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Soviet Union's T-70 light tank
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
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
Prototype
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:
8,2261, 8,2663
- Manufacturer: Soviet arsenals9
- Production: March 1942 - Oct. 19431,3
- 1942: 4,8831,2
- 1943: 3,3431,2
Variants
- T-7010 (Model 1942): January 1942 started to replace T-6010. 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
Kursk
Of the 870 Soviet tanks at Prokhorovka, 261 of them were T-70s.1
| T-7010 | T-70A10 | T-70 19421,2 | T-70 19432 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander6, driver 24,5,6,8,9,10 |
21,2,3,10 | 21,2,3 | 21,2,3 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 21,950 lb, 21,958 lb 9.05 tons5,10, 9.2 tons6,8, 10 tons4, 10.1 tons9 |
9 tons9, 10 tons10 9,200 kg3 |
9.2 tons2, 9.79 tons1 9,950 kg1 |
9.8-10 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 14', 14' 0.9"6, 14' 1"9, 15' 3", 15.28'5,10, 16' 5" 4.29 m6, 4.42 m4 |
14' 1"3, 15.48'10 4.29 m3 |
15' 2"1 4.29 m2, 4.66 m1 |
4.42 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | ||||
| Height | 6.78'10, 6' 8"9, 6' 8.3"6, 6' 9", 7' 3.25", 7.5'5 2.04 m6, 2.08 m4 |
6.66'10, 6' 8"3 2.04 m3 |
6' 9"1 2.05 m2, 2.1 m1 |
2.08 m2 |
| Width | 7" 7.3"6, 7' 8"9, 7.68'5,10, 8' 3.25" 2.32 m6, 2.47 m4 |
7' 7"3, 8.1'10 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 | 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 L/46 A/TK10 45 mm5,6,8,9 |
45 mm L/463 45 mm L/46 A/TK10 |
45 mm 19382 45 mm1 |
45 mm 19382 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 7.62 mm6 MG4,5,10 7.62 mm DT MG9 |
MG10 | 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 - 7010, 709, 904, 94 | 9410 | 70-902 | 70-902 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 9454,9,10 | 1,00810 | 9452 | 9452 |
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 10 - 605 | 10 - 453 | ||
| Hull Front, Upper | 1.37-1.77"@0°9 35 - 4010, 454 |
35 - 4510 | 451 35-452 |
35-452 |
| Hull Front, Lower | ||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.6"@0°9 1610, 454 |
1610 | 451 162 |
162 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | ||||
| Hull Rear | 1"@0°9, 354 | 152, 351 | 162 | |
| Hull Top | 104,10 | 1010 | 101 10-152 |
10-152 |
| Hull Bottom | 104,10 | 1010 | 101 10-152 |
10-152 |
| Turret Front | 1.37"@0°9 10 - 6010, 604 |
10 - 7010 | 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 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 69,10 | 2 x 62 | 2 x I-62 | 2 x I-62 |
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 2 x 705,8,10 1406,9 |
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 | |||
| 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 | 21 mph9, 28 mph6, 32 mph5,10, 31.7 mph, 27.9 mph 45 kph4,6 |
28 mph3,10 |
31 mph1 45 kph2, 50 kph1 |
45 kph2 |
| Cross country speed | 18.6 mph | |||
| Road radius | 223.7 miles6, 277 miles, 279 miles10, 280 miles9 360 km4,6 |
260 miles10 | 2801 miles, 224 miles1 350 km2, 4501 km, 360 km1 |
250-300 km2 |
| Cross country radius | 186 miles10 180 km4 |
175 miles10 | 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 | 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"9,10 260 mm, 300 mm4 |
1' 5.5"2 | ||
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | 919 | |||
| Pitch | ||||
| Tire tread | Rubber4,8,9 | |||
| Track centers/tread | 62.5"9 |
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
- 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
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
- Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
