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Soviet Union's T-28 medium tank1
Nicknames: Betka (beetle)1, Betushka or Tri-Tankista (three tank men)1

T-28 Medium Tank in the autumn of 1941
Russia's T-28 Medium Tank		 T-28 Medium Tank:
Soviet T-28 Medium Tank		 T-28B Medium Tank at the May Day Parade:
Soviet T-28B Medium Tank		  

Design

In the early 1930s development started on Russia's first medium tank. Several prototypes (T-12, T-24, and TG) were found to be substandard for production.9

In 1931 the T-28 was designed by S. A. Ginsburg at the Leningrad "Bolshevik" Machine Factory.1,2 This was based on the design of the British A6E1, however, this tank was still secret so some have surmised that information on it was obtained through espionage. The T-28 was intended to break through fortified defensive zones and for exploitation by mechanized brigades.1,9 The BT series were to be its cavalry counterpart.1

Smoke emitters were installed.2,9 In late production vehicles a device, designed by A. A. Prokofiev, was installed to help stabilize the main armament.9

Suspension

The idler was in front with the drive in the rear.1 Most of the T-28's suspension was covered by skirts with mud chutes.1

There were five 4-wheeled bogies on each side with a single pair at the front and the back.8 They were on coil springs without shock absorbers.8

Crew

There was a crew of six to man the main and sub turrets and drive the T-28.1

Radio

The T-28 had a 71-TK-1 radio set was initially installed when it was replaced in 1935 by the 71-TK-2 model.2

Turret

The turret in the T-28 had a turning stage which made it easier for the crew to rotate.2

Main Armament

The prototypes had a 45 mm 1932 tank gun as the main armament, which fired a 2.15 kg shell.2 However, when production started it was upgraded to a 76.2 mm 1927/32 tank gun.2 The 76.2 mm gun fired a shell weighing 6.2 kg.2 The elevation was +25° which allowed a range of 7,125 m for the 76.2 mm.2 There was a tank targeting scope and a panoramic targeting scope installed.2 64 - 70 rounds of ammunition was carried.2

The MG turrets had a traverse of 220°.2 In some models a DT MG was mounted in the rear of the turret.2 7,38 - 8,320 rounds of MG ammunition was carried.2

Staring in 1938 the T-28 had the 76.2 L-10 L/26.5 tank gun installed.2 It had a shell weighing 6.2 kg.2 To the right of the main gun a 7.62 mm DT MG was mounted that had a range in elevation of -30° to +30°.2 It only had a traverse of 60°.2

Engine

The T-28's engine was based on a BMW aircraft engine and designated the M-17 L which could produce 500 HP.2

There were 5 forward and 1 reverse gear.2 There was a lock that prevented the shifting of gears without the main clutch being engaged.2

Armor

In 1940 it was decided to strengthen the T-28's armor protection.2 Plates were added to the hull and turret that were 50 - 60 mm thick.2 The side and rear armor was also upgraded to 40 mm.2 This increased the T-28's weight to 31 - 32 tons.2 These were designated the T-28 E or T-28 M.2

Prototype

Testing was carried out in 1932.8 The prototypes had a 45 mm gun installed, with 2 smaller turrets with 7.62 mm DT MGs.2 The driver was positioned between the two auxiliary turrets.8

The T-28 prototype was released for trials in 1932.9 The prototype was constructed at the Kirov plant located in Leningrad.9

The T-28 was adopted by the Red Army on August 11, 1933.1

Production

In 1933 the first ten T-28s produced were shown in the May Day parade in Moscow.1

Mass production stopped after the cessation of the Russo-Finnish War, and was replaced by the T-34.

Variants

Usage

First seen at the May Day parade in Moscow in 1933.2

Heavy armored brigades had 136 and 47 BTs in them.2 The 5th Heavy Tank Brigade had 62 T-35s and 32 T-28s.2

First used in the occupation of Ukraine and White Russia in September 1939.

Spanish Civil War

There is evidence that the T-28 was used in the Spanish Civil War though Soviet statements say they weren't.9

Against Finland

The T-28 was used in Finland at Karelia in 1939-1940.9 There were two Heavy Tank Brigades, the 10th and 20th, with T-28s.1

In Finland its thin armor became its biggest weakness.9

Several were captured by Finland.2

Uparmored T-28Ms were used to break through the Mannerheim Line in 1940.2,9

Against Japan

They were also used against the Japanese in 1939.

