Soviet Union's Tankette T-27
T-27 tankette: T-27 suspended under a TB-3 aircraft3 |
T-27A3 tankette: |
T-27B3 tankette: |
Design
The T-27 was based on the British Carden-Loyd Mk VI.4,5 It was designed by N. Kosyrev.5,6 The work was done at the Zavod Nr 37 in Moscow.6
The small size required that the crew be usually comprised of men that had a small stature.4
Communicated via flag.3,6
Crew
The commander and the driver sat side by side.5 The commander operated the air cooled 7.62 mm MG.5
Improvements
Starting in 1932 the T-27 was modified by having the fighting compartment lengthened which resulted in the addition of a pair of roadwheels on each side.5
The separate hatches for the crew were connected that allowed for them to open over the whole width of the T-27.5
The armor plate was extended to cover the tracks and this allowed for additional storage.5
The engine was placed between the driver and the commander.5
Prototype
The prototype was finished in 1931.4
Production
An order for 5,000 T-27s was originally placed.5
- T-27: 2,5401, 2,5415
- Production: 1931 - 19335, ? - 19411
- 1931: 3485
- 1932: 1,6835
- 1933: 5005
- Production: 1931 - 19335, ? - 19411
- T-27A: 3484
- T-27B: 2,5004
Production Problems
In February 1938 the T-27s were to get an overhaul.5 During the inspection of the T-27s it was found that eight had only cast steel and not the chrome nickel steel in the rest of the models.5 The cast steel would let small arms fire penetrate.5
Variants
- T-276: No radio.6
- T-27A:
- T-27B:
- T-27V: Commander's version with radio.3
Usage
65 battalions contained 50 T-27s in each.6
Most of the T-27 were converted to training, artillery, or ammunition tractors once declared obsolete.4
Support for Paratroops
In 1931 experiments were made by hanging a T-27 under the tails of TB-1 bombers so that they could be landed and unloaded for use with paratroopers.5
| T-27 Tankette | T-27A Tankette6 | T-27B Tankette | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander5, driver5 21,2,3,4,5 |
23,4,6 | 23,4 |
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 1.7 tons1,2,3, 2.7 tons4,5 1,727 kg1 |
1.9 tons4, 2.65 tons6, 2.68 tons3 2,700 kg6 |
1.9 tons3, 2.68 tons4 |
| Length w/gun | 7' 6"1,3, 8.5'2 2.29 m1, 2.6 m5 |
8.1'4, 8' 6"3,6 2.59 m6 |
8.1'3, 8' 6"4 |
| Length w/o gun | 7' 6"3 | 8' 6"3 | 8.1'3 |
| Height | 3' 7"1, 3.6'3, 4.5'2 1.1 m1, 1.44 m5 |
4' 6"4, 4.76'3, 4' 9"6 1.45 m6 |
4' 6"3, 4.76'4 |
| Width | 5' 1"1,5.1'3, 6'2 1.55 m1, 1.63 m5 |
6'3,4,6 1.83 m6 |
5' 6"3,4 |
| Width over tracks | 5'3 | 5' 6"3 | 5' 6"3 |
| Ground clearance | 9.5"3 0.24 m5 |
9.5"3 | 11"3 |
| Ground contact length | 4' 6"3 | 4' 6"4, 4.8'3 | 4.76'3,4 |
| Ground pressure | 8.6 psi3 0.75 kp/cm2 5 |
10.7 psi3 | 7.6 psi3 |
| Turret ring diameter | |||
| Armament | |||
| Main | 7.62 DT MG1,3,5 7.62 MG2,4 |
1: 7.62 mm MG6 7.62 mm DT MG3,4 |
7.62 mm DT MG3,4 |
| OR | 12.7 mm DShK MG3 | 12.7 mm DShK MG3 | |
| Secondary | |||
| MG | |||
| Side arms | |||
| Quantity | |||
| Main | 2,5203,5 | 7.62: 2,5203,4 | 7.62: 2,5203,4 |
| Secondary | |||
| MG | |||
| Side arms | |||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 4 - 9 2,
91, 6 - 104 Turret: 93 |
106 0.39"6 Turret: 103 |
Turret: 103 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 93, 105 | 103,4 | 103,4 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 93, 105 | 9 - 104, 103 | 9 - 104, 103 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |||
| Hull Rear | 83, 105 | 93 | 93 |
| Hull Top | 63,5 | 4 - 64, 63 | 4 - 64, 63 |
| Hull Bottom | 43,5 | 4 - 64, 43 | 4 - 64, 43 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | GAZ AA1,5 GAZ (Ford) AA3 |
GAZ AA4 GAZ (Ford) AA3 |
GAZ AA4 GAZ (Ford) AA3 |
| Bore / stroke | 4 stroke5 | ||
| Cooling | Water3 | Water3 | Water3 |
| Cylinders | 41,3,5 | 43,4 | 43,4 |
| Capacity | |||
| Net HP | 22@170 rpm1, 22@1,700 rpm3, 222 , 40@2,200 rpm5 | 404, 40@2,200 rpm3 | 404, 40@2,200 rpm3 |
| Power to weight ratio | 11.93, 14.7 HP/ton5 | 8.213 | 11.583 |
| Compression ratio | |||
| Transmission (Type) | Epicyclic3 3 forward, 1 reverse3 |
Epicyclic3 3 forward, 1 reverse3 |
Epicyclic3 3 forward, 1 reverse3 |
| Steering | Clutch and brake3 | Clutch and brake3 | Clutch and brake3 |
| Steering ratio | |||
| Starter | |||
| Electrical system | |||
| Ignition | |||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline2,3,5 | Gasoline3,4 | Gasoline3,4 |
| Octane | |||
| Quantity | 8 gallons3 46 liters5 |
8 gallons3 | 9.85 gallons3 |
| Road consumption | |||
| Cross country consumption | |||
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | 20°3 | 20°3 | 20°3 |
| Max speed | 28 mph1,2,3 40 kph4,5, 45 kph1 |
25 mph3,4, 26 mph6 42 kph6 |
25 mph3,4 |
| Cross country speed | 20 mph3 | 20 mph3 | 20 mph3 |
| Road radius | 100 miles1,3 80 km5, 85 km5, 161 km1 |
53 miles3,4 | 100 miles3,4 |
| Cross country radius | 42 miles3 | 37.5 miles3, 38 miles4, 75 miles6 120 km6 |
37.5 miles3, 38 miles4 |
| Turning radius | 12'3 | 13.1'3 | 13.1'3 |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +10°3 | -10° to +10°3 | -10° to +10°3 |
| Fording depth | 1.8'3 0.5 m5 |
1.6'3 | 2.15'3 |
| Trench crossing | 3.75'3 1.2 m5 |
4'3 | 4'3 |
| Vertical obstacle | 1.25'3 0.5 m5 |
1.6'3 | 1.6'3 |
| Climbing ability | 40°5, 49°3 | 40°3 | 45°3 |
| Suspension (Type) | Vickers-Carden-Loyd3 | Vickers-Carden-Loyd3 | Vickers-Carden-Loyd3 |
| Wheels each side | 6 bogies3 | 6 bogies3 | |
| Return rollers each side | |||
| Tracks (Type) | Drop forged3 | Drop forged3 | Drop forged3 |
| Length | |||
| Width | 5.5"3 | 5.5"3,4 | 5.5"3,4 |
| Diameter | |||
| Number of links | 1003 | 1083 | 1063 |
| Pitch | 1.7"3 | 1.7"3 | 1.7"3 |
| Tire tread | |||
| Track centers/tread | 4.55'3 | 5'3 | 5'3 |
Sources:
- 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
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Russian Tanks 1900-1970, The Complete Illustrated History of Soviet Armoured Theory and Design, John Milsom,1970
- Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
- Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
- Russian Tanks of World War II, Stalin's Armored Might, Tim Bean, Will Fowler, 2002
