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T-40

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

T-40 - Soviet weak (small classification of its time) amphibious tank of the Second World War. Developed in the first half 1939 year at the Moscow plant number 37 led H. A. Astrova, a leading developer of the entire Soviet line of small and light tanks of the period. In December of the same year, the T-40 was adopted by the Red Army and serially produced at the plant number 37.

T-40 – video

Production of T-40, including its land options, It continued until December 1941 of the year, when it was replaced on the assembly lines more powerful light tank T-60. All were released 930 production vehicles, who took an active part in the battles of the Great Patriotic War in 1941-1942. On the basis of the T-40 1941 , the first self-propelled unit BM-8-24 class multiple launch rocket systems on tank chassis was built. A small number of survivors in the battle T-40 was used as training vehicles until the end of the war. Soon after the war, the T-40 was withdrawn from Soviet Army. So far, survived two such tanks in armored Museum in Moscow Kubinka.

Design

T-40 has a typical layout scheme for Soviet light tanks of the time. The tank had five branches, listed below in order from the front of the machine to the stern:

– transmission compartment;
– office management;
– the engine compartment on the right side inside of the body;
– fighting compartment on the left side inside of the body and in the tower;
– aft compartment, housed navigable propulsion units, Niche hydrodynamic propeller, fuel tanks and the engine radiator.

This layout scheme is defined in the whole set of advantages and disadvantages of the tank under the machine in its class. In particular, front-mounted transmission compartment, ie driving wheels, It led to increased vulnerability, since it is the front extremity of the tank is most exposed to enemy fire. On the other hand, Unlike Soviet medium and heavy tanks, the T-40 fuel tanks were out of the crew compartment in insulated armored bulkhead compartment, which increased crew survival in lesions tank. The crew consisted of two people - the driver and the vehicle commander.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Tank T-40 with a heavy machine gun caliber DShK 12,7 mm

Armor hull and turret

Body armor tank design engineer A. AT. Bogachyova welded from rolled armor plates with a thickness of 5 to 20 mm. "Land" of the late issuance of the machine protected with a thicker armor than the earlier serial samples of T-40. Armor protection of dyfferentsyrovannaya, bulletproof. body armor plates partially joined by welding, partially bolts. Sophisticated their configuration determined by the requirements of possible motions afloat, part of the armor plates (lower frontal, cheek and upper side) We had a rational angles. A number of body armor plates (frontal, nadmotorny, under-turret and stern lists) are removable for ease of maintenance and replacement of various components and assemblies tank. The driver is centered in front of the tank armored housing. For the convenience of its work on the frontal part of the body was mounted flap. In a combat situation visor fell, and a driver observation led through the inspection device in this panel, which also protects the armored shutter. Besides, for the convenience of observation observation "triplex" devices have been installed in both zygomatic sheets. On the roof turret armor plates located hinged hatch for landing, the landing of the driver. The housing also had of the bottom hatch for emergency escape of tank crews and a number vozduhopritokov, hatches, hatches and technological openings for ventilation of habitable space of the tank, drain fuel and oil, access to fuel tanks, other nodes and aggregates machines. A number of these openings caps defended armor, flaps and covers. To waterproof housing hatches were mounted on rubber pads, and holes for bolting the housing parts compacted tow. Also in the front and side armor plates were drilled loopholes to fire personal weapons, zakrыvavshyesya bronevыmy stoppers.

Conical round tower had welded bead thickness 15 (the T-30 - 20) mm, which are arranged at an angle of 25 ° to the vertical to improve bulletproof. The frontal part of the tower had a rectangular niche for installation of arms and protecting his mantle result. Turret rotation axis does not coincide with the plane of longitudinal symmetry of the machine due to the installation of the motor on the right side of the tank and was offset from the plane to the left. The roof of the tower was located semicircular hinged hatch for the landing-landing vehicle commander. In its turn, in the hatch was a small hatch for external alarm flag. The tower was set for a ball bearing was fixed grippers and avoid stalling under strong roll or roll-over of the tank. The sides of the tower were installed inspection equipment "triplex" for observation slits, further protected armored visors. There were also loopholes for shooting from the sidearms, zakrыvavshyesya bronevыmy stoppers.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Cannon embodiments T-40 equipped with a 20 mm cannon ShVAK-T (TNS) with ammunition 750 shells, Ammo to DT in this case decreased to 1512 rounds (24 disk).

