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Poland's Czolg lekki 7TP (7 ton) light tank

7 TP light tank:
Poland's 7TP Light Tank
7 TP light tank:
Poland's 7TP Light Tank
7 TP light tank:
Poland's 7TP Light Tank
7 TP light tank:
Poland's 7TP Light Tank

Design

The PZI design bureau was given the task to figure out a way to make a Polish made copy of the British Vickers-Armstrong 6-ton tank.2 It was a 9 ton vehicle with a twin turret.2

Engine

A Saurer engine was installed making the 7 TP the first diesel powered tank to be in production.2

Prototype

 

Production

Variants

Usage

Used by the 10th Mechanized Brigade against the German 4th Panzer Division's advance on Krakow.5

German Usage

Used for police, anti-partisan, and tractor duties.

  7TP dw 7TP jw 7TP Improved
Crew 32,5 Commander, gunner, driver
31,5
32
Physical Characteristics      
Weight 6 tons2, 9.25 tons5
9,000 kg
21,000 lb, 21,056 lb, 24,251 lb
9,571 kg, 11,000 kg, 9,550 kg1
9.4 tons1, 9.5 tons4, 9.74 tons5
11 tons2
Length w/gun 14' 11"5, 15' 1"2
4.56 m5
14' 11"5, 15'4, 15' 1"1, 16'
4.56 m5, 4.57 m, 4.6 m1
 
Length w/o gun      
Height 7' 0.5"2, 7' 2"5
2.19 m5
6' 7"1, 7', 7' 2"4, 7' 6"5, 7' 6.5"
2.13 m, 2.02 m1, 2.3 m5
 
Width 7' 11"2,5
2.43 m5
7' 1"1, 7' 11"4,5, 7' 11.5, 8'
2.43 m5, 2.16 m1
 
Ground clearance      
Ground contact length      
Ground pressure (psi)      
Turret ring diameter      
Armament      
Main 2: 7.92 MG2
2 (1 in each turret): 7.92 mm Ckm wz.30 MG5
37 mm1
37 mm Bofors wz.375
37 mm Bofors4
 
Secondary      
MG   7.92 mm MG1
7.92 mm wz 30 Browning
 
MG - coaxial   1: 7.92 mm Ckm wz.305  
Side arms      
Quantity      
Main   80  
Secondary      
MG   3,960  
Side arms      
Armor Thickness (mm) 172 5-171
Min: 254
Max: 404
402
Hull Front, Upper   17  
Hull Front, Lower      
Hull Sides, Upper      
Hull Sides, Lower      
Hull Rear      
Hull Top      
Hull Bottom   5  
Turret Front   40  
Turret Sides      
Turret Rear      
Turret Top      
Engine (Make / Model) Saurer VBLDd5 Saurer VBLDd5, Saurer1  
Cylinders 62 61 62
Net HP 1102,5 1101,4,5 1102
Transmission      
Fuel type Diesel2,5 Diesel1,4,5 Diesel2
Octane      
Capacity      
Performance      
Traverse   360°  
Max speed 19.9 mph2, 23 mph5
37 kph5
20 mph1, 23 mph5
32 kph1, 37 kph5
 
Cross country speed      
Road radius 99.42 miles5
160 km5
99 miles5, 100 miles1,4
160 km1,5
 
Cross country radius      
Turning Radius      
Elevation Limits      
Fording depth      
Trench crossing   6', 10'
3.12 m
 
Vertical Obstacle   2'  
Suspension (Type)   2 pairs of twin bogies on rocker with leaf springing4  
Wheels each side      
Return rollers each side      
Track length      
Tires      
Track width      
Track centers/tread      

Sources:

  1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
  2. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  3. -
  4. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  5. Western Allied Tanks 1939-45, David Porter, 2009
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