Most big tanks by weight and size in the world. Almost all super heavy tanks were built or developed during World War II.

Above, photos of a real gun that was supposed to be mounted on a Monster tank

Germany, 1942, 42 meters, weight 1500 tons, crew 100

In 1942, Hitler approved the design and construction of the monster tank, but the project was canceled in 1943 before construction had begun. The tank was supposed to be fifteen times larger than a conventional tank, it was to be equipped with an 800 mm Krupp gun (ordinary tanks are equipped with 75 - 122 mm guns).

The 800 mm Krupp gun is the largest of the artillery pieces ever built. Each projectile weighed 7 tons, firing range up to 37 km (23 mi).

Germaniz, 1942, 35 meters, weight 1000 tons, crew 20 people

Ratte was very much like a monster. It was also developed in 1942 and was also discontinued a year later. Unlike the Monster, the Ratte was to be armed with a warship turret with two 280mm guns. Other weapons on the Ratte: one 128 mm cannon, eight 20 mm anti-aircraft guns and several 15 mm machine guns.

Tank VIII Mouse is the largest tank ever built. It's small compared to the Monster and Ratte, but still three times the size of a normal tank. The design was completed in 1942 and production began the same year, but only two tanks were built before the end of the war.

The tanks were armed with one 128 mm gun and one 75 mm gun.

Tank VIII Mouse

Germany, 1944 - 10 meters, weight 188 tons, crew 6

Super heavy tank very similar to the VIII Mouse tank. This project was started in 1942, but not all tanks were built. One tank hull was completed in 1944, but the turret was not installed until the end of the war.

The E-100 Tiger Mouse was to use the same turrets as the VIII Mouse tank. Thanks to more light weight, this tank should be faster and more efficient on the battlefield than the VIII Mouse tank.

Germany, 1943 - 10 meters, weight 140 tons, crew 5 people

The FCM F1 is the heaviest and largest non-Nazi tank. It was to replace the Char 2C, which was one of the heaviest tanks ever to see combat. Unfortunately, France was defeated before the FCM F1 project was completed, so none of these tanks were built.

The FCM F1 was to be armed with a 90mm cannon, a 47mm cannon, and six machine guns. It is worth noting that this tank was 10 meters long, but only a little over 3 meters wide, so that it could be transported by rail.

France, 1940, 11 meters, weight 139 tons, crew 9 people

O-I, this is Japan's attempt at a super heavy tank. AT various sources there are reports that one model was completed and sent to Manchuria during World War II, but this is very unlikely, more likely rumor than truth. The O-I was probably cancelled, as were most other super-heavy tank designs.

The O-I was supposed to have three towers. The main turret had a 105 mm cannon, a 37 mm cannon on the right turret, and three machine guns on the left.

Japan, 1944, 10 meters, weight 130 tons, crew 11

The K-Wagen was one of the first attempts at a super-heavy tank. Again, it was a crazy plan of engineers from Germany, but this time it was before the Nazi era.

K-Wagen didn't have a main turret. Instead, there were four 77 mm guns mounted on the sides and seven machine guns. It is the second largest tank ever actually built - only the VII Maus tank is larger, since all other super-heavy tank projects have not been completed.

Germany, 1917, 13 meters, weight 120 tons, crew 27

T-28

The T-28 was developed by the US military during World War II. It was to be used to break through German defenses and possibly invade Japan.

The T-28 did not have a normal turning turret, so it could be classified as a tank destroyer, self-propelled unit, not a super heavy tank. For this reason, it was redesignated from T-28 to T-95 and then back.

It was armed with one 105 mm cannon and a single machine gun. He had 4 tracks instead of the traditional 2.

T-28

USA, 1945, 11 meters, weight 95 tons, crew 8 people

TOG2

TOG2 was the largest British tank ever built. Just like most other super-heavy tanks, it was developed during World War II. One prototype built in 1941, but the project was shelved and TOG2 never saw combat.

TOG2 was armed with one 76 mm cannon.

TOG2

Great Britain, 1940, 10 meters, weight 80 tons, crew 8 people

Another British super heavy tank. The tank was also developed during the Second World War, but was never put into production.

The A39 Turtle was armed with a 96mm cannon and three machine guns.

A39 Turtle

Great Britain, 1944 - 10 meters, weight 78 tons, crew 7 people

Why did the army abandon heavy tanks?

Interestingly, almost all tanks were built during the Second World War. What made the engineers at this time try to build such monsters, and why haven't such tanks been built so far?

The main reason for creating a super-heavy tank was immunity from enemy fire. The super heavy tank had thick armor that would have been impervious to most WWII guns. Patriotic War.

There are several reasons for abandoning these tanks:

There were cumulative shells. Which could penetrate armor up to 500 mm and even more;

The tank could be hit with aircraft;

Weak maneuverability of the tank during the offensive and retreat, which limited its use on the battlefield.

Another problem was the transportation of super-heavy tanks. Most of them were too big to be transported by rail, so they had to rely only on their ability to move. The problem is that most of them moved extremely slowly, so they cannot reach the battlefield at the right moment.

Besides, super heavy tanks destroy roads. Therefore, they would have to drive over rough terrain, which would still slow down the movement.

Heavy tank IS-2 (video):

Heavy tank Grote R-1000 (video):

Heavy tanks IS-3, IS-7 (video):

Tank T-90 - Design description

The main tank T-90 was put into service in 1993. Rocket and gun tanks T-90 - which includes the original design developments and the best layout and Constructive decisions tanks T-72 and T-80. The T-90S tank was created on the basis of a thorough study and understanding of the tactics and strategy of using tanks in real conditions modern combat taking into account many years of experience in the military operation of tanks of the T-72 type in various countries world, as well as the results of many years of intensive testing under the most severe conditions.

The T-90S tank retains the peculiarity of domestic tank building - the classic layout scheme, in which the main armament is located in a rotating turret, the power plant and transmission are in the rear of the hull, and the crew is separate: the tank commander and gunner in the fighting compartment, the driver - in management department. Almost every unit or system of the T-90S tank has a new quality.

Automated complex fire control is designed to conduct effective long-range aimed fire with artillery shells and a guided projectile from a tank gun on the move and from a place at moving and stationary targets by the gunner and commander, day and night, as well as from a coaxial machine gun. Provides an increase in the range of effective fire and an increase in the range of vision at night, including by installing a television sight in the tank. A guided weapon system with a laser-beam control channel allows firing a guided missile through the gun barrel from a standstill and on the move at stationary and moving targets at a distance of 100 to 5000 m.

The optoelectronic suppression system provides protection for the tank from being hit by anti-tank guided missiles with semi-automatic guidance systems with feedback by tracer. The system of automatic all-round visibility, detection and protection of the tank from anti-tank projectiles with semi-automatic laser homing heads provides interference to anti-tank weapon control systems with laser rangefinders and target designators. The closed anti-aircraft installation allows the commander to conduct aimed fire using remote control drives at air targets, and in a stabilized mode at ground targets, while remaining under reliable armor protection. Built-in dynamic protection is effective against armor-piercing sub-caliber and cumulative projectiles. The combination of built-in reactive armor and multi-layered armor gives the tank additional options for survival in extreme combat conditions.

The main armament of the T-90S is a 125 mm smoothbore gun with increased accuracy and high ballistics. The use of an automatic loader made it possible to achieve a high rate of fire (up to 7-8 rounds per minute), which distinguishes the T-90S tank from most foreign tanks. The capabilities of the tank gun to combat ground armored and low-flying air targets have been expanded through the use of a guided weapon system, which allows you to destroy any of the most modern tanks before it approaches effective firing distance from its gun.

The tank is traditionally equipped with a diesel engine, the main advantage of which compared to a gas turbine engine, especially in hot climates and sandy soils, are:

Slight power drop at high temperatures environment;

High reliability in dusty conditions;

Less fuel consumption by 1.8-2 times.

The T-90S tank can overcome water obstacles up to 5 m deep along the bottom with non-stop combat missions after overcoming water barrier. The machine has built-in equipment for self-digging, a device for mounting mine trawls and can be transported by all means of transport.

