70 ton tank. The most massive of the lungs. Power plant device

Hello to all fans of fighting in the sandbox, the site is with you! Tankers and tankers, now we will talk about a really worthwhile little car, a Soviet light tank of the third level, in front of you T-70 guide.

Without exaggeration, I hasten to inform you that among the huge variety light equipment at the third level, this device can really please its owner. T-70 WoT has an impressive number of advantages that will allow the player to "bend over" in the sandbox and have a lot of fun, but for this, you must know your tank well.

TTX T-70

According to the already established tradition, we will begin with the fact that our light tank there is a standard view by the standards of classmates, and also a weak Soviet viewing range of 310 meters.

It is noteworthy that, unlike most classmates, our survival rate is quite good, but with nuances. First of all, at T-70 characteristics frontal armor is impressive.

If we talk about the frontal projection of the hull, then due to the excellent slope of the armor plates, the upper frontal part T-70 World of Tanks it has 72 millimeters of armor over the entire area, and a small red square on the model's collage is also reinforced, here the thickness of the metal reaches 113 millimeters. At the same time, it is better to hide the NLD, because this is only a 51-mm section that can ricochet, but on the whole it breaks through easily.

The turret is protected from the front by a large 50 mm gun mantlet, behind which light tank T-70 it has about 86 millimeters of reduced armor, and a small “shelf” above the mask boasts 98 millimeters of reduced armor, but the cheeks break through easily, but fortunately they are quite small.

A completely different picture opens up when examining the side projection, since the sides of T-70 World of Tanks even thinner than the stern, because there is a miserable 15 millimeters of armor without slopes, which breaks through not only land mines, but also small-caliber machine guns. However, this does not mean that the stern can be substituted, both of these projections are vulnerable and need to be hidden.

In terms of mobility, everything is relative, because top speed T-70 tank develops a decent, and also has excellent maneuverability. But in terms of dynamics, we are inferior to many classmates, although we cannot call the car slow or tight, in this regard we are more like a dynamic medium tank.

gun

It's no secret that armament is the main component of any tank, and in our case the gun is really good, it deserves not only attention, but also respect.

First of all, you must know that T-70 gun alphastrike has an average level, but also has a high rate of fire, thanks to which we have the opportunity to deal decent damage per minute, which is approximately 1320 units.

In terms of penetration, our gun is really good, even with an armor-piercing projectile T-70 WoT able to confidently deal damage to classmates and most of the fourth levels. Fives can also be dealt with, but for skirmishes with heavy tanks, you should have about 15 gold sub-calibers with you.

Accuracy did not let us down either, although not everything here is as smooth as we would like. Soviet light tank T-70 has at its disposal a good spread at 100 meters, but the stabilization of our gun is poor and it takes quite a long time to reduce, that is, something needs to be done about it.

In general, all indicators of weapons T-70 tank received good ones, but there is one serious flaw - vertical aiming angles. Downward, our barrel drops only 4 degrees, which is very sad and it will be really difficult to play from the terrain.

Advantages and disadvantages

As you all perfectly understand, a lot depends on knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the vehicle on which you go into battle. First of all, you will better understand which modules and skills you should bet on, but this question can also help a lot in building tactics, so now we will highlight the main pros and cons T-70 World of Tanks.
Pros:
Good frontal armor;
Decent mobility (maximum speed and maneuverability);
Impressive damage per minute;
High performance penetration;
Nice spread at 100 meters.
Minuses:
Small base viewing range;
Poor booking of sides and stern;
Low one-time damage;
Mediocre mixing and stabilization;
Poor elevation angles.

Equipment for T-70

Despite the fact that at the third level the choice additional modules is very limited, it is possible and necessary to strengthen the tank, especially since everything necessary for this device, in principle, is available. For maximum results on tank T-70 equipment it is better to put the following:
1. - as you can see from the list of shortcomings, this device needs to improve the speed of information, which we will deal with first of all.
2. is a good and thoughtful choice that will give a 5% boost to the most important stats, improving damage, accuracy and slightly increasing vision.
3. - there is no point in inventing something, because you can radically increase the viewing range and gain an advantage over the enemy only by choosing this module.

Crew training

A properly trained crew with enough skills at level three is a colossal advantage that you should strive for if you really want to conquer the sandbox. The problem is that our crew consists of only two people, but even in such circumstances for the T-70 it is better to learn the perks in the following sequence:
Commander (gunner, radio operator, loader) - , , , .
Driver mechanic - , , , .

Equipment for the T-70

As always, the process of purchasing consumables remains standard, and therefore simple and understandable. If you don't have enough silver in your supply or you are saving up for a tank, take , , . However, in combat, you will feel much more confident if you buy for T-70 equipment in the form of,, especially understanding the problems with the shell shock of such a multifunctional commander. By the way, a Soviet tank burns infrequently, so you can also replace a fire extinguisher with one.

