Soviet Union's T-70 light tank

Photos

T-70 light tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum	T-70 light tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum	T-70 light tank:	T-70 light tank:
T-70 light tank:

Design

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

Main Armament

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

Crew

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

Engine

Starting in September 1943 the T-70s started to receive the GAZ-203 engine (85 HP).²

Production

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.

• T-70: >8,000¹⁰, 8,226¹, 8,266^3,6
  • Manufacturer: Soviet arsenals⁹
  • Production: March 1942 - October 1943^1,3, ? - October 1943⁶, ? - 1943¹⁰
    • 1942: 4,883^1,2
    • 1943: 3,343^1,2

Variants

• T-70 (Model 1942): January 1942 started to replace T-60⁷. Some chassis used to mount 1 or 2 SU-37 AA guns. Rear of turret is rounded.
• T-70A (Model 1943): In September 1943 armor was increased and more powerful engines. Rear of turret was squared off. Production ceased in October 1943.
• SU-12², SU-76²: 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.² It was lengthened and widened.² It was to mount the 76.2 mm ZIS-3 divisional cannon.² In December 1942 it was redesignated the SU-76.²

Usage

The T-70s were primarily used for infantry support and reconnaissance.¹⁰

Kursk

Of the 870 Soviet tanks at Prokhorovka, 261 of them were T-70s.¹

Specifications

	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 45 kph3	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