end of 1942 ceased to meet the requirements for a tank for direct infantry support due to insufficient armor protection, the design bureau of the Gorky Automobile Plant under the leadership of N.A. Astrov developed a new light tank T-80 with enhanced armor protection and a crew of three people. A prototype of the vehicle passed field tests in December 1942.

At the suggestion of the commander of the Kalinin Front, Lieutenant General I. S. Konev, changes were introduced into the design of the tank that made it possible to fire a cannon at the upper floors of buildings when fighting in urban conditions. The vertical aiming angles of the twin installation ranged from -8 to +65°. Due to the increased combat weight, the tank needed a more powerful engine, the development of which was delayed. Therefore, due to the lack of organization of production of forced engines, as well as the insufficient power of its weapons and armor protection, after the production of 75 T-80 tanks at the end of 1943, their production was discontinued, and instead of them the Gorky Automobile Plant and Plant No. 40 in Mytishchi from the second In the first half of 1943, the production of light self-propelled artillery units SU-76M, created on the basis of components and assemblies of the T-70 tank, began.

The T-70 and its improved version T-70M were in service with tank brigades and regiments of the so-called mixed organization, together with the T-34, and were later used in self-propelled artillery divisions, regiments and SU-76 brigades as command vehicles. They often equipped tank units in motorcycle units. T-70s took part in hostilities until the end of the Great Patriotic War. In terms of armor protection, armament and maneuverability, this tank was superior to the Wehrmacht light tanks of both German and Czechoslovak production. Its main drawback was the overload of the commander, who also served as a gunner and loader.

Of course, this light vehicle had very limited capabilities to combat enemy tanks, especially heavy “tigers” and “panthers”. Nevertheless, in the hands of skilled tankers, the T-70 was a formidable weapon. For example, on July 6, 1943, in the battles for the village of Pokrovka in the Oboyan direction, the crew of a T-70 tank from the 49th Guards Tank Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant B.V. Pavlovich, managed to knock out three medium German tanks and one Panther!

Absolutely exceptional case recorded on August 21, 1943 in the 178th Tank Brigade. When repelling an enemy counterattack, the commander of the T-70 tank, Lieutenant A.L. Dmitrienko noticed the retreating German heavy tank(possibly average, which is not that important). Having caught up with the enemy, the lieutenant ordered his driver to move next to him (apparently in the “dead zone”). It was possible to shoot point-blank, but noticing that the hatch in the turret of a German tank was open (German tank crews almost always went into battle with open turret hatches. - Note auto.), Dmitrienko got out of the T-70, jumped onto the armor of the enemy vehicle and threw a grenade into the hatch. The crew of the German tank was destroyed, and the tank itself was towed to our location and soon, after minor repairs, it was used in battle.

T-80 tanks were supplied to the same units that were in service with the T-70, and were used mainly in 1944–1945. In 1945, the 5th Guards Tank Brigade, for example, which fought in Hungary, had one T-80 tank.

TO light tanks included tanks with a combat weight of up to 15 tons (later - up to 18 tons) and armed with a small-caliber cannon and a machine gun or machine guns. Light tanks were the main means of strengthening infantry (cavalry) in all types of combined arms combat. The main purpose of light tanks was reconnaissance, providing communications, direct support for infantry on the battlefield, destroying machine gun nests, fighting partisans, as well as conducting operations when, due to the properties of the terrain or its remoteness, it is impossible to use heavier equipment. Specific combat missions of light tanks could be: pursuit of a retreating enemy; forestalling the enemy in capturing advantageous positions (regions, objects) and holding them until the main forces arrive; capture and destruction of important objects deep in enemy defenses; guarding the main forces from the front, on the flanks and from the rear; ensuring combat operations of the main (main) forces on open flanks; sudden rapid raids behind enemy lines as part of mobile groups; destruction of units airborne troops enemy; actions from ambushes and launching surprise fire strikes in defense. When operating on the defensive, tanks had to set up ambushes along the enemy’s route, carefully select their locations, taking into account a possible change of firing position in the minimum time, and maneuver in order to make it as difficult as possible for the enemy to conduct targeted fire. Fire should be fired from minimal distances to increase the likelihood of hitting enemy vehicles.

