Light tank M41 Walker Bulldog

In 1944-1945, the fairly successful M24 Chaffee light tank, which was a very balanced combat vehicle, joined the American army. This tank was favorably distinguished by its maneuverable and high-speed characteristics, and most importantly, was armed sufficiently powerful for light tank the gun was a 75 mm cannon with a barrel length of 37,5 calibers. In 1946-1949, the development of the Chaffee tank was another light tank, designated the M41 Walker Bulldog. The tank was named after General Walton's “Bulldog” Walker, who very “incidentally” died in 1950 during the Korean War. The new light tank massively went to the American army in 1953. The release of the tank continued until the end of the 1950s, during which time 3729 tanks of this type were produced in the USA.

The main difference from its predecessor was that the tank received a more powerful 76-mm gun. It was a long-barreled (60 caliber), but, as practice has shown, such a replacement was already insufficient, especially in the 1960-s. For example, during the Vietnam War, M41, which acted as the main tank of South Vietnam, turned out to be almost completely useless against the main battle tank of North Vietnam - T-54. Approximately with the same "success" the tank M41 Walker Bulldog was used in other local conflicts of the second half of the XX century. In the US Army, this tank was finally removed from service in 1969. He was replaced by the light tank M551 "Sheridan", which was created in the framework of the new concept - a light combat vehicle with the most powerful weaponry.

Despite this, the Bulldogs did not go to landfill after they were removed from service. stories. In the US, they have become donors of chassis for various self-propelled guns, armored personnel carriers and other tracked vehicles. M41 also became a fairly common export tank, which was in service with almost 30 states of the world. Some of them continue to exploit this tank in the 21st century. For example, in the Brazilian army in 2010, the 152 of the M41 Walker Bulldog was still listed as XNUMX.

History of the tank M41 Walker Bulldog

At the request of the US military, the new light tank, which would have replaced the M24, would have to combine higher firepower and mobility. That is why the tank decided to arm a long-barreled 76-mm gun that was able to pierce 127 mm of armor (5 inches) mounted at an angle of 30 degrees at a distance of 914 meters (1000 yards). The weight of the tank should not exceed 25 tons.

The very concept of a light tank, the M41 Walker Bulldog, was born back in 1942, after work began on creating a new medium tank under the designation T20 in the USA. The US military believed that from it it would be easy to get a light tank, which has the same internal dimensions of the hull, but weaker weapons and a smaller thickness of armor. A similar project was developed, but it never came to the stage of production of a prototype. As a result, this idea was again returned after the end of the Second World War in 1946, when developing the first post-war program of tank building in the USA. Light and medium (T37 and T42 tanks, respectively) should have the same hull design, which would differ only in the thickness of armor plates, engines identical to each other, and similar running gears. Tanks were different only towers - the tower of a light tank was designed for the installation of 76-mm guns, and the average - for the placement of 90-mm guns.

This unification ultimately played a cruel joke with both tanks. The T42 medium tank was never adopted by the American army, since the military considered its corps too small and its powerplant low-powered. Only the tower of this tank was then used to develop a new medium tank T47. A light tank projected in the end came out too heavy and large, but initially no one paid attention to it.

The best fate awaited the project T37. The development of this project began in the Detroit Arsenal in July 1946. 27 September of the same year, he officially received the designation T37. The US Army Directorate initially recommended the production of a tank prototype 3 (in May 1947, this order was reduced to two cars). The design work was fully completed at the beginning of 1949, at the same time the wooden layout of the tank was ready. The first T37 tank was sent to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in May 1949, where it was tested until August 1950, after which the car was returned to Detroit.

Along with T37, tests of the T37 of the second phase of development (under the new designation T41, prototype 3) were tested here at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. This model was armed with 76-mm high-power gun Т91, which was installed in a modified turret. The following modification of the T41 tank underwent a number of changes, in particular, the internal layout of the turret was changed, the size of its shoulder strap was increased, and the machine-gun installations located on the sides of the turret were also abandoned. This modernized version of the light tank of the Detroit arsenal was renamed to Т41E1, and it was she who later became, through some modifications, the massive lightweight tank M41 Walker Bulldog, which began to be mass-produced in 1953 year.

