T-50 Light Tank

Russia's T-50 Light Tank

Russia's T-50

L. Troyanov and I. Bushnevov directed a design bureau to create a light tank replacement for the T-26 and BT tanks. The first 2 vehicles were finished at Factory No. 174 in Leningrad in late 1940. After a few modifications it was ready for delivery in April 1941.

It was similar in appearance to the KVs so it was nicknamed Mali Klim or Little Kliment Voroshilov.

The tank was complex and required great resources and was discontinued after 65 were built. It took about as much effort to produce a medium tank as it was to produce the T-50

The driver sat in the center of the forward hull and used a slit in the armor and a turning periscope for driving. The vehicle was to also have a radio set.

Had cast conical shaped turret with commander's cupola and the hull was welded. In the cupola was 6 angle seals with armored blinds over them.

  T-50
Crew 41,2,3,4
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 29,700 lb
13.5-14 tons2, 13.5 tons1,3,4
13,715 kg1
Length w/gun 17'1,3, 17' 4"4, 18' 3.25"
5.2 m2, 5.18 m1
Length w/o gun  
Height 6.6'3, 6' 8"1, 7' 2"4, 7' 7.25"
2.16 m2, 2 m1
Width 8.1'1,3, 8' 3"4, 8' 8.75"
2.47 m2, 2.48 m1
Ground clearance 0.35 m2
Ground contact length  
Ground pressure 0.57 kp(cm2)2
Turret ring diameter  
Armament  
Main 45 mm 19382
45 mm3,4
Secondary  
MG 12, 2: 7.92 mm DT MG
2: MG3
7.62 mm MG4
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main 1502
Secondary  
MG 4,000, 4002
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) 12 - 373
374
Hull Front, Upper 372
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper 372
Hull Sides, Lower  
Hull Rear 25-372
Hull Top 12-152
Hull Bottom 12-152
Turret Front 372
Turret Sides 152
Turret Rear 152
Turret Top 12-152
Engine (Make / Model) W-42
Cylinders  
Net HP 3003,4
Transmission  
Fuel type Diesel3
Octane  
Capacity 350 liters2
Performance  
Traverse 360°
Max Speed 31 mph1, 32 mph4, 32.5 mph3, 33 mph
52-65 kph2, 50 kph1
Cross Country 25 mph
Road radius 217.5 miles, 220 miles1
350 km2, 352 km1
Turning Radius  
Elevation Limits  
Fording depth 1.1 m2
Trench crossing 2.2 m2
Vertical Obstacle 0.7 m2
Suspension (Type) Torsion bar
Wheels each side 6 double tired4
Return rollers each side  
Track length  
Tires  
Track width  
Track centers/tread  
Production 63, 65
1941: 481,2
1942: 151,2

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. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  4. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
Want to learn about a new vehicle? Select the random picture to learn about the vehicle.
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill