The T-80 was the last Soviet wartime light tank.

History of creation

Starting from the very first moment the T-70 light tank was adopted by the Red Army, Soviet military experts pointed out its main weakness - a single-man turret. But the design of the tank still had reserves that could be used to eliminate this shortcoming. The GAZ tank design bureau, headed by N. A. Astrov, promised this to the military even when the GAZ-70 prototype was shown and got into work almost immediately after the serial production of the T-70 was established. During late spring, summer and early autumn of 1942, it was found that the installation of a two-man turret would greatly increase the load on the engine, transmission and undercarriage of the tank. Tests of the T-70 tank loaded up to 11 tons fully confirmed these fears - suspension torsion bars burst during tests, tracks broke, transmission units and assemblies failed. Therefore, the main work was carried out to strengthen these structural elements; it successfully ended with the adoption of the T-70M modification by the Red Army. Also by the fall, a two-man turret for the T-70 tank was manufactured and successfully tested, but two obstacles stood in the way of mass production.

The first of these was the insufficient power of the GAZ-203 twin propulsion system. It was planned to increase it by forcing up to 170 liters. With. in total due to an increase in the filling ratio of the cylinders and an increase in the compression ratio. The second obstacle arose from the requirements to provide large gun elevation angles for hitting targets on the upper floors of buildings in urban battles. It could also make it possible to increase the possibilities of fire countermeasures against enemy aircraft. In particular, the commander of the Kalinin Front, Lieutenant-General I. S. Konev, insisted on this. The already developed double turret for the T-70 did not meet this requirement and was redesigned to allow the gun to be fired at a high elevation angle. The second prototype with the new turret received the factory designation 080 or 0-80. For more convenient placement of a gun with the possibility of anti-aircraft fire and two crew members, it was necessary to widen the diameter of the shoulder strap and make an armor ring-barbette 40-45 mm thick under the inclined sides of the tower. Due to the wider shoulder strap of the turret, it became impossible to dismantle the engine without first removing the turret - the armor ring began to enter the removable armor plate above the engine.

Production

Serial production of the T-80 was launched in Mytishchi at factory number 40 in February 1943. Production volumes were small, until the end of production in October 1943, about 80 vehicles were produced. The total number of T-80s produced remains unclear. According to the documents of the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army, a total of 70 "eighties" were built. However, the reports of the People's Commissariat of the Tank Industry contain somewhat different figures. According to this department, 81 T-80 tanks were produced in 1943, and 85 during the entire war. However, this number may include prototypes, prototypes and pre-production vehicles. Also, some authors include prototypes built by GAZ in the total number of T-80s produced. According to the factory number 40 in 1943, only 66 tanks were manufactured, and 11 of them were handed over twice. Hence the confusion. In total, together with four prototypes of the GAZ plant, 70 cars were built.

The cessation of production of the T-80 was to a certain extent due to several reasons: to a lesser extent, the unreliable operation of the M-80 forced propulsion system (in the sources, its designations also differ - the M-80 or GAZ-203F indices are mentioned); to a greater extent, the reasons were insufficient firepower and armor protection of the "eighties" as of 1943 (see section "") and the extreme need of the Red Army for self-propelled artillery mounts SU-76M. By the end of 1943 - the beginning of 1944, the forced propulsion system was brought to an acceptable level of reliability, but there was no question of resuming the production of the T-80 at all.

Due to the unreliable operation of the propulsion system, weak weapons for 1943 and the great need for the Red Army in self-propelled units The SU-76M T-80 was discontinued. At the beginning of 1943, an experimental tank was built on the basis of the T-80 with a high-powered 45-mm VT-43 tank gun, but it was not adopted by the Red Army either. However, according to other sources, the curtailment of the production of these tanks was simply caused by the destruction of the production facilities of the Gorky Automobile Plant as a result of a series of unpunished bombings by the Luftwaffe in 1942.