weaponry

The main armament of the T-40 is a large-caliber machine gun caliber DSHK 12,7 mm. Machine gun mounted on the journals in the tower, in addition to its trunk masks additionally protects armored casing. DShK gun had a barrel length 78,7 caliber, the height of the line of fire was 1590 mm, the maximum range of direct fire reached 3,5 km. With him was paired 7.62-mm machine gun DT, located in a single installation with DShK. For ease of use coupled installation DSHK shifted to the right of the plane of symmetry of the tower, DT machine gun was located on the left. Tandem installation had vertical angles interference from -7 to + 25 ° and circular sector horizontally shelling. Horizontal Drive guidance Geared type tower located to the right of the twin installation, for quick turning turret commander of the forces he could be disabled. Vertical guidance mechanism of the screw type to the left of the twin installation. These mechanisms and drives slopes guns structure subsequently moved to a later serial lung tank T-60. DT machine gun could easily be removed with a twin plant and used outside of the tank. Basically, the same could be done with the ANC, only the ease and speed of execution of this operation is not different.

Ammunition was DShK 500 rounds, power belt. The tape was placed in a ring box tower. Muzzle velocity 850-870 m / s, Combat rate - 80 rounds per minute. The composition of ammunition were:

– cartridge with armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-32 weight 48,3 g;
– cartridge with armor-piercing bullet B-30;
– cartridge with armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet BZT;
– cartridge with armor-piercing incendiary bullet BS-41.

12,7-mm bullets B-30 and B-32 penetrated in dystantsyy 500 m thick armor 15 mm normal and at a distance 100 m - 20 mm. 12,7-mm bullet BS-41, due to the presence of the cermet-piercing core (as indicated by the index "BS"), It had a higher armor-piercing effect, namely 20 mm at a meeting angle 20 degrees at a range of 750 m.

Coaxial machine gun DT had ammunition in 2016 rounds (32 disk).

Cannon embodiments T-40 equipped with a 20 mm cannon ShVAK-T (TNS) with ammunition 750 shells, Ammo to DT in this case decreased to 1512 rounds (24 disk). Detailed information on the properties of armor-piercing ammunition and gun - in the article about the light tank T-60 with the same weapons.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Light feed tank T-40S

Engine

T-40 was equipped with a six-cylinder four-stroke inline carbureted engine liquid cooling capacity GAS-11 85 l. from. Start engine produces starter SL-40 power 0,8 l. from. (0,6 kW) with an electromagnetic switching relay, crank pedal mechanism or internal. The engine was equipped with a carburetor K-23 twin carburettors or two GAS-M-9510.

Three fuel tanks with total volume 206 l housed in the aft compartment. supply of fuel was enough for 300 km running on the highway.

Transmission

The T-40 was equipped with a manual transmission, which included:

– main clutch single disc "steel Ferodo" dry friction, is mounted on the flywheel;
– four-stage gearbox with dual (4 transmission and forward 1 ago), borrowed from an experienced (while) truck GAZ-51;
– kardannыj Bhoomi;
– conical main transfer;
– two multi-board clutch with dry friction "steel on steel" and belt brakes with pads from Ferodo;
– two simple, single-board gear.

All transmission control actuators - mechanical, a driver operated by turning and braking of the tank under the two arms with both hands on either side of his workplace.

Chassis

Chassis tank T-40 was a pioneering Soviet tank building - for the first time (together with a heavy tank KV-1) on a commercial machine used individual torsion bar suspension. For a board, It is composed of 4 uni-bearing roller of small diameter (550 mm) with rubber tires, 3 supporting a uni-directional roller outer damping, drive wheel and idler. At a later modification of T-30, depending on the manufacturer, road wheels were made or cast spitsovannymi, or solid stamped (from early issues - only the last option). Opposite extreme hardpoints hulls welded to the rocker suspension travel stops with rubber buffers for shock absorption. Drive wheels lantern meshing with removable gear rings are placed in front, and sloths, unified with the supporting rollers, with track tension mechanism - back. To the body of the tank priklopyvalis bumpers to prevent jamming of the tracks when the tank is moving with considerable roll on one of the sides. caterpillar Melkozvenchataya, the width of the truck is dvuhgrebnevogo 260 mm.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Navigable propulsion and equipment for movement afloat

