T-62A: one of the last medium tanks
The cold war spurred all branches of the defense industry. The probability of armed conflict was quite high, and new threats demanded new solutions. Because of this, the fifties and sixties of the last century became one of the most productive periods in stories Soviet defense industry. For example, in tank building these decades were “marked” by the creation of several military vehicles, each of which received a number of innovations related to equipment, weapons, etc. In addition, it was in the 60s that the domestic tank the industry has come to the creation of a new class of armored vehicles called the “main tank”. This class eventually displaced both medium and heavy tanks, which were no longer produced. The last domestic serial tanks of the middle class were armored vehicles of the T-62 family.
Throughout the fifties, the main Soviet medium-mass class tank was the T-54 and its updated version of the T-55. During operation, these armored vehicles received a lot of innovations, primarily related to the chassis, equipment and survivability. In particular, it was T-55 that became the first domestic tank with full anti-nuclear protection. However, all upgrades to the original T-54 did not fundamentally affect the armament. All combat vehicles based on the T-54 were armed with 100-mm rifled guns of the D-10T family. The very first version of the D-10 gun appeared in 1944 year. For that time it was decent and effective. weapon. But over time, the security of potential targets of the gun grew, which ultimately led to a decrease in the effectiveness of the gun to an unacceptable level. Therefore, by the end of the 50's, the Soviet military demanded a new tank, equipped with an even more powerful weapon.
The second prerequisite for upgrading the existing technology was the intelligence message about the start of a joint German-French project of a single tank. A single machine was not created, but the results of this program were made tanks Leopard 1 and AMX-30. As a symmetrical response, two projects were launched at once in the Soviet Union in a promising European single tank in 1957. Both versions of the deep modernization of the T-54 / 55, perhaps even coupled with a radical upgrade of equipment and design, were deployed at Plant No. 183 (the current Uralvagonzavod). The main designer of both projects was L.N. Kartsev. Developed tanks differed from each other, primarily weapons. The “165 object” was supposed to be equipped with an X-NUMX-millimeter rifled U-100-gun with a new design - the possibility of retaining the old caliber was considered, with improved characteristics - and the X-NUMX-mm smooth-bore gun U-8 was considered the main weapon for the “166 Object”. The tank "115" as a result was adopted for use under the symbol T-5 and later became to some extent the progenitor of all future domestic tanks. “166 Object”, in turn, did not receive such fame, but it was also a very interesting project.
The armored hull of the “165 Object” was generally similar to the corresponding unit of T-54 and T-55 tanks. Panels of rolled armored steel were fastened to each other by welding. The thickness of the hull details ranged from millimeters 100 (upper and lower front sheets) to 20 mm bottom feed sheet. Requirements for armament and protection required to rework the tower of the “base” tank. In fact, the cast unit was redesigned. The gun, gunner, commander and loader were protected by a layer of armor from the 240 mm of the tower’s forehead to the 30 mm of the roof. The newly designed tower led to the need to change the upper part of the hull. Thus, the diameter of the tower shoulder strap on the “165 Object” was increased to 2245 mm. In addition, thoroughly reworked turning mechanics.
When creating the undercarriage for the “Object 165” tank, the same T-54 was taken as the basis, however, the location of the road wheels was changed. In addition, finalized the design of the individual torsion bar suspension. The mobility of the new tank was to provide the 12-cylinder diesel engine B-55 produced by the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. With a working volume of almost 39 liters, this diesel gave horsepower up to 580. The estimated combat mass of the tank was equal to 36,8-37 tons, which gave the armored vehicle specific power of the order of 15,5-16 hp per ton. Ultimately, this allowed the “165 Object” to travel on a highway at speeds up to 50 kilometers per hour. Diesel fuel supply was enough for 450-500 kilometers of the road. The parameters of the tank's undercarriage were enough to rise on the surface with a slope of up to 32 °, to overcome the wall height in 80 centimeters and the ditch width up to 2,8 meter. Without special equipment, the 165 Object could wade through water obstacles as deep as 140.
The main armament of the "Object 165" - 100-mm gun U-8TS (2A24). This rifled gun was developed on the basis of the D-54 cannon, created in the first half of the fifties. The differences between the U-8TS and the previous versions of the D-54 consisted in the installation of a new stabilizer (“Meteor” instead of “Lightning”), the use of a new alloy of the barrel, and also recycled cutting. To facilitate the work of loading the gun had mechanisms for filing and ejection of the spent cartridge case. After the shot, the cartridges were automatically removed to the outside of the tower through a hatch in its stern. The gun was equipped with an ejector and a muzzle brake. The last detail has been the subject of much controversy. According to opponents of the gun with a muzzle brake, the presence of the latter had almost no effect on the firing characteristics in a positive direction. But when firing from a snowy or sandy surface, powder gases diverging to the sides raised a cloud of snow or sand and unmasked the tank's position. Subsequently, this feature will affect the fate of the entire project. The ammunition of 40 guns of shots could contain high-explosive fragmentation projectiles, as well as various types of armor-piercing shells. Laying located in the fighting compartment, as well as in front of the machine, on the side of the driver. Additional armament of the tank "Object 165" consisted of two machine guns SGMT, one of which was paired with a gun, and the second was installed in the front hull plate. The total ammunition of machine guns was 2500 cartridges.