  T-28 T-28 19322 T-28 19341 T-28 Model 19381, T-28 E, T-28 M T-28V9,
T-28A9 		T-28M-19,
T-28B9 		T-28M-29,
T-28C9
Crew 63,4,5,6,8,9 61,2 61,2 61,2,8 69 69 69
Physical Characteristics              
Weight 61,730 lb,
27.5 tons8, 28 tons3,4,6, 28.5 tons5,9
28,500 kg3 		25.22, 27.5-28.5 tons2 32,000 kg1, 31.5 tons1 31 - 32 tons 31 tons9 31 tons9 32 tons1,9
32,513 kg1
Length w/gun 18'5, 24' 4"9, 24' 5"3, 24' 4.8"6, 24' 9"8
7.25 m4, 7.44 m3,6 		7.36 - 7.44 m2 7.44 m1
24' 5"1 		7.36 - 7.44 m2 23.62'9 24.45'9 24.45'9
Length w/o gun              
Height 9' 3"3,6, 9' 4"8,9, 9.25'5
2.75 m4, 2.82 m3,6 		2.62 - 2.82 m2 2.86 m1
9' 3"1 		2.62 - 2.82 m2 9'9 9' 4"9 9' 4"9
Width 9.2'5,9, 9' 2.75"6, 9' 4"8, 9' 5"3
2.78 m4, 2.81 m3,6 		2.81 - 2.87 m2 2.86 m1
9' 3"1 		2.81 - 2.87 m2 9.2'9 9.2'9 9.2'9
Ground clearance 1' 5"
0.43 m4 		0.5 - 0.56 m2   0.5 - 0.56 m2      
Ground contact length 19.18'9       21' 4"9 21' 4"9 21' 4"9
Ground pressure 10.24 psi
0.72 (kg/cm2)4 		0.72 kg/(cm2)2   0.77 kg/cm2      
Turret ring diameter              
Armament              
Main 76.2 mm5,8
76.2 mm Model 1927/32 L/16.53
76.2 mm L/164
76.2 mm L/16.59 		76.2 mm 1927/322 L/16 45 mm1 76.2 mm L-10 L/26
76.2 mm L-112
76.2 mm T-28 Ob. 1938 L/261 		76.2 mm L/16.51,9 76.2 mm L/269 76.2 mm L/269
OR 76.2 mm L/254   76.2 mm1        
Secondary              
MG 3: 7.62 mm DT MG3
3: MG4,5 		        3: 7.62 mm DTMG9 3: 7.62 mm DTMG9
MG - front turrets   2: 7.62 mm DT MG2 2: 7.62 mm DT MG1 2: 7.62 mm DT MG2      
MG - turret rear   1: 7.62 mm DT MG2   1: 7.62 mm DT MG2      
MG - coaxial   1: 7.62 mm DT MG2 1: 7.62 mm DT MG1 1: 7.62 mm DT MG2      
Side arms              
Quantity              
Main 694, 709 64 - 702   69, 701 709 709 709
Secondary              
MG 7,9389, 8,3204 7,938 - 8,3202   7,939 7,9389 7,9389 7,9389
Side arms              
Armor Thickness (mm) 308
10 - 303,5 		  0.79" - 3.14"1
20 - 801 		808      
Hull Front, Upper 304,9 302   58-80 309 359 50 - 809
Hull Front, Lower              
Hull Sides, Upper 204,9 202   40 209 209 209
Hull Sides, Lower              
Hull Rear 204 202   40      
Hull Top 10 - 154,9 10 - 152   23 10 - 159 10 - 159 239
Hull Bottom 10 - 159, 204 10 - 152   23 10 - 159 10 - 159 239
Turret Front 11 - 209, 204 Main: 302
MG turret: 20		   Main: 80 11 - 409 11 - 409 20 - 809
Turret Sides

234

Main: 202
MG turret: 202

 

Main: 40

      
Turret Rear 234 Main: 20 - 302
MG turret: 202 		  Main: 40      
Turret Top 114 Main: 152
MG turret: 102 		  Main: 152      
Engine (Make / Model) M-17 L3,8
M-174,6
M-17L Liberty9 		M-172 or M-17 L2 M-17L1 M-172 or M-17 L2 M-17L Liberty9 M-17L Liberty9 M-17L Liberty9
Bore / stroke   4 stroke2   4 stroke2      
Cylinders 129, V-126,8 122 V-121 122 129 129 129
Net HP 5005,6,8,9 5002 500@1,400 rpm1 450 - 500@1,400 - 1,450 rpm2 5009 5009 5009
Transmission 4 forward4, 1 reverse4            
Fuel type Gasoline5,9 Gasoline2 Gasoline1 Gasoline2 Gasoline9 Gasoline9 Gasoline9
Octane              
Capacity   650 liters2          
Power to weight ratio 18.2 hp/ton8 17.5 - 17.9 hp/ton2   15.6 - 16.1 hp/ton2      
Performance              
Traverse 360°
MGs: 60°		 360° 360° 360°      
Max speed 20 mph8, 23 mph3,5,6,9
35 kph4, 37 kph3,6 		37 - 40 kph2 22 mph1
37 kph1 		23 kph 23 mph9 14.4 mph9 14.4 mph9
Cross country speed 12.4 mph   12.4 mph1
20 kph1 		       
Road radius 136.7 miles6, 137 miles9, 118 miles3,
190 km3, 220 km6 		140 - 220 km2 135 miles1
220 km1 		140 - 180 km 112 miles9 110 miles9 110 miles9
Cross country radius 100 miles9       90 miles9 85 miles9 85 miles9
Turning radius              
Elevation limits +25°
MGs: -30° to +30°		            
Fording depth 1' 9"
0.8 m4 		0.8 m2   0.8 m2      
Trench crossing 9' 6"6
2.9 m6 		2.7 - 3.3 m2   2.7-3.3 m2      
Vertical Obstacle 3' 5"6
1.04 m6 		0.96 m2   0.96 m2      
Climbing ability   43°2   43°2      
Suspension (Type) Coil Springs4,8            
Wheels each side 124,8            
Return rollers each side 4            
Track length              
Tires 8 rubber4, 4 steel4            
Track width 1' 2 "9
260 mm4 		      1' 2"9 1' 2"9 1' 2"9
Track centers/tread              

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 1933-1942, 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. -
  8. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  9. Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
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