Navigable mover included in the hydrodynamic propeller niche, driveshaft between him and the power take-off from the tank and the engine amphibious hydroplanes. To ensure the movement afloat on the tank installed volnootrazhatelny shield, suction heat exchanger and (bilge) pump. For emergency escape drowning tank crew was equipped with two life belts. For orientation when moving or floating in the mist, and in intelligence in the T-40 magnetic compass installed production "Aviapribor" Moscow Plant. seakeeping tank was high enough - he could confidently carry out their tasks with waves up to 3 points, and in calm water transport cargo considerable mass.

Fire-fighting equipment

The tank was equipped with two fire extinguishers tetrahlornymi - fixed and portable. From stationary extinguisher depart four pipes, ended in spray two large fuel tanks, a small fuel tank and the engine carburetor. Extinguishing a fire in a tank in gas masks required to carry out - in contact with carbon tetrachloride to hot surface chemical reaction occurs to form the partial oxidation phosgene - a potent poison asphyxiating.

Sights and observation devices

Tandem guns DShK installation and equipped with a main gun DT TMFP, if damaged after its principal sight automatically removing the fly platoon reserve mechanical sight. The driver and the commander T-40 also had some viewing devices (three driver, Two of commander) to monitor the surroundings outside the tank. Visibility of the car compared to the T-38 has been significantly improved (five against three viewing devices, easy to observe from a place of the driver configuration armored housing).

electrics

Wiring in tank T-40 was a single wire, the second wire served hull of the machine. power sources (operating voltage 6 AT) were Generator G-41 with the relay-regulator PPA-364 output 0,2 kW battery stamps 3-STE-112 total capacity 112 Ah. The tank had and the second battery of the same brand. On linear machines it was spare, and on the commander, 71 equipped with radio-TK-3, It includes a network for the operation of radio stations. electrical consumers included:

– exterior and interior car lighting, scales backlight unit sighting;
– instrumentations (ammeter and voltmeter);
– External sound signal CE-4714;
– means of communication - radio (to command tanks) and one-sided tricolor and warning from the commander to the mechanic-driver;
– electrical motor group - starter SL-40, RS-11 ignition coil, Dispenser F-10, candles SE-01 and the switch 69-K.

Means of communication

On tanks means linear internal one-way communication from the commander to the driver-mechanic served tricolor light-signal device, means of external communication except the check boxes are not provided. On command tank installed shortwave radio telegraph and telephone 71-TK-3.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

modifications

serial

The T-40 was manufactured in several embodiments, which differed from each other movably afloat, armament and booking, but at that time in the military and industrial reporting they did not differ, still calling the modified index of tanks T-40. Nevertheless, all serial versions had their unique designation:

– T-40 pre-war issue for movement afloat;

– T-40C release July - September 1941 year from the retracted navigable propulsion units;

– T-30 (factory index 030, It expected to troop to use the name of T-60) - non-floating variant displacing hull without niches hydrodynamic propeller and reinforced armor. Part of the late issuance of machines armed with an experimental 20 mm gun ShVAK-T. Further improvement of the body and arms (the rejection of which became unnecessary displacement form, refinement ShVAK-T) Light led to the creation of the T-60 with a 20 mm cannon TNSH.

