T-70 Light Tank

Aberdeen Tank Museum

Aberdeen Tank Museum

A. A. Astrov lead a design bureau to make a light tank that could take a 45 mm gun. It was decided to develop a replacement for the T-60 even though it was shown that light tanks were not effective. It was thought that it was better to mass produce a light tank for unit that would otherwise not receive any tanks. It began to replace the T-60s in late January 1942.

Factories No. 37 and No. 38 at the Gorki Automobile Works produced the tanks and were sometimes built alongside the T-60s. The turret was on the left.⁹ Two engines were mounted in tandem on the right side.⁹ The differential and main clutch were united with the engines in one block. The driver had an armored visor installed.

In September 1942, strengthened running gear was installed. The tracks were widened to 300 mm, and the road wheels and return rollers were made wider. The drive wheels and driveshafts were improved.

The 45 mm gun fired a 3.2 lb APHE shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,500'/sec.⁹

Crews didn't like the tank as its fuel tanks were easy to ignite.⁹

T-70 (1942):

January 1942 started to replace T-60. Some chassis used to mount 1 or 2 SU-37 AA guns. Rear of turret is rounded.

T-70A (1943):

In September 1943 armor was increased and more powerful engines. Rear of turret was squared off. Production ceased in October 1943.

SU-12, SU-76:

Factory No. 92 in Gorki and No. 38 in Kirov developed a self-propelled version of the T-70 designed by the bureaus of Generals Petrov and Grabin. It was lengthened and widened. It was to mount the 76.2 mm ZIS-3 divisional cannon. In December 1942 it was redesignated the SU-76.

	T-70	T-70 A	T-70 1942	T-70 1943
Crew	Commander6, driver 24,5,6,8,9	21,2,3	21,2,3	21,2,3
Physical Characteristics
Weight	21,950 lb, 21,958 lb 9.05 tons5, 9.2 tons6,8, 10 tons4,7, 10.1 tons9	9,200 kg3, 9 tons3	9.2 tons2, 9,950 kg1, 9.79 tons1	9.8-10 tons2
Length w/gun	14', 14' 0.9"6, 14' 1"9, 15' 3", 15.28'5, 16' 5" 4.29 m6, 4.42 m4,7	14' 1"3, 4.29 m3	4.29 m2, 4.66 m1, 15' 2"1	4.42 m2
Length w/o gun
Height	6' 8"9, 6' 8.3"6, 6' 9", 7' 3.25", 7.5'5 2.03 m7, 2.04 m6, 2.08 m4	6' 8"3, 2.04 m3	2.05 m2, 2.1 m1, 6' 9"1	2.08 m2
Width	7" 7.3"6, 7' 8"9, 7.68'5, 8' 3.25" 2.32 m6, 2.47 m4,7	7' 7"3, 2.32 m3	2.42 m2, 2.52 m1, 7' 8"1	2.47 m2
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	12"9 0.3 m4		0.3 m2	0.3 m2
Ground contact length
Ground pressure	9.96 psi, 9.53 psi 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 M32/387 45 mm5,6,8,9	45 mm L/463	45 mm 19382 45 mm1	45 mm 19382
Secondary
MG	7.62 mm6 7.62 mm DT, coaxial7 MG4,5 7.62 mm MG, coaxial8 7.62 mm DT MG9		7.62 mm DT, coaxial2 7.62 mm MG1	7.62 mm DT, coaxial2
Side arms
Quantity
Main	707,9, 904, 94		70-902	70-902
Secondary
MG	9454,9		9452	9452
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	10 - 605 Front: 607 Side: 457	10 - 453
Hull Front, Upper	1.37-1.77"@0°9, 454		451 35-452	35-452
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper	0.6"@0°9, 454		451 162	162
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear	1"@0°9, 354		152, 351	162
Hull Top	104		101 10-152	10-152
Hull Bottom	104		101 10-152	10-152
Turret Front	1.37"@0°9, 604		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, late models7 2: GAZ-2026, early models7	2: GAZ-2022,3 GAZ-203	2: GAZ-2022,3	GAZ-2032
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water9
Cylinders	2x69
Capacity
Net HP	2 x 705,8 1406,7,9
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
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°
Max speed	45 kph4,6,7 21 mph9, 28 mph6, 32 mph5, 31.7 mph, 27.9 mph	28 mph3, 45 kph3	45 kph2 50 kph1, 31 mph1	45 kph2
Cross country speed	18.6 mph
Road radius	360 km4,6 223.7 miles6, 277 miles, 279 miles, 280 miles9		350 km2, 4501 km, 360 km1, 2801 miles, 224 miles1	250-300 km2
Cross country radius	180 km4		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, 9' 6", 10 2.75", 10' 2.8"6 3.12 m6		1.7 m2	1.7 m2
Vertical obstacle	2' 2"9, 2' 3.5"		0.65 m2	0.65 m2
Climbing ability	34° slope9
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", 17.5"9 260 mm, 300 mm4
Diameter
Number of links	919
Pitch
Tire tread	Rubber4,8,9
Track centers/tread	62.5"9
Production	1942: Soviet arsenals9 March 1942 - Oct. 1943: 8,2261, 8,2663 Year Quantity 1942 4,8831,2 1943 3,3431,2

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. 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
4. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
5. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
6. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
7. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
8. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
9. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969

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