Design Description

Armored corps and turret

The armored body of the tank was welded from rolled heterogeneous (surface hardening was used) armor plates with a thickness of 10, 15, 25, 35 and 45 mm. The armor protection is differentiated, bulletproof. The frontal and stern armor plates had rational angles of inclination, the sides were vertical. The side of the T-80 was made of two armor plates connected by welding. To strengthen the weld, a vertical stiffening beam was installed inside the hull, riveted to the front and rear side parts. A number of hull armor plates (over-engine and over-radiator plates) were removable for ease of maintenance and replacement of various components and assemblies of the tank. Workplace the driver was in front of the armored hull of the tank with some offset to the left from the central longitudinal plane of the vehicle. The hatch for boarding and disembarking the driver was located on the frontal armor plate and was equipped with a balancing mechanism to facilitate opening. The presence of the driver's hatch weakened the resistance of the upper frontal part to projectile hits. The bottom of the T-80 was welded from three armor plates 10 mm thick, and to ensure rigidity, transverse box-shaped beams were welded to it, in which the torsion bars of the suspension units were located. An emergency manhole was made in front of the bottom under the driver's seat. The hull also had a number of air inlets, hatches, hatches and technological openings for ventilation of the habitable premises of the tank, draining fuel and oil, access to the fuel tank fillers, other units and assemblies of the machine. A number of these holes were protected by armored covers, shutters and casings.

Armament

The main armament of the T-80 was a rifled semi-automatic 45-mm tank gun mod. 1938 (20-Km or 20Km) The gun was mounted on trunnions in the plane of longitudinal symmetry of the turret. The 20-K gun had a 46-caliber barrel, the height of the line of fire was 1630 mm, the direct fire range reached 3.6 km, the maximum possible - 6 km. A 7.62 mm DT machine gun was paired with the gun, which could be easily removed from the twin mount and used outside the tank. The twin installation had a range of elevation angles from -8 ° to + 65 ° and circular horizontal fire. The rotary mechanism of the gear-type turret, with a manual drive, was located to the left of the tank commander, and the lifting mechanism of the gun (screw type, also with a manual drive) was located on the right. The descent of the machine gun is mechanical, the gun was equipped with an electric trigger.

The coaxial DT machine gun had an ammunition load of 1008 rounds (16 disks), and the crew was also equipped with one PPSh submachine gun with 3 disks (213 rounds) and 12 F-1 hand grenades. In a number of cases, a pistol was added to this armament for firing signal rockets.

Engine

The T-80 was equipped with a GAZ-203F power unit (later designation M-80) of twin four-stroke in-line six-cylinder liquid-cooled carburetor engines GAZ-80. As a result, the maximum total power of the GAZ-203F unit reached 170 hp. With. (125 kW) at 3400 rpm. Both engines were equipped with K-43 carburetors. The crankshafts of the engines were connected by a coupling with elastic bushings. In order to avoid longitudinal vibrations of the entire unit, the flywheel crankcase of the front GAZ-80 was connected by a rod to the starboard side of the tank. Ignition, lubrication and fuel supply systems had their own for each "half" of the GAZ-203F. In the cooling system of the power unit, the water pump was common, but the water-oil radiator was two-section, each section was responsible for servicing its own GAZ-80. The GAZ-203F installation was equipped with an oil-inertial type air cleaner.

Like its predecessor, the T-70, the T-80 was equipped with an engine preheater for operation in winter conditions. A cylindrical boiler was installed between the side of the tank and the engine, in which heating was carried out due to the thermosyphon circulation of antifreeze. The boiler was heated by an external gasoline blowtorch. The heater boiler and oil-water radiator were an integral part of the cooling system of the entire power unit of the tank.

The engine was started by two ST-06 starters connected in parallel (power 2 hp or 1.5 kW). Also, the tank could be started with a hand crank or towed by another tank.

Transmission

The T-80 tank was equipped with a mechanical transmission, which included:

• double-disk semi-centrifugal main clutch of dry friction "steel according to Ferodo";
• four-speed gearbox (4 gears forward and 1 reverse), parts from the ZIS-5 truck were used;
• cardan shaft;
• bevel main gear;
• two steel-on-steel dry-friction multi-disc side clutches with band brakes with Ferodo linings;
• two simple single-row final drives.