Targeting the gun and coaxial machine gun was carried out using a daylight sight TS-2-41 and infrared night-type TPS-1-41-11. The tank commander had at his disposal a TKN-2 "Carmine" surveillance device. To communicate with the tanks of your unit, etc. on the "165 Object" set radio station P-113. The stabilization of the gun was “entrusted” to the Meteor system. In the future, it could be combined with additional equipment like a range finder or ballistic computer.
In 1958, three prototypes of the 165 Object were assembled, which next year went to the test. Before 1961, a number of design flaws were identified during trips around the landfill and test firing, which were soon corrected. Simultaneously with the fine-tuning of the tank itself, related enterprises were developing equipment for it. The result of all improvements and improvements was the order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR from January 9 1962 of the year, by which the “Object 165” was adopted under the designation T-62А. Simultaneously with it, the “Object 166” was adopted - it received the T-62 index. However, the question of the start of mass production of both tanks was considered at the top in July 61. Until the end of the same year were made installation batches of both armored vehicles. T-62A was built in the number of 25 pieces.
At the beginning of 1962, the need to deploy a full-fledged mass production of T-62 tanks was questioned. A number of arguments were cited against the tank. The military was not satisfied with the need to expand the range of manufactured and procured ammunition, problems with the production of a number of additional equipment, as well as the muzzle brake guns. Due to the fact that the T-62 tank, thanks to its 115-mm smooth-bore gun, exceeded the T-62 in firepower, in March of 62, it was decided not to increase the number of existing and mass-operated types of tanks. The production of the T-62A was not continued, and the manufactured tanks were used to train the tank crews. According to the available information, no more than one and a half dozen of these tanks hit the combatant units.
The T-62A was the last Soviet adopted tank that was equipped with a rifled gun. In addition, after the T-62A, not a single domestic tank was equipped with a 100 caliber millimeter gun. It was the armament that had become relatively weak at the start of the 60's, which led to the closure of the project. However, a number of developments on the "165 Object" and "166 Object" are still used in the domestic tank building. Anyway, despite all its pros and cons, the T-62A remained the last Soviet tank with a rifled gun and one of the last representatives of the average class weight.
The tenth level of the development branch of medium tanks of the USSR in the game World of Tanks T-62A takes. In the top configuration, this machine will be equipped with X-NUMX-mm gun D-100TS
On the materials of the sites:
http://armor.kiev.ua/
http://militaryrussia.ru/
http://vadimvswar.narod.ru/
http://tankinfo.ru/
http://tanky.dovidnyk.info/
Throughout the fifties, the main Soviet medium-mass class tank was the T-54 and its updated version of the T-55. During operation, these armored vehicles received a lot of innovations, primarily related to the chassis, equipment and survivability. In particular, it was T-55 that became the first domestic tank with full anti-nuclear protection. However, all upgrades to the original T-54 did not fundamentally affect the armament. All combat vehicles based on the T-54 were armed with 100-mm rifled guns of the D-10T family. The very first version of the D-10 gun appeared in 1944 year. For that time it was decent and effective. weapon. But over time, the security of potential targets of the gun grew, which ultimately led to a decrease in the effectiveness of the gun to an unacceptable level. Therefore, by the end of the 50's, the Soviet military demanded a new tank, equipped with an even more powerful weapon.
The second prerequisite for upgrading the existing technology was the intelligence message about the start of a joint German-French project of a single tank. A single machine was not created, but the results of this program were made tanks Leopard 1 and AMX-30. As a symmetrical response, two projects were launched at once in the Soviet Union in a promising European single tank in 1957. Both versions of the deep modernization of the T-54 / 55, perhaps even coupled with a radical upgrade of equipment and design, were deployed at Plant No. 183 (the current Uralvagonzavod). The main designer of both projects was L.N. Kartsev. Developed tanks differed from each other, primarily weapons. The “165 object” was supposed to be equipped with an X-NUMX-millimeter rifled U-100-gun with a new design - the possibility of retaining the old caliber was considered, with improved characteristics - and the X-NUMX-mm smooth-bore gun U-8 was considered the main weapon for the “166 Object”. The tank "115" as a result was adopted for use under the symbol T-5 and later became to some extent the progenitor of all future domestic tanks. “166 Object”, in turn, did not receive such fame, but it was also a very interesting project.
The armored hull of the “165 Object” was generally similar to the corresponding unit of T-54 and T-55 tanks. Panels of rolled armored steel were fastened to each other by welding. The thickness of the hull details ranged from millimeters 100 (upper and lower front sheets) to 20 mm bottom feed sheet. Requirements for armament and protection required to rework the tower of the “base” tank. In fact, the cast unit was redesigned. The gun, gunner, commander and loader were protected by a layer of armor from the 240 mm of the tower’s forehead to the 30 mm of the roof. The newly designed tower led to the need to change the upper part of the hull. Thus, the diameter of the tower shoulder strap on the “165 Object” was increased to 2245 mm. In addition, thoroughly reworked turning mechanics.
