T-70 Light Tank


Aberdeen Tank Museum


Aberdeen Tank Museum

Russia's T-70 Light Tank

Russia's T-70

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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