T-70 game tactics

From the foregoing, you could form an opinion about this device and I must say that the machine in our hands is really worthwhile, capable of crushing enemies in the sandbox, but for this you need to act correctly.

I want to say right away that our most comfortable Soviet light tank T-70 feels at the top of the list, because here our armor shows itself with the best side. In order to confidently deal with the enemy, you should always turn your forehead to him and the hull can be turned quite a bit so as not to expose the vulnerable side, but to increase the reduced armor of the VLD.

Of course, fighting at the top of the list for T-70 tactics combat is to take a position on the front line, where, hiding your NLD and hiding from enemy artillery, you can confidently tank, holding back or pushing the direction along with the allies.

However, when it comes to battles against the fourth and even more so the fifth levels, on your armor T-70 World of Tanks can no longer rely so blindly. In such cases, we become good tank support, which is able to deal excellent damage from behind the backs of stronger teammates.

No less confident T-70 tank feels like standing on the second line, because this tactic is much safer and allows you to deal damage with impunity. Fortunately, for remote firing, we have pleasant accuracy and good penetration, all that remains is to glow less and target vulnerable areas in the enemy’s armor.

As a conclusion, I would like to say that T-70 WoT- This is one of the few cars at the third level, which is comfortable and pleasant to play. Otherwise, try to keep an eye on the mini-map, beware of artillery and formidable Tier 5 vehicles, and don't expose the sides and stern to the enemies.

If the "thirty-four" is considered the best medium tank of the USSR in the Second World War, then this tank rightfully takes first place among light combat vehicles. Starting their combat path in the summer of 1942, these tanks went through the entire war and were used in many sectors of the Soviet-German front. "T-70" became the most massive tank in the USSR after the "T-34". During the war years, Soviet industry produced 8231 T-70 tanks, giving the front an excellent auxiliary vehicle.

Description

The T-70 began to be designed in October 1941, and by January 1942 it had been tested and preparations for mass production began. As a result of such rapid work from April to October 1942, Soviet military factories managed to produce 5,000 T-70 light tanks. The Red Army received a fast, maneuverable and comfortable light tank with a good power reserve, but a rather weak gun - the famous 45mm 20-K cannon, which at the end of 1942 already coped poorly with enhanced booking German technology. She could only hit light German tanks and armored vehicles in the forehead, but by that time the Germans were already in large quantities acquired more advanced technology, and the armor of old cars was increased. Thus, the T-70 could still show itself in battles, say, with the Pz.II or Pz.35 (t) and older tanks, but by 1942 there were almost no such tanks left in the German army, but with tanks of later models there were problems. By that time, the German troops were already armed with powerful 75mm Pak40 anti-tank guns, which hit the T-70 in any projection with the very first shot. True, getting into the T-70 was extremely difficult - the small size of the tank and low silhouette made it difficult to conduct aimed fire at it, and good mobility made it possible to quickly retreat or leave the line of fire, changing position. True, it is worth noting that the T-70 was not a combat vehicle designed for combat on cutting edge with enemy tanks. It was intended for various auxiliary tasks, with which it coped perfectly. the best options applications for the "T-70" was reconnaissance, escort of columns, as well as fire support infantry units in the absence of strong enemy anti-tank fire. And in the wooded and marshy area, the T-70 acted even more successfully than the thirty-four: a small mass of a combat vehicle, good driving performance and a low silhouette provided the best survivability of the tank, because it was very difficult to accurately hit it in such conditions. The speed of the T-70 allowed it, in case of urgent need, to fight with well-armored enemy vehicles, to go into the flank of heavy German tanks and self-propelled guns, imposing close combat on them, and the sides of German combat vehicles often did not save them from the fire of 45-mm guns "T -70" when firing at close range. And yet, this is only a theory, in reality, the fight against heavy enemy equipment was not part of the function of this tank. In the famous battle of Kursk Bulge, more than 20% of the Soviet tank fleet were precisely these combat vehicles. Although the tank did not have such impressive firepower as the "thirty-fours" or heavy tanks"IS-2", the Red Army needed it as an auxiliary combat vehicle. Undoubtedly, this one made his feasible contribution to the defeat of fascism. It was the versatility of the T-70, the ability to use it in various situations, and the large number of these tanks at the front that made it the best Soviet light tank World War II.

First fighting in 1941 they showed the Soviet military command the imperfection of the T-60 tank. The anti-tank weapons of Nazi Germany easily pierced the armor of this combat vehicle. In addition, the T-60 was not equipped with the weapons with which you can resist the enemy. The Red Army needed a more powerful and at the same time sufficiently mobile combat vehicle. She became a light tank T-70. It entered the history of the Great Patriotic War as one of the most popular types of weapons. This article provides an overview of the T-70 tank.

