T-35 Heavy Tank
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
Original design started in 1930 and first prototype appeared in July 1932. Had one main turret with a 76.2 mm and 4 smaller ones that were taken from the BT-2. Two (right front, left rear) of which had 37 mm 1930 guns, and the other 2 had MGs (left front, right rear). Platoon leaders and above had radios. The prototype appeared at the May Day parade in Moscow in 1933. Then in 1934 at the 17th Party Day of the Communist Party a company of heavy tanks appeared.
Production began at the Kharkov Locomotive Factory. In 1935 new turrets, similar to the BT-5's turrets without the rear extension, replaced the BT-2 turrets. These turrets had 45 mm 1932 guns. The MG turrets were also replaced by turrets from the T-37 amphibian tank. The main turret was redesigned to have a cylindrical shape and rear extension. There was a radio installed and the antenna wrapped around the turret. Internally the crew was linked by telephones.
The prototype vehicles had 6 road wheels on each side with rubber tires. Production vehicles had 8.
Some models had a flame-thrower installed in one of the 45 mm gun turrets.
They were used against Finland from December 1939 to March 1940.3
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. Some saw action in the Lvov area. Most didn't reach the front due to mechanical breakdown. Fought final battle at Moscow in December 1941.
SU-7:
Projects to place 254 mm cannon, 305 mm howitzer, and 400 mm mortar in a self-propelled mount. Weighed up to 106 tons and could do 26 kph.
SU-14:
Designed at the Kirov factory in Leningrad in 1935 to carry a 152.4 mm to 203 mm guns. The first prototype appeared in 1935 and had a 203 mm howitzer. It weighed 50 tons and could go 20 kph.
The next prototype had a 152.4 mm B-10 naval gun and was designated the SU-14-1 or SU-BU-10. It weighed 47.9 tons and could go 31 kph.
In 1939 the SU-14-2 or SU-14-Br-2 was developed at the Barikady works in Stalingrad. It had a 152.4 mm Br-2 1935 gun. It weighed 65 tons.
| T-35 | T-35 1935 | T-35 1938 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 104,7, 113,5 | 102,7 | 107, 111 |
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 110,250 lb, 45,000 kg3, 44 tons7, 44.3 tons3, 45 tons4,5, 50 tons6 |
45 tons2 | 49 tons7, 49.2 tons1 49,985 kg1 |
| Length w/gun | 31.5'4, 31' 6"7, 31' 10.7"5, 31' 11"3, 9.72 m3,5,6 |
11' 6"7 9.72 m2 |
31' 6"7, 31' 11"1 9.72 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |||
| Height | 11' 3"3,5, 11.25'4 3.43 m3,5,6 |
3.43 m2 | 3.43 m1 11' 3"1 |
| Width | 10' 6"3,5,7, 10.5'4 3.2 m3,5,6 |
10' 6"7 3.2 m2 |
10' 6"1,7 3.2 m1 |
| Ground clearance | 0.53 m2 | ||
| Ground contact length | |||
| Ground pressure | 0.78 kp/(cm2)2, 11.08 psi |
||
| Turret ring diameter | |||
| Armament | |||
| Main | 76.2 mm L/16 or L/243 76.2 mm4 |
76.2 mm 1927/322 | 76.2 mm1 |
| Secondary | 2: 45 mm1,3,4 2: 45 mm Model 20K6 |
2: 45 mm 19342 | |
| MG | 6: 7.62 mm MG3 |
5-6: 7.62 mm DT MG2 | 6: 7.62 mm DT MG1, 1: P-40 AA1 |
| Side arms | |||
| Quantity | |||
| Main | 90 | 96-1002 | |
| Secondary | 220-2262 | ||
| MG | 8,230-10,0002 | ||
| Side arms | |||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 307 10 - 303,5 11 - 354 Front: 306 Side: 306 |
507 | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 302 | ||
| Hull Front, Lower | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 202 | ||
| Hull Sides, Lower | |||
| Hull Rear | 202 | ||
| Hull Top | 11-142 | ||
| Hull Bottom | 11-142 | ||
| Turret Front | Main: 20, 45 mm: 20, M:G 202 | ||
| Turret Sides | Main: 20, 45 mm: 20, M:G 202 | ||
| Turret Rear | Main: 20, 45 mm: 20, M:G 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 |
| Cylinders | 127 V-125 |
127 | 127 |
| Net HP | 5004,5,6,7 | 5007 | 5007 |
| Transmission | 5 forward, 1 reverse | ||
| Fuel type | Gasoline4,5,7 | Gasoline7 | Gasoline7 |
| Octane | |||
| Capacity | 910 liters2 | ||
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | 360° | ||
| Max Speed | 18 mph4,7, 18.6 mph3,5 30 kph3,5,6 |
18 mph7 30 kph2 |
18 mph7, 18.6 mph1 30 kph |
| Cross Country | 12 mph7, 12.4 mph | 12 mph7 | 12 mph7 |
| Road radius | 93 miles3, 93.2 m5 150 km3,5 |
150 km2 | 150 km1, 93.2 miles1 |
| 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 | |
| Suspension (Type) | |||
| Wheels each side | 8 | ||
| Return rollers each side | |||
| Track length | |||
| Tires | |||
| Track width | |||
| Track centers/tread | |||
| Production | 1933-1939: 613,5 20-307 |
Sources:
- Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
- Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
- 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
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
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