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Why and how the tanks were T-64, T-72, T-80

Why and how the tanks were T-64, T-72, T-80

History of the Soviet tank development involves complex and ambiguous processes, where there were ups and downs serious. One of these pages is not a very simple story of the development and establishment of the tank T-64 and the creation on its base of tanks T-72 and T-80. Around this there's a lot of speculation, conjunctural statements and distortion of the facts and circumstances.

At that stage, I was born really revolutionary tank, defined the development of the Soviet tank development for decades to come. Historic justice demands objective consideration of the process of creating these tanks. Especially, when three competed KB in Russia only one left, objectivity is sometimes sacrificed for the sake of market conditions.

The history of these tanks covers a huge period of the Soviet tank building, I shudder to think - more 50 years! From the approval of tactical and technical requirements 1955 year prior to development "Armata" tank. whole era, through which passed thousands of destinies designers, scientists, military, statesmen and politicians of different levels.

I had to be a member of these events in the period from 1972 by 1996 years and go all the way in KMDB from the young specialist to one of the leaders of the "Boxer" the last Soviet tank. Something has gone through myself, something learned from colleagues, the stories and memories of designers, ministry officials and military, with whom I have worked for almost a quarter century. And something I learned after decades already from the memoirs.

The history of these tanks can not be considered in isolation from their developers and the struggle between the various schools of tank, where she was as fair competition, and lobbying and the use of levers of power structures. Whatever it was, tanks were born, and people in every KB fought and defended not their own personal interests, and the ideas and concepts of tanks and tried to put them into practice.

In assessing the tanks must be considered requirements to them at that time, and do not look in hindsight. Especially, not considered a true assessment of the specialists in the last resort, such, how Karcev or Kostenko, not always objective and taken out of context, and objectively consider all the processes of creation of these tanks, their advantages and disadvantages.

Soviet tank was conceived in Leningrad. There appeared the first school of tank before the war, at the Leningrad Kirov factory (LCO). Then there was a second school in Kharkov, the Kharkov Machine Building Design Bureau (XKBM) and after the war - the third, at the Ural Railway Car Building Plant (UVR). For simplicity, hereinafter, these names are stored.

In Leningrad began with a light tank T-26, then bet on the heavy tanks T-35, line "KV" series, "IC" and completed the heavy tank T-10. In Kharkov went first line of light "BT" series of tanks, then Koshkin initiative was implemented by average dance T-34 and then with the assistance of the Uralvagonzavod tank line T-44 and T-54.

In Nizhny Tagil before the war, his tank school was not. KB in Kharkov 1941 year, was evacuated to, and almost 10 years (to 1951 of the year) KB staff headed by Morozov had to work there. In the early 70's I had to talk to some of them and they told, how hard they had to live in isolation from the house. I still do not understand, why so long held in the evacuation.

Kharkov KB in Nizhny Tagil continued to improve T-34 and there appeared modification T-34-85. That no one has ever denied, but the tank was created in another place and at another time.

After the departure of Morozov and a group of leading designers in Kharkov KB in Nizhny Tagil preserved, continued to improve the tank T-54 and developed the following modifications: T-55 and T-62. In this way, in the Urals began to form its own school of tank.

So there were three competing schools of tank, each of which has advanced its version creating T-64, T-72 and T-80. One may wonder: rightly or wrongly it was in the country's three powerful KB, developing almost the same machine? Probably, it made sense, They were formed during the development of tank. At the same time the costs were unreasonable and expenses, but in the end it helped to create unique pieces of military equipment.

Each KB defend his point of view on tank concept and strive to make a tank better and of course to beat the competition. Now there is only one KB in Nizhny Tagil, which has no alternative. Closed and VNIITransmash, which we called the "anti" Institute. He was an independent arbitrator, although not always correspond to this. Still, the competition should be, it stimulates the design ideas.

I went KMDB school and just want to note, I never defended and do not intend to defend "Ukrainian tank building". To confirm his words quote from my book, which was written in the 2009 year: «The Soviet Union and Russia for me has always been the words with a capital letter, and Ukraine - as, meaningless empty to me ... All my actions in subsequent years have been directed to fight for the restoration of historical justice, in which the history of tank development in my native CB is not the history of Ukraine, and it belongs to us all, working in different republics led by Moscow».

In this regard, the history of tank development, no matter how we argue and neither figured out relations between them, - our common history, we created it and must objectively assess the occurred facts and events. Today KMDB for many objective reasons can not develop future tanks, but his contribution to the common cause is doubtless.

Almost all tanks were born not on orders over, but from the initiative of a particular KB. So it was with T-34, also created and T-64. It is very much depended on the personality of the designer, it defines how the future to be tank. I had to work with three main constructors and I can compare and evaluate their activities. Morozov was a genius, the creation of tanks was the meaning of his life. The same genius was and Cat, who came, by the way, Kharkov Leningrad.

Why and how the tanks were T-64, T-72, T-80 Tank T-64A discontinuous with the original screens

I can assume, what, Morozov had not returned from evacuation, the tank T- 64 I was born not in Kharkov, and in Nizhny Tagil. These people knew and were able to form groups, able to create masterpieces of design ideas. You can also give an example of the Queen, thanks to the genius and talent for organization which was born Soviet space.

Tank not only creates Tank KB, under the leadership of dozens of design work over it, scientific and industrial organizations of different profiles and destination, without which it is impossible to create a machine. Engine, armor, weaponry, ammunition, sighting systems, electronics and a lot more then developed in specialized organizations. Headend KB links all together and provides the inherent characteristics.

In the mid-50s in the Soviet Union begins to dominate the clotting tendency of easy work, medium and heavy tanks, and accepted the concept of creating a single tank. Military develop tactical and technical requirements for such a tank and its development is entrusted KMDB.

One may wonder: Why choose this KB?

Leningrad Design Bureau was engaged in heavy tanks, and it was not his profile. Development of a new medium tank Morozov own initiative began, while still in Nizhny Tagil. Returning to 1951 year in Kharkov, He continued this work (an object 430). In Nizhny Tagil unfinished project continued, the new chief designer Karcev (an object 140).

In two KB sketch and technical projects have been developed, which were considered by the Central Committee and the Council of Ministers. Upon review of TTT were developed in the June 55th on future tanks, experimental samples fabricated tanks and 1958 at Kubinka tested.

An object 430 successfully tested, and the object 140 they could not resist. Work on the tank were dismantled and Uralvagonzavod has focused its efforts on the creation of the T-55 and T-62. Despite the successful test, an object 430 It was not adopted by the, because he did not give a significant increase in performance characteristics compared with the tank T-54.

In proactively object 430 fundamentally processed, installing a new 115 mm smoothbore gun shots with separate loading. Upon review of the project in February 1961 year adopted a decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers to develop a new tank weighing 34 tons, with a gun, 115 mm, loading mechanism and crew 3 man. Since the start of the tank design was given T-64 (an object 432), Project implementation is entrusted KMDB.

Tank T-64 was revolutionary at the time and became the founder of a new generation of Soviet tanks. It was a lot of new, but the principle - automatic loader and crew 3 man, running and never before used engine. All these innovations have become problems of the tank and the engine is particularly, led to the appearance of tanks T-72 and T-80.

To reduce the internal volume of the tank and the mass applied Morozov specially designed for this tank Low opposed two stroke diesel 5TDF horizontal cylinder arrangement. The use of this engine has created a low engine-transmission compartment cooling system ejection. Work on this engine were started in 1946 year on the basis of German aircraft engine Junkers Jumo 205.

The use of this engine led to serious problems, related to its implementation in production. It was already known, that attempts to England and Japan to learn the engine production ended in failure. Nevertheless, the decision was taken, and the development of such an engine tasked Charomskomu, known to those skilled in the creation of aircraft engines.

At the plant in Malysheva 1955 he created a special design bureau for diesels, Charomsky appointed chief designer and the production of these engines plant built later.

To be continued…

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