Speaking of the Soviet amphibious tank, We can not do without the crown of evolution add - amphibious tank PT-76. Fortunately, This machine is not uncommon, copy, who has kindly given us to be torn in Padikovo, all is in perfect, to say the least, fighting condition.
About floating tanks has already been said a lot. And if the parents of these machines was the prewar period, the godmother was the Great Patriotic War. Which showed much against amphibious tanks.
While the Red Army retreated and fought, PT sort of like not really needed. Them and use, to put it mildly, not on purpose, but because of the thousands of these machines actually the first half of the war survived dozens.
And then came the year 1943rd, when it started the liberation campaign in the West. And then times later in his memoirs slipped regret for the lost machines. When our troops had to cross the great number of rivers, lakes, straits and estuaries.
Have repeatedly stated the fact that, that with the means to ferry people and equipment in the Red Army was so-so. Yes, It was quite outstanding in terms of (and some experts believe, the best in the world) PMP Floating Bridge N2P. No park Taskale tractor S-65, that once made the crossing guidance leisurely affair.
Well, of self-propelled vehicles, able to move just outside the battle formations of attacking troops and one with them pace, could only dream of.
Speaking of floating tanks, which is essentially just had to be a lifesaver, and able to move through the water barrier a certain amount of manpower, and then help the infantry machine guns and caterpillars, one can only regret to say, alas. TO 1943 year has left so many flying machines in the Red Army, so that you can really rely on them, as a means of the first roll over a river.
In addition, the entire line of light amphibious tank T-40 is only able to carry a couple of fighters, without risking to drown them and drown himself. T-37A and T-38 were very doubtful of the reliability of floating crafts.
As a result of the Great Patriotic War ended without any serious contribution amphibious tanks, except Svirskaya operation.
But the war ended, but problems remain. Furthermore, after the start of the Cold War, Churchill's speech in Fulton, there is a new understanding of:
- First of all, War of the "cold" could become "hot" just in time;
- Secondly, battleground automatically become Europe again.
And in Europe it? Correctly, river, rivulet, lakes and lakes at every turn. In Central Europe, the beauty of water every 35-40 kilometers is found. A La-Mancha (according to plan) of kilometers still hoo much.
Respectively, to conduct offensive operations (and after 1945, no one thought about the defense, as it were) We need to have not just a mobile troops, and troops, capable of complex actions under the presence of a huge amount of water barriers.
Generally, this Europe that something had to be done ...
So, properly, and the idea was born to develop at the same time light amphibious tank and armored personnel carrier is a floating. so much so, that the two machines were standardized as much as possible!
requirements, advanced military, It was staggering. Lightweight floating tank, armed with a 76 mm gun, that has called into question a certain lightness, I had yet to carry afloat of landing 20 human.
An armored personnel carrier was supposed to contain 25 Marines with weapons or dragging all regimental heavy weapons.
Generally, even those monsters to draw in projects ...
Creation of tanks and armored vehicles assigned to the plant number 112 "Red Sormovo". Designing machines began in 1946 year. In 1948, a prototype of a floating tank was tested, but they could not stand. After that, the work passed Institute of Transport Engineering (VNII 100), created on the basis of Leningrad branch of the Chelyabinsk Experimental Tank Factory number 100.
AT 1950 They were released the prototype samples and started their production tests. By June 1950 , the tank was ready for public testing.
Miracle, but the car has passed all tests as on the asphalt and the decision of the USSR Council of Ministers 6 August 1951 year by the Soviet Army was adopted amphibious tank PT-76.
The performance characteristics of the PT-76:
combat weight, t: 14,5
Crew, people: 3
The number of issued, PC: 3039
dimensions
- the length of the body, mm: 6910
- width, mm: 3140
- height, mm: 2195
booking:
type of armor steel rolled homogeneous high hardness
housing forehead, mm / city: 10 / 80°
body board, mm / city: 10 / 0°
housing feed, mm / city: 6 / 45°
Bottom, mm: 5
corps roof, mm: 6
tower forehead, mm / city: 15 / 35°
board towers, mm / city: 15 / 35°
weaponry:
Caliber guns and stamp: 76-mm D-56T
gun ammunition, PC: 40
firing range, km: to 12
Shotgun: 1 × 7,62-mm SGMT
ammunition, PC: 1000
Mobility:
Engine power, l. from: 240
Road speed, kmh: 44
Speed over rough terrain, kmh: 20-25 (10,2 afloat)
Cruising on the highway, km: 240—260
Cruising cross country, km: 180—210 (60-70 afloat)
Sealed enclosure machine 8-16 mm was shaped, provide minimal resistance to movement when afloat. Road wheels made hollow, which gave an additional reserve buoyancy. Movement afloat was performed using the jet.
