The T-70 was designed by, N. A. Astrov, who wanted to create a light tank that had more armor, a larger gun, and better cross country capabilities than the T-60.1,6
Though the T-70 was a decent design, many felt it wasn't an improvement over the T-60.1
The turret was place on the left side.1,9 Two engines were mounted in tandem on the right side.1,9 Each engine drove a track.1 The differential and main clutch were united with the engines in one block. The T-70's idler was in the rear and the power in the front.1
In September 1942, strengthened running gear was installed.2 The tracks were widened to 300 mm, and the road wheels and return rollers were made wider.2 The drive wheels and drive shafts were improved.2
The 45 mm gun fired a 3.2 lb APHE shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,500'/sec.9
The turret could only hold one man, the commander who also was the loader and gunner for the 45 mm gun.2 There were some attempts to install an automatic loader for the 45 mm but these were unsuccessful.2
The driver had an armored visor installed.
Crews didn't like the tank as its fuel tanks were easy to ignite.9
Starting in September 1943 the T-70s started to receive the GAZ-203 engine (85 HP).2
In March 1942 the T-70 was accepted for production.1
Factories No. 37 and No. 38 at the Gorki Automobile Works produced the tanks and were sometimes built alongside the T-60s.
The T-70s were primarily used for infantry support and reconnaissance.10
Of the 870 Soviet tanks at Prokhorovka, 261 of them were T-70s.1
| T-70 | T-70A | T-70 1942 | T-70 1943 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander6, driver6 24,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
21,2,3,7 | 21,2,3 | 21,2,3 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 20,608 lb10 9.05 tons5,7, 9.2 tons6,8, 10 tons4, 10.1 tons9 9,367 kg10 |
9 tons9, 10 tons7 9,200 kg3 |
9.2 tons2, 9.79 tons1 9,950 kg1 |
9.8-10 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 14' 0.9"6,10, 14' 1"9, 15.28'5,7 4.29 m6,10, 4.42 m4 |
14' 1"3, 15.48'7 4.29 m3 |
15' 2"1 4.29 m2, 4.66 m1 |
4.42 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | ||||
| Height | 6.78'7, 6' 8"9, 6' 8.3"6,10, 7.5'5 2.04 m6,10, 2.08 m4 |
6.66'7, 6' 8"3 2.04 m3 |
6' 9"1 2.05 m2, 2.1 m1 |
2.08 m2 |
| Width | 7" 7.3"6,10, 7' 8"9, 7.68'5,7 2.32 m6,10, 2.47 m4 |
7' 7"3, 8.1'7 2.32 m3 |
7' 8"1 2.42 m2, 2.52 m1 |
2.47 m2 |
| Width over tracks | ||||
| Ground clearance | 12"9 0.3 m4 |
0.3 m2 | 0.3 m2 | |
| Ground contact length | 10' 3"2 | 10' 3"2 | ||
| Ground pressure | 0.7 kg/cm2 4 | 0.67 kg/cm2 2 | 0.51 kg/cm2 2 | |
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 45 mm L/464 45 mm L/46 A/TK7 45 mm5,6,8,9,10 |
45 mm L/463 45 mm L/46 A/TK7 |
45 mm 19382 45 mm1 |
45 mm 19382 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 7.62 mm MG6,10 MG4,5,7 7.62 mm DT MG9 |
MG7 | 7.62 mm MG1 | |
| MG - coaxial | 7.62 mm MG8 | 7.62 mm DT MG2 | 7.62 mm DT MG2 | |
| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 66 - 707, 709, 904, 94 | 947 | 70-902 | 70-902 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 9454,7,9 | 1,0087 | 9452 | 9452 |
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 10 - 605,10 | 10 - 453 | ||
| Hull Front, Upper | 1.37-1.77"@0°9 35 - 407, 454 |
35 - 457 | 451 35-452 |
35-452 |
| Hull Front, Lower | ||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.6"@0°9 167, 454 |
167 | 451 162 |
162 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | ||||
| Hull Rear | 1"@0°9, 354 | 152, 351 | 162 | |
| Hull Top | 104,7 | 107 | 101 10-152 |
10-152 |
| Hull Bottom | 104,7 | 107 | 101 10-152 |
10-152 |
| Turret Front | 1.37"@0°9 10 - 607, 604 |
10 - 707 | 352, 60 | 601,2 |
| Turret Sides | 1.37"@0°9 354 |
351,2 | ||
| Turret Rear | 354 | 351,2 | 35 | |
| Turret Top | 104 | 101,2 | 10 | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | GAZ 2034 2: GAZ-2026,10 2: 215-2022 |
2: GAZ-2022,3 GAZ-203 2: GAZ-2032 |
2: GAZ-2022,3 | GAZ-2032 |
| Bore / stroke | 4 stroke2 | 4 stroke2 | ||
| Cooling | Water9 | |||
| Cylinders | 2 x 67,9 | 2 x 62 | 2 x I-62 | 2 x I-62 |
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 2 x 705,7,8 1406,9,10 |
2 x 852 | 2 x 70@3,400 rpm2 | 2 x 85@3,600 rpm2 |
| Power to weight ratio | ||||
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Transmission (Type) | 4 forward, 1 reverse4,9 | |||
| Steering | Clutch brake9 | |||
| Steering ratio | ||||
| Starter | ||||
| Electrical system | ||||
| Ignition | ||||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline5,6,9,10 | |||
| Octane | ||||
| Quantity | 96.8 gallons9, 116 gallons, 127 gallons 480 liters4 |
440 liters2 | 480 liters2 | |
| Road consumption | ||||
| Cross country consumption | ||||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 360° | 360° | 360° | 360° |
| Speed - Road | 21 mph9, 28 mph6,10, 32 mph5,7 45 kph4,6,10 |
28 mph3,7 |
31 mph1 45 kph2, 50 kph1 |
45 kph2 |
| Speed - Cross Country | ||||
| Range - Road | 223.7 miles6,10, 279 miles7, 280 miles9 360 km4,6,10 |
260 miles7 | 2801 miles, 224 miles1 350 km2, 4501 km, 360 km1 |
250-300 km2 |
| Range - Cross Country | 186 miles7 180 km4 |
175 miles7 | 112 miles1 180 km1 |
|
| Turning radius | ||||
| Elevation limits | ||||
| Fording depth | 2' 3.6"6, 3'9 0.7 m6, 0.9 m4 |
0.9 m2 | 0.9 m2 | |
| Trench crossing | 5' 1"9, 10' 2.8"6,10 3.12 m6,10 |
1.7 m2 | 1.7 m2 | |
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 2"9, 2' 3.6"10 0.7 m10 |
0.65 m2 | 0.65 m2 | |
| Climbing ability | 34° slope9 | 35°2 | 35°2 | |
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion Bar4,8 Christie type coil spring torsion arm9 |
|||
| Wheels each side | 54,8,9 | |||
| Return rollers each side | 38,9 | |||
| Tracks (Type) | ||||
| Length | ||||
| Width | 11", 1' 5.5"7,9 260 mm, 300 mm4 |
1' 5.5"2 | ||
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | 919 | |||
| Pitch | ||||
| Tire tread | Rubber4,8,9 | |||
| Track centers/tread | 62.5"9 |
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