Tank T-90 - performance characteristics (TTX)

general information
Year of adoption	1993
Combat weight, t	46,5
Crew, pers.	3
Length with gun forward, mm	9530
Case length, mm	6860
Overall width, mm	3780
Track width, mm	3370
Tower roof height, mm	2230
Reserved volume of the tank, m3	11,04
Booked hull volume, m3	9,19
Booked volume of the tower, m3	1,85
Landing hatch in the bottom of the hull	there is
Armament
Gun brand	2A46M
Gun caliber, mm	125
gun type	smoothbore, launcher
Barrel tube length, mm (calibers)	51
shutter type	horizontal wedge
Rollback length, mm	300
Location of chocks devices	symmetrical
Barrel purge, type	ejection
The maximum allowable for the trunk powder gas pressure, kgf/cm2	5 200
Heat shield	there is
Combat rate of fire, rds / min	8
Loading type	machine
Ammunition, shots (including in the machine loading)	43 (22)
Ammunition types	BPS, BCS, OFS, SGPE, UR
Shot type	separate-sleeve
Initial speed of BPS, m/s	1715
Shot weight with BPS, kg	20,2
BPS weight, kg	5,9
Initial speed of BCS, m/s	905
Shot weight with BKS, kg	29
Weight of BCS, kg	19
Stabilizer type	electromachine according to horizontal electro-hydraulic vertical
Twin weapons, type (brand)	machine gun (PKT)
Caliber, mm	7,62
Ammunition, pcs.	2000
Anti-aircraft weapons, type (brand)	machine gun (NSVT-12.7)
Caliber, mm	12,7
Ammunition, pcs.	300
Remote control	there is
guided weapons	9K119
Guided missile	9M119
missile guidance system	by laser beam
Maximum firing range, m	5000
fire control system
The maximum rotation speed of the tower, deg/s	24
The maximum elevation angle of the gun, deg.	20
Maximum gun descent angle, deg.	7
Duplicated fire control	there is
Rangefinder, type	laser
Ranging range, m	500-5000
Ballistic computer, type	electronic digital
Gunner's main sight, type	periscopic, combined with LD and thermal imager
Magnification, multiplicity	2,7-12
Field of view angle, deg.	20-4,5
Stabilization of the field of view of the sight	independent on HV and GN
Auxiliary gunner's sight	No
Gunner's night sight	thermal imaging
Vision range at night, m	2600
Commander's main instrument	periscopic
Magnification, multiplicity	7.5 (days); 5.1 (n)
Field of view angle, hail	7
Anti-aircraft sight	there is
Commander's Night Sight	thermal imaging video inspection device
Vision range at night	2600
Tank information and control system	No
security
Armor protection, type	combined
Angle of inclination of the upper frontal part buildings, deg.	68
Anti-cumulative side screens	there is
TDA system	there is
Smoke grenade launchers, pcs.	12
Complex of optoelectronic suppression	there is
Dynamic protection, type	built-in
System of collective protection against weapons of mass destruction, type	general exchange
Fast acting PPO system	there is
Mobility and permeability
Maximum speed, km/h	60
Specific power, hp/t	18,1
Range on the highway, km	500
Fuel tank capacity, l	1200+400
Average specific pressure of caterpillars on soil, kgf/cm2	0,91
Clearance, mm	492
Overcome obstacles: Vertical wall, m Maximum elevation angle, deg.
The depth of the overcome water barriers with OPVT, m	5
Power point
Engine brand	V-84MS
engine's type	Diesel multi-fuel
Maximum power, kW (hp)	618 (840)
Maximum torque, kgf m	340
Number of cylinders	12
Cylinder arrangement	V-arr. 60°
Timing	4
Cooling type	liquid
Overall power, hp/m3	700
Engine weight, kg	1020
Compression ratio	14
Piston stroke, mm	180/186,7
Cylinder diameter, mm	150
Working volume, l	38,88
Specific fuel consumption, g/hp h	180
Auxiliary engine	No
Transmission
Transmission type	mechanical planetary
Gearbox, type	two onboard planetary
Number of forward/reverse gears	7/1
Gear ratios for gears	I - 8.713 II - 4.40 III - 3.485 IV - 2.787 V - 2.027 VI - 1.467 VII - 1.0 z.x. - 14.3
Swing mechanism, type	non-differential
Minimum design turning radius, m	2,79
Main brake type	disk, running in oil
Transmission weight, kg	1870
Final drive, type	planetary
Motion control system, type	hydraulic
Chassis
Suspension type	torsion
Dynamic course of the rink, mm	320
Shock absorbers, type, number	hydraulic bladed, 6
Caterpillar, track connection type	sequential
Track joint type	RMSH or OMSH
Track width, mm	2790
The length of the bearing surface of the caterpillar, mm	4270
Track width, mm	580
Number of tracks	97
Mass of one caterpillar, kg	1723
Number of road wheels on board	6
Track roller diameter, mm	750
Type of cushioning of track rollers	outdoor
Number of carrier rollers on board	3
Tension mechanism, type	worm
Chassis weight, kg	8570

This material by G. Malyshev is given as a discussion from the point of view of the layman and does not pretend to have any deep military scientific knowledge. Since some points in this publication look controversial or superficial, we asked an armored vehicle specialist to briefly comment on the author's statements.

In the recent past, the Nizhny Tagil Tank Plant produced a new model of the main battle tank called the T-90MS "Tagil". The tank immediately attracted attention with interesting technical solutions that were previously on serial domestic cars were not applied. It looks very impressive and modern - the design, although not from the Pininfarina studio, was definitely a success. The tank can claim the right to be considered one of the most powerful tanks in the world today.

It would be very interesting to analyze the design of this tank as much as possible. Find out what the designers did right and wrong, and what further improvements are possible in the design of this interesting machine.

Brief characteristics of the T-90MS are as follows:

Dimensions:
- Weight 48 tons.
- Length 9530 mm.
- Width 3780 mm.
- Height 2228 mm.

Armament:
- Gun-launcher 125-mm 2A46M-5 or 125-mm 2A82 - the main combat weapon of the tank, designed to destroy all types of ground, surface (within reach) and low-speed air targets. Ammunition 40 artillery shells of various types: BOPS, OFS, KS or guided missiles(UR) 9K119M "Reflex-M".

7.62-mm machine gun 6P7K (PKTM) coaxial with a cannon. It is intended to combat the enemy's manpower, which is located within the angles of fire of the main armament. The machine gun is paired with the cannon and has the same sector of fire with it. Ammunition 2000 rounds 7.62mmx54R various types. This weapon installed in a completely new tower of circular rotation with a developed turret niche.

Remote controlled machine gun mount T05BV-1 with 7.62 mm machine gun 6P7K (PKTM). Designed to fight enemy manpower, which is hiding either higher than the main armament firing sector, for example, on the upper floors of buildings, steep mountain slopes. Either below the sector of fire of the main armament, in shelters, dugouts or directly at the tank in the so-called. "dead zone" for a tank gun and a machine gun coaxial with it. Thus, according to the intention of the designers, combat stability tank in cramped and urban combat conditions. Ammunition 800 cartridges 7.62mmx54R of various types.

Fire control system, surveillance and target detection:
- Fully digital highly automated control system "Kalina" with a CICS integrated into it. Thermal imaging and television devices designed, among other things, for all-round observation.

Security:
- Multi-layer combined armor of the latest scheme in the frontal part.
- Spaced booking in the side.

The latest built-in dynamic protection "Relic".
- Local protection of ammunition.
- Measures that reduce the thermal and noise signature of the tank.

Mobility:
- Multi-fuel diesel engine V12 V-92S2F2 with a capacity of 1130l.s. (831kW) + automatic transmission.
- Power-to-weight ratio ~23l.s./t.
- The maximum speed is 60-65 km/h on the highway.
- Power reserve 500 km.

The tank was created on the basis of previous modifications: T-90A and T-90S. Now let's understand in more detail what differences we see on this machine. What immediately catches your eye can be listed point by point:

1. A new tower with a developed aft niche.
2. New 125 mm 2A82 gun.
3. New dynamic protection "Relic".
4. The complex of active protection of the tank KAZT "Arena-E" on the tank is missing.
5. There is no set of optoelectronic suppression of the KOEP "Shtora" on the tank.
6. Finally, the tank received a normal hard armored bulwark of the hull, generously "flavored" with elements of dynamic protection (DZ) "Relic" and lattice screens in the stern.
7. Anti-aircraft installation with a large-caliber 12.7 mm NSVT machine gun has sunk into oblivion. Its place was taken by a new machine gun mount with a 7.62 mm 6P7K machine gun.
8. Somewhat more powerful V-92S2F2 engine + automatic transmission.
9. The tank received an additional power unit in an armored container attached to the rear of the hull on the left.
What else can be said about this car?
1. The hull, like the previous modifications, mostly remained from the T-72.
2. In the chassis, there are also no significant differences from the T-72.
3. The new SLA "Kalina" is clearly superior to the 1A45T "Irtysh" of the T-90A tank.
Now let's try to analyze all these points. What has been done and what theoretically, in my opinion, could be done. So, let's begin.