PT-76 was produced for 15 years, during the production was repeatedly exposed upgrades. Improved mainly, observation and communication tools. Tanks, issued after 1959,, were designated PT-76B. Their production continued on 1969 year. During this time it was built 4127 PT-76 and PT-76B (941 delivered abroad).
The first production of PT-76 came into force in 1952 year. They are staffed company amphibious tanks Guard tank regiments of tank and mechanized divisions.
BTR-50 appeared a little later, but in the end in each tank regiment of the Soviet Army was armed with a certain amount of funds, capable of forcing any water barrier on the run or after a short training in conventional warfare.
Development of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery actually sentenced the concept of "first strike" forces, as the future of the war saw the experts certainly with nuclear weapons.
Since the PT-76 began to be sent to the intelligence unit. Apparently, load stereotype even of the Great Patriotic: if light and floating - means, intelligence.
Further, the PT-76 is actually repeated the fate of predecessors, T-37A, T-38, T-40. And in fact until the end of the 80s of the last century, i.e, before the end of the Soviet Army, a tank regiments reconnaissance and intelligence battalion individual divisional subordination divisions in Soviet was to 20 units PT-76.
It is worth noting, that as a scout PT-76 was so-so. The main claim to it - its dimensions. In size PT-76 was superior in those days, the main medium tank T-54. Plus mandatory marches PT-76 is required to depart, not even speaking about, to move somewhere in front of the columns.
Thus, the "boat with a gun", as the Soviet army was called in the PT-76, as a scout is not particularly liked everything.
Nevertheless, PT-76 has done some fighting from the heart. Only a part of the Soviet units on account of a tank part in Hungarian (1956), Czechoslovak (1968) events, War in Afghanistan.
And abroad, our PT-76 countries also did not stand idle. The Vietnam war, conflicts between Israel and Syria with Egypt 1967 and 1973 years, Indo-pakistanskaya war 1971 of the year, Yugoslav war 1991-1995 gg. AND, need to say, whipping boy, our "float" was not.
It is particularly noteworthy one point. The PT-76 is fully consistent with the task, the performance of which it was created, This forcing of water obstacles on the move, capture and hold a bridgehead until the main forces.
And the whole history of combat use of the PT-76, albeit mainly in the armies of other states, but nonetheless, confirms, that in all cases, when these machines were used for other purposes, they were successful. That is the, which lacked T 37A and T-40.
Yes, strengths of the PT-76 are not the speed and booking. First of all - outstanding, if not exceptional amphibious quality, for which designers have sacrificed armor. It is clear from the figures, that the PT-76 could safely shoot a heavy machine gun. If possible, of course.
And here is the second forte. For the 50-ies 76-mm gun D-56T was a decent gun system and allows you to "understand" armor-piercing projectiles with the vast majority of the world tanks. Although this was not necessarily, first PT-76 was supposed to play the role not only of the tank, as assault infantry support weapons.
And the PT-76 could play this role even while overcoming the water hazard. Hard to tell, how accurate could be the fire "to melt", but a psychological effect would have been obvious.
Why is that?
It's simple. As is known, The Third World in the 50-60th years did not take place. Overcome numerous reservoirs in Europe do not have to. And PT-76 was just out of work, oddly enough.
Dashing assault was not expected, and for reconnaissance tank PT-76 with its size and carrying capacity well, does not fit. And then there's the BMP-1 in part went. what, by the way, the final verdict as the tank razvedsredstvo.
Since the PT-76 and was in service with many countries of the world, precisely because, that himself to the court did not come. The need to go in forcing a large number of water hazards in the framework of the notorious 72-hour throw to the English Channel, as well as overcoming the English Channel, disappeared by itself. PT-76 turned out to be unnecessary.
But the outstanding machine still showed himself a good fighter, if (it should be stressed) it wisely apply.