In some countries, this class included small tanks (larger than a wedge). IN different times the mass of tanks classified as light varied within extremely wide limits: from 3.5-4 tons within the Western classification (which does not distinguish small tanks) and 5 tons within the Soviet classification, to 15-18 tons for some light tanks of the Second World War war. In general, the concept of a light tank included all tanks of less mass than medium ones, but heavier than wedges. In some countries, tanks were classified according to the caliber of weapons, regardless of weight and armor. Tanks armed with machine guns or small-caliber cannons (up to 37 mm) were classified as light. Since this classification is less indicative, the book adopts a classification based on the mass of the machines.

The insufficient mobility of World War I tanks, caused by their large mass and unsettled layout and design solutions, made them vulnerable to artillery fire and did not allow them to quickly develop success after breaking through the enemy defensive line. It was believed that the speed and maneuverability of a combat vehicle increase its survivability on the battlefield, contribute to the continuation of an offensive operation, and during defensive actions make it possible to carry out counterattacks against an enemy that has not yet established a foothold in captured positions. Since the armor of all vehicles of that time was bulletproof, it was possible to increase the speed and power supply only by abandoning heavy weapons and a large crew. The first light tank (the French FT-17) appeared in the final period of the First World War. It received a classic layout and had a huge influence on the subsequent development of tank building. Maneuverable and numerous light tanks finally tipped the scales of military confrontation in favor of the Entente powers, playing a significant role in repelling the German offensive of 1918. Subsequently, light tanks were actively developed, reaching their heyday in the 1930s and were popular in many countries due to their comparative cheapness, both in production and operation, as well as high reliability. In most countries before World War II, light tanks were the main or one of the main forces of tank forces.

In the first years of the war, most light tanks were lost by almost all the warring countries. A weak engine and thin armor, a small crew, insufficient caliber of cannon weapons, and the command’s ignorance of the tactics of using light tanks were the main reasons for the loss of priority in army armored vehicles. Light tanks have become highly specialized vehicles. In addition, the new light tanks were already approaching the medium tanks from the beginning of the war in terms of their characteristics.

Estimated number of light tanks used in the war by country(without captured and transferred/received)

Country	Quantity		Country	Quantity
Country	tanks	species/ modifications	Country	tanks	species/ modifications
United Kingdom	10087	5/22	USA	29790	6/17
Hungary	202	1/4	France	9242	11/24
Germany	4370	6/14	Czechoslovakia	2018	4/14
Italy	2686	5/10	Sweden	441	2/7
Poland	132	1/3	Japan	4109	6/7
USSR	34584	10/25

In the pre-war years and during the war, 11 countries produced 97,661 light tanks of 57 types in 147 modifications. During the war, machines made in England, the USA and Czechoslovakia were used in 21 other countries. In addition, Germany used at least 5 thousand captured tanks.

TTX the best lungs tanks by country

Country and type of tank/	England	Germany Pz Kpfw II Ausf.D	Italy	USSR	USA	France	Japan
Length, m.	6,4	4,6	3,8	5,2	5,6	4,2	4,4
Width, m.	2,6	2,3	1,9	2,5	3	1,9	2
Height, m.	2.3	2	2,2	2.2	2,7	2.1	2.3
Ground clearance, mm.	420	340	260	350	460	320	400
Mass, t.	18	10	6,8	13,8	18,3	12,8	7,4
Reservation, mm stern/forehead	17/65	15/30	15/40	12/45	13/38	12/45	12
Engine type	Dis.	Benz.	Benz.	Dis.	Benz.	Benz.	Dis.
Engine power, hp	175	180	70	300	220	75	120
Specific power, hp/t.	9,6	18	10,3	21,7	10,9	6,3	16,2
Highway speed, km/h.	25	55	42	60	56	22	45
Cruising range on the highway, km.	225	200	200	344	160	150	250
Main weapons	75 mm	20mm	37 mm	45 mm	75 mm	37 mm	37 mm
Ammunition, pcs.	46	140	312	150	48	100	75
Additional weapons	7.62 mm	7.92 mm	8mm	2x7.62	12.7 mm	7.5mm	2x6.5
Ammunition, pcs.	3150	2100	1560	4032	3750	2400	3300
Climbability, degrees.	40	30	40	40	35	24	33
Wall to be overcome, m.	0,8	0,4	0,7	0,7	0,9	0,5	0,8
Overcoming ditch, m.	2.2	1,8	1,8	2,2	2,4	1,8	1,9
Overcoming ford, m.	1.1	0,9	0,8	1,1	1	0,6	1
Specific ground pressure, kg/cm²	n.d.	0,62	n.d.	0,56	0,79	0,92	0,66
Crew, people	3	3	2	4	5	2	3
Availability of a radio station	There is	There is	There is	There is	There is	No	No