The layout and design of the tank M41 Walker Bulldog

The light tank M41 has a classic layout. In front of the hull of the tank there is a control compartment, then a fighting compartment with a turret, and the engine compartment is located in the stern of the hull. Combat and engine compartment of the tank were separated by a special fire-resistant partition. The fighting compartment of the tank was equipped with a rotating polycom. Part of the ammunition was located in the forward part of the body on the right side of the mechanical drive point.

The crew of the tank consisted of 4-x people: the driver was located in the control compartment, the commander of the combat vehicle, the gunner and loader in the tank turret, the first two sat on the right side of the gun, the last on the left side, which allowed him to charge the gun by hand. In the non-rotating commander's turret 5 glass blocks were placed, intended for a circular view. In addition, the gunner and tank commander had a periscopic device M20А1, which turned to 360 degrees.

The hull of the tank is welded, it is made of rolled steel armor. Bronelists in the frontal part of the body are located at rational angles of inclination. The tank tower is welded from cast and rolled armored parts. The thickness of the tower armor was from 12,7 mm (roof) to 38 mm (gun mask). The nose parts of the hull had a thickness of 50 mm, the hull sides of the hull were 12-15 mm, the front part of the tank bottom was 32 mm, the rear part was 9,25 mm. Special means of protecting the crew of the tank from the use of the enemy weapons mass destruction it was not. A fire-fighting equipment system was located in the MTO, which could be activated from the mechanical drive point.

The main armament of the light tank was the 76-mm M32 rifle gun (T91E3), during the modernization it was replaced with the M32-1. The gun was equipped with a muzzle brake to reduce recoil. The ammunition of this tank gun included shots with cumulative, armor-piercing tracer and high-explosive fragmentation projectiles, as well as projectiles with ready slaughter elements, smoke and others. Already in 1982, an armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber projectile was created specifically for this gun. Initially, the tank ammunition consisted of 57 unitary shots, after upgrading, starting with the modification М41А1, the ammunition was expanded to 65 shots. 24 shots were located in the fighting compartment, they were ready for immediate use. The remaining 33 shots were in the hull of the tank, and their overload in the fighting compartment was possible only in the case when the tower was deployed strictly in the stern.

Auxiliary armament light tank was represented by two machine guns. Directly with the gun was paired 7,62-mm machine gun with ammunition 5000 cartridges. A large-caliber 12,7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun (2175 rounds of ammunition) was mounted on the roof of the turret at the hatch of the tank commander. The weapon was controlled by the gunner and the tank commander with the help of electro-hydraulic guidance drives available at their disposal. The first version of the weapon stabilizer tank and range finder did not have. Later, already on the M41А1 modification, the weapons installation was stabilized in two planes.

The commander and the gunner could use for their own purposes the periscopic observation devices M20A1, which had two optical channels: one-time, for orientation in the terrain, and 6-multiple, intended for firing. In addition, the gunner could use the M97 telescopic sight, which had a threefold increase. No night vision devices were installed on the base model of the light tank; in the course of further modernization, these instruments and the IR illuminator were introduced into the equipment on the M41А3 tank. The communication means of the M41 tank consisted of two radio stations, a TPU and a telephone intended for communication between infantry / troops and crew members.

Initially, the 41-cylinder gasoline engine Continental AOS 6-895 air-cooled was installed on the light tank M3. In 1956, it began to be changed to an AOS 895-5 gasoline engine with a direct fuel injection system, which was more economical, having the same horsepower 500. In all cases, the tank was used hydromechanical transmission type "Cross-drive" CD-500-3 production company "Allison". The transmission had a complex cylindrical input gearbox with an automatically locked friction clutch, a planetary gearbox, a torque converter, a differential double-flow brake turning mechanism with metal-ceramic discs that worked in oil.

Additionally, the tank was mounted an auxiliary engine GMC model A41-1 with a charging unit, designed to warm up the main power plant in the winter season. The equipment for overcoming the deep ford, a flare heater for the crew and an electric bilge pump were included in the standard equipment of the light tank. With the help of special equipment, the tank could easily overcome the ford to a depth of 2,5 meters.

