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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 |
T-28 Medium Tank: |
T-28B Medium Tank at the May Day Parade: |
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
- T-28: 5032, 6003
- Manufacturer: Kirov Works in Leningrad2, Red Putilov Factory in Leningrad1
- Production: 1933 - 19401,3 , ? - 19398
- 1933: 412
- 1934: 502
- 1935: 322
- 1936: 1012
- 1937: 392
- 1938: 962
- 1939: 1312
- 1940: 122, 132
Mass production stopped after the cessation of the Russo-Finnish War, and was replaced by the T-34.
Variants
- Prototype: The weight was 17.3 tons with a crew of five.9 There was a single 45 mm gun and three 7.62 mm MGs.9 It was protected by 20 - 30 mm of armor.9 It was able to go 37 kph with a 500 HP engine.9
- T-281: Main production model.1
- T-28A1,9 (1932), T-28V1,9, T-28 Model 19331: Had thicker armor in the front.1 Suspension was modified to have twelve bogie rollers and four return rollers.1
- T-28(V): Commander's version with frame aerial around turret.
- T-28B1,9 (E, 1938), T-28M1, T-28M-19: Produced starting in 1938. Longer gun, turret basket, and better vision for the driver. Had ball mounted machine gun placed in the rear of the turret.1 The main gun was upgraded.1
- T-28C1,9 (M, 1940), T-28M-29: Extensive modifications. By adding additional armor, the front became 80 mm and the sides and rear 40 mm.1 Saw action in 1940 when the Mannerheim Line was penetrated.1
- OT-289: Flame-thrower version.9
- IT-282,9: Bridgelayer.2,9 Used the chassis of a T-28E and had a crew of 5 and kept the MG turrets.2 Appeared in 1938-39.2 The metal bridge was 13 meters long and had a weight limit of 50 tons.2 It could be unloaded in 3 minutes.2 Were used in the Winter War with Finland in 1939 - 1940.2
- ???: Mine remover.2 Had two ton, 1/2 meter wide rollers.2 In an hour it could sweep 10 - 12 km.2
- SU-82: Prototype with a 152.4 mm coastal cannon or a 76.2 mm 1931 anti-aircraft gun.2 It was to weigh over 17.6 tons and a speed over 37 kph.2
- ???: Self propelled.2 Designed by A. A. Tolochkov.2 Was able to put a 152.4 mm coastal gun into position.2 A plate was lowered under the gun and it could be raised.2
- T-29:
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 |
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:
- 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 1933-1942, 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
- Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
