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Soviet Union's A-20 medium tank
A-20 medium tank: |
A-20 medium tank: |
Design
Once it was realized that the BT tanks didn't have sufficient armor or armament a new design was developed to be fast medium tank.3,6 In 1937 the Kharkov factory was ordered to design a new tank and the design work started in November 1937.4 The chief designer was Mikhail Koshkin and his deputy Alexsandr Morozov.5,6
The A-20 had sloping sides and an angular turret that was small.2,3,4
Chassis
Tracks could be removed and could be run on just the wheels.2,4
The chassis for the A-20 was based on the BT-7M.6
Engine
Alexsandr Morosov was the designer of the V-2 diesel engine.6
Suspension
Nikolai Kucherenko and P. Vssihev designed the suspension for the A-20.6
Larger Gun
In 1939 a 76.2 mm gun was installed and it became the A-30.3,4 This was the same gun that was installed in the BT-7.3
Turret
The A-20's turret was made from 25 mm / 1" thick rolled armor plate.6
There was an attempt to place a short barrelled 76.2 mm gun in the A-20's turret but it just didn't work as the turret ring couldn't absorb the recoil.6
Hull
The hull had a V-shaped glacis plate and was angled at 60°.6 The A-20's hull also overhung the tracks with the sides angled at 25°.6
Prototype
In May 1938 a wooden model of the A-20 was shown to the Defense Council of the Soviet People's Commissars (Soviet Narodnykh Komissarov, or SNAKE).6 Some didn't like the wheel / tracks feature carried over from the BT series and Koshkin said it added weight that just wasn't necessary.6 The design had a 45 mm gun which Koshkin said should be replaced by a 76.2 mm gun as it was inadequate.6 Stalin was at this presentation and ordered that the Kharkov factory build not only a full size prototype of the A-20 but also make the requested design changes and build a prototype that would be designated the A-30.6
In August 1938 the High War Council, let by People's Commissar for Defense, K. J. Voroshilov, discussed the A-20 and T-32.5 Many on the Council disliked the T-32. In July 1939, the Kharkov Locomotive Factory had completed the prototypes for the A-20 and T-32.5 They were both then tested and it was decided to go with the T-32.5 On December 19, 1939, the People's Commissariat for Defense released the T-32 to the Red Army.5 It was soon designated the T-34.5
In 1939 tests were conducted with the T-32 and A-20 and the T-32 was selected as it had better fire power and armor.3
Variants
- A-20: Ran on wheels or tracks.7
- A-30: Ran on wheels or tracks.7 Thicker armor and 76.2 mm main gun.6
- A-32, T-326: Only ran on tracks.6
| A-203,5,6 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 41,5,6 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 18 tons2,3,5, 19.8 tons1,6 18,000 kg6 |
| Length w/gun | 17.85'1, 18' 7"6 5.7 m6 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 8"6, 7.85'1 2.4 m6 |
| Width | 8' 8"6, 8.85'1 2.7 m6 |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 45 mm1,2,3,5,6 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: MG1 2: 7.62 mm MG5 |
| MG - coaxial | 1: MG2,3 1: 7.62 mm DT MG6 |
| MG - hull | 1: MG2,3 1: 7.62 mm DT MG6 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 206, 252,3 15 - 601 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 205 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | |
| Turret Front | |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | V-26 |
| Cylinders | |
| Net HP | 4501,2,3, 5006 |
| Transmission | |
| Fuel type | Diesel1,2,6 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | |
| Max speed | 40 mph1,6, 50 mph2,3 65 kph5,6 |
| Cross country speed | |
| Road radius | |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical Obstacle | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | 4 pairs3,6 |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Track length | |
| Tires | |
| Track width | |
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Armour in Profile #9: T-34/76, J. M. Brereton, ?
- Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
- Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
- Russian Tanks of World War II, Stalin's Armored Might, Tim Bean, Will Fowler, 2002