During the pre-war period, Soviet light tanks made up the predominant part of the tank fleet. This was dictated by the relative cheapness of light tanks, simplicity of design, and the possibility of using proven parts and components used in the civilian automotive industry in their design. What made it possible to organize short time their mass production in a country that did not then have a serious industrial base.

The versatility of light tanks was also important. They were used for almost all tasks that could be assigned to tanks - from reconnaissance and security to supporting cavalry and infantry and fighting their own kind.

The predominance of light tanks in the army continued until the beginning of 1944, when 10,300 light tanks, 9,200 medium and 1,600 heavy tanks were in service. However, such significant volumes of production of light tanks during the war did not indicate combat effectiveness, but the complexity of the situation in which the country found itself.
In the final war period, they were used mainly for reconnaissance and security of headquarters.

In accordance with the Soviet classification of tanks, light tanks included combat vehicles weighing up to 15-20 tons, occupying a position between wedges (small tanks) and medium ones.

Tank was adopted by the Red Army in May 1931. It was developed on the basis of a wheeled-tracked vehicle designed by the American designer Christie and was the first in the BT family (Fast Tank ), developed in the Soviet Union. Assembled by method riveted from armor plates 13 mm thick, the tank's body had a box-shaped cross-section. The driver's entrance hatch was mounted in the frontal plate of the hull. The armament was housed in a cylindrical riveted turret.The tank had high speed qualities. Thanks to the original design of the chassis, it could move both on tracks and on wheels. On each side there were four large-diameter rubber-coated road wheels, with the rear road wheels serving as drive wheels, and the front wheels being steerable. The transition from one type of propulsion to another took approximately 30 minutes. The BT-2 tank, like subsequent tanks of the BT family, was produced at the Kharkov Locomotive Plant named after. Comintern.

The tank is based on French tank FT-17 and its Italian version “Fiat 3000” and entered service in 1928. The tank was produced in three modifications: model 1927, model 1929 and model 1930. The main difference of the latter modification was to increase engine power and replace the Fedorov machine gun on Degtyarov. A total of 959 cars were produced. By the beginning of the war, the Red Army had 160 tanks and 450 armored hulls, converted into pillboxes. Tank performance characteristics – length – 4.4 m; width – 1.8 m; height – 2.1 m; ground clearance – 315 mm; weight – 5.3 t; armor – 8-16 mm; engine type - in-line 4-cylinder carburetor air-cooled; power – 35-40 hp; specific power – 6.6 hp/t; speed on the highway – 16 km/h; Power reserve – 100 km; main armament - 37 mm Hotchkiss gun; ammunition - 104 rounds; additional weapons - two 6.5 mm Fedorov machine guns (ammunition - 1,800 rounds) or a 7.62 mm DT-29 machine gun (ammunition - 2,016 rounds); crew – 2 people.

The tank is based on English tank“Vickers Mk-E” was put into service in 1931 and was produced in 8 modifications: T-26 model 1931 (double-turreted version with machine gun armament); T-26 model 1932 (double-turret version with cannon-machine gun armament (37 mm cannon in one of the turrets and a machine gun in the other); T-26 model 1933 (single-turret version with a cylindrical turret and 45 mm gun); T-26 model 1938 (single-turret version with a conical turret and a welded hull); T-26 model 1939 (T-26 model 1938 with reinforced armor); 1); T-26TU (command version with radio); T-26A (with a short-barreled 76-mm tank gun).