Expert commentary. The sample of the modernized T-90S main battle tank shown at the REA-2011 arms exhibition was primarily aimed at foreign customers, so some of the systems mounted on it were for export. In this regard, I would like to point out to the author that the 125-mm 2A82 cannon is not installed on the export tank, the 2A46M-5 gun is installed on it.
As for the dynamic protection kit, 4S22 elements are installed on this tank, since 4S23 is prohibited for export.
The author complains in vain about the lack of an active protection complex for the Arena-E tank, since it can be installed at the request of the customer. In the same way, at the request of the customer, the TShU-1-2M system can be installed. In addition, the upgraded T-90S is equipped with the SPMZ-2E electromagnetic protection system against mines with magnetic fuses.

As for the power block. So far, the V-93 engine with a capacity of 1100 hp is being installed on the tank. There is no automatic transmission (automatic transmission) on it, but there is an automatic gear change.

New tower with a developed aft niche

How it's done. At first glance, the turret looks vulnerable compared to the T-90A or T-72B turrets. Most likely, this is the case. The T-72B and T-90A turrets were relatively small and had a special shape. The aft vulnerable part of the turret was narrowed and covered with a powerful armored front part within the heading angles of ±30º. And even such towers managed to penetrate from RPGs and ATGMs into the most vulnerable aft zones. Needless to say, getting into the aft or onboard part of the T-90MS turret, which is the size of a Leopard-2 or Abrams turret, will not be a problem at all. Thus, in terms of security, the aft part of the T-90MS turret is inferior to the security of the towers of all previous tanks of the T-72 model line.

It would seem - a clear regression? Not at all. The fact is that the result of breaking through the aft or rear side of the T-72B turret, very often, was a fire or detonation of ammunition (AM) and, accordingly, a partially or completely dead crew. It's all about the location of the BC: in all tanks of the T-72 series, as well as in the T-90, T-90S and T-90A, only 22 shots of separate-cartridge loading are located under the fighting compartment (BO) in the automatic loader (AZ) of the carousel type. This carousel, in contrast to the loading mechanism (MZ) of the T-64 and T-80 tanks, is relatively well protected: in front with the most powerful frontal armor of the hull, in the back with an engine, from the sides with road wheels and side screens. In addition, the "terrain screen" itself rarely allows you to hit a tank in lower part to the battlefield.

The problem was mainly in the placement of the rest of the BC. These 23-26 shots with shells or missiles were located literally everywhere: on the floor, on the walls of the hull and almost throughout the rear hemisphere of the tower. The limited interior space of the T-72 tank simply does not allow to place this firepower that does not fit into the AZ carousel anywhere else. As a result, this “non-mechanized” ammunition most often catches fire or detonates - it’s just as lucky (which is not yet known worse).

You can object, they say, on the old T-34-85, KV-85, T-54, T-55, IS-3 and T-10 tanks, the ammunition was located in much the same way. In this case, the comparison is inappropriate. The ammunition of these tanks consisted of unitary shots. The charge of gunpowder was placed in a metal sleeve and the fire hazard of these old machines was incomparably lower. And the charges in the partially burning T-72 sleeve are ready to blaze from any touch of the cumulative jet.

The way out of this situation can be as follows - do not take into battle that part of the ammunition that is located in a non-mechanized ammunition rack. But then you will have to rely only on those 22 shots that are in the AZ carousel. They often did so. But this, of course, does not suit either tankers or self-respecting designers. The problem was finally solved in the T-90MS tank: the carousel for 22 shots was left, additionally protecting it with local armor, and the remaining 18 shots were placed in the aft niche of the tower, providing it with knockout panels following the example of Abrams and Leopard-2. If desired, these 18 shots can also not be taken with you. In the conditions of urban combat, it would probably be better to do so.

As a result: despite the fact that the T-90MS turret has become more vulnerable to enemy fire compared to the turrets of its predecessors - the T-72B or T-90A, the level of tank survivability, and more importantly, the survivability of the crew, has become incomparably higher. The level of survivability of the T-90MS and the survivability of its crew in the event of a tank defeat, in principle, began to correspond to Western tanks. Another plus of such a tower is greater comfort and more interior space for the inhabited compartment of the tank.

Aft niche of the T-90MS turret

How could it be done. Apparently not. If you do not take into account some extravagant innovations, then other technical solutions are not suitable for this tank. The old Soviet layout with the placement of the entire BC along with the crew has become obsolete. And to place the ENTIRE BC in the aft niche, following the example of the Abrams, from a certain point of view, it is unreasonable and within a given mass of 50 tons is practically unrealizable. So the offset.

Expert commentary. The author is greatly mistaken when drawing conclusions about the reduction in the protection of the turret of the new tank. The tower in the projection on the plane still provides protection within the heading angles of 30 degrees, and from the stern is securely closed by an armor box.
In general, the fighting compartment of the modernized T-90S tank, including the turret, is much less vulnerable than its predecessors. In other words, the whole paragraph about the new tank turret contains a lot of discussion about something that doesn't exist.
Clarification on the location of ammunition. There are 22 shots in the autoloader, 8 shots in a non-mechanized stowage near the MTO partition, and another 10 shots in an armored box isolated from the fighting compartment at the rear of the tower.

New 125 mm 2A82 gun

How it's done. The most powerful 125-mm smoothbore gun of the latest design 2A82 is completely new development. It is believed that this gun is significantly superior to the previous 125-mm guns of the 2A46 series, 122-mm rifled 2A17 and 120-mm NATO Rheinmetall guns with a barrel length of 44 and 55 calibers. 2A82 surpasses them both in accuracy and in the power of fire. The same applies to the Chinese 125 mm gun of the ZTZ-99A2 (Type-99A2) tank, which is just an improved "pirate" version of the 2A46. However, the T-90MS apparently can also be equipped with the former 125-mm 2A46M5 gun, which is installed on the T-90A. From this we can conclude that tanks with the new 2A82 cannon will be supplied to the Russian army, and 2A46M5 tanks will be equipped for export. At the same time, knowing the realities of today, it is possible that everything will be done exactly the opposite.

How could it be done. Numerous experimental electrochemical and electromagnetic guns have not yet reached the stage of their installation in a real tank, so we immediately discard them. As an option, it would be possible to install a new 140-mm or 152-mm gun on the T-90MS (for example, from the "object 292"). But, in addition to technical difficulties, this could provoke Western countries to similarly upgrade their tanks, which means new round caliber racing. So at this stage, we decided to develop the 125 mm caliber for the time being, which has not yet fully revealed its full potential. And 140-152 mm guns were left in reserve. Offset.

Expert commentary. It is completely incomprehensible why the author suddenly describes the possibility of installing the 2A82 gun on export tanks. I repeat that this gun is not compatible with 2A46 modifications in terms of ammunition and is prohibited for export.

As for the powerful 152-mm 2A83 gun, which the author proposes to install on the T-90, this is impossible.

New dynamic protection "Relic"

How it's done. Dynamic protection of the new generation "Relic" refers to the built-in type of remote sensing. It increases armor resistance to HEAT ammunition by 2 times and resistance to APCR shells by 1.5 times. Front and top DZ closes the tank tightly and without gaps. The weakened zones near the gun are also covered by remote sensing elements. The roof over the driver's hatch is also closed. This is an offset. But there is also a “fly in the ointment”: the lower front sheet does not have it. This is a miscalculation - the tank can be pierced into the lower frontal sheet. The T-72B had at least one row of NDZ "Contact-1" there. The T-90MS has nothing, although theoretically hinged screens can be installed there.