The M41 Walker Bulldog tank suspension was an individual torsion bar. On the first, second and fifth suspension nodes were placed telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers. In this case, the torsion bars of the first and fifth nodes of the tank suspension were of a larger diameter than all the others. Basic skating rinks - the duo-pitch rubberized (on 5 on board). There was also an 3 supporting roller on each side. Tracks with rubber-metal hinges of the sequential type were used on the tank, they could be equipped with removable rubber pads. In the undercarriage of the tank, a lever compensating device was used, which ensured the constant tension of the tracks.

At the design stage, it was also planned to equip the M41 tank with an automatic loader system, but this series did not appear on serial combat vehicles. Also in the framework of the experiment on the "Bulldog" 90-mm gun was installed (this tank was designated as T49), but this experiment did not progress further than the creation of a prototype.

The peculiarity of the Walker Bulldog МХNUMX light tanks was that they were very widely exported. These combat vehicles were in service with the 41 order of the countries - members of NATO, Asia, Africa and Latin America. This combat vehicle was actively used in the fighting by the South Vietnamese troops, starting with the 30 year and up to the end of the Vietnam war in the 1965 year. At the same time, a certain number of combat vehicles of this type were subsequently used by the Vietnamese People’s Army (VNA). Apparently, the last combat episode, in which M1975 took part, happened during the Falkland conflict between Argentina and Great Britain. However, several Argentine M41s transferred to the islands were quickly destroyed by British soldiers.

Performance characteristics of the M41 Walker Bulldog:

Overall dimensions: body length - 5819 mm, with a forward gun - 8092 mm, body width - 3198 mm, height - 2726 mm.
Combat weight - 23,2 tons.
The power plant - 6-cylinder carburetor engine Continental AOS 895-3 turbocharged, power - 500 hp
Maximum speed - 72 km / h (on the highway).
Power reserve - 160 km (on the highway).
Armament - 76-mm gun M32, 7,62-mm machine gun Browning M1919A4E1 and 12,7-mm anti-aircraft gun Browning M2HB.
Ammunition guns - 57 shells.
Crew - 4 person.

Information sources:
http://techno-story.ru/articles/tanks/152-bronirovanyj-buldog-amerikanskij-ljogkij-tank-m-41-walker-buldog
http://www.militaryparitet.com/perevodnie/data/ic_perevodnie/6242
http://warspot.ru/4190-bezzubyy-buldog
http://www.dogswar.ru/bronetehnika/tanki/3499-legkii-tank-m41-walk.html
http://pro-tank.ru/brone-america/brone-usa/352-tank-m41-walker-bulldog

Comments

[Tatar-in]

Great tank of the 7th level with a drum for 10 shells))

[PKK]

Well, the Lord is with him with this tank. Then what ?.

[SMAKAROV49]

But against 54 matches, as correctly noted, not very))

[twincam]

I disassemble these on the Leva for one or two)))

[Leto]

Walker Bulldog and "Surfin bird" in "Full Metal Jacket"! The fire!

[igordok]

According to the classification adopted in Germany before WWII, it would probably be considered as heavy (gun caliber).

[kugelblitz]

After WWII, everyone except the Americans and the French abandoned the linear "classic" light tanks. If the French had an AMX-13 due to post-war economic difficulties, and more likely it is a light anti-tank self-propelled gun, then the Yankees froze stupidity.
If it were less mass, it would fit like a landing machine. If he could swim, then marines like our PT-76. But he had none of this. On the battlefield, they will quickly be taken out by MBT, he is clearly not able to destroy the T-54, except for the T-34, which after the war began to be massively delivered abroad to third countries. Again, the T-34-85 has a much more powerful 85 mm gun, and he fought with the Panthers and Tigers quite successfully.
Apparently, the result of the low intensity of battles in North Africa and Western Europe affected, as it is quite a good reconnaissance vehicle and patrol car, in general, and as a base for various self-propelled guns and engineering units. But not a linear tank.