Start of creation

Light tank T-70 was assembled by the masters of Gorky car factory(GAS). This enterprise specialized in the manufacture of armored vehicles: the plant mass-produced tankettes T-27 and small amphibious tanks T-34A. The well-known military engineer Astrov Nikolai Aleksandrovich became the chief designer and developer of the combat vehicle. In the Great Patriotic War, under his leadership, a whole line of light tanks was created.

The developers did not rule out that after strengthening the armor and armament of the T-70 (tank), in the future it would need more fundamental design changes. There was a concern that an increase in the mass and size of the combat vehicle could adversely affect the operation of its engine and gearbox, which would have to function in enhanced mode.

It was decided to equip the Soviet T-70 tank with a ZIS-60 engine, the power of which reached 100 hp. with. Such engines were produced in Moscow by the masters of the Stalin plant. Due to the forced evacuation of the ZIS and its employees from Moscow to the city of Miass (Ural), work on the creation of such an engine was somewhat suspended. It was decided to equip new tank engine ZIS-16. Its power was 86 liters. with. Since December 1941, the T-70 tank (the photo below shows the external design features of this combat vehicle) was listed under the factory designation GAZ-70.

Design

In 1941, Astrov N.A. provided his design developments for the T-70 to the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army. The tank was an armored vehicle based on the T-60, but with significantly enhanced armor and weapons. It was decided to make the power plant by pairing car engines. The first model of the installation (index GAZ-203) was ready by the fall of 1941.

The design process was carried out using a technique typical for the automotive industry: using special aluminum plates, the dimensions of which were 300x700 cm. They, in turn, were divided into squares 20x20 cm. Drawings of all components and parts of internal and appearance T-70. The tank due to the use of this technique was going to quickly enough. All of its components are highly accurate. Using these drawings, both an experimental model of the T-70 tank and the entire first series of these combat vehicles were assembled.

Result

In 1942, the assembly of the T-70 was started. The tank was fully constructed only in February. In the same year he was sent to Moscow. When viewed by representatives of the Main Armored Directorate, shortcomings of the T-70 were revealed. The tank, the characteristics of which slightly exceeded the basic T-60, did not arouse enthusiasm among the members of the commission. In terms of armor protection, it slightly surpassed the T-60, and the presence of a 45-mm gun was leveled, since the tank turret was designed for only one person, who was forced to simultaneously perform the duties of commander, gunner and loader. Astrov N.A. assured the commission that this worthlessness of the T-70 tank would be corrected by March.

Final stage

In March 1942, a modified T-70 tank was sent to Moscow. Photos of this combat vehicle are presented later in the article. As a result of the increase in armor, the lower frontal hull plate was thickened to 0.45 cm, the upper one had a thickness of 0.35 cm. As a result, the design of the tank was approved by the Main Defense Committee, and it was adopted by the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army as the T-70 - light tank. The photo shows the external design of the tank.

Production

According to the decision of the Main Committee of Defense, the manufacture of the T-70 should be carried out by GAZ and factories No. 37 and 38. However, at first, the production of cast towers was not established at these enterprises. They were made in other factories. According to the April T-70 production plan, GAZ workers assembled 50 tanks. At the Kirov plant No. 38, only 7 were assembled. In Sverdlovsk, at the enterprise No. 37 lung assembly the tank was never set up. The body of the tank was made by the workers of the locomotive plant in Murmansk.

Housing device

In the manufacture of a welded faceted tower T-70, rolled sheets are used. Their thickness is 3.5 and 4.5 cm. They provided differentiated bulletproof armor protection. Rivets are used to reinforce welds. For a welded faceted turret, steel sheets 3.5 cm thick are used. The tank turret was in the form of a truncated pyramid, for installation of which a ball bearing is used. Its location is the middle part in the tank hull. To strengthen the tower, the designers used armor squares. They were intended specifically for welded joints between the rolled sheets of the tower. Armored plates were used for manufacturing. In the tank, they were connected to each other by welding.

In the upper part of the hull was a hatch, which was used by the driver. Boarding and disembarking was carried out through the hatch. The bottom of the tank was equipped with an emergency hatch - a manhole. In the first version of the tank, the manhole cover was equipped with a special viewing slot. In the future, it was decided to replace it with a rotary mirror periscope observation device. With the help of this device, the commander could carry out a circular view.

machine structure

The T-70 consisted of five squads:

• Transmission.
• Managerial.
• Motor (starboard).
• Combat (tank turret and port side).
• Aft, designed to accommodate fuel tanks and a radiator.

Armament

The combat vehicle is equipped with:

• 45 mm cannon (model 1938). A slight offset of the gun from the longitudinal axis of the tower provided the convenience of the commander.
• Twin machine gun. It is located to the left of the gun. Could be used for circular firing.