A total of 11,218 vehicles were produced. Based on the tank they were produced flamethrower tanks OT-26, OT-130, OT-133 and OT-134, self-propelled gun SU-5, as well as the TT-26 teletank, armored personnel carriers and tractors. Tank performance characteristics: length – 4.6 m; width – 2.4 m; height – 2–2.3 m; ground clearance – 380 mm; weight – 8-10 t; armor – 6-15 mm; engine type - in-line 4-cylinder carburetor air-cooled; engine power – 80-95 hp; speed on the highway – 30 km/h; Power reserve – 130-220 km; main armament - two 7.62 mm DT machine guns or a 37 mm Hotchkiss-PS or B-3 cannon or a 45 mm 20-K cannon; additional weapons – 7.62 mm DT-29 machine gun; ammunition - 6,489 rounds; means of communication - radio station 71-TK-1, intercom TPU-2 or TPU-3; crew – 3 people.

Light wheeled-tracked tank BT-2: with machine gun armament

The BT-2 high-speed tank was a single-turret tank of a classic layout with cannon and machine gun armament and bulletproof armor. It was developed based on the American licensed M-1940 Christie tank. Mass-produced in 1932-1933. in the following modifications: BT-2 cannon-machine gun (37 mm B-3 cannon and DT machine gun); BT-2 cannon (37-mm B-30 cannon; BT-2 machine gun (DT machine gun in a ball mount and 2 coaxial DT or DA machine guns); BT-2 machine gun without a ball mount (2 coaxial DT machine guns (possibly also YES). 350 tanks were produced with machine gun armament. A total of 640 vehicles were produced, of which 580 were in service with the Red Army on 06/01/1941. On wheels, the tank could only move on hard-surfaced roads, due to the high specific pressure on the ground and the presence of only one pair of driving wheels (rollers). At the same time, the high specific power allowed the tanks to jump 15-20 meters. The transition from one type of movement to another took about 30 minutes. Tank characteristics: length - 5.5 m; 2.3 m; height - 2.1 m; ground clearance - 350 mm; armor - 6-13 mm; engine type - carburetor four-stroke 12-cylinder liquid-cooled "Liberty" in the USSR, an analogue of M-5-400); power - 400 hp; specific power - 36.2 hp/t; speed on the highway - on tracks - 51 km/h, on wheels - 72 km/h; Power reserve – 160 (200); main armament - 37 mm B-3 (5-K) cannon, later 45 mm cannon; ammunition - 92 rounds; additional weapons - 7.62 mm DT machine gun (ammunition - 2,709 rounds); crew – 3 people.

The tank is an improved version of the BT-2 and was produced in 1933-1934. A total of 1,884 vehicles were produced, of which 500 remained in service with the Red Army by the beginning of the war. A radio station with a handrail antenna was installed on some of the tanks. Tank performance characteristics: length – 5.6 m; width – 2.2 m; height – 2.2 m; ground clearance – 350 mm; weight – 11.5 t; armor – 6-13 mm; engine type - V-shaped 12-cylinder carburetor liquid cooling M-5; power – 400 hp; specific power – 34.8 hp/t; travel speed – on tracks – 52 km/h; on wheels – 72 km/h; Power reserve – 150 km (200); The main armament is a 45-mm cannon 20-K mod. 1937; ammunition - 115 rounds; additional weapons - 7.62 mm DT machine gun; communications equipment - radio station 71-TK-1 on command tanks; crew 3 people.

The tank differed from its predecessors in having a welded hull, a new engine and a large fuel supply. It was produced in 1935-1940. in four modifications: sample 1935 (basic version); model 1937 (with a conical turret, 4,727 units produced); sample 1939 (BT-7M) (with a V-2 diesel engine, 705 units produced); BT-7A (with 76 mm cannon, 154 units produced). A total of 5,328 vehicles were produced. Tank performance characteristics: length – 5.7 m; width – 2.3 m; height – 2.4 m; ground clearance – 400 mm; weight – 13.9 t; armor – 6-22 mm; engine type - V-shaped 12-cylinder carburetor liquid cooling M-17T; power – 400 hp; specific power – 28.8 hp/t; travel speed – on tracks – 52 km/h; on wheels – 72 km/h; Power reserve – 375 km (460); The main armament is a 45-mm cannon 20-K mod. 1934; ammunition - 84 rounds; additional weapons - two 7.62 mm DT machine guns; means of communication - radio station 71-TK-1, intercom TPU-3; crew – 3 people.