[oking]

Quote: kugelblitz

According to the classification adopted in Germany before WWII, it would probably be considered as heavy (gun caliber)

1. No light-medium-heavy tanks in the Panzerwaff until 1942. did not have. The German BTT later than everyone began to switch to new standards, and only after the unsuccessful 1941. Before that, the Germans had no need for this. In general, the transition was carried out in 1942-43. In 1944 the structure was already completely new. And it did not correspond to the Soviet or American wartime structure. It is interesting that after the war the Americans switched to a structure that is somewhat reminiscent of German.
2. The caliber of German guns had nothing to do with the "weight" of the tank. These are Runet stories, and nothing more. Suffice it to recall that at the same time in 1943. the Germans made the "infantry" tank Pz.KpfW.III Ausf. N with a 75 mm KwK37 cannon, a Pz.KpfW.IV Ausf.H light tank with a 75 mm KwK40 cannon, and a Pz.KpfW medium tank. V "Panther" with a 75 mm KwK42 cannon. The first was from the pre-war line of BTT and in 1944. was no longer released. And the rest were released further. Within their DIFFERENT weight categories.

Quote: kugelblitz

After WWII, everyone except the Americans and the French abandoned the linear "classic" light tanks.

The Germans abandoned them back in 1943. Their last tank, which, according to the Soviet classification, could be considered light (reconnaissance Pz.KpfW.II Ausf. L) in 1943. was discontinued. And that tank, which from 1942. in the Panzerwaffe it was considered light (Pz.KpfW.IV Ausf.F2 / G and beyond), it was quite average for "Soviet and American money".

Quote: kugelblitz

Again, the T-34-85 has a much more powerful 85 mm gun

Is it from such a fright? In terms of armor penetration, the Soviet 85-mm tank gun mod. 1944 approximately equal to the old American 76-mm tank gun mod. 1942 M1. And another German 75-mm KwK40 mod. 1940 if anything.

Quote: kugelblitz

and he fought with the Panthers and Tigers quite successfully.

Is it in such places he fought with them successfully? And, most importantly, what?

Quote: avt

Quote: kugelblitz
. On the battlefield, they will quickly take out MBT
avt
What actually T-34 prove yet in Korea.

T-34/85, is it MBT? In which place? Due to what resources and advantages? Offhand I can not recall a single characteristic that would bring the T-34/85 to the role of MBT.
And if we are talking about just T-34 (aka T-34/76), then there is nothing to talk about. This turret self-propelled gun for infantry support (in the USSR it was called "medium tank") already in 1943. it was extremely dangerous to appear on the battlefield.

[kugelblitz]

Quote: oking

85 mm tank gun mod. 1944

In general, this gun was put there because of its compactness, and the caliber of 85 mm was chosen from the calculation of the work of the OFS shells. Nevertheless, decently more powerful than 76 mm. Moreover, the armor penetration with the BR-365 projectile at 500 meters was about 100 mm. This misunderstanding is enough for eyes even from 2000 meters, if it gets.

Quote: oking

Is it in such places he fought with them successfully?

And then the Germans won the war, and there is no need about "one rifle for three."

Quote: oking

T-34/85, this is MBT

On that moment average tank, MBT appeared later in connection with a reduction in the number of models in service. But the T-54 can essentially be considered MBT, although it was not considered formally.

[oking]

Quote: kugelblitz

In fact, this gun is put there because of the compactness

Read how many artillery cartridges were in the T-34/76 and how many were in the T-34/85. Notice the big difference right away. "Box" T-34 (platform in a scientific way) was too small for 85-mm artillery cartridges. After all, initially there should have been a 45-mm cannon.
But there was no other gun in the USSR, so I had to put an 85 mm.

Quote: kugelblitz

and the caliber of 85 mm is selected from the calculation of the work of the general purpose shells.

It is convenient to tell these tales to young boys. They are gullible, believe.
Just at the end of 1943. even the ballistics of 76 mm 3-K / 51-K, with those types of b / w shells that were in the USSR, was already weak. Therefore I HAD to be smart with a caliber of 85 mm. Just to get a certain penetration far from outstanding analogue of the German 75-mm gun KwK40 arr. 1940 Or the American 76-mm gun M1 arr. 1942, if interested.

Quote: kugelblitz

Nevertheless, decently more powerful than 76 mm.

Soviet F-34 or American 75-mm M2, which stood on the M3 tanks? Yes, I agree here.