Next is the side of the hull. It is closed all the way to the MTO, just like the T-72B, and then comes the lattice screen. The T-72B had only rubber-fabric screens, so this solution for the T-90MS is much better. Let me explain. The rubber-fabric screens of the T-72B and T-72A simply initiated the detonation of a cumulative warhead (warhead) of a rocket-propelled grenade at some distance from the main side armor (70 mm). The lattice screen, on the other hand, breaks the body of a rocket-propelled grenade or ATGM, they are destroyed by these sharp bars. In this case, the warhead may not work at all.

The side of the tower - things are not so good here. At T-72B, the tower was closed by DZ to half the length. The role of anti-cumulative screens of the rear hemisphere was played by boxes of spare parts and elements of OPVT. The T-90MS has a large and long turret, there is no DZ on the sides of the aft niche, but there is an ammunition rack there. Another vulnerable area is the aft hull sheet and the rear of the turret. There were cases when a rocket-propelled grenade that got into the stern sheet of the hull pierced the MTO right through the engine and hit the fighting compartment of the tank, and there people and ammunition. It is not noticeable that the designers paid at least some attention to this important aspect protection on the new T-90MS tank. In terms of resistance to a blow to the rear of the hull, it is no better than the base T-72 Ural.

How could it be done. Protect the turret and hull around the entire perimeter, including the lower frontal part of the hull, with elements of the Relict DZ. This will not increase the mass of the tank by much, but the protection will become much stronger, and most importantly - from all sides, which plays a huge role in urban battles. In general, despite the clear progress, it is impossible to put an unambiguous offset. Although an obvious failure too.

Expert commentary. Regarding the alleged "miscalculation" of the designers who did not protect the lower frontal part of the hull. I inform the author that the NLD accounts for less than one percent of hits - even from the experience of fighting in a flat desert area. At the same time, the elements of dynamic protection installed on the NLD are definitely damaged when making any long march off the roads.
The author's statements about the vulnerability of the tank from hitting the side and rear of the tower do not correspond to reality at all. DZ blocks on the sides of the tower cover the entire projection, and the armor box reliably closes the stern.

The complex of active protection of the tank KAZT "Arena-E" on the tank is missing

How it's done. The newest T-90MS does not have KAZT, but similar systems were installed on old T-55AD and T-62D tanks. It is sad that such a complex necessary for the tank is missing.

How could it be done. Install the latest KAZT on the T-90MS. Expensive? The cost of a T-90MS tank blown up by an ATGM or RPG hit is even higher, not to mention the lives of tankers. Failed.

Expert commentary. Again, I repeat: this is a question for the customer. If there is an order for equipment, a full-fledged KAZT will be installed on the tank without any problems: for the Russian army, this is Afganit, and for export supplies, Arena-E. Both complexes are interfaced with the Kalina control system.

There is no set of optoelectronic suppression KOEP "Shtora" on the tank

How it's done. The T-90MS does not have a Shtora KOEP, although it does exist on previous models of the T-90, T-90A, T-90S, and even the Iraqi T-72M1. But here it is not. Meanwhile, the thing is useful, as it significantly reduces the likelihood of guided missiles hitting a tank.

How could it be done. Install on the tank KOEP "Shtora-1". Only not instead of elements of remote sensing, as unsuccessfully done with the T-90A, but on them. Failed.

Expert commentary. The same as above: at the request of the customer, this system is installed on the tank without any problems.

Rigid armored bulwark of the hull with elements of the "Relikt" DZ and lattice screens

How it's done. Finally, our tank received a normal hard armored bulwark, moreover, generously "flavored" with elements of dynamic protection. There is no such thing either on previous modifications or on T-72B tanks.

In order to create something ultra-modern, you need to catch the right trend, "which way the wind blows", so to speak, and then attach a ruler to this correct vector and extend the line by 10 lengths of this vector. An example is the IS-2 heavy tank. How did it turn out? Our designers caught a trend towards increasing the caliber of tank guns: from 45 mm to 76 mm and, subsequently, to 85 mm, and for the Germans - from 50 mm to 75 mm and, in the end, to 88 mm. Not following the saying “a teaspoon per hour”, but simply taking and attaching a ruler to this vector and “lengthening” it, they immediately installed a powerful 122-mm gun, which ensured the IS-2 simply overwhelming superiority in firepower over any tank in the world of that period.

But, unfortunately, this correct design approach, for some reason, did not spread to the side screens. I will explain to the reader the meaning and purpose of the onboard screen. Its essence is that the screen initiates the operation of a cumulative warhead at such a distance from the main armor. when its penetration power drops sharply. If the screen is rigid and metal, then it also reduces the penetration of kinetic ammunition, as it can change the angle of contact of the projectile with the main armor, tear off the “Makarov tip” from it, or simply damage the core. Rigid steel screens made of armor 10-20 mm thick appeared during the Second World War on German tanks Pz.IV and Pz.V "Panther", British "Churchill" and "Centurion". They were also on domestic tanks T-28 and T-35. Since then, our Western neighbors have been in no hurry to give them up.

It is paradoxical, but true - despite the fact that these screens appeared on domestic tanks (T-28 and T-35) in step with the times, their further use and elements of their design in domestic combat vehicles went along a dubious path of development. While most Western tanks had developed and quite "adult" side screens, which were already an integral part of their spaced side armor, this was the case with us.

On the post-war T-54, T-55 and T-62, there were no side screens at all. All of their side armor was actually an armored side of the hull 80 mm thick, which was somewhat shielded by relatively large road wheels. Thus, tanks of these types were easy targets even for first-generation RPGs. On the IS-3M and a series of powerful tanks of the T-10 family, there were such “embryos” of side screens that only slightly covered the side from above.

Next - a new generation tank T-64A. On it were six "skinny", rotary "windows" with dubious effectiveness. It was the same on the first T-72s. The next step in the long-suffering development of the side screens of domestic tanks appeared on the T-64B, T-72A and T-80. They finally have a solid 10-mm side screen, BUT - rubber-fabric! It is clear that such screens, with a small gain in weight compared to metal ones, almost do not protect against kinetic projectiles, are very easily damaged and come off, exposing the weakly armored side of the hull. I don’t even talk about how such a screen looks after several touches on obstacles or hits (and the tank as a whole).

The next stage of evolution is the T-72B tank. It has the same rubber-fabric screen as the T-72A, but “boxes” of 4С20 elements of dynamic protection “Kontakt-1” were hung on it over the entire area (up to the MTO zone). This significantly increased the protection of the side projection of the T-72B tank. But not everything is as good as it seems: the weight of the resulting design turned out to be large, the thin rubber-fabric screen bends under the weight of the NDZ blocks. After two or three hits from RPGs or ATGMs, all this "economy" can simply fall off with all the ensuing consequences.

On the T-64BV, force screens were introduced under the onboard elements of the NDZ. Appearance is improved, strength - almost none.

Finally we come to the "flying" tank T-80U. He received an almost normal side screen - 10-mm armor with elements of dynamic protection "Contact-5" built into it. Why "almost"? Because all this "wealth" reaches only half the length of the hull, and even the vulnerable T-80U ammo rack is not completely covered by a powerful screen. Further into the stern is the same rubber-fabric screen as in the T-72A or T-80.

The T-90 series is generally a regression and a return almost back to the T-72A. Instead of the relatively normal side screens of the T-80U, T-72B and T-64BV, the T-90 has the same screen as the T-72A, and six sort of "squares" of armor with dynamic protection "Contact-5" - three from each sides. Moreover, they do not close the middle of the hull opposite the ammunition rack, which would be logical, but its front part. Strange design. When the enemy is everywhere, turning your forehead to him will not work.

And finally, the T-90MS appeared. He has a normal armored side screen with bars opposite the MTO. Everything is correct.

How could it be done. Everything was as it should be, but it should have been done FORTY years ago - on the T-72 Ural tank! But still - Offset.

Old British tank "Centurion". Steel side screens 16mm thick do not bend and make appearance of this tank is "powerful" and quite decent. Good example

The place of the anti-aircraft installation with a heavy 12.7-mm machine gun NSVT was taken by a new remote installation with a 7.62-mm machine gun 6P7K

How it's done. The design of domestic medium and main battle tanks is interesting in that with the constant improvement in the quality of the main armament, there was no progress in the auxiliary. Auxiliary weapons have remained virtually unchanged for decades. The period of searches and experiments in this area for medium tanks remained in the distant past of the war and pre-war years. Starting with the T-55 and ending with the T-90A, the auxiliary armament consists of a 7.62 mm machine gun coaxial with a cannon and an anti-aircraft mount with a 12.7 mm machine gun on the roof of the tower. Of course, this scheme is outdated and needs to be changed.

Such an attempt was made on the T-90MS tank, but it was unsuccessful. The designers, at the cost of abandoning the large-caliber anti-aircraft gun, tried to adapt the tank to combat in urban environments and provide the ability effective fight with enemy manpower, primarily with grenade launchers. To do this, instead of a 12.7-mm machine gun, a more “nimble” and maneuverable anti-personnel machine gun mount with a 7.62-mm machine gun and very large vertical corners guidance.

What happened? With regards to the anti-aircraft component. The T-72B tank, in the event of an air threat, had at its disposal two air defense echelons:

1. Long-range - provided with guided missiles, allowed to fight helicopters and other low-speed air targets, range from 1.5-2 to 4-5 km.

2. If the target broke through to closer, then a short-range echelon came into action - an anti-aircraft gun with a 12.7-mm machine gun NSVT "Utes". He operated at ranges up to 2-2.5 km. Everything is quite logical. The T-90A tank had an even more advanced remote-controlled anti-aircraft gun, similar to the T-64 and T-80UD.

But for the T-90MS tank, this middle echelon was "cut off", which, no doubt, worsened its protective anti-aircraft properties. A 7.62 mm caliber bullet is hardly capable of inflicting any serious damage on a modern attack helicopter, and even more so of shooting it down. But maybe now the tank will successfully fight enemy infantry hidden in the urban jungle? Also no. The main problem of the tank in such a situation is to see the enemy in the window opening. At the training ground, living force is imitated by bright and multi-colored balloons that hang in window openings. It is easy to guess that a real grenade launcher will not show off in a window opening with a grenade launcher at the ready in front of a tank gun aimed at him. He will hide next to the window, behind the wall and look out from time to time, being sure that the tank crew does not see him, and wait for the right moment.

Now, no devices capable of seeing through concrete walls like an X-ray have yet been invented, and therefore there is only one way out for a tank - to shoot through an empty window high-explosive fragmentation projectile where the enemy is supposed to be. Sometimes it helps when they guess, but no amount of ammunition is enough to shoot through all the windows, doors and hatches. There is also a way to shoot a machine gun at the wall next to the window or under the windowsill. If an enemy hides there, he will be hit. But for this, the bullet must penetrate the wall of the house. Can this be done by a 7.62-mm bullet from a coaxial machine gun or an anti-personnel installation of the T-90MS tank? Unlikely. And that means there will be almost no sense from it. But the 12.7-mm bullet from the NSVT is quite capable of this. Conclusion: The new remote installation looks nice, but - Failed.

How could it be done. The T-64A main battle tank "grew" from the T-64 medium tank, which, in turn, was a revolutionary vehicle that incorporated the latest achievements in design and industry, as well as the best technical solutions of Soviet medium and heavy tanks.

The T-10M is a cold and precise death machine. Most powerful tank in the world of the period of the 50s - early 60s of the XX century. It was about the size of the Abrams and had the optimal combination of high mobility, powerful armor protection and huge firepower with a weight of 51.5 tons.

Why did I suddenly mention heavy tanks? Because for a long time the Soviet army was armed with an exceptionally powerful and perfect tank, a meeting with which in battle for any other tank of that time would most likely be the last. His name is T-10M. A powerful, 52-ton handsome man, produced in the amount of 8000 units and stood in service with the Soviet army for about 40 years. This tank had many technical solutions that favorably distinguished it from medium tanks and from main battle tanks too (not excluding the T-90MS).

Auxiliary armament of the T-10M consisted of a 14.5-mm KPVT machine gun coaxial with a cannon and another of the same in an anti-aircraft mount on the roof of the tower. Armor-piercing 14.5-mm bullet B-32 from a distance of 500 m calmly pierces armor 32 mm thick normally. The total rate of fire of both machine guns is 1200 rounds per minute. This allowed the T-10M tank to “cut” any armored personnel carrier or infantry fighting vehicle in half without any problems, without even resorting to using the main 122-mm M-62-T2S gun. The concrete walls of houses and shelters are also pierced by such machine guns with a bang.

Thus, the T-10M in terms of firepower was fully adapted to the conduct of hostilities in the city. If necessary, he could “saw through” the wall all over the floor, where the enemy could hide. It was necessary to put the same machine guns on the T-90MS. At least one - in an anti-aircraft installation on the roof. For a machine gun coaxial with a cannon, there is a good alternative - a 12.7-mm YakB-12.7 machine gun from an Mi-24V attack helicopter.

Installation USPU-24 with a 4-barreled 12.7-mm machine gun YakB-12.7

This machine gun fires 5000 rounds per minute and is air-cooled - just what you need for the T-90MS. If the tank had one such 12.7 mm “lawn mower” and a powerful 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun in an anti-aircraft mount, the issue of air defense and actions in dense urban areas for the T-90MS with its devices would be resolved. In the presence of an independent vertical guidance system coaxial with a 125-mm 2A82 cannon, a 4-barreled 12.7-mm machine gun YakB-12.7, the tank will have all the qualities of a widely advertised BMPT and at the same time will not lose the main advantage of the tank - a powerful gun. By the way, the BMPT is not the world's first machine of this class. If we analyze - the T-28 and T-35 are the direct ideological ancestors of the BMPT.

Expert commentary. Lots of empty words. Let it be known to the author: in addition to the PKT, a 12.7-mm machine gun and a 30-mm AGS grenade launcher can be placed on the remote installation platform of the upgraded T-90S tank, depending on the customer's wishes. Moreover, the digital ballistic path of the Kalina control system allows you to replace remote-mounted weapons in the field, depending on the tasks.

More powerful V-92S2F2 engine with automatic transmission gear

How it's done. The engine produces 1130 hp, which is 130 hp. more than the previous T-90A tank (1000 hp). Initially, there were rumors that the engine would have a power of 1200 hp, but apparently it was not possible to achieve this. The engine has a pleasant, smooth sound of operation and provides the T-90MS with a specific power of 23 hp / t. The maximum speed of the tank on the highway is 60-65 km / h. This is good, but not the best indicator. To live up to the adage “the armor is strong and our tanks are fast…” the T-90MS must accelerate to at least 70-75 km/h. More light tank should be faster than heavy, western ones. And in order to bring the mobility indicators of the T-90MS to the level of the T-80, he doesn’t even need an engine, but, most likely, it will be enough to redo the transmission. For example, the T-80BV tank with a mass of 43.7 tons and an engine power of 1100 hp. accelerates to 80 km / h. What prevents the T-90MS from driving the same way? The engine is normal. So the transmission needs to be improved.

How could it be done. The limited MTO volume of the T-72 tank makes increasing engine power a difficult task. The same applies to the hull of the T-90MS tank, which is the direct successor to the T-72. It is necessary to improve the transmission of the tank, which was done, and to select the right gear ratios. So anyway - Offset.

Main battle tank T-90

History of creation

The T-72B serial production, which was launched in 1985, already at the time of its creation, turned out to be outdated in terms of the fire control complex, so there was no automated FCS on it at all. The T-72B lagged behind both the foreign Leopard-2 and Abrams tanks and the domestic T-80BV, T-64BV, T-80U and T-80UD, which were produced in the second half of the 80s. Therefore, immediately after the start of production of the T-72B, work began on its improvement. Various upgrade options were developed, including the installation of the 1A45 weapons control complex already installed on the T-80UD and T-80U, while maintaining the existing layout of the T-72B. The upgraded machine received the index "Object-188". The first four tanks entered testing in 1989, and two more modified samples were tested in 1990.

Along with the 1A45 installation, there was also a simpler improvement option, which included the modification of the 1A40-1 tank sighting system and the installation of the Shtora-1 optoelectronic suppression system.

The design of the T-72B advanced tank did not differ significantly from the T-72B, and the 1A45 system had long been tested on tanks developed by the KMDB named after A.I. Morozov and the Leningrad "Spetsmash". In fact, the task of the UKBTM designers was only to install a ready-made weapons control system in the T-72B tank. But even this task turned out to be difficult for the designers of the UKBTM, which is why, according to both testers and tankers, the working field of the gunner and commander and the ergonomics of their jobs were unsuccessfully implemented.