The tank was designed for firing, the line height of which was 154 cm. Shooting was carried out using telescopic and mechanical sights. Mechanical was used as a backup. The T-70 at direct fire could fire at a distance of up to one kilometer.

The gun was intended for firing at a distance of 4 km 800 m. Aimed fire was possible at a distance not exceeding 3 km 600 m. Rate of fire - 12 rounds per minute.

The turret was rotated using a special gear mechanism installed to the left of the commander. The place of the screw lifting mechanism was located to the right of the commander. Foot control was provided. For this purpose, special pedals are provided. It was possible to fire a shot from a tank gun using the right pedal. The left pedal was provided for the operation of the coaxial machine gun.

The T-70 gun was designed for 90 shots. In her ammunition there were armor-piercing and fragmentation shells. The coaxial tank machine gun contains 945 rounds of ammunition.

To accommodate twenty cannon ammunition, the designers created special stores. The location of the shells in these compartments ensured the convenient work of the tank commander. For the remaining seventy ammunition, standard stacking was intended. They were placed in the fighting compartment along the sides of the tank. During firing with an armor-piercing projectile, the extraction of cartridge cases was provided by automation. Due to the small initial speed firing a fragmentation projectile, the rollback of the barrel had a shorter length - it was not enough for the full operation of the automation. As a result, after firing with fragmentation ammunition, the extraction of the cartridge case was carried out by hand.

Theoretically, the T-70 was capable of firing 12 shots within one minute. In practice, the rate of fire was determined by lower rates: no more than five shots. This is explained by the lack of a loader and the need to manually extract the cartridge cases.

Power plant device

In the power plant GAZ-203, the designers used two four-stroke six-cylinder carburetor engines GAZ-202. Their total power was 140 liters. with. In these engines, the crankshafts were connected to each other using a coupling containing elastic bushings. To prevent lateral vibrations power plant, the designers connected the crankcase in the front engine and the starboard thrust. The ignition process was carried out using a battery system. Each engine was equipped with lubrication and fuel systems. The T-70 provides for the presence of two gas tanks. Their total capacity was 440 liters. Their location is on the left side in the aft compartment. For this purpose, the tank was equipped with a special compartment isolated with armored partitions.

Transmission

The tank transmission included:

• Semi-centrifugal double disc main clutch.
• Four-speed gearbox (automotive type).
• Main gear containing a bevel gear.
• Side clutches (two pieces) using band brakes.
• Two single row final drives.

In the manufacture of the gearbox, parts of ZIS-5 trucks were used.

truck

Each side of the tank was equipped with:

• A drive wheel containing removable teeth, which provided the lantern gear.
• Five single-sided rubber-coated track rollers.
• Three supporting all-metal rollers.
• A guide wheel containing a special crank mechanism, which ensured the tension of the bead caterpillar.
• One small-sized caterpillar. It contained 91 tracks. The track width is 26 cm.

The tank propulsion system used an individual torsion bar suspension.

Means of communication

The combat vehicle was equipped with 9R and 12RT radios. Their location was the tower. T-70s were also equipped with internal intercoms TPU-2F. The commander could maintain internal communication with the mechanic and with the help of a light signal device, which was equipped with the T-70 tank.

Specifications

• Tank length - 4.29 m.
• The width of the tank was 2.3 m.
• Height - 2.5 m.
• The mass of the T-70 tank reached 9.2 tons.
• The cruising range of the combat vehicle on a dirt road was 235 km.
• On the highway - 350 km.
• The T-70 had a speed of 42 km/h.
• The average pressure on the ground was 0.67 kg/cm 2 .

Modification

Serial production of the T-70 was carried out in two versions:

• Standard T-70. The weight of the combat unit was 9.2 tons.
• The T-70M tank was a vehicle with an improved undercarriage: design changes affected the road wheels and tracks. If in the T-70 the width of the tracks was 26 cm, then in the T-70M tank it reached 30 cm. Also in the new version, the designers reinforced the torsion bar suspensions. The mass of the T-70M increased to 9.8 tons. The ammunition load is designed for 70 shots from a cannon.

By 1943, 8226 T-70 and T-70M units had been assembled.

Who used combat vehicles?

Combat vehicles T-70, T-70M and T-34 were in service with tank brigades and regiments of mixed organization. Each brigade had 32 T-34s and 21 T-70s (T-70M). These brigades functioned separately or could be part of mechanized corps. The tank regiment had 23 T-34s and 16 T-70s. The regiments could be part of a mechanized brigade or represent independent military formations.

In the spring of 1944, the T-70 combat vehicles were withdrawn from the Red Army. Despite this, some brigades, self-propelled artillery battalions and regiments used the T-70 as training and command vehicles. Often they were used to complete tank units of motorcycle units. Thus, the activity of the T-70 was not stopped in 1944. This combat vehicle remained still quite in demand until the end of the Great Patriotic War.