All transmission control drives are mechanical, the driver controlled the turning and braking of the tank with two levers on both sides of his workplace.

Chassis

The chassis of the T-80 tank was almost completely inherited from its predecessor, the T-70M. Suspension of the machine - individual torsion without shock absorbers for each of the 5 single-sided solid stamped road wheels of small diameter (550 mm) with rubber tires on each side. Opposite the suspension units closest to the stern, suspension balancer travel stops with rubber buffers were welded to the armored hull to mitigate shocks; for the first and third suspension units from the forehead of the vehicle, support rollers played the role of limiters. Pinion gear drive wheels with removable gear rims were located in front, and sloths unified with track rollers with a caterpillar tension mechanism were in the back. The upper branch of the caterpillar was supported by three small support rollers on each side. Fenders were riveted to the tank hull to prevent the caterpillar from jamming when the tank was moving with a significant roll to one of the sides. The caterpillar is small-linked from 80 tracks, the width of the two-ridge track is 300 mm.

electrical equipment

The electrical wiring in the T-80 tank was single-wire, the armored hull of the vehicle served as the second wire. The sources of electricity (operating voltage 12 V) were a GT-500S generator with a 500 W RRK-GT-500S relay-regulator and two 3-STE-112 batteries connected in series with a total capacity of 112 Ah. Electricity consumers included:

Sights and observation devices

The twin installation of the 20-K cannon and the DT machine gun was equipped with a TMF-1 sight for firing at ground targets and a K-8T collimator for firing at air targets and upper floors buildings. The workplaces of the driver, gunner and commander of the T-80 also had one periscope viewing device to monitor the environment outside the tank. However, for a vehicle with a commander's cupola, visibility could have been even better - the lack of viewing devices still affected.

Means of communication

On T-80 tanks, a 12RT radio station and an internal TPU intercom for 3 subscribers were installed in the tower.

The 12RT radio station was a set of transmitter, receiver and umformers (single-arm motor-generators) for their power supply, connected to the 12 V on-board electrical network. frequency range from 4 to 5.625 MHz (respectively, wavelengths from 53.3 to 75 m), and for reception - from 3.75 to 6 MHz (wavelengths from 50 to 80 m). The different range of the transmitter and receiver was explained by the fact that the 4-5.625 MHz range was intended for two-way tank-tank communication, and the extended receiver range was used for one-way communication "headquarters-tank". In the parking lot, the communication range in the telephone (voice, amplitude carrier modulation) mode in the absence of interference reached 15-25 km, while in motion it somewhat decreased. A longer communication range could be obtained in the telegraph mode, when information was transmitted by a telegraph key in Morse code or another discrete coding system.

The TPU tank intercom made it possible to negotiate between members of the tank crew even in a very noisy environment and connect a headset (head phones and throat phones) to a radio station for external communication.

Modifications

Serial

light tank The T-80 was officially produced in the only serial modification without any significant design changes during production. Serial combat and special vehicles (self-propelled, artillery, ZSU, armored personnel carriers, armored personnel carriers, tractors, etc.) based on the T-80 light tank were also not produced.

Experienced

The lack of armament (first of all, the low armor penetration of the 20-K gun by the standards of the end of 1942) of the T-80 tank actively stimulated work on its rearmament with a more powerful artillery system. As a solution to the problem, it was proposed to use the 45-mm long-barreled gun VT-42 jointly developed by factory No. 40 and Design Bureau No. 172 with the ballistics of a 45-mm anti-tank gun mod. 1942 year (M-42) . This gun has already been successfully tested in the T-70 tank, however, in connection with the planned transition to the production of the T-80, it was not installed in serial "seventies". However, the BT-42 did not have the capability to fire at the high elevation angles required for the T-80, so its design had to be significantly redesigned. At the beginning of 1943, these works were completed, and the version of the 45-mm long-barreled gun VT-43 was successfully tested in the T-80 tank. With the exception of a higher muzzle velocity (950 m/s) and a higher maximum elevation angle (+78°), all other characteristics of the tank remained unchanged. The gun was adopted to arm the T-80 tanks, but due to the cessation of their production, all work on it was completed.