The tank was put into service in 1992 after the collapse of the USSR. Initially, for this rather modest modernization, a new name "T-88" was also supposed, which was later replaced by "T-90".

The production of T-90 tanks for the Russian army began in 1992, in rather difficult times for Russia, but thanks to the patronage of Russian President B.N. Yeltsin, the plant received funding before this chairman of the Sverdlovsk Regional Committee. From 1992 to 1997, about 120 T-90 tanks were produced for the Russian armed forces. The first cars got into training centers, T-90s entered service with the 21st Taganrog Order of Suvorov motorized rifle division and 5th Guards Don Tank Division. In the 90s, part of the tanks was dismantled, many were not combat-ready. In the mid-2000s, the remaining T-90 tanks were transferred from Siberia to the 2nd Taman Guards Division in the Moscow region and a number of training centers.

For deliveries abroad, an export modification of the T-90S tank with improved characteristics was developed. Since 2004, the production of the improved T-90A began.

Firepower

The main armament of the T-90 is a modernized 125-mm smoothbore gun-launcher 2A46M-2.

Tank ammunition - 43 shots, of which 22 shots are placed in the rotating conveyor of the automatic loader and 21 in non-mechanized stacking.

A 7.62 caliber PKT machine gun is paired with the cannon. Machine gun ammunition 200 rounds (8 tapes of 250 rounds each). Shooting from a machine gun coaxial with a cannon can be carried out from the gunner's or commander's seat.

The anti-aircraft machine gun is located on the commander's hatch, has a remote control and is designed to fire at air and ground targets with closed tank hatches from the commander's seat. The vertical pointing angle ranges from -5° to +70°, horizontally - in the range of +/- 90° heading, or 360° with the tank turret. Vertically, in the range of angles from -3° to +30°, the machine gun is stabilized. Ammunition for anti-aircraft machine gun 300 rounds (2 tapes in magazines, 150 each).

The main anti-tank weapons of the T-90 are also armor-piercing sub-caliber shells (3BM-22, 3BM-26, BM-29, 3BM-42) and a guided weapon system with 3UBK14 and 3UBK20 rounds. Rate of fire - 6 ... 8 rounds per minute. Russian BPS from the T-90 ammunition lag behind the American ones in terms of armor penetration. were mainly developed back in the 80s under the USSR.

Another factor hindering the development of increased power ammunition for the T-90 tank is the limitations of the automatic loader (AZ) along the length of the loaded projectile.

T-90 tanks equipped with KUV 9K119 "Reflex" receive fundamentally new combat capabilities: the firing range of the TUR is 2 ... 2.5 times greater than the return fire range of the BPS of any modern tanks. This allows domestic tanks win the battle before entering the zone of effective fire of enemy tanks.

The 1A45-T fire control complex consists of a 1G46 gunner's day sight, a TO1-KO1 gunner's night sight with a Buran-PA sight, a PNK-4S sighting and observation system for the commander, a PZU-7 anti-aircraft sight, a 1ETs29 anti-aircraft gun control system, a ballistic computer 1B528-1 with input information sensors, weapon stabilizer 2E42-4 and other devices.

The gunner's day sight 1G46 has a line of sight stabilized in two planes, a built-in laser rangefinder and a guided missile control channel.

Night sighting complex TO1-KO1 with TPN-4 Buran-PA sight with image intensifier tube.

The commander's PNK-4S sighting and observation system consists of a combined day-night sight of the commander TKN-4S and a gun position sensor. The commander's combined sight TKN-4S is stabilized in the vertical plane and has three channels: a daytime single channel, a daytime multiple channel with a magnification of 8x and a night channel with a magnification of 5.4x. The commander can switch from the day channel to the night channel (with an image intensifier tube) and vice versa using the lever.

The anti-aircraft sight allows the commander to fire at air targets from the anti-aircraft machine gun mount while being protected by the turret armor.

The ballistic calculator 1B528-1 for calculating ballistic corrections automatically takes into account the signals coming from the following sensors: tank speed, target angular velocity, gun trunnion axis roll angle, wind speed transverse component, target range, heading angle. Additionally, the following parameters are entered for manual calculation: ambient air temperature, charge temperature, bore wear, ambient air pressure, etc.

The disadvantages of the T-90 fire control complex are errors in stabilizing the field of view of the night sight, which makes it difficult to observe and aim on the move. Night sight TPN-4 has dependent stabilization in both planes.

The T-90S and T-90A have an improved fire control system with a thermal imaging sight "Essa", the conditions for monitoring the target and aiming through the second sight in motion are no worse than when working through the first one.

Security T-90

The design of the tower with a cast base of the T-90 tank is similar to that used on the T-72B. The filler packs are of the "semi-active" type.

On the frontal part of the turret of the T-90 tank, 7 containers and one block of dynamic protection are installed, which cover less than half of the frontal projection of the turret at a heading angle of fire of 0 °.

21 containers are installed on the roof of the tower, protecting from ammunition attacking from above.

Due to the unsuccessful scheme for installing jamming spotlights from the Shtora-1 KOEP, a large section of the tower projection in the most threatening sectors of fire is not protected by dynamic protection. The areas on the sides of the embrasure are also very weakly protected, with one container and one section of reduced size.

Further modernization of the tower is difficult due to the significant moment of unbalance of the tower (the center of gravity is shifted forward).

The armor of the T-90 hull consists of spaced obstacles made of steel of increased hardness and armor using "reflective sheets" on the principle of functioning similar to the package used in the tank turret.

On the upper part of the frontal node, the built-in dynamic protection "Contact-V" is installed, which provides protection not only from cumulative PTS, but also from OBPS.

Force screens with built-in dynamic protection are installed on the sides of the hull.

Tanks equipped with built-in dynamic protection "Contact-V" provide protection against armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile(BPS) M829A1.

Comparison Characteristics
Type	Producing country	B.weight, t.	Armor penetration (mm./60 0)		Eq protection (mm.)
			BTS	KS	from BPS	from KS
T-90	RF	46,5	220…300		670…700	1000

Complex of optoelectronic suppression "Shtora-1"

The Shtora-1 optoelectronic suppression complex, which provides the tank with individual protection against anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) with command semi-automatic guidance systems such as TOW, Hot, Milan, Dragon and laser homing heads such as "Maverick", "Hellfiree", "Copper head" by creating active interference with their guidance. In a fraction of a second after the laser beam of the “enemy” rangefinder hit, the T-90 automatics warned the crew about the danger with a sound signal and fired a grenade in the threatened direction, which, having exploded, created a dense aerosol cloud that completely swallowed the tank. As a result, the laser rangefinder lost its target and the ATGM went off course.

The Shtora-1 complex consists of two independent systems: a remote system for setting up aerosol formations designed to block the fields of view (hardware and visual) of guidance systems using laser illumination, and a station for optoelectronic countermeasures TSHU 1-7, designed to organize false signals in the control loop of anti-tank projectiles with semi-automatic command guidance systems.

The “Shtora-1” complex provides: jamming in the form of modulated infrared radiation that affects the semi-automatic missile control system; automatic shooting of an aerosol-forming grenade in the direction of the laser illumination source and blocking this direction with an aerosol curtain, determining the direction to the laser illumination source and issuing a command to turn the tank turret in the indicated direction, light and sound signaling when the tank is irradiated with laser designators and rangefinders, setting in front of the tank of a masking aerosol curtain.

Optoelectronic suppression station OTSHU-1, installed on the T-90S tank, provides interference in the form of modulated infrared radiation in the wavelength range of 0.7-2.5 microns in the sector + -20 degrees from the axis of the bore along the horizon and 4.5 degrees - vertically.

The aerosol curtain installation system responds to laser radiation within 360 degrees in azimuth and -5 ... +25 in the vertical plane. An aerosol screen is formed at a distance of 55-70 meters 3 seconds after the 3D17 grenades are fired. The duration of the aerosol cloud is about 20 seconds (according to foreign sources). The weight of the system is about 400 kg.

