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Soviet Union's T-50 light tank
Nicknames: Maliy Klim5, Mali Klim2, or Little Kliment Voroshilov2
T-50 light tank: |
T-50 light tank: |
Design
The T-50 was created by a design bureau, headed by L. Troyanov and I. Bushnevov, to create a light tank replacement for the T-26 and BT tanks.1,2
It was similar in appearance to the KVs so it was nicknamed Mali Klim or Little Kliment Voroshilov.2
The tank was complex and required great resources and was discontinued after 65 were built.2 It took about as much effort to produce a medium tank as it was to produce the T-50.2
The T-50 also had space for a radio set.2
Crew
The driver sat in the center of the forward hull and used a slit in the armor and a turning periscope for driving.2
Had cast conical shaped turret with commander's cupola.2 In the cupola was six angle seals with armored blinds over them.2
Armor
The armor was 37 mm thick and could withstand fire from 37 mm guns at over 500 meters.2 The armor was welded.2
Main Armament
| Type | Weight | Penetration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 m | 1,000 m | |||
| 45 mm 19392 | AT2 | 1.43 kg2 | 35 mm2 | 28 mm2 |
Prototype
In 1940 two prototypes from the Voroshilovsky and Kirovsky factories were tested.1
Production
The first 2 vehicles were finished at Factory No. 174 in Leningrad in late 1940.2 After a few modifications it was ready for delivery in April 1941.2
- T-50: 632, 652
- Production:
- 1941: 481,2
- 1942: 151,2
- Production:
Usage
Captured by Finland
The Finns did capture some T-50s and used them against their former owners.2
| T-50 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 41,2,3,4,5 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 29,700 lb 13.5-14 tons2, 13.5 tons1,3,4,5, 13.7 tons1 13,715 kg1 |
| Length w/gun | 17'1,3,5, 17' 4"4, 18' 3.25" 5.2 m2, 5.18 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 6.6'3, 6' 8"1, 7.1'5, 7' 2"4, 7' 7.25" 2.16 m2, 2 m1 |
| Width | 8.1'1,3,5, 8' 3"4, 8' 8.75" 2.47 m2, 2.48 m1 |
| Ground clearance | 0.35 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 9' 6"5 |
| Ground pressure | 0.57 kp/cm2 2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 45 mm 19382 45 mm1,3,4 45 mm L/46 A/TK5 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 11,2, 2: 7.92 mm DT MG 2: MG3 7.62 mm MG4 1: MG5 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1502,5 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 4,0005, 4002 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 12 - 373,
371,4 1.46"1 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 372,5 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 372,5 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | 25 - 372 |
| Hull Top | 12 - 152,5 |
| Hull Bottom | 12 - 152,5 |
| Turret Front | 15 - 375, 372 |
| Turret Sides | 152 |
| Turret Rear | 152 |
| Turret Top | 12 - 152 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | GAZ V-45, V-41, W-42 |
| Bore / stroke | 42 |
| Cylinders | 62,5 |
| Net HP | 3003,4,5, 300@2,000 rpm2 |
| Power to weight ratio | 21.4 HP/ton2 |
| Transmission | |
| Fuel type | Diesel1,3,5 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | 350 liters2 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Max speed | 31 mph1, 32 mph4, 32.5 mph3, 33 mph5, 37 mph1 52-65 kph2, 50 kph1, 60 kph1 |
| Cross country speed | 25 mph |
| Road radius | 217.5 miles, 220 miles1,5 350 km2, 352 km1 |
| Cross country radius | 172 miles5 |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | |
| Fording depth | 1.1 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 2.2 m2 |
| Vertical Obstacle | 0.7 m2 |
| Climbing ability | 35°2 |
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar1,2 |
| Wheels each side | 6 double tired4 |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Track length | |
| Tires | |
| Track width | 1' 5"5 |
| Track centers/tread |
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
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
