Soviet Union's T-351 heavy tank

T-35 Heavy Tank:
USSR T-35 Heavy Tank
T-35 Heavy Tank:
USSR T-35 Heavy Tank
T-35 Heavy Tank:
USSR T-35 Heavy Tank
T-35 Heavy Tank:
USSR T-35 Heavy Tank
T-35 Heavy Tank:
USSR T-35 Heavy Tank
     

Design

The T-35 was designed by the Experimental Design Mechanical Section (OKMO) at the Bolshevik Factory in Leningrad by a team led by N. Tsiets.1

The Red Army wanted a multi-turreted vehicle that would break through heavy defenses.

The engine was placed in the rear half of the hull.7

Crew

Internally the crew was linked by telephones.2

Armament

The main armament of the T-35 prototype was the 76.2 mm 1927/32 tank gun.2 There were four BT-2 turrets that were placed around the vehicle.2 The right front and left rear had 37 mm 1930 tank guns.2 The left front and right rear had 7.62 mm DT MGs in ball mantlets.2

In 1935 new turrets, similar to the BT-5's turrets without the rear extension, replaced the BT-2 turrets.2 These turrets had 45 mm 1932 guns.2 The MG turrets were also replaced by turrets from the T-37 amphibian tank.2 The main turret was redesigned to have a cylindrical shape and rear extension.2 There was a radio installed and the antenna wrapped around the turret.2

Some models had a flame-thrower installed in one of the 45 mm gun turrets.2

Engine

The T-35 had a M-17 engine that produced 500 HP.2 There were 5 forward and 1 reverse gear.2

Suspension

There was a suspension member for each pair of road wheels.2 There were rubber tires for the road wheels.2

Prototype

Original design started in 1930 and first prototype appeared in July 1932.8
Two prototypes were constructed between 1932 and 1933.1

The first prototype, the T-35-1, was to complex and cost too much to build.1 The second prototype, the T-35-2, reduced the number of weapons, complexity, and crew was authorized by the STO Work Defense Council (STO) on August 11, 1933 for production.1

The prototype vehicles had 6 road wheels on each side with rubber tires.2,8 Production vehicles had 8.2

The prototype appeared at the May Day parade in Moscow in 1933.2 Then in 1934 at the 17th Party Day of the Communist Party a company of heavy tanks appeared.2

Production

Variants

Usage

Finland

They were used against Finland from December 1939 to March 1940.3
One source says they saw no action against the Finns.1

Against the Germans

The Germans encountered them at Lvov shortly after Germany invaded Russia.3

The 5th Heavy Tank Brigade saw action in June and July of 1941.2 Some saw action in the Lvov area. Most didn't reach the front due to mechanical breakdown.2 Fought final battle at Moscow in December 1941.2

The T-35s saw action with the 67th and 68th Tank Regiments of the 34th Tank Division of the VIII Mechanized Corps.1

Poor Performer

Due to the T-35s bulk and poor steering it was a ponderous beast that one officer said "couldn't cross as much as a large puddle."1 The tank had to be still for the crew to have any chance of hitting their targets.1

  T-35 T-35 Model 19351,2 T-35 Model 19381 T-35-11 T-35-21
Crew 104,7, 113,5 102,7 107, 111 101,8 71,8
Physical Characteristics          
Weight 110,250 lb,
45,000 kg3,
44 tons7, 44.3 tons3, 45 tons4,5
45 tons2 49 tons7, 49.2 tons1, 50 tons2
49,985 kg1
45 tons8, 50 tons1 46 tons8
Length w/gun 31.5'4, 31' 6"7, 31' 10.7"5, 31' 11"3,
9.72 m3,5
11' 6"7
9.72 m2
31' 6"7, 31' 11"1
9.72 m1
31' 6"8 31.9'8
Length w/o gun          
Height 11' 3"3,5, 11.25'4
3.43 m3,5
3.43 m2 3.43 m1
11' 3"1
11' 3"8 10' 6"8
Width 10' 6"3,5,7, 10.5'4
3.2 m3,5
10' 6"7
3.2 m2
10' 6"1,7
3.2 m1
10' 6"8 10' 6"8
Ground clearance   0.53 m2      
Ground contact length       26.1'8 26.1'8
Ground pressure 11.08 psi 0.78 kp/cm2 2      
Turret ring diameter          
Armament          
Main 76.2 mm L/16 or L/243
76.2 mm4
76.2 mm 1927/322 76.2 mm1 76.2 mm L/16.58
76.2 mm PS-31
76.2 mm L/248
Secondary 2: 45 mm1,3,4 2: 45 mm 19342 1: 45 mm1 2: 37 mm1  
MG

6: 7.62 mm MG3
6: MG4

5 - 6: 7.62 mm DT MG2 6: 7.62 mm DT MG1 2: MGs in turrets1  
MG - anti aircraft 1: P-40 AA   1: P-40 AA1    
Side arms          
Quantity          
Main 90 96 - 1002   968 968
Secondary   220 - 2262      
MG   8,230 - 10,0002      
Side arms          
Armor Thickness (mm) 307
10 - 303,5
11 - 354
  1.18"1
301, 502,7
  Front: 1.3"1
Front: 351
Side: 0.9"1
Side: 251
Hull Front, Upper   302   308 358
Hull Front, Lower          
Hull Sides, Upper   202   208 258
Hull Sides, Lower          
Hull Rear   202      
Hull Top   11-142   11 - 148 11 - 148
Hull Bottom   11-142   11 - 148 11 - 148
Turret Front   Main: 20, 45 mm: 20, M:G 202   11 - 208 11 - 358
Turret Sides   Main: 20, 45 mm: 20, M:G 202      
Turret Rear   Main: 20, 45 mm: 20, MG: 202      
Turret Top   Main: 11, 45 mm: 11, MG: 112      
Engine (Make / Model) M-177
M-17 M5
M-177
M-17 M2,3
M-177 M-17M8 M-171, M-17M8
Bore / stroke   4 stroke2      
Cylinders 127
V-125
122,7 127 128 128
Net HP 5004,5,7 5007, 500@1,450 rpm2 5007 5008 5008
Transmission 5 forward, 1 reverse        
Fuel type Gasoline4,5,7 Gasoline2,7 Gasoline7 Gasoline8 Gasoline8
Octane          
Capacity   910 liters2      
Performance          
Traverse 360°        
Max speed 18 mph4,7, 18.6 mph3,5
30 kph3,5
18 mph7
30 kph2
18 mph7, 18.6 mph1
30 kph1
18 mph8 19 mph8
Cross country speed 12 mph7, 12.4 mph 12 mph7 12 mph7    
Road radius 93 miles3, 93.2 miles5
150 km3,5
150 km2 93.2 miles1
150 km1
94 miles8 94 miles8
Cross country radius       50 miles8 50 miles8
Turning Radius          
Elevation Limits          
Fording depth   1.2 m2      
Trench crossing 11' 6"5
3.5 m5
3.5 - 4 m2      
Vertical Obstacle 4'5
1.2 m5
1.2 m2      
Climbing ability   20°2      
Suspension (Type)          
Wheels each side 8     88 88
Return rollers each side          
Track length          
Tires          
Track width       1' 0.18"8 1' 0.18"8
Track centers/tread          

Sources:

  1. Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
  2. Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
  3. 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
  4. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  5. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  6. -
  7. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  8. Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill