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Soviet Union's T-37 light tanks
T-378 light tank: |
T-378 light tank: |
T-37A light tank: |
T-37A light tank: |
Design
Carden-Lloyd amphibian tanks (A4E11) arrived in the Soviet Union in 1931. Engineers at Zavod Nr 37, directed by N. A. Astrov, developed several prototypes. It was called the "Morskoi 33" or "Malyi Tank 33" (T-331). It's performance in water wasn't acceptable and a new design appeared in 1932 called the T-41.1 It to turned out to be unacceptable and in 1933 another model was developed and it was the T-37.1 On August 11, 1933, it was accepted by the Red Army after trials. Another group of designers led by N. N. Koziryev also designed a variant, the T-37A. Mass production started in late 1933.
Balsa wood floats encased in sheet metal were added to the T-37 to make it more buoyant.1
It had the turret mounted on the right side and the tracks were improved. A ship's propeller was added that allowed for the vehicle to move backwards as well as forwards in the water. Late models had a cupola for the commander.
The T-37 Type A had a 7.62 mm DT 1929 MG installed.2 It had a range of 800 meters and could fire 600 rounds per minute.2 The velocity of the bullets was 840 m/sec.2
Prototype
In 1933, over the course of eleven days, seven T-37s traveled 700 miles / 1,126 km of which 600 miles / 965 km were in water.1
Production
- T-32:
- Produced: 19329
- T-37: 1,2001,9
- Production: 1933 - 19361, ? - 19387
- T-41:
- Produced: 19329
Variants
- T-33: Prototype.1,9 Weighed 3 tons2 / 3.7 tons.9 Crew of two.2,9 Armament was one 7.62 mm MG.2,9 Armor was 7.9 mm / 7 - 9 mm2 thick.9 The 63 HP engine propelled it 45 kph.9
- T-41: Prototype.1,9 It weighed 3.2 tons with a crew of two.9 There was a 7.62 mm MG.9 Armor was 4 - 9 mm thick.9 The T-41 was propelled by a 40 HP engine and could go 36 kph on land and 4 kph in water.9
- T-37 Light Tank: Based on the Vickers Carden-Lloyd.1 Communicated via flags.8
- T-37A Light Tank: These were a little longer and had floats attached on both sides.2 Communicated by flags.8
- T-37U Light Tank9, T-37TU Light Tank1,9: Tank commanders with hand-rail aerial around hull.1,9
Usage
In 1935 several models were transported by air by TB-1 and TB-3 bombers. These were used in the occupation of Bessarabia in 1940.
They were issued to armored reconnaissance units and tank battalions of infantry and cavalry units.1
These were used against Finland in the winter of 1939-1940 and against the Germans in 1941.
Captured by the Finns
The Finnish Army was able to use captured T-37s in their forces.2 By 1944 they were using about 30 T-37 As.2
| T-37 (3-2T) Light Tank8 | T-37 Light Tank1 | T-37A Light Tank | T-37 1934 Light Tank1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 28 | Commander, driver 23,4,5,6,7,8,9 |
22,9 | 21 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 3.18 tons8 | 7,055 lb6 3,000 kg6, 3,200 kg3 3 tons7, 3.15 tons3, 3.5 tons4,5,8,9 |
3.2 tons2, 3.9 tons8,9 | 3.15 tons1 3,200 kg1 |
| Length w/gun | 12.26'8 | 12' 3.6"6, 12.25'5, 12.26'8,9, 12' 3"3, 3.75 m3,4,6 |
12.26'8,9 3.75 m2 |
3.75 m1 12' 4"1 |
| Length w/o gun | 12.26'8 | 12.26'8 | 12.26'8 | |
| Height | 5.5'8 | 5' 11.7"6, 5.5'5, 5'6"3, 5.91'8,9 1.82 m3,4,6 |
5.91'8,9 1.82 m2 |
1.82 m1 5' 11"1 |
| Width | 6.51'8 | 6' 10.7"6, 6.5'5, 6.51'8,9, 6' 11"3, 2 m4, 2.1 m3,6 |
6.51'8,9 2 m2 |
2.07 m1, 6' 7"1 |
| Width over tracks | 6.5'8 | 6.5'8 | 6.5'8 | |
| Ground clearance | 11.8"8 | 11.8"8, 1' 0.3 m4 |
11.8"8 0.3 m2 |
|
| Ground contact length | 5.15'8 | 5.15'8, 5.91'9 | 5.15'8, 5.91'9 | |
| Ground pressure | 7.5 psi8 | 7.54 psi, 7.83 psi8 0.53 (kg/cm2)4 |
9.48 psi8 0.55 (kg/cm2)2 |
|