Quote: kugelblitz

Moreover, the armor penetration with the BR-365 projectile at 500 meters was about 100 mm.

Don't waste your time with numbers. First, there are many standards for armor penetration. Secondly, there are a lot of indicators that affect it. Therefore, information such as "Moreover, the armor penetration with the BR-365 projectile at 500 meters was about 100 mm", this is just an empty concussion of the air. The phrase is about nothing.

Quote: kugelblitz

And then the Germans won the war,

In vain do you stoop to twitch.

Quote: kugelblitz

At that time, the medium tank

And I mean the same, the T-34/85 was never MBT. And he was never even a classmate of the ancestors of MBT. The Soviet prewar breakthrough tank KV-1 is much closer to MBT.
As for the "medium tanks". At what point and where? In the USSR during the Second World War? Yes, a medium tank. And for the USA during the Second World War, also a medium tank. And for the Germans, a light tank. And for the United States immediately after the war, it is also a light tank. Medium tank already in 1946. they had the M26 "Pershing", which is a kind of analogue of the German Pz.KpfW medium tank. V "Panther". So, to call the T-34/85 a medium tank in Korea is a stretch.

[kugelblitz]

Quote: oking

But there was no other gun in the USSR, so I had to put an 85 mm.

Why then didn’t they put a 88 mm cannon on the Pz.IV? Was it once?

Quote: oking

It is convenient to tell these tales to young boys.

Yes, yes, only self-propelled gunners thought for some reason that the Su-122, despite the frankly unimportant characteristic of the fight against tanks, was so necessary! Weren't you tired of the tales of the Vienna forest about 88 mm?

Quote: oking

You do not scatter numbers.

What I have, I throw them. It is quite official.

Quote: oking

In vain do you stoop to twitch.

This is not a distortion, it is an understanding of how to use tanks. For some, this is supporting infantry and suppressing firing points, for some fighting with tanks, and for some, safari with the Papuans or a walk without a particularly resisting enemy.

Quote: oking

And for the United States immediately after the war, it is also a light tank.

This is just a mediocre stupid tank, that’s all. And for sale to underdeveloped countries will do. Or allies, for their role as cannon fodder.

[Zaurbek]

85mm more powerful due to HE shell. For AP shells, it is necessary to compare penetration with similar shells.

[Zaurbek]

85mm more powerful due to HE shell. For AP shells, it is necessary to compare penetration with similar shells.

[Verdun]

Quote: kugelblitz

If the French had AMX-13 due to post-war economic difficulties, and rather it is an easy anti-tank self-propelled gun, then the Yankees froze stupidity.

No, the AMX-13 is exactly the tank, although not quite the usual layout. And very good. In my opinion, much better than the English and American samples of that time. This is evidenced by the number of French cars sold around the world.

[avt]

Hosh as hosh, but the author’s delight

In 1944-1945, the fairly successful M24 Chaffee light tank, which was a very balanced combat vehicle, joined the American army.

Well, I don’t share it. What is the balance? In fact, they made a car for landing, which they could transport with an airplane .... in an unassembled form initially - having removed the tower at least. So what is that 75mm gun

Quote: kugelblitz

the French was AMX-13

and where is he? Somehow in real battles the same Jews got rid of him.

Quote: kugelblitz

If he could swim, then marines like our PT-76.

Well then, he certainly M24 would not be.

Quote: kugelblitz

. On the battlefield, they will quickly take out MBT

What actually T-34 prove yet in Korea.

Quote: kugelblitz

pretty good, in general, and as a base for various self-propelled guns and engineering units. But not a linear tank.

[Blackgrifon]

Quote: avt

In fact, they made a car for landing, which they could transport with an airplane .... in an unassembled form initially - having removed the tower at least. So what is that 75mm gun

Is it for landing? They also had Locusts for this. In general, they liked to make light tanks in the USA, but they used them not only for reconnaissance, but to support infantry.

[avt]

Quote: Blackgrifon

Is it for landing? They also had Locusts for this.

Locusts they used to love

Despite the rather impressive release figures, the M22 Lokast light tanks were practically not used in battles. Having already entered the U.S. Army’s airborne assault forces in mid-1943, they stood idle until the end of the war, not even taking part in Operation Overlord in June 1944, during which allied parachute assaults were thrown into Normandy. The main reason this tank did not fight was the lack of suitable delivery vehicles.