First battle baptism

The 4th Tank Corps of the 21st Army of the Southwestern Front had a chance to test the T-70 in June 1942. This corps was armed with 145 units of combat armored vehicles. Of these, 30 T-70. After the first combat battle, all these units were destroyed. This was explained by experts both by the low ability of the T-70 to withstand enemy armored vehicles, and by imperfect combat tactics. Further battles showed that this light tank also had advantages: it was small in size and very mobile.

In January 1943, on the Voronezh Front, with the help of a T-70 going to ram Wehrmacht armored vehicles, two German tanks were destroyed in an open battle. As a result of a successful attack, the German commander and chief of staff in charge of the 100th tank battalion were captured special purpose enemy. In the future, a similar technique was used by many T-70 crews. This Soviet tank successfully rammed not only cars, armored vehicles and armored personnel carriers, but also Wehrmacht tanks.

During the successful Lgovskaya operation in 1943, carried out using the T-70, 4 enemy armored vehicles were destroyed, 32 people were taken prisoner. No T-70 losses were recorded.

For the entire combat activity T-70 tanks suffered the heaviest losses during the Battle of Kursk in 1943. 122 armored vehicles took part in the battle. Of the 70 T-70 vehicles, 35 units were put out of action by the enemy. 28 of them were completely destroyed.

The armies of what countries used?

The T-70 was used not only by units of the Red Army. 10 of these combat vehicles were transferred to the Czechoslovak Corps. 53 units were used by the Polish Army. The captured T-70 and T-70M were used by the Wehrmacht. Captured Soviet tanks were renamed T-70(r). They were applied infantry divisions and police departments. Wehrmacht anti-tank units used this tank as a towing 75-mm guns.

Strengths and weaknesses of the equipment

• Due to its high mobility, this tank was an ideal combat vehicle for pursuing the enemy.
• The operation of the T-70 engine, unlike other small tanks, was completely silent (reminiscent of the sound of a car). This quality of the tank and its small size allowed him to imperceptibly approach close to the enemy.
• A high survival rate of the crew was ensured when hit enemy shells in the T-70 tank. Combat use showed that when German artillery shells hit this light tank, the risk of fire was reduced. This is due to the fact that the location of the fuel tanks in the T-70 was a special compartment, closed by armored bulkheads.
• Since the T-70 is characterized by a simple design, its development was not difficult. It could also be repaired field conditions. Even poorly trained drivers could drive this tank.

The disadvantages of the T-70 include:

• Increased vulnerability of its front (driving) wheels.
• The tank had a low aimed rate of fire. This is due to the fact that in the crew one person during the battle had to be both a gunner and a loader. As a result, in 1943, the production of the T-70 was stopped. Its place was taken by the T-80 - a more improved model: the tower of this combat vehicle was designed for two people. The transmission, control units and other indicators of the T-80 were similar to the T-70.

During the Great Patriotic War, light tanks T-70 proved their high efficiency. Today, these combat vehicles can be seen in memorials and military museums in Russia and the CIS countries.

The hastily developed was clearly not enough firepower and security, and the designers were aware of this. But it was no longer possible to return to the production of a fairly perfect opportunity. A new armored vehicle had to be created on the basis of the T-60. Immediately after its launch in the series, Nikolai Astrov began work on further improving the machine.

The prototype T-70 was assembled at the beginning of 1942, and at the end of February it went for testing and officially entered service in March. Started the same year mass production"seventieth", which quickly ousted its predecessor from the conveyors.

Design Description

The T-70 layout scheme was inherited from its predecessor. The transmission was in front of the welded hull, in the stern - fuel tanks and a cooling system, fighting compartment combined with the engine. But the power plant itself has changed - instead of one six-cylinder automobile engine, two have been installed. Accordingly, twice - up to 140 hp. - Increased power. The engines were started by electric starters connected in parallel, a preheater boiler was available.

The T-70 four-speed gearbox was manufactured on the basis of components from the gearbox of the ZiS-5 truck. Chassis changed somewhat due to an increase in the total length - the road wheels were not four, but five. The suspension was kept torsion bar, without shock absorbers.

Two tankers sat one behind the other, to the left of the engines. The commander remained overloaded with duties - he also performed the tasks of a gunner and loader. On the T-70, unlike its predecessor, the intercom for crew members was included in the standard equipment of linear light tanks. Only command vehicles were still equipped with radio stations.

To ensure the operation of the radios on the commander's T-70, more powerful generators were installed.

The thickness of the upper frontal sheet of the T-70 was brought up to 35 mm (it had an angle of inclination of 62⁰), the lower one (with a smaller angle of inclination) - up to 45 mm. Such armor could protect against 37 mm and 50 mm shells. The thickness of the vertical sides is 15 mm, sufficient to protect against bullets. The driver's cabin disappeared from the front sheet, now it only had a hatch with a viewing slot.