Organizational structure

The T-80 light tank was intended to replace the T-70 light tank in the troops and was to be used as part of separate tank brigades, tank regiments and armored battalions. However, due to the objective weakness of the T-70, from November 1943 the organizational and staffing structure was revised towards their exclusion from the tank brigades (unified states No. 010/500 - 010/506), and from March 4, 1944 General Staff The Red Army issued directive No. Org / 3/2305 on the exclusion of the T-70 from the tank regiments. T-80s began to arrive at the front already in the course of this reorganization, so it is not yet possible to determine their exact place and number in the organizational structure. The surviving T-70s and new T-80s were transferred to reconnaissance armored battalions (they included a company of light tanks numbering 7 vehicles, the rest were BA-64 armored vehicles) and, for use as command vehicles, in part of self-propelled artillery, armed with self-propelled guns SU- 76, which had the same type of chassis as the T-70M and T-80.

Combat use

As of 2007, no details have yet been found in the archives and memoirs. combat use light tanks T-80. The literature sometimes mentions complaints from the troops about the overload and insufficient reliability of the tank's power plant, however, this may be the result of reports on military tests of the vehicle manufactured in mid-1943, where these shortcomings were indeed noted. From front-line reports, it is known that several T-80s were used in self-propelled artillery regiments in 1944. There is also information about the receipt in the replenishment of the 5th Guards Tank Brigade on February 15, 1945, two T-80 tanks that arrived from repair. In addition, on September 7, 1943, 27 T-80s were shipped to the 230th Tank Regiment in Tula (of which 20 were radio-equipped). Another 27 vehicles were shipped there for the 54th detachment of the 12th Guards. cd. Nothing is known about the use of the T-80 in the armies of other states besides the USSR.

Project evaluation

"Vosmidesyatka", created in the extreme conditions of wartime, was the last in a series of Soviet mass-produced light tanks of the Great Patriotic War. According to the pre-war views of the Soviet leadership, light tanks should have made up a significant proportion of the material part of the tank forces of the Red Army, had a low production cost compared to medium and heavy vehicles, and in the event of a large-scale war, they should have been produced in large quantities in non-specialized enterprises. The pre-war T-50 was supposed to be such a light tank. However, for a number of reasons (evacuation of the manufacturer, lack of diesel engines, etc.), the production of the T-50 amounted to about 70 tanks. In addition, for plant No. 37, whose mobilization task was to master the production of the T-50, the task set turned out to be impossible. Nevertheless, a tank with characteristics close to the T-50 was objectively needed by the Red Army. The design bureau of plant No. 37 (later GAZ), headed by N. A. Astrov, starting from the T-40 small amphibious tank, which was well established in production and consistently improving the idea of ​​​​a light tank with the widespread use of cheap automobile units, managed to create such a tank by the end of 1942. car, which was the T-80. The previous stages in this hard work were the T-60 and T-70 light tanks. However, the lighter-weight "eighty" was not a full-fledged substitute for the T-50, inferior to the latter in a number of indicators: power density, visibility, armor protection (especially onboard), power reserve. On the other hand, the manufacturability and low cost of the "eighty" compared to other Soviet tanks (the legacy of the predecessor of the T-70) made it possible to fulfill the wishes of the top management about the potential possibility of mass production of such tanks in non-specialized enterprises, the ergonomics of the machine (a significant weakness of the "seventies") already could be considered acceptable. However, for reasons not directly related to the design of the tank, this potential was not realized in practice.