When creating the undercarriage for the “Object 165” tank, the same T-54 was taken as the basis, however, the location of the road wheels was changed. In addition, finalized the design of the individual torsion bar suspension. The mobility of the new tank was to provide the 12-cylinder diesel engine B-55 produced by the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. With a working volume of almost 39 liters, this diesel gave horsepower up to 580. The estimated combat mass of the tank was equal to 36,8-37 tons, which gave the armored vehicle specific power of the order of 15,5-16 hp per ton. Ultimately, this allowed the “165 Object” to travel on a highway at speeds up to 50 kilometers per hour. Diesel fuel supply was enough for 450-500 kilometers of the road. The parameters of the tank's undercarriage were enough to rise on the surface with a slope of up to 32 °, to overcome the wall height in 80 centimeters and the ditch width up to 2,8 meter. Without special equipment, the 165 Object could wade through water obstacles as deep as 140.
The main armament of the "Object 165" - 100-mm gun U-8TS (2A24). This rifled gun was developed on the basis of the D-54 cannon, created in the first half of the fifties. The differences between the U-8TS and the previous versions of the D-54 consisted in the installation of a new stabilizer (“Meteor” instead of “Lightning”), the use of a new alloy of the barrel, and also recycled cutting. To facilitate the work of loading the gun had mechanisms for filing and ejection of the spent cartridge case. After the shot, the cartridges were automatically removed to the outside of the tower through a hatch in its stern. The gun was equipped with an ejector and a muzzle brake. The last detail has been the subject of much controversy. According to opponents of the gun with a muzzle brake, the presence of the latter had almost no effect on the firing characteristics in a positive direction. But when firing from a snowy or sandy surface, powder gases diverging to the sides raised a cloud of snow or sand and unmasked the tank's position. Subsequently, this feature will affect the fate of the entire project. The ammunition of 40 guns of shots could contain high-explosive fragmentation projectiles, as well as various types of armor-piercing shells. Laying located in the fighting compartment, as well as in front of the machine, on the side of the driver. Additional armament of the tank "Object 165" consisted of two machine guns SGMT, one of which was paired with a gun, and the second was installed in the front hull plate. The total ammunition of machine guns was 2500 cartridges.
Targeting the gun and coaxial machine gun was carried out using a daylight sight TS-2-41 and infrared night-type TPS-1-41-11. The tank commander had at his disposal a TKN-2 "Carmine" surveillance device. To communicate with the tanks of your unit, etc. on the "165 Object" set radio station P-113. The stabilization of the gun was “entrusted” to the Meteor system. In the future, it could be combined with additional equipment like a range finder or ballistic computer.
In 1958, three prototypes of the 165 Object were assembled, which next year went to the test. Before 1961, a number of design flaws were identified during trips around the landfill and test firing, which were soon corrected. Simultaneously with the fine-tuning of the tank itself, related enterprises were developing equipment for it. The result of all improvements and improvements was the order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR from January 9 1962 of the year, by which the “Object 165” was adopted under the designation T-62А. Simultaneously with it, the “Object 166” was adopted - it received the T-62 index. However, the question of the start of mass production of both tanks was considered at the top in July 61. Until the end of the same year were made installation batches of both armored vehicles. T-62A was built in the number of 25 pieces.
At the beginning of 1962, the need to deploy a full-fledged mass production of T-62 tanks was questioned. A number of arguments were cited against the tank. The military was not satisfied with the need to expand the range of manufactured and procured ammunition, problems with the production of a number of additional equipment, as well as the muzzle brake guns. Due to the fact that the T-62 tank, thanks to its 115-mm smooth-bore gun, exceeded the T-62 in firepower, in March of 62, it was decided not to increase the number of existing and mass-operated types of tanks. The production of the T-62A was not continued, and the manufactured tanks were used to train the tank crews. According to the available information, no more than one and a half dozen of these tanks hit the combatant units.
The T-62A was the last Soviet adopted tank that was equipped with a rifled gun. In addition, after the T-62A, not a single domestic tank was equipped with a 100 caliber millimeter gun. It was the armament that had become relatively weak at the start of the 60's, which led to the closure of the project. However, a number of developments on the "165 Object" and "166 Object" are still used in the domestic tank building. Anyway, despite all its pros and cons, the T-62A remained the last Soviet tank with a rifled gun and one of the last representatives of the average class weight.
The tenth level of the development branch of medium tanks of the USSR in the game World of Tanks T-62A takes. In the top configuration, this machine will be equipped with X-NUMX-mm gun D-100TS
On the materials of the sites:
http://armor.kiev.ua/
http://militaryrussia.ru/
http://vadimvswar.narod.ru/
http://tankinfo.ru/
http://tanky.dovidnyk.info/
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