Legend T-40S, 030 and the T-30 did not take root in the documents of the Great Patriotic War and are mainly used in today's publications to refer to modifications of light tank T-40.

experienced

Lack of arms of the T-40 has actively promoted the work on its upgrading to a more powerful artillery systems. As a solution to the problem it was proposed to use a 23-mm automatic cannon aircraft design I. D. Taubina and M. n. Baburin (known as PTB-23, MP-6 and BT-23, used on some versions of the fighters I-21 and LaGG-1 and Il-2), adapted for installation in the tank. Tank its variant was designated PT-23TB (Tank gun caliber 23 mm Taubina - Baburin) and it has been modified A. E. Nudelman. Corps pilot T-40 gun PT-23TB has also undergone minor changes in order to reduce the size and enhance the booking, but its configuration and arrangement of major manholes and hatches remained unchanged as compared with the serial T-40. Despite the installation of more powerful weapons, weight of the car was reduced to 5,32 t and it has not lost the possibility of movement afloat. Chassis, engine-transmission plant and equipment have not changed. Prototype T-40 with 23 mm cannon PT-23TB was made in July 1941 year and in the beginning of October has passed field tests. multiple failures guns were found on these tests PT-23TB, as a result of the tank was not adopted by the Red Army and not commercially produced.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Machines based on the T-40

Tank T-40 served as a basis for self-propelled artillery installation class multiple rocket launchers BM-8-24. Artillery unit BM-8-24 consisted of 12 guides such as "beam", on which the top and bottom were charged 24 82-mm rockets M-8. fire control device allows you to fire a volley or a different tempo produced shells. The release of these combat vehicles engaged in plant number 733 ("Compressor"), all of the installation MLRS plant number 37 handed 44 cars. After removing the T-40 production release BM-8-24 continued on the basis of its successor T-60.

Organizational structure

Tank T-40 was intended to replace the Red Army previous models of small floating tanks - T-37A and T-38. Were issued before the war tank T-40 supplied exclusively motorized and division KOBO ZOVO, as well as in universities.

Due to catastrophic loss material part in the second half 1941 year and repeated change of views on the organizational structure of tank units, unified its options for that period does not exist. Furthermore, due to substitutions in the production of one model to another tank lung, in organizational structure (especially in 1941 year) It does not specify the type laid on the state machinery, but instead used only the total number of light tanks, which could be a variety of types - BT-7, T-26, T-40 of all modifications and October - T-60.

Nevertheless, T-40 is used at all levels of the organization of the Red Army tank units - from separate tank battalions to the tank armies. In the initial phase of the war states repeatedly changed, eg, in a separate tank brigades, forming the end of August - beginning of September 1941 , there were 64 light tank (T-40 or T-60) of 93 laid. The armored brigades forming the end of September the total number of tanks was reduced to 67, and still later - to 46 machines (20 T-40 or T-60). Soon, due to lack of materiel had to focus on the formation of separate tank battalions in 29 machines (9 medium and 20 light). But to top 1942 of the year, when in some degree it has been overcome prevailed since the beginning of the war chaos, there were well-defined states of tank units. Instead, a hastily knocked together in most cases on the principle of 'what is' separate tank battalions made possible in advance to form suitable for large-scale offensive action tank corps. In March 1942 It has been approved by the State, in which the tank corps was to have 100 combat vehicles: 20 KB-1, 40 T-34 40 T-60. A further increase in the issue of tanks allowed in mid-April 1942 year increase at exactly half the number of housing - up 30 KB-1, 60 T-34 60 T-60. Although the main light tank model "shestidesyatka" was approved, at the beginning 1942 year instead of part of it sometimes be equipped with the latest serial or repaired and perevooruzhonnymi TNSH on the T-40.

In the middle 1942 , the T-40 disappears from the regulatory and accounting documents of the Red Army, a single surviving machinery transferred to the rear for training purposes. As a curiosity, We can note the use of such training T-40 as German tanks capture Soviet films wartime.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

combat application

Because of the relatively small number of cars produced, details combat use of T-40 practically unknown. On 1 June 1941 , there were in the Red Army 132 T-40 (113 linear, 17 radio broadcast and 2 training (BChS № 1)), of them in the western military districts (mainly in the Kiev Special) — 115 machines.

The most extensive use of tanks of this type (mainly non-floating modifications T-40S and T-30) It accounted for late autumn 1941 , during the Battle of Moscow. for example, as of 28 October 1941 years on the Western Front had 441 tank, of them 33 KB-1, 175 T-34, 43 BT, 50 T-26, 113 T-40 32 T-60. By the middle 1942 , the T-40 have virtually disappeared from the frontline units of the Red Army. 1 July 1942 in the south-western and southern fronts, there was only 4 T-40 as part of the 478-th separate tank battalion, the end of July they were all lost. The longest T-40 used in the North-West direction - of 16 January 1944 , one T-40 had a 124 m-tank shelf front Volkhovsky.

