MS-1 Light Infantry Tanks
MS-1 45 mm
MS-13
MS-2 Light Infantry Tanks
MS-23
MS-3 Light Infantry Tanks
MS-33
T-18M Light Infantry Tanks
After a special Tank Bureau was formed on May 6, 1924, a specification for a light tank was given. It was to weigh 3,000 kg, have a speed of 7.5 mph, 16 mm of armor, 37 mm gun, and with a crew of 2. During early 1925 the Red Army staff reviewed the specification and increased it to 5,000 kg.
The first prototype was called the T-16 and was finished in May 1927. Improvements to the engine and the length were completed in November 1927 and this was designated the T-18. The Revolutionary Military Council accepted the T-18 as a standard on July 6, 1927, even before testing was completed. It was called the Maliy Soprovozdieniya - Small Accompanying - One (MS-1).
It was produced at the Leningrad Bolshevik plant starting in 1928. This was the first Russian tank to be put into serial production. It was withdrawn from service in 1932 and given to the Ossoaviakhim, which as the military training organization.
It used rubber tired bogies. The engine was mounted traversely to save length and thus weight.
Communication was by flag.3
Usage
MS saw combat Kiev-Voronezh and Chinese Eastern Railway in 1929.
After the Germans invaded Russia, approximately 200 MS-1s were converted into T-18Ms mounting 45 mm guns.
| MS-1 | MS-1, MS-2, MS-3, MS-3A3 | MS-III | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | 22 | 23 | 21 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 12,125 - 14,770 lb 5,500 - 6,700 kg |
5.4 tons2 | 5.4 - 6.7 tons3 | 5,410 kg1, 5.32 tons1 |
| Length w/gun | w/tail: 14' 4" | 11.8'2 | 11.8'3 With tail: 14.3'3 |
11' 6"1, 3.5 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | 11.8'3 With tail: 14.3'3 |
|||
| Height | 6.9'2 | 6.9'3 | 6' 11"1, 2.12 m1 | |
| Width | 5.75'2 | 5.75'3 | 5' 9"1, 1.76 m1 | |
| Width over tracks | 5.7'3 | |||
| Ground clearance | 15.5'3 | |||
| Ground contact length | 8'3 | |||
| Ground pressure | 4.76 psi | 6.1 - 6.5 psi3 | ||
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 37 mm2 | 37 mm Puteaux A/Tk3 | 37 mm Model 19161 | |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 7.62 Fiodorov or Degtarov MG | MG2 | 1 or 2: 7.62 mm Hotchkiss MG3 | 2: 7.6s mm Hotchkiss MG1 |
| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 109 | 2503 | ||
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 2,016 | 3,0003 | ||
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 6 - 222 | Turret: 8 - 223 | 6-221 | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 163 | |||
| Hull Front, Lower | ||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 83 | |||
| Hull Sides, Lower | ||||
| Hull Rear | 83 | |||
| Hull Top | 63 | |||
| Hull Bottom | 63 | |||
| Turret Front | 16 | |||
| Turret Sides | ||||
| Turret Rear | ||||
| Turret Top | ||||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Fiat Transverse3 | Fiat1 | ||
| Bore / stroke | ||||
| Cooling | MS-1: Water3 MS-2, MS-3, MS-3A: Air3 |
|||
| Cylinders | 4 or 63 | |||
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 352 | 35 - 40@1,500 rpm3 | ||
| Power to weight ratio | 6.5 - 63 | |||
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Transmission (Type) | Sliding gear3 4 forward, 1 reverse3 |
|||
| Steering | Simple differential, manual3 | |||
| Steering ratio | ||||
| Starter | ||||
| Electrical system | ||||
| Ignition | ||||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline2 | |||
| Octane | ||||
| Quantity | 19.85 gallons3 | |||
| Road consumption | ||||
| Cross country consumption | ||||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 360° | 360°3 | ||
| Max speed | 10.3 - 13.8 mph | 10.6 mph2 | 10.6 - 14 mph3 | 9.9 mph1, 16 kph1 |
| Cross country speed | 8 mph3 | |||
| Road radius | 37.5 - 41.3 miles | 37.5 - 68 miles3 | 37.3 miles1, 60 km 1 | |
| Cross country radius | 20 - 40 miles3 | |||
| Turning radius | Pivots3 | |||
| Elevation limits | -10° to +30°3 | |||
| Fording depth | 2.35'3 | |||
| Trench crossing | 4' 3" | 4.25'3 | ||
| Vertical obstacle | 1' 10" | 1.9'3 | ||
| Climbing ability | 35°3 | |||
| Suspension (Type) | Vertical helical springs3 | |||
| Wheels each side | ||||
| Return rollers each side | ||||
| Tracks (Type) | Skeleton, cast double spud 3 | |||
| Length | ||||
| Width | 11.8"3 | |||
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | 543 | |||
| Pitch | 5.9"3 | |||
| Tire tread | ||||
| Track centers/tread | 4.7'3 | |||
| Production | 1928-1931: 960 |
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
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