T-40 Light Tank
Created during 1940 as a replacement for the T-37 and T-38. It had a 4-blade ship's propellor and was steered by 2 rudders. Had a welded body and the hull resembled a boat's. The turret was mounted to the left with external roller mantlets.
The Red Army started to equip reconnaissance and armored liaison units in early 1941. Had welded armor.
Produced in Factory No. 37 in Moscow.
T-40:
Was designed to be built by factories that produced automobiles. Early production had the 12.7 mm installed. First used in the Winter War with Finland. Issued to reconnaissance and liaison units at beginning of 1941.
T-40A:
Increased armor. Limited production as it was no longer amphibious as the extra weight caused it to lose its buoyancy.
T-40S:
Non-amphibious version that was rushed into production at time of German invasion. Was redesignated T-60.
| T-40 | T-40 1940 | T-40 1941 | T-40 S | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver 23,5,7 |
21,2 | 22 | 24 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 12,300 lb, 13,007 lb5 5.5 tons, 5.8 tons3, 5.9 tons5,6, 6 tons7 5,900 kg3,5 |
5.5 tons1 5,590 kg1 |
5.5 tons2 | 6.2 tons4 |
| Length w/gun | 13' 6"3,13' 5.8"5, 13' 5.9"5, 14'7, 14' 6.25" 4.11 m3,5,6 |
4.43 m1 13' 6"1 |
4.11 m2 | 14'4 |
| Length w/o gun | ||||
| Height | 5' 8"7, 6' 4.8"5, 6' 5"3, 6' 6", 6' 11.5" 1.95 m3,5,6 |
2.12 m1 6' 11"1 |
1.95 m2 | 6.48'4 |
| Width | 8' 3", 7' 7.7"5, 7' 8"3,7, 2.33 m3,5,6 |
2.51 m1 8' 3"1 |
2.33-2.35 m2 | 7.65'4 |
| Ground clearance | 1' 2" | 0.34 m2 | ||
| Ground contact length | ||||
| Ground pressure | 6.55 psi | 0.46 kp/(cm2)2 | ||
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 12.7 mm DShK 38 OR 20 mm ShVAK 20 12.7 mm DShK MG3 12.7 mm MG5 12.7 mm MG7 and 7.62 mm MG7 |
12.7 mm MG OR 20 mm1 | 12.7 mm DSchK 38 MG2 | 12.7 mm4 OR 20 mm4 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 7.62 mm MG1 | 7.62 mm DT2 | MG4 | |
| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 5502 | |||
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 2,0162 | |||
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 6 - 135 7 - 143,5 147 Front: 146 Side: 96 |
10 - 144 | ||
| Hull Front, Upper | 14 | 10-132 | ||
| Hull Front, Lower | 13 | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 10 | 132 | ||
| Hull Sides, Lower | 10 | |||
| Hull Rear | 102 | |||
| Hull Top | 62 | |||
| Hull Bottom | 6 | 6-102 | ||
| Turret Front | 14 | 14-152 | ||
| Turret Sides | 10 | 102 | ||
| Turret Rear | 102 | |||
| Turret Top | 72 | |||
| Engine (Make / Model) | GAZ-2025 GAZ7 |
GAZ-2022,3 | ||
| Cylinders | 67 | |||
| Net HP | 705, 856,7 | 854 | ||
| Transmission | ||||
| Fuel type | Gasoline5 | Gasoline4 | ||
| Octane | ||||
| Capacity | 206 liters2 | |||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 360° | |||
| Max Speed | 27 mph3, 27.3 mph5, 28 mph7 44 kph3,5,6 Water: 4 mph7, 6.2 mph, 6.5 kph |
45 kph1 28 mph1 |
44-45 kph2 water: 5-6 kph2 |
26 mph4 |
| Cross Country | 18.6 mph | |||
| Road radius | 210 miles7, 217.5 miles, 220 miles, 223.7 miles5, 224 miles3, 360 km3,5 |
185-360 km2 280 miles2 |
||
| Turning Radius | ||||
| Elevation Limits | +40° | |||
| Fording depth | Amphibious3 | Amphibious2 | ||
| Trench crossing | 6' 1"5, 5' 8" 1.85 m5 |
1.7m2 | ||
| Vertical Obstacle | 2' 3.75"5, 2' 2" 0.7 m5 |
0.6 m2 | ||
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar | |||
| Wheels each side | 47, 5 | |||
| Return rollers each side | 37 | |||
| Track length | ||||
| Tires | ||||
| Track width | 7" | |||
| Track centers/tread | ||||
| Production | 220, 230 1941: 411,2 1942: 1811,2 |
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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