During the active period of the T-40 tried to combat use of solutions used for auxiliary tasks, eg, operations in the forest and marshland; but an acute shortage of tanks forced to use "sorokovke" as tanks close infantry support, Despite their weak arms for this purpose and booking. As such, they are inferior to even slight German tanks PzKpfw II, not to mention the middle PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV. German 37-mm anti-tank guns Pak 35/36 We had no problems in the defeat of the T-40 at all distances and angles battle. As a result, loss of T-40 were very high, but more fighting - the reliability and agility were found to be satisfactory, which was very unusual for other types of Soviet tanks that phase of the war.

About any use of T-40 in the Wehrmacht knew nothing; one T-40 1 November 1942 year had in the Romanian Army.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Padded tank T-40, who managed to crush the German gun PAK-35

Evaluation of the project

Small floating tank T-40 was the pinnacle of the development of this class of machines in the Soviet Union, after it adopted the Red Army and the Soviet Army tanks are no longer accepted, and soon after the war, was abolished and the class itself small tanks. Of all the new tanks before the war was the T-40 was the most structurally driven to conditions of normal production and operation in the troops. From the point of view of the intended application: intelligence service, link, outposts columns on the march - the T-40 meets all the set requirements. In addition to its crew T-40 could easily be transported on itself two or three marines with full equipment, it was almost impossible to T-38; arms of a pair of machine guns of different caliber enables both maintain their infantry combat, and to deal with light armored vehicles of the enemy. Low ground pressure and high power density allowed T-40 exhibit a very good driving performance on soils with poor bearing capacity. The most significant disadvantage "sorokovke" was functional congestion tank commander - he served as a gunner, loader, and if there is a radio station - and even radio operator.

On the other hand, at the beginning of World War II due to a sharp decrease of the material from the combat and non-combat losses of the T-40 began to be used as a tank direct support of infantry, where the main requirement was the presence of powerful weapons and booking. "Sorokovke" with its bulletproof armor and machine guns could not replace a full-fledged modern light tank T-50 (and even obsolete T-26) and it was definitely wrong with this as, However, in the course of events intervened, economic and technological circumstances. Trying to organize serial production of more nedovedonnogo and complex in design T-50 at the factory number 37 It was impossible, whereas after the rejection of navigable mover and amplification reservation reliable and manufacturable T-40 by the vulnerability equalizer with pre-war serial easy tank T-26. Therefore, the initial order for the termination of serial production of the T-40 was canceled, and in the production went to its "ground" version of the T-40S and T-30. The very design of the T-40 was laid significant reserve, which allowed it to quickly develop on the basis of the more secure and more powerfully armed, compared with the original one, light tank T-60.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

The failed and thrown crew Soviet small tank T-40, Southwestern Front, summer 1941 of the year. The photograph shows, as the Red Army and local residents visiting the car

Also of note is the fact, that the defense phase of the Great Patriotic War is not canceled need troops in such niche samples techniques, as T-40. Suffice it to say, that in the transition to the offensive Soviet commanders have repeatedly recalled the need amphibious tanks, sometimes involving, even single surviving T-38. Cars the DUKW amphibious-353, supplied under Lend-Lease, the problem is only partially solved - they did not have reservations and armament, and lacked. River flotilla armored and could not always help. So do not just Soviet soldiers crossed the water barrier on improvised floating facilities without any support, suffering heavy losses from the rifle and machine-gun and mortar fire of the enemy. maneuver, fast and floating the T-40 could more seriously than help to Soviet troops to capture and hold a bridgehead on the other side of the forced water hazard. Furthermore, lightly armored machinegun Gators are widely represented in modern armies, Only there was a propeller change - large wheels with adjustable pressure turned out to be more profitable caterpillars. An example is the Soviet BRDM.