The octagonal tower was welded from 35 mm armor plates, instead of 25 mm for the T-60. It was covered in front by a 50 mm cast mask. In the turret hatch cover there was one rotary viewing device for the commander. As with the T-60, during the production of the T-70, its security improved somewhat due to the change from homogeneous armor to surface-hardened.

Armament

The 20 mm TNSh automatic cannon on the T-70 was replaced by a 45 mm 20K gun. Developed in the early 30s, this gun was successfully used on many pre-war Soviet tanks and armored vehicles.

The main ammunition was unitary shots with armor-piercing shells BR-240.

At a short distance, they pierced a vertical sheet of armor about 50 mm thick, and 18-19 grams of hexal provided an armor action.

The solid BR-240SP projectile did not have an explosive charge, but its penetration was slightly better - up to 60 mm of armor. In 1942, to defeat new German tanks with the best protection, developed sub-caliber projectile BR-240P with a tungsten core. It could also penetrate 90 mm armor plates, although only from short distances.

To combat groups of infantry and unarmored vehicles, the O-240 fragmentation projectile could be used. Its use was associated with some difficulties - due to the lower initial velocity of the projectile, the automatic gun did not work, and the sleeve had to be removed manually. On other machines, this could only mean a loss of rate of fire. For the T-70, this meant that the sleeve, in the conditions of a cramped turret, would be “picked out” by the commander, who completely loses control over the situation at such moments.

In an attempt to improve the combat qualities of the T-70, they tried to re-equip it with a more powerful gun of the same caliber, and replace the tower with a double one. From this project in the end.

Technical characteristics in comparison with analogues

In 1942, light tanks began to fall out of wide use. The American "Stuart" was becoming obsolete, and he was actively looking for a replacement. The German Pz.II was transferred to training units. The latest American and British light tanks were specialized vehicles for airborne troops.

TTX / Tank	T-70	М5А1	Pz.II Ausf.F
Weight, tons	9,2	15,7	10
Length, meters	4,2	4,8	4,6
Height, meters	2	2,6	2
Maximum speed, km/h	42	58	40
Armament	45 mm cannon, 7.62 mm machine gun	37 mm cannon, 3x7.62 mm machine gun	20 mm automatic cannon, 7.92 mm machine gun
Booking	Up to 45 mm	Up to 64 mm	Up to 35 mm

The American light tank, developed before the war, was superior to the T-70 both in size and weight. At the same time, its 37 mm gun was inferior to the Soviet "forty-five", and the voracious engines "provided" a small power reserve. The German light tank won in terms of communications and surveillance, but could not boast of anything else.

It should be noted that more modern american tank The M24, which began production in 1944, was almost twice as heavy as the T-70 and was equipped with a more powerful 75 mm gun. That is, although it was considered “light”, it was actually a car of a slightly different class.

Combat use

According to the state, each tank brigade of the Red Army was supposed to have two companies of light tanks armed with T-70s. One company each was to be part of separate tank regiments and battalions.

Service T-70 in the Red Army began in the summer of 1942.

The first light tanks delivered to the 4th Panzer Corps were completely lost when the German offensive was repelled. It soon became obvious that despite the enhanced armament, the "seventieth" did not surpass its predecessor in terms of combat effectiveness. Of course, experienced and talented crews acted quite effectively in the "seventies".

The light weight of the light tank made it possible to use it effectively in forests and swamps, while its maneuverability and small size played into the hands of urban battles. In the Battle of Kursk, the T-70 was carried heavy losses, but the high manufacturability of the design contributed to a smaller, compared even with the T-34, percentage of irretrievable losses. However, in the same 1943, the T-70 was decided to be discontinued.

Not everyone supported this decision - for example, Lieutenant General Bogdanov reported that the T-70 is great for chasing retreating units and acting from ambushes. However, the release was stopped, and the "seventies" began to go to training units. Companies of light tanks were removed from the states.

Light tanks T-70 were transferred to the Polish and Czechoslovak armies formed in the USSR.

Immediately after the war, they were withdrawn from service. A small number of the "seventies" captured by the Nazis were officially adopted by the Wehrmacht, and were used in police units. More than four thousand tanks were produced, and up to today about two dozen survived.

findings

The light tank T-70 inherited from the T-60 simplicity and manufacturability in production and operation. But from there they all came negative sides designs. In addition, despite the increased armament, the real firepower did not increase much - the Germans in 1942 began to receive armored vehicles with enhanced protection. Using the T-70 in open battles was fraught with high losses.

A light tank could still make a good reconnaissance vehicle - but primitive observation devices and crew congestion interfered. Contributed a mite and low-power engine. But it was precisely the “reconnaissance” qualities that helped the obviously outdated “Stuart” to serve until the end of the war.

