Project of the Soviet heavy tank A-44
In additions to the order of the People's Commissar of average engineering from 10.05.41. No. 192 set out the construction and technical requirements for tank A-44, according to which it should have weight in combat equipment up to 29,5 tons, armor protection: frontal armor 75 mm at an angle 60 degrees, side part -60 mm, stern part 55 mm angle 35-45 degrees and other parameters.
Armament medium tank A-44
The main armament of the tank was to be the 76,2 mm gun ZIS-5 or 57 mm gun ZIS-4, which would be in the "split" with 2 DT machine guns, and the auxiliary type of weapon would be the 2 DT machine gun in the front of the tank body. As an option, it was possible to mount on the front of the flamethrower with a supply of shots in 10-15 units. The combat kit of the radio-equipped tank consisted of 100 artillery shots and 6000 cartridges for a DT machine gun. For a tank with flamethrowing weapons, it was supposed to install ammunition in 90 incendiary volleys and 4500 cartridges. For targeting and firing intended sights periscopic and optical type.
Project power plant
As a power plant on the tank, it was supposed to install an 600-strong diesel engine that would develop the maximum speed of 55-60 km / h. The capacity of the fuel tanks was 600 liters. The crawler drivetrain included a suspension on individual torsions, support and support rollers with internal cushioning, and a caterpillar track. For radio communication, a radio station KR-STB with TPU-3 was provided, as an internal communication in the tank, light signaling was provided between the driver and the tank commander.
Development of the project of the medium tank A-44
The same order of the NKSM No. 183 ordered to make 1941 experimental samples A-2 by mid-October 44, and by November submit information to the report to the NPO of the USSR. Works on the creation of the tank supervised Marshal USSR Voroshilov K.E. In the course of the tests, the combat weight of the tank was exceeded, which then, according to the current tariffs, made it possible to assign the prototype A-44 to the class of heavy tanks. It was installed more powerful armor protection and weapons.
The layout of the tank was as follows: the fighting compartment was located in the stern of the combat vehicle, the engine and transmission compartment and the control compartment were located in the front. In front of the hull were placed tank mechanic and radio operator-shooter. Behind were gunner, tank commander and loader. To review the picture of the battle in the upper section of the turret, an additional commander observation point was mounted, where the Spark of DT machine guns was located to repel an attack from the air.
In the prototypes, the weapon set-up did not differ from the design version, with the exception of the added version of the modification of the tank with the 107 mm ZIS-6 gun. Ammunition was slightly changed in previous versions, which have already become three, depending on the gun used. The number of shells was as follows: 160 shells for 57 mm and 76mm guns and 60 shells for 107 mm guns. To remove the effects of the shot in the tower’s roof, a “hood” was installed.
This tank was designed conventional counter-armor protection, which was made of armored sheets, having, depending on the location on the body of the tank different thickness-79, 90, 120 mm. The combat weight of tank modifications was 36, 40 and 50 tons.
Changes also occurred in the power section; for heavier modifications, the 850-strong diesel engine В-6 was added. Both engines, both project and B-6, were aggregated with a mechanical 6 – speed reverse transmission, which consisted of a main friction clutch, two onboard multidisk clutches with a belt-type brake and two onboard single-stage gearboxes. The suspension, although it was strengthened, in contrast to the design, in general, remained unchanged, as did the means of communication. In the course of design improvements, the fuel reserve was reached in 300, 270 and 250 km, respectively.
In general, the tank received a preliminary positive assessment, but the war unleashed by the Nazis prevented the plans to release the tank from the assembly line of the enterprise. The project was closed and did not return to this issue.
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