Tactical characteristics of the SHTORA system
The probability of disruption of the aimed guidance of anti-tank weapons of the types ATLIS, TADS, PAVE-SPIKE	daytime 0.85
The probability of disruption of guided missiles with a laser homing head of the Maverick, Helfire type
The probability of disruption of guided artillery shells of the "Copperhead" type
Probability of aiming failure of target designators with electro-optical modulator	0,8 - 0,9
The probability of failure of guidance of anti-tank guided missiles with television heads "Maverick", "Helfire"	0,54
The probability of disruption of the guidance of anti-tank guided missiles of the type "Milan", "Hot"
Increasing the probability of protection from artillery systems with laser rangefinders, in times	1,3 - 3,0

Mobility

The tank is equipped with a V-84MS engine with a power of 840 hp. differing from the B-84-1 in the design of the exhaust manifolds.

The seven-speed on-board gearbox (BKP) was developed in the early 60s for the T-64 tank under the 5TDF engine, with a power of 700 hp. In the 70s, the BKP was reinforced for the V-46 engines, and then for the V-84 and V-92.

Naturally, the BKP developed in the 60s no longer fully meet modern requirements. Due to the use of an outdated scheme of the turning mechanism, the role of which is performed by onboard stepped gearboxes, the maneuverability of the Russian T-90 tank is lower than that of foreign tanks.

In addition to maneuverability, the lack of tank transmission is low speed reversing- 4.8 km / h. On modern Western tanks hydrostatic turning mechanisms with digital automatic control systems are used, reverse movement is provided up to 30 km / h.

Another aspect is the ease of maintenance of a tank engine, in which the V-84s are inferior to foreign diesel engines. Replacing the engine is difficult due to poor access to it in the engine compartment and the need for centering work - replacing the engine with a factory team of 4 people takes 22.2 hours. The presence of a guitar and the need to center other units with it complicates and complicates repair work in the engine-transmission department. This did not meet the requirements for advanced armored vehicles back in the 70s.

The chassis of the T-90 is similar to that used on the T-72B.

Tactical and technical characteristics
Parameter	Unit of measurement	T-90
Full mass		46,5
Crew	people
Specific power	hp/t
Engine	HP	V-84MS
Tank width
Ground pressure	kgf / cm 2	0,94
Temperature mode of operation	°C	40…+50 (with power reduction)
Tank length
with gun forward	mm	9530
corps	mm	6917
Tank width
along the caterpillar	mm	3370
for rented protective screens	mm	3780
Tower roof height	mm	2228
Support surface length	mm	4270
Ground clearance	mm	426…470
Track width	mm	2790
Travel speed
Average dry dirt road	km/h	35…40
Maximum on paved road	km/h
In reverse gear, maximum	km/h	4,18
Fuel consumption per 100 km
On a dry dirt road	l, up to	260…450
On paved road	l, up to
on main fuel tanks	km
with extra barrels	km
Ammunition
Shots to the cannon	PCS

Modern battle tanks of Russia and the world photos, videos, pictures to watch online. This article gives an idea of ​​the modern tank fleet. It is based on the classification principle used in the most authoritative reference book to date, but in a slightly modified and improved form. And if the latter in its original form can still be found in the armies of a number of countries, then others have already become a museum exhibit. And all for 10 years! To follow in the footsteps of the Jane's guide and not consider this combat vehicle (quite by the way, curious in design and fiercely discussed at the time), which formed the basis of the tank fleet of the last quarter of the 20th century, the authors considered it unfair.

Films about tanks where there is still no alternative to this type of armament of the ground forces. The tank was and probably will remain for a long time modern weapons due to the ability to combine such seemingly contradictory qualities as high mobility, powerful weapons and reliable crew protection. These unique qualities of tanks continue to be constantly improved, and the experience and technologies accumulated over decades predetermine new frontiers of combat properties and achievements of the military-technical level. In the age-old confrontation "projectile - armor", as practice shows, protection from a projectile is being improved more and more, acquiring new qualities: activity, multi-layeredness, self-defense. At the same time, the projectile becomes more accurate and powerful.

Russian tanks are specific in that they allow you to destroy the enemy from a safe distance, have the ability to perform quick maneuvers on impassable roads, contaminated terrain, can “walk” through the territory occupied by the enemy, seize a decisive bridgehead, induce panic in the rear and suppress the enemy with fire and caterpillars . The war of 1939-1945 became the most difficult test for all mankind, since almost all countries of the world were involved in it. It was the battle of the titans - the most unique period that theorists argued about in the early 1930s and during which tanks were used in large quantities virtually all warring parties. At this time, a "check for lice" and a deep reform of the first theories of the use of tank troops took place. And it is the Soviet tank troops that are most affected by all this.

Tanks in battle that became a symbol of the past war, the backbone of the Soviet armored forces? Who created them and under what conditions? How did the USSR, having lost most of its European territories and having difficulty recruiting tanks for the defense of Moscow, be able to launch powerful tank formations on the battlefield already in 1943? This book, which tells about the development of Soviet tanks "in the days of testing ", from 1937 to the beginning of 1943. When writing the book, materials from the archives of Russia and private collections of tank builders were used. There was a period in our history that was deposited in my memory with some depressing feeling. It began with the return of our first military advisers from Spain, and stopped only at the beginning of forty-third, - said the former general designer of self-propelled guns L. Gorlitsky, - there was some kind of pre-stormy state.

Tanks of the Second World War, it was M. Koshkin, almost underground (but, of course, with the support of "the wisest of the wise leader of all peoples"), who was able to create the tank that, a few years later, would shock German tank generals. And what’s more, he didn’t just create it, the designer managed to prove to these stupid military men that it was his T-34 that they needed, and not just another wheeled-tracked “highway”. The author is in slightly different positions that he formed after meeting with the pre-war documents RGVA and RGAE Therefore, working on this segment of the history of the Soviet tank, the author will inevitably contradict something "generally accepted". this work describes the history of Soviet tank building in the most difficult years - from the beginning of a radical restructuring of all the activities of design bureaus and people's commissariats as a whole, during a frantic race to equip new tank formations of the Red Army, the transfer of industry to wartime rails and evacuation.

Tanks Wikipedia the author wants to express his special gratitude for the help in the selection and processing of materials to M. Kolomiyets, and also to thank A. Solyankin, I. Zheltov and M. Pavlov, the authors of the reference publication "Domestic armored vehicles. XX century. 1905 - 1941" because this book helped to understand the fate of some projects, unclear before. I would also like to recall with gratitude those conversations with Lev Izraelevich Gorlitsky, the former Chief Designer of UZTM, which helped to take a fresh look at the entire history of the Soviet tank during the Great Patriotic War Soviet Union. Today, for some reason, it is customary to talk about 1937-1938 in our country. only from the point of view of repressions, but few people remember that it was during this period that those tanks were born that became legends of the wartime ... "From the memoirs of L.I. Gorlinkogo.

Soviet tanks, a detailed assessment of them at that time sounded from many lips. Many old people recalled that it was from the events in Spain that it became clear to everyone that the war was getting closer to the threshold and it was Hitler who would have to fight. In 1937, mass purges and repressions began in the USSR, and against the backdrop of these difficult events, the Soviet tank began to turn from a "mechanized cavalry" (in which one of its combat qualities protruded by reducing others) into a balanced combat vehicle, which simultaneously had powerful weapons, sufficient to suppress most targets, good cross-country ability and mobility with armor protection, capable of maintaining its combat capability when shelling a potential enemy with the most massive anti-tank weapons.

Large tanks were recommended to be added to the composition only special tanks- floating, chemical. The brigade now had 4 separate battalions of 54 tanks each and was reinforced by the transition from three-tank platoons to five-tank ones. In addition, D. Pavlov justified the refusal to form in 1938 to the four existing mechanized corps three more additionally, believing that these formations are immobile and difficult to control, and most importantly, they require a different organization of the rear. The tactical and technical requirements for promising tanks, as expected, have been adjusted. In particular, in a letter dated December 23 to the head of the design bureau of plant No. 185 named after. CM. Kirov, the new chief demanded to strengthen the armor of new tanks so that at a distance of 600-800 meters (effective range).

The latest tanks in the world when designing new tanks, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of increasing the level of armor protection during modernization by at least one step ... "This problem could be solved in two ways. Firstly, by increasing the thickness of the armor plates and, secondly," by using increased armor resistance". It is easy to guess that the second way was considered more promising, since the use of specially hardened armor plates, or even two-layer armor, could, while maintaining the same thickness (and the mass of the tank as a whole), increase its resistance by 1.2-1.5 It was this path (the use of specially hardened armor) that was chosen at that moment to create new types of tanks.