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 7.62 mm DT MG8 | 7.62 mm MG5,6,7 MG4 7.62 mm DT MG2,3,8,9 |
7.62 mm DT MG8,9 7.62 mm DT 1929 MG2 |
7.62 mm MG1 |
| OR | 12.7 mm DShK8,9 | 12.7 mm DShK8,9 | ||
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | ||||
| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 5858 | 5852,4,9 | 5852,8,9 | |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | ||||
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Turret: 4 - 68 | 4 - 95 3 - 96 Turret: 4 - 68 |
Turret: 4-68 | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 9.58 | 43, 9.58,9, 104 | 92, 108,9 | |
| Hull Front, Lower | 92 | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 78 | 78,9, 104 | 92, 108,9 | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 92 | |||
| Hull Rear | 68 | 54, 68 | 68, 92 | |
| Hull Top | 48 | 48,9, 5-74 | 48, 5 - 79, 62 | |
| Hull Bottom | 48 | 48,9, 54 | 5 - 78,9, 62 | |
| Turret Front | 93, 104 | 92 | ||
| Turret Sides | 104 | 92 | ||
| Turret Rear | 104 | 92 | ||
| Turret Top | 54 | 62 | ||
| Engine (Make / Model) | GAZ (Ford) AA8 | GAZ AA2,3,6,9 GAZ (Ford) AA8 |
GAZ AA2,9 GAZ (Ford) AA8 |
|
| Bore / stroke | 4 stroke2 | |||
| Cooling | Water8 | Water4,8 | Water8 | |
| Cylinders | 48 | 44,8,9 | 42,8,9 | |
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 40@3,000 rpm8 | 40@2,200 rpm4, 405,6,7, 659, 65@2,200 rpm8 | 40@2,200 rpm2, 659, 65@2,200 rpm8 | |
| Power to weight ratio | 12.558 | 18.58 | 17.98 12.5 HP/ton2 |
|
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Transmission (Type) | Epicyclic8 4 forward, 1 reverse8 |
Epicyclic8 4 forward, 1 reverse4,8 |
Epicyclic8 4 forward, 1 reverse8 |
|
| Steering | Simple differential8 | Simple differential8 | Simple differential8 | |
| Steering ratio | ||||
| Starter | ||||
| Electrical system | ||||
| Ignition | ||||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline8 | Gasoline4,5,6 | Gasoline2 | |
| Octane | ||||
| Quantity | 24 gallons8 | 22 gallons8, 27 gallons 100 liters2,4 |
22 gallons8 100 liters2 |
|
| Road consumption | ||||
| Cross country consumption | ||||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 360°8 | 360°8 | 360°8 | |
| Max speed | 26 mph8 | 20 mph5, 21.8 mph, 22 mph7, 35 mph6, 40 mph8,9 35 mph3, 35.5 kph4, 56.3 kph3,6 |
40 mph8,9 36 kpm2 |
35 kph1 21 mph1 |
| Max speed - water | 2.5 mph8, 4 mph7 | 2.5 mph8, 4 - 6 kph2 | ||
| Cross country speed | 12 mph8 | 15.5 mph, 20 mph8 | 20 mph8 | |
| Road radius | 153 miles8 | 115 miles3,6, 143 miles8,9 185 km3,4,6 |
115 miles8,9 230 km2 |
185 km1 115 miles1 |
| Cross country radius | 72 miles8 | 64 miles8,9 115 km4 |
60 miles8,9 | |
| Water radius | 12 hours | |||
| Turning radius | 19.6'8 | 17' 6", 19.6'8 5.3 m4 |
19.6'8 | |
| Elevation limits | -5° to +5°8 | -5° to +5°8 | -5° to +5°8 | |
| Fording depth | Amphibious8 | Amphibious2,8 1.2 m4 |
Amphibious2,8 | |
| Trench crossing | 5.25'8 | 5.25'8 | 5.25'8 1.6 m2 |
|
| Vertical obstacle | 1.6'8 | 1.6'8, 1' 7" | 1.6'8 0.5 m2 |
|
| Climbing ability | 30° - 40°8 | 30° - 40°8 | 30° - 40°8, 40°2 | |
| Suspension (Type) | Horstmann (modified)8 | Coil spring4,8, Horstmann spring coil1 | Coil spring8 | |
| Wheels each side | 48 | 44,8 | 48 | |
| Return rollers each side | 2 | |||
| Tracks (Type) | Drop forged8 | Drop forged8 | Drop forged8 | |
| Length | ||||
| Width | 8.26"8 | 8", 8.26"8,9 210 mm4 |
8.26"8,9 | |
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | 908 | 908 | 908 | |
| Pitch | 3.5"8 | 3.5"8 | 3.5"8 | |
| Tire tread | ||||
| Track centers/tread | 5.5'8 | 5.5'8 | 5.5'8 |
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
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- 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