Of course, the designers tried to solve these problems, but the T-80 with a two-man turret immediately lost its remarkable reliability. To ensure the mobility of the heavier structure, the motors had to be forced - and this had a deplorable effect on their motor resource. Probably, if the T-50 with a diesel engine had been preserved in production, the conclusion about the uselessness of light tanks would not have been made.

The T-70 developed the ideas of creating a simple and reliable armored vehicle laid down in its predecessor, mass production which could be deployed as soon as possible.

And the designers succeeded in this to the fullest. side effect this approach has become a very low potential for modernization.

By 1943, there was no longer any need to ensure the production of "at least some" tanks, and, unfortunately, the T-70 was not suitable for the tasks that arose before the new generation of light tanks.

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In October 1941, it became clear that new lightweight the T-60 tank, which was launched in September, is practically useless on the battlefield. The fact is that he had too weak weapons and armor, which was easily pierced by enemy tanks. It was impossible to correct these shortcomings without a fundamental change in the design, since its engine and gearbox were already working in an overstressed mode. The increase in the mass of the tank, which is inevitable with the strengthening of armor and weapons, would put these units out of action.

At the end of October 1941, specialists design office Gorky Automobile Plant started developing a new tank, who received the index GAZ-70 or military designation T-70.

The work went very quickly, using the prima adopted in the automotive industry, which is unusual for tank designers. General views combat vehicles were made in full size on special aluminum plates measuring 7 × 3 meters, which were painted with white enamel and divided into squares measuring 200 × 200 mm. To reduce the area of ​​the drawing and increase its accuracy, a plan was superimposed on the main view - a longitudinal section, as well as full and partial transverse sections. The drawings, which included all the details and assemblies of the external and internal equipment of the tank, were made as detailed as possible and later they served as the basis for control during the assembly of the prototype.

Construction and description

The T-70 light tank had a classic design, with a front-mounted transmission. The place of the driver-mechanic was located in the bow of the hull at the left side, and the place of the tank commander was in a rotating turret shifted to the left side. In the middle part of the hull along the starboard side on a common frame, two engines coupled in series were installed, which made up a single power unit. The transmission and drive wheels were in front.

The body was welded from rolled armor plates, which had a thickness of 6, 10, 15, 25, 35 and 45 mm. In especially critical places, the welds were reinforced with riveting. The frontal and stern sheets of the armored hull had rational angles of inclination. A welded faceted turret made of armor plates 35 mm thick was mounted on a ball bearing in the middle part of the hull. The welded joints of the tower were reinforced with armor squares. The frontal part of the tower had a cast swinging mask with loopholes for the installation of a gun, a machine gun and a telescopic sight. An entrance hatch for the tank commander was made in the roof of the turret. A periscope mirror observation device was installed in the armored hatch cover, which provided the commander with an all-round view. Also in the lid there was a hatch for a flag alarm.

As a weapon on the T-70 tank, a 45-mm tank gun model 1938 and to the left of it is a coaxial DT machine gun. The gun was shifted to the right of the longitudinal axis of the turret, which provided greater convenience for the commander. The gear turret traverse mechanism was mounted to the left of the commander, and the twin-mount screw hoist to the right. The gun had a trigger foot mechanism, which was carried out by pressing the right pedal, and the machine gun - on the left. Ammunition consisted of 90 shots with armor-piercing and fragmentation shells for the cannon and 945 cartridges for the DT machine gun.

Gun characteristics:

• fire line height - 1540 mm;
• tilt angle of the twin unit vertically - from -6 to +20 degrees;
• effective firing range - 3600 m;
• maximum firing range - 4800 m;
• rate of fire - 12 rds / min.

The GAZ-203 engine was chosen as the power plant, which consisted of two four-stroke six-cylinder GAZ-202 carburetor engines with a total power of 140 hp. The crankshafts of the engines were connected by means of a coupling with elastic bushings. The flywheel crankcase of the front engine was connected by a link to the starboard side, which made it possible to prevent lateral vibrations. For each engine, the battery ignition system, lubrication system and fuel system were independent. The tank was equipped with two fuel tanks with a total capacity of 440 liters, which were located on the left side of the aft compartment of the hull in a compartment isolated by armored partitions.

The transmission of the T-70 tank consisted of a two-disk semi-centrifugal main clutch of dry friction, a four-speed automotive-type gearbox, a bevel gear final drive, two side clutches with band brakes, and two simple single-row final drives. The main clutch and gearbox were assembled from parts borrowed from the ZIS-5 truck.

The note: “Commander tanks were equipped with a 9R or 12RT radio station, which was placed in the tower, and an internal intercom TPU-2F. On the line tanks installed a light-signal device for internal communication between the commander and the driver-mechanic and an internal intercom TPU-2.