BT-7A is one of the modifications of the BT-7 high-speed tank, which differs from the prototype in having an enlarged turret with a 76-mm cannon. This was achieved by adapting the T-26-4 turret. A total of 154 tanks were produced. Tank performance characteristics: length – 5.7 m; width – 2.3 mm; height – 2.4 m; ground clearance - 390 mm; Power reserve - with additional tanks - 350 - 500 km; main armament - 76 mm KT gun; ammunition - 50 shots; additional weapons - three DT machine guns; ammunition - 3,339 rounds; crew 3 people.

The tank was created on the basis of the T-26 and entered service in 1941. A total of 75 vehicles were produced. Tank performance characteristics: length – 5.2 m; width – 2.5 m; height – 2.2 m; ground clearance – 350 mm; weight – 13.8 t; armor – 12-45 mm; engine type – four-stroke in-line 6-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine V-4; power – 300 hp; specific power – 21.7 hp/t; speed on the highway – 60 km; Power reserve – 344 km; main armament - 45-mm 20-K cannon; ammunition - 150 rounds; additional weapons - two 7.62-mm DT machine guns; ammunition - 4,032 rounds; communication means - radio station KRSTB, internal intercom TPU-3 for 3 subscribers and a light-signal device for internal one-way communication from the commander to the driver; crew – 4 people.

The tank was created on the basis of the T-40 amphibious tank and entered service in 1941. A total of 5,920 vehicles were produced. Some of the vehicles were equipped with additional armor screens up to 10 mm thick. On the basis of the tank, self-propelled guns for BM-8-24 rockets, as well as self-propelled guns OSU-76, were built. Tank performance characteristics: length – 4.1 m; width – 2.4 m; height – 1.8 m; ground clearance – 300 mm; weight - 5.8 - 6.4 tons; armor – 10 – 25 mm; engine type - in-line 4-stroke 6-cylinder carburetor GAZ-202; engine power – 70 hp; specific power – 10.7-12 hp/t; speed on the highway – 42 km/h; Power reserve – 410 km; main armament - 20-mm TNSh cannon; ammunition - 750 rounds; armor penetration - 15 mm at a distance of 500 m at an angle of 90°; additional weapons - 7.62 mm DT machine gun; ammunition - 945 rounds; communications equipment - radio station 71-TK-Z on command tanks; crew – 2 people.

The tank was developed on the basis of the T-60 and put into service in 1942. A modification of the tank with a reinforced chassis under the designation T-70M is known. A total of 8,231 cars were produced. The SU-76 self-propelled gun and a number of self-propelled guns were built on the basis of the tank. Tank performance characteristics: length – 4.3 m; width – 2.4 m; height – 2 m; ground clearance – 300 mm; weight – 9.2 – 9.8 t; armor – 10 – 50 mm; engine type - twin in-line 4‑stroke 6‑cylinder carburetor GAZ-203; engine power - 140 hp; specific power – 15.2 hp/t; speed on the highway – 42 km/h; Power reserve – 410 km; main armament - 45-mm 20-K cannon; ammunition - 90 rounds; additional weapons - 7.62 mm DT machine gun; ammunition - 945 rounds; communications equipment - radio station 12-RT or 9-R (only on command tanks), intercom TPU-2; crew – 2 people.

The tank was created on the basis of the T-70 and entered service in 1942. A total of 85 vehicles were produced. Tank performance characteristics: length – 4.3 m; width – 2.4 m; weight – 11.6 t; ground clearance – 300 mm; armor – 10-45 mm; engine type - twin in-line 4‑stroke 6‑cylinder carburetor GAZ-203F; engine power – 170 hp; specific power – 14.6 hp/t; speed on the highway – 42 km/h; Power reserve – 320 km; main armament - 45-mm 20-K cannon; ammunition - 100 shots; additional weapons - 7.62 mm DT machine gun; ammunition - 1008 rounds; communication means - radio station 12-RT, intercom TPU-3; crew – 3 people.