Among the examples of modern for that time, foreign technology light tank T-40 has virtually no analogues. Among land vehicles in their weight and size category it is almost equivalent to the German booking to easy tank PzKpfw I, Italian Fiat L6 / 40 and Japanese "Ha-Go" or "Ka-Mi". Surpassing the German machine for Armaments (caliber machine guns 12,7 mm 7,62 mm against two 7.92-mm), T-40 yields for armaments Italian L6 / 40 and Japanese "Ha-Go" or "Ka-Mi" (20-Automatic mm and 37 mm, respectively, non-automatic guns). However gun modification of T-40 makes it practically equivalent with the Italian tank and smoothes advantage Japanese. However, Fiat L6 / 40 and "Ha-Go" can not swim, and "Ka-Mi" demanded special external floats for buoyancy, that must be set in advance and reset after landfall. T-40, in honor of the "Ka-Mi", I was ready to force a crossing on the move without any prior preparation. American amphibious transport vehicle LVT «amtank" with similar or stronger reservations and armament (It depends on the modification) I had a mass in 16,5 ton and incomparable with 5,5-tonnыm T-40. Given the high reliability and manufacturability design, You can estimate the T-40 as a successful machine and success H. A. Astrova and his staff, but the tragic circumstances of the USSR for the beginning of World War II did not give "sorokovke" show fully all their positive qualities to the role, on which it was calculated.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Tank landing one of the units of the 1st Guards Motorized Rifle Division Moscow and the column of light tanks T-40 in the winter forest during the Battle of Moscow.

History of creation

Along with heavy, medium and light tanks of the Red Army weapons system Armored stands out tanks class - the so-called "small" tanks, which is a subspecies of light tanks in the classification fighting vehicles by weight. The main purpose of the small tanks had intelligence, link, outposts units on the march, fight against enemy saboteurs and guerrillas; Besides, they were required to overcome water obstacles without any prior preparation. In the late 1930s, the Red Army in the armament consisted of two types of small tanks - T-37A and T-38. Both of them were a further development of the floating prototype light tank, developed by the British firm "Carden-Lloyd». Further development and adaptation to the conditions of Soviet industry have been carried out design team of the Moscow factory number 37 led H. A. Astrova. Despite high expectations, small floating tank T-38 did not meet them in many ways, followed by two of its modernization, which are only partially eliminated initial design flaws. The main of them were:

– weak arms - one 7.62-mm machine gun DT;
– weak armor, Failure to protect the machine from the fire anti-tank guns, fragments of shells and hand grenades;
– Separation of the driver and the vehicle commander, that the death or injury of a first terminal of the entire tank out of action;
– lack of buoyancy, not allowing to take on board any significant load in the form of fighters airborne or desired property of the army as they crossed the water hazard. Many times during exercises and experiments tanks of T-38 sank due to poor sealing of the housing or small wave nabezhali.

Therefore, at the beginning 1939 , the design bureau of the plant number 37 mainly with H. A. Astrov beginning of developing a new small amphibious tank, which could eliminate most of these shortcomings. The basic directions of perfection of design has become a convenient form of development for the movement of a displacement hull afloat, waiver of restrictions on the dimensions of the machine, the application of advanced technical ideas in the chassis and already-established components and assemblies of the country's automobile industry. Although a considerable number of decisions have been borrowed from the T-38, new tank project, received index 010, Completely independent development of the H. A. Astrova and his staff, but not the further development of the English progenitor T-37A and T-38.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Soviet echelon with tanks T-40 should be at the front. summer 1941.

It is worth noting, that the fate of the project 010 at an early stage has been under significant threat - the customer in the face of the Main Armored Directorate (GABTU) RKKA desired visible instead of T-38 as a floating scout wheel-track tank with a mass of 5-6 tonnes diesel engine 150-180 l. from. The project of such a machine was the T-39. Appointed as acting director of the plant number 37 n. A. Astrov (instead arrested H. Kozyrev) I had a lot of time and effort spent on the study it is impossible to get such a machine within the agreed customer weight and size and cost constraints. In addition, the diesel engine for the T-39 did not have. These objections led the designer only to the appearance of tasks for the development of the autumn 1937 Year of the diesel engine, and a little later the visit to the factory number 37 Inspection of GABTU, the result was quite unsatisfactory for workers inspecting report. However, in the spring 1938 , the tactical and technical requirements have changed dramatically GABTU (Gas engine 90 l. from., Only caterpillar mover), which gave the "green light" project 010. At the same time he was awarded the T-40.