The propeller on each side included: drive wheels with a removable lantern gear ring, five single-sided rubber-coated road wheels and three all-metal support rollers, a guide wheel with a crank track tensioning mechanism and a small-link caterpillar of 91 tracks with a pitch of 98 mm. The design of the guide wheel and track roller were unified. The width of the cast track track was 260 mm. Suspension - individual torsion bar.

During production, the mass of the tank increased from 9.2 to 9.8 tons, and the cruising range on the highway decreased from 360 to 320 km.

Tactical and technical characteristics and dimensions tank T-70:

• length - 4285 mm;
• width - 2420 mm;
• height - 2035 mm;
• clearance - 300 mm;
• armament - cannon 20K model 1934 caliber 45 mm, machine gun DT model 1929 caliber 7.62 mm;
• means of communication - intercom TPU-2 and on command tanks radio station 12RT or 9P;
• overcome obstacles - the angle of elevation is 28 degrees, the width of the ditch is 1.0 meters, the height of the wall is 0.6 meters, the depth of the ford is 0.9 meters;
• maximum speed - 45 km / h;
• cruising range - 250 km.

Assembly and testing

At the end of December 1942, a hull was made for the first tank and a turret designed by V. Dedkov was cast. Simultaneously with the cast, a welded version of the tower was also developed. In January 1942, assembly began, which, for a number of reasons, was completed only on February 14. Then the tank was sent to Moscow and shown there to representatives of the Main Armored Directorate. The military reacted rather coolly to the new tank, since in terms of armor protection it only slightly exceeded the T-60 and had an increased mass due to the installation of a 45-mm cannon, and the power of weapons was leveled by only one place for a person in the tower, who should perform the duties of a commander, gunner and loader. However main constructor ON THE. Astrov promised to eliminate all shortcomings in a short time.

Then, tests were carried out on a prototype of the T-70 tank and trial firing from the main weapon. The new tank compared to its predecessor had a higher power density(15.2 hp/t vs. 11 hp/t), over powerful weapon(45 mm gun instead of 20 mm) and enhanced armor protection (45 mm armor instead of 20-35 mm).

Based on the test results, the new tank was adopted by the Red Army by a decree of the State Defense Committee (GKO) dated March 6, 1942. Two days later, the next GKO decree was issued on the production of a tank from April at factories No. 37 and No. 38, as well as the Gorky Automobile Plant. However, the new tank required twice as many parts as the previous tank, while the production of the turret failed, and the Gorky Automobile Plant had to hastily provide documentation for the welded turret to other plants.

The T-70 tank was produced from spring to November 1942, and then it was replaced by a modernized one.

The use of T-70 tanks during the Great Patriotic War

The tank and mechanized corps could include tank brigades consisting of 32 tanks T-34 and 21 T-70 tanks. However, by the spring of 1944, this tank model was excluded from the states. tank units Red Army, but in some brigades they continued to be exploited for quite a long time.

The first to receive new tanks were the 157th and 162nd separate tank brigades, which were formed in the city of Murom in the first half of 1942. each of these brigades had 65 such vehicles. Even before the start of hostilities, both brigades were reorganized into a more traditional staff of a mixed organization. The new tanks received their baptism of fire during the fighting in the southwestern direction in June-July 1942, where they suffered significant losses. Already the first battles showed their low combat qualities, insufficient armor protection when using tanks as infantry support and weak weapons, which did not allow them to fight against German medium tanks.

However, in capable hands, the T-70 tank was a formidable weapon. So, on July 6, 1943, in the battles for the village of Pokovka in the Oboyan direction, the tank crew under the command of Lieutenant V.V. Pavlovich from the 49th Guards tank brigade was able to knock out three medium German tanks and one Panther.

On August 21, 1943, the tank commander, Lieutenant A.L. Dmitrienko of the 178th Tank Brigade discovered a retreating German tank and began to pursue it. Having caught up with the enemy, Dmitrienko noticed that the hatch in the turret of the enemy tank was open, he got out of his tank, jumped onto the armor of the enemy vehicle and threw a grenade into the hatch. The crew of the German tank was destroyed, and the tank itself was towed to our location and, after minor repairs, was used in battles.

Fact: « A large number of T-70 tanks participated in the Battle of Kursk. So, tank forces On the eve of the battle, the Central Front had 1652 tanks, of which 369 units or 22% were tanks of this model.

Often these tanks were used for ramming. For example, in the combat log of the 150th Tank Brigade, which operated as part of the 40th Army of the Voronezh Front in January 1943, the following entry was preserved:

“Senior lieutenant Zakharchenko and driver-mechanic senior sergeant Krivko, repelling tank counterattacks and having used up shells, went with their company to ram German tanks. Zakharchenko personally rammed two tanks and captured the commander and chief of staff of the 100th Special Purpose Tank Battalion.”

Fact: “During the Second World War, in addition to the Red Army, the T-70 tank was in service with the Polish Army in the amount of 53 copies and the Czechoslovak Corps in the amount of 10 copies.”