Tanks of the USSR at dawn tank production armor was used most massively, the properties of which were identical in all directions. Such armor was called homogeneous (homogeneous), and from the very beginning of the armor business, the craftsmen strove to create just such armor, because uniformity ensured stability of characteristics and simplified processing. However, at the end of the 19th century, it was noticed that when the surface of the armor plate was saturated (to a depth of several tenths to several millimeters) with carbon and silicon, its surface strength increased sharply, while the rest of the plate remained viscous. So heterogeneous (heterogeneous) armor came into use.

In military tanks, the use of heterogeneous armor was very important, since an increase in the hardness of the entire thickness of the armor plate led to a decrease in its elasticity and (as a result) to an increase in brittleness. Thus, the most durable armor, other things being equal, turned out to be very fragile and often pricked even from bursts of high-explosive fragmentation shells. Therefore, at the dawn of armor production in the manufacture of homogeneous sheets, the task of the metallurgist was to achieve the highest possible hardness of the armor, but at the same time not to lose its elasticity. Surface-hardened by saturation with carbon and silicon armor was called cemented (cemented) and was considered at that time a panacea for many ills. But cementation is a complex, harmful process (for example, processing a hot plate with a jet of lighting gas) and relatively expensive, and therefore its development in a series required high costs and an increase in production culture.

Tank of the war years, even in operation, these hulls were less successful than homogeneous ones, since for no apparent reason cracks formed in them (mainly in loaded seams), and it was very difficult to put patches on holes in cemented slabs during repairs. But it was still expected that a tank protected by 15-20 mm cemented armor would be equivalent in terms of protection to the same, but covered with 22-30 mm sheets, without a significant increase in mass.
Also, by the mid-1930s, in tank building, they learned how to harden the surface of relatively thin armor plates by uneven hardening, known since the end of the 19th century in shipbuilding as the "Krupp method". Surface hardening led to a significant increase in the hardness of the front side of the sheet, leaving the main thickness of the armor viscous.

How tanks shoot videos up to half the thickness of the plate, which, of course, was worse than carburizing, since despite the fact that the hardness of the surface layer was higher than during carburizing, the elasticity of the hull sheets was significantly reduced. So the "Krupp method" in tank building made it possible to increase the strength of armor even somewhat more than carburizing. But the hardening technology that was used for sea armor of large thicknesses was no longer suitable for relatively thin tank armor. Before the war, this method was almost never used in our serial tank building due to technological difficulties and relatively high cost.

Combat use of tanks The most developed for tanks was the 45-mm tank gun mod 1932/34. (20K), and before the event in Spain, it was believed that its power was enough to perform most tank tasks. But the battles in Spain showed that the 45-mm gun could only satisfy the task of fighting enemy tanks, since even the shelling of manpower in the mountains and forests turned out to be ineffective, and it was possible to disable a dug-in enemy firing point only in the event of a direct hit . Shooting at shelters and bunkers was ineffective due to the small high-explosive action of a projectile weighing only about two kg.

Types of tanks photo so that even one hit of a projectile reliably disables an anti-tank gun or machine gun; and thirdly, to increase the penetrating effect of a tank gun on the armor of a potential enemy, since, using the example of French tanks (already having an armor thickness of the order of 40-42 mm), it became clear that the armor protection of foreign combat vehicles tends to be significantly increased. There was a right way to do this - an increase in the caliber of tank guns and a simultaneous increase in the length of their barrel, since a long gun of a larger caliber fires heavier shells with a larger initial speed over a longer distance without correcting the pickup.

The best tanks in the world had a large caliber gun, also had a large breech, significantly more weight and increased recoil reaction. And this required an increase in the mass of the entire tank as a whole. In addition, the placement of large shots in the closed volume of the tank led to a decrease in the ammunition load.
The situation was aggravated by the fact that at the beginning of 1938 it suddenly turned out that there was simply no one to give an order for the design of a new, more powerful tank gun. P. Syachintov and his entire design team were repressed, as well as the core of the Bolshevik Design Bureau under the leadership of G. Magdesiev. Only the group of S. Makhanov remained at liberty, who from the beginning of 1935 tried to bring his new 76.2-mm semi-automatic single gun L-10, and the team of plant No. 8 slowly brought the "forty-five".

Photos of tanks with names, the number of developments is large, but in mass production in the period 1933-1937. not a single one was accepted ... "In fact, none of the five air-cooled tank diesel engines, which were worked on in 1933-1937 in the engine department of plant No. 185, was brought to the series. Moreover, despite the decisions on the highest levels of the transition in tank building exclusively to diesel engines, this process was held back by a number of factors.Of course, diesel had significant efficiency.It consumed less fuel per unit of power per hour.Diesel fuel is less prone to ignition, since the flash point of its vapors was very high.

Even the most advanced of them, the MT-5 tank engine, required reorganization of engine production for serial production, which was expressed in the construction of new workshops, the supply of advanced foreign equipment (there were no machine tools of the required accuracy yet), financial investments and strengthening personnel. It was planned that in 1939 this diesel engine with a capacity of 180 hp. will go to mass-produced tanks and artillery tractors, but due to investigative work to find out the causes of tank engine accidents, which lasted from April to November 1938, these plans were not fulfilled. The development of a slightly increased six-cylinder gasoline engine No. 745 with a power of 130-150 hp was also started.

Brands of tanks with specific indicators that suited the tank builders quite well. Tank tests were carried out according to a new methodology, specially developed at the insistence of the new head of the ABTU D. Pavlov in relation to military service in wartime. The basis of the tests was a run of 3-4 days (at least 10-12 hours of daily non-stop traffic) with a one-day break for technical inspection and restoration work. Moreover, repairs were allowed to be carried out only by field workshops without the involvement of factory specialists. This was followed by a "platform" with obstacles, "bathing" in the water with an additional load, simulating an infantry landing, after which the tank was sent for examination.

Super tanks online after the improvement work seemed to remove all claims from the tanks. And the general course of the tests confirmed the fundamental correctness of the main design changes - an increase in displacement by 450-600 kg, the use of the GAZ-M1 engine, as well as the Komsomolets transmission and suspension. But during the tests, numerous minor defects again appeared in the tanks. The chief designer N. Astrov was suspended from work and was under arrest and investigation for several months. In addition, the tank received a new improved protection turret. The modified layout made it possible to place on the tank a larger ammunition load for a machine gun and two small fire extinguishers (before there were no fire extinguishers on small tanks of the Red Army).

US tanks as part of modernization work, on one serial model of the tank in 1938-1939. the torsion bar suspension developed by the designer of the Design Bureau of Plant No. 185 V. Kulikov was tested. It was distinguished by the design of a composite short coaxial torsion bar (long monotorsion bars could not be used coaxially). However, such a short torsion bar in tests did not show good enough results, and therefore the torsion bar suspension during further work did not immediately pave the way. Obstacles to be overcome: rises not less than 40 degrees, vertical wall 0.7 m, overlapping ditch 2-2.5 m.

Youtube about tanks work on the production of prototypes of D-180 and D-200 engines for reconnaissance tanks is not being carried out, jeopardizing the production of prototypes. 10-1), as well as the amphibious tank version (factory designation 102 or 10-2), are a compromise solution, since it is not possible to fully meet the requirements of the ABTU.Variant 101 was a tank weighing 7.5 tons with a hull according to the type of hull, but with vertical side sheets of case-hardened armor 10-13 mm thick, because: "Sloped sides, causing serious weighting of the suspension and hull, require a significant (up to 300 mm) broadening of the hull, not to mention the complication of the tank.

Video reviews of tanks in which the power unit of the tank was planned to be based on the 250-horsepower MG-31F aircraft engine, which was mastered by the industry for agricultural aircraft and gyroplanes. Gasoline of the 1st grade was placed in a tank under the floor of the fighting compartment and in additional onboard gas tanks. The armament fully met the task and consisted of coaxial machine guns DK caliber 12.7 mm and DT (in the second version of the project even ShKAS appears) caliber 7.62 mm. The combat weight of a tank with a torsion bar suspension was 5.2 tons, with a spring suspension - 5.26 tons. The tests were carried out from July 9 to August 21 according to the methodology approved in 1938, and Special attention given to tanks.