"010" project was developed while the few design bureau of the plant number 37. In addition to the chief designer, He took an active part in designing, in the creation of a new tank participated P. A. Anshelevich and A. AT. Bogachev. For the first time an individual torsion bar suspension was used in the Soviet tank building, great attention was paid to the ergonomics of the machine designers. Unlike T-38, a driver and tank commander stationed together in a crew compartment, workplace first housed in the symmetry plane of the machine with a sufficient survey. Inspection hatch located so, not to be passed over engulfing wave, provided space for cumbersome new duplex radio 71-TK-3. Unlike open installation propeller T-38, in the new car, he was placed in a special niche of the hydrodynamic and well protected from damage.

spring 1939 , the design work was largely completed, and in July we began testing the first four experimental machines, both with individual torsion, and with a blocked carriage suspension with semi-elliptic leaf springs. An extensive testing program includes checking running and maneuverability of the tank on land and afloat, overcoming natural and artificial obstacles, shooting weapons and assessment of ergonomic comfort as the weapons installation, and the entire tank as a whole. Since the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAS) not yet mastered the production of new engines GAZ-11 power 85 l. from., on experimental tanks supplied prototypes of future import Gorky motors. Tests revealed a large number of individual parts needed improvements, but the plant number 37 promptly rectify deficiencies. In particular, It was lengthened to 120 mm and widened to 50 mm case, and its height reduced to 20 mm to improve stability on the move and afloat. Also, designers have increased torsion suspension shafts, increased diameter and the width of rollers, three-bladed propeller was replaced with a more efficient four-blade. According to the test results of the individual torsion bar suspension was profitable carriage and received a "ticket to the future". The revised form tank "010" project received approval from the military specialists and supervising the tank-building statesmen.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

19 December 1939 the USSR Defense Committee has adopted the Red Army, together with other machines light tank "010" project of the same army designation T-40 in the decree number 443ss. This document stipulated task plant № 37 release to 1 Martha 1940 , three prototypes of the T-40, to 1 August - the installation of a series of 15 tanks and 1 October launch their serial production.
To summer 1940 the plant number 37 to build two prototypes of the T-40 with any comments on the results of tests. By that time we arrived and engines GAZ-11; it was the more welcome because of wear and misalignment of imported power units at power machines.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War the plant number 37 I received the order of the completion of the serial production of small floating tank T-40 and preparation of production facilities for the production of light tank T-50. However, the Red Army needed as many tanks can be, and the process of manufacture of T-50 was just neposilen for plant number 37. n. A. ASTROFF in such an environment to begin a new light with wide use tank components and assemblies of T-40, a decision on the issue at the plant number 37 T-50 tanks were soon canceled in favor of increasing the output of "land" variant T-40C. This modification was created in July 1941 at the initiative of the Chief of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Red Army colonel GABTU. A. Afonin. Since the property of buoyancy T-40 in the battles of the first months of the war left untapped, It is an opportunity to simplify the design of the tank due to the failure of components and assemblies navigable propeller. With the tank were recorded propeller driveshaft, power take-off, amphibious hydroplanes, bilge pump, heat exchanger, volnootrazhatelny guard and compass. It was subsequently dismantled and radio. Due to weight savings could significantly enhance the book up to 13-15 mm in the most important areas of the tank, however hydrodynamic niche for Propeller yet remained.

Orphaned hydrodynamic niche removed next, and last modification "sorokovke", which is now referred to as the T-30 for its project designation "030" (known historian M. n. Svirin based on their research of archival documents of People's Commissariat of the Tank Industry claims, what this machine was originally designated as T-60 and that it was referring to the H. A. ASTROFF in his letter and. AT. Stalin[2]). this option, still referred to in the military and industrial reporting as the T-40, It was recycled H. A. Astrov version of the T-40C in order to further enhance the reservation to 15-20 mm in the most critical parts of the machine armored housing. Also several rearranged internal structure of the tank in order to use the released space from niches and hydrodynamic propulsion units navigable. From september 1941 , at T-30 were installed 20 mm gun ShVAK-T. Retaining arrangement and placement of components and assemblies of T-30, A designer. AT. Bogachev developed the "low" case for the new tank "060" project, which has become the prototype serial T-60. In this T-40 History and Development has been finished.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Production

Light tank T-40 in all its embodiments, the plant produced № 37 in 1940-1941. After the renovation and expansion of production facilities and processes in October 1940 the year has begun serial production of "sorokovke". Plan before the end of 1940 , provides for the release of 100 tanks, but the serial production was hard going, He was handed over to the customer 41 serial T-40 and built more 3 experienced machine. 1941 the year was marked by the success of the collective plant number 37 - the troops to 22 June was delivered 159 T-40, along with the tuning machines bookmarks 1940 of the year. Manufacture of the floating variant T-40 was completed in July 1941 of the year, when the plant number 37 passed last 16 machines of this modification; in serial production went to "land" version of the T-40 (here T-40C in any document in / not found). In July - August 1941 , it was built 136 T-Land 40 , after which it was replaced in the production of a variant with enhanced reservation T-30. This modification was in production until October 1941 , inclusive. In October 1941 year began the evacuation of the plant number 37 to Sverdlovsk (order from 9 October, production has been stopped 26 October). At the new place, using the reserve previously issued hulls, factory number 37 built last 200 "Tridtsatok", followed by the production of all variants of the T-40 was finally completed. Just a small amount (48 PC) released in 1942 the plant number 38 Kirov. However, since the main plant product was T-60, the debugging and commissioning of the T-30 was delayed until October.

Since October T-30 commercially started to equip the 20 mm gun ShVAK – TNS instead of machine gun DSK. The same instrument equipped arrived from the front to repair T-40 early series. Hulls and towers of the T-40 to the factory number 37 Moscow made the Kolomna Machine-Building and Kuibyshev refineries Podolsky.

Production of T-40 / T-30 (Compiled by M. Kolomiets ” Tanks bombers World”, YU. Pasholok “T-60 and the machine on its base”, CAMO RF, f. 38, whop. 11355 , d. 13 (Management plans for armored combat vehicles for distribution by county, information and statements of military representatives on the implementation of orders and plans of the plant in the presence of the Red Army on the issue years in tanks).

Total 930 tanks, 3 experienced, 3 educational and 24 chassis for installation of M-8-24.

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Performance characteristics of the T-40

Crew, pers.: 2
The number of issued, PC.: 930

Weight of tank T-40

– 5,5 tonnes

Dimensions of the T-40

– body Length, mm: 4110
– housing width, mm: 2330
– Height, mm: 1905
– Clearance, mm: 300

Armor tank T-40

– Type broni: cemented rolled high hardness
– housing forehead (top), mm / city.: 15—20/10°
– housing forehead (through), mm / city.: 13—15/−30°
– body board (top), mm / city.: 13—15/25°
– body board (through), mm / city.: 13—15/0°
– housing feed (top), mm / city.: 13/35°
– housing feed (through), mm / city.: 13/−30°
– Bottom, mm: 5
– corps roof, mm: 5
– gun mantlet, mm / city.: 10—20
– board towers, mm / city.: 15—20/25°
– tower roof, mm: 5

Arming of the T-40

– sights: TMFP-1
– Shotgun: 1 × 12,7-mm DShK, 1 × 7,62-mm DT

Engine tank T-40

– engine's type: 4-stroke inline 6-cylinder Carburetor
– Engine power, l. from.: 85

The rate of tank T-40

– Road speed, kmh: 44
– Speed ​​over rough terrain, kmh: 20—25

– Cruising on the highway, km: 300
– Cruising cross country, km: 120—150
– power density, l. p. / m: 15,5
– suspension type: individual torsion bar
– Unit ground pressure, kg / cm²: 0,46
– Gradeability, city.: 34°
– to overcome the wall, m: 0,7
– trench, m: 1,7
– fording, m: floats (1,0)

Photo T-40

 Tank T-40 of TTX, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

The crew of the Soviet light amphibious tank T-40. It consisted of two people - a driver and tank commander.

 

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