For the same reason as these M24, BUT! Because of the cannon, something suddenly decided that it would be cooler, but our T-34-85 broke all the buzz in Korea.

[Kenneth]

Coffin for the crew. Like any tank with pturs development.

[kugelblitz]

It is a "coffin for the crew" even in a collision with a WWII medium tank.

[gladcu2]

kugleblits

This is a tank for the Papuans. This is a pretty good economic niche.

In fact, the tank is not bad for its sector. Where there is no tough anti-tank enemy. So rush to crush a couple of rifle Well, always be at hand if you suddenly need to.

I don’t remember that there were T-54s in North Korea. T-34-85 were.

[Redfox3k]

Quote: Kenneth

Coffin for the crew. Like any tank with pturs development.

In this case, we are talking about a tank of 50-60 years. The twentieth century, when ATGMs were just being developed. Not for nothing that the M41 was removed from service by 1969, when he, on the battlefield, for the most part, already played the role of a target.

[igor67]

. Last year he was shooting at the museum, just the Bulldog

[Kars]

Sheridan is more interesting)
And what kind of monster is on the basis of Centurion?

[igor67]

Quote: Kars

Sheridan is more interesting)
And what kind of monster is on the basis of Centurion?

Hi Andrei, I don’t even know, but remember you wanted a chain from Merkava as a gift, tried to take it off, it’s necessary with plows

[Kars]

Quote: igor67

Hi

Quote: igor67

remember you wanted a chain from Merkava as a gift, tried to take it off, it’s necessary with the plows

I still want it) it was a gorgeous gift)

[igor67]

Quote: Kars

Quote: igor67

Hi

Quote: igor67

remember you wanted a chain from Merkava as a gift, tried to take it off, it’s necessary with the plows

I still want it) it was a gorgeous gift)

Quote: Kars

Quote: igor67

Hi

Quote: igor67

remember you wanted a chain from Merkava as a gift, tried to take it off, it’s necessary with the plows

I still want it) it was a gorgeous gift)

I’ll definitely take it off, and myself at the same time, otherwise you can already see the part

[Kars]

Quote: igor67

I’ll definitely take it off, and myself at the same time, otherwise you can already see the part

Success)))

[Bayonet]

Quote: igor67

I tried to remove it did not work, it is necessary with pliers

Did some seem to succeed? Is there a little of them left or are not provided for in this place?

[Blackgrifon]

But Sheridan even the Americans themselves recognized as unsuccessful. Especially in terms of protection and weapons complex.

[Kars]

And I did not say better or worse. He is more interesting. Not a trivial machine.

[Blackgrifon]

Quote: Kars

Not a trivial car.

I agree, but it was the weapon complex that was unique, and in general the BM was significantly inferior to even the older AMX. If memory serves, the Vietnam War became his swan song

[Kars]

Quote: Blackgrifon

If memory serves, the Vietnam War became his swan song

In the first storm in the desert was)

[Blackgrifon]

Quote: Kars

In the first storm in the desert was)

Did not know. But even at that time it was not a car, but a coffin on caterpillars - the BMP-1 had higher survivability!

[fa2998]

Quote: igordok

According to the classification adopted in Germany before WWII, it would probably be considered as heavy (gun caliber).

And in our opinion, the average one (weight more than 20 tons). A good tank for 2 MV. The twin of our T-34. The first also weighed 26 tons, the frontal armor was comparable to 45 mm -50 mm. The engine for both was 500 l / s, and the gun was 76 mm. Only at that time the T-34 was already conquered, the new T-44-54 models with higher performance characteristics came in. And the Americans were born!

[DesToeR]

Quote: oking

Is it from such a fright? In terms of armor penetration, the Soviet 85-mm tank gun mod. 1944 approximately equal to the old American 76-mm tank gun mod. 1942 M1. And another German 75-mm KwK40 mod. 1940 if anything.

And what is the power of a gun already measured by its armor penetration?

Quote: oking

And if we are talking about just T-34 (aka T-34/76), then there is nothing to talk about. This turret self-propelled gun for infantry support (in the USSR it was called "medium tank") already in 1943. it was extremely dangerous to appear on the battlefield.

Well, all tanks, in principle, are "self-propelled artillery turret" installations. And yes, in the USSR, the T-34 was called a medium tank ... they had every right. What is the meaning of your message? Slander and obhait? In 1943. it was "extremely dangerous" for any tank of the second half of the 30s to appear on the battlefield (there were no exceptions in any country in the world). Simply because anti-tank guns of high ballistics with a caliber of 75-76mm and higher appeared in the armies of the opposing sides. The essence of the T-34 is not a miracle of armor, but a mega cannon, but that this tank, due to its massiveness, raised the bar for anti-tank equipment. The Nazis were forced to adopt a heavier (and more expensive) anti-tank gun, with which artillerymen could more or less successfully fight, and not tank crews.

[oking]

Quote: DesToeR

And what is the power of a gun already measured by its armor penetration?

And who cares about the power of the gun? In the tank gun of that war, the value of armor penetration is critical. And the power of OFS. But not absolute, but relative. Not less than a certain level, because tank, this is not an artillery ship. By the way, the level of the 76-mm shell of the Soviet three-inch in 1944. was considered by the Germans insufficient. And in 1942. they considered it still sufficient.

Quote: DesToeR

Well, all tanks, in principle, are "self-propelled artillery turret" installations.

Not all. There are wheelhouse self-propelled guns. There are tower. And there are tanks.
The T-34/76 falls into the second category (no separate commander). What this led to in practice - in short, the enemy on the sides and behind should not have been, the infantry had to be in front of the tank, which is practically unattainable for a medium tank. And for a self-propelled gun of support during the war or a pre-war "infantry" tank, the norm. Since even before the Second World War in the USSR "infantry tanks" ceased to exist (a new classification of BTTs occurred), it would be more correct to reclassify the old "infantry tank" T-34/76 not into a "medium tank", but into a turret self-propelled gun for infantry support.
At the same time, and as an "infantry tank" it was unimportant. Because was altered (rather adapted) from the "operational tank" A-20, rooted in the early 30s.
Everyone even understood this at that time. Therefore, before the war they wanted to remove it from production, replacing it with the T-34M. Which, judging by the available data, in the initial period of the Second World War could be a full-fledged medium tank. But it did not grow together ...
By the way, some of their "operational tanks" (Pz.KpfW.III) were very successfully converted by the Germans and produced in a modification of the "infantry tank" (Pz.KpfW.III Ausf. N). And the pre-war German "infantry tank" (Pz.KpfW.IV) in 1942. was converted into a "German light tank" Pz.KpfW.IV Ausf.F2. "German light tank" is a rough analogue of the Soviet concept of "medium tank".
IS-2, if anything, this is also a turret self-propelled gun (a cannon with separate shell loading, this does not happen in tanks).
Full tanks in the USSR were KV-1 and T-34/85. Could have been a T-50.

Quote: DesToeR

What is the meaning of your message? Slander and cheat?

What am I? "We will pay dearly for the production of insufficiently combat-ready vehicles." These are not my words, these are the words of the head of ABTU. The main Soviet tankman, if you clarify who the head of ABTU is.

Quote: DesToeR

In 1943. it was "extremely dangerous" for any tank of the second half of the 30s to appear on the battlefield (there were no exceptions in any country in the world)

And where would they come from others? They have not been released anywhere except the USSR for a long time.

Quote: DesToeR

and the fact that this tank, in view of its mass character, raised the bar for the anti-tank defense. The Nazis were forced to adopt a heavier (and more expensive) anti-tank gun

Do you understand what you wrote? In addition, the 50 mm PaK38 with the T-34 coped quite well from afar. The 75mm PaK40 did even better. In addition, it was a simple, technological and cheap gun. The best that was in such a caliber during WWII among the warring parties, including the tank version.

[vietnam7]

Thanks to the author for the article, but it would be nice to add "where when in what conditions" to the signature photos. As always, comments on articles about the history of tanks turned into a dispute over who has a "more powerful gun", although as they say in the dispute, the truth is born - we will wait until birth