An important circumstance that influenced the fate of both the T-80 and domestic light tanks in general was the changed situation at the front. The appearance on the battlefield in large numbers of T-34s required the Germans to qualitatively strengthen their anti-tank artillery. During 1942, the Wehrmacht received a large number of 50 mm and 75 mm anti-tank guns, tanks and self-propelled guns armed with long-barreled 75 mm guns. If against 50-mm shells the frontal armor of the T-80 in some cases could still somehow help, then the 75-mm long-barreled guns had no problems in defeating the T-80 at any distances and angles of battle (the given thicknesses of homogeneous hull sheets for 50 -mm armor-piercing projectile: bottom sheet - 60 mm, ram sheet - 52 mm, top sheet - 67 mm). The side armor of the latter did not save even the obsolete 37-mm Pak 35/36 cannon from normal fire, although, compared to the T-70M, the thickening of the side armor to 25 mm improved its projectile resistance at visible angles of fire. As a result, when breaking through the defense prepared in anti-tank terms, the T-80 units were doomed to high losses. The power of 45-mm shells was clearly insufficient both to deal with enemy anti-tank guns, and with German armored vehicles (the frontal armor of even medium modernized PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV could only be pierced sub-caliber projectile from extremely short distances). Therefore, the attack of the armored forces of the enemy by T-80 units had to be carried out mainly from ambushes, with fire from short distances to the side and stern. This required high skill and skill from Soviet tankers. Battle of Kursk clearly showed the validity of these theses in relation to the T-70; The T-80 in this regard was practically equivalent to the "seventies", which was one of the reasons for the cessation of production of light tanks in the USSR.

The main battle tank T-80 is made according to the classic layout scheme. In front of the body, strictly along the longitudinal axis, there is a control compartment. The fighting compartment, where the main and auxiliary weapons are installed and the places of the commander (to the right of the gun) and the gunner (to the left of the gun), are equipped, is located in the middle part of the hull in a rotating turret. The aft part of the tank is occupied by the engine-transmission compartment, where a gas turbine engine with service systems and transmission units are installed, isolated from the first two compartments. Thanks to the use of compact components and assemblies, as well as their very dense layout, it was possible to ensure a low silhouette of the machine and optimal weight.

The issue of protecting the crew and internal equipment of the tank from being hit by anti-tank weapons and weapons of mass destruction has been seriously worked out.

The armor of the hull and turret is differentiated in thickness and composition in accordance with the probabilistic laws of shelling the vehicle in terms of the directions and power of the anti-tank weapons used. Taking into account the same laws, the most rational angles of inclination are given to the armor parts. To increase resistance against cumulative ammunition, the frontal parts of the hull and turret are protected by composite armor, which includes, in addition to steel, non-metals.

A set of non-metallic elements contributes to the "break" of the cumulative jet and the loss of its energy. The sides of the hull are covered with anti-cumulative shields, which are solid (along the entire length of the side) screens made of reinforced rubber with armor plates (the front half of the length of the screen). Such a barrier causes a premature detonation of the cumulative ammunition and a significant loss of jet energy before reaching the main armor of the side of the tank.

To provide protection against high-precision weapons that hit the tank, as a rule, from the upper hemisphere to the engine compartment area (all of them are mainly with thermal homing heads), the exhaust manifold guide grille was made in a box shape. This made it possible to somewhat remove the exit point of hot gases from the aft armor plate and actually "deceive" the homing aids. In addition, the set of underwater tank driving equipment (OPVT) available on the machine was placed at the stern of the tower, thus covering a significant part of the MTO roof.

The inner walls of the fighting compartment and the control compartment were covered with a layer of lining made of polymer material. It performs a double protective function. When kinetic and armor-piercing high-explosive anti-tank ammunition enters the tank, it prevents small armor fragments that form on the inner surface of the armor from scattering inside the hull. In addition, thanks to specially selected chemical composition, this lining significantly reduces the effect of gamma radiation on the crew. For the same purposes, a special plate and an insert in the driver's seat (protecting it from radiation when overcoming contaminated terrain) serve the same purposes.

Protection against neutron weapons is also provided. As is known, these particles with zero charge are most effectively retained by hydrogen-containing materials. Therefore, the lining, which was mentioned above, is made of just such a material. fuel tanks engine power systems are located outside and inside the vehicle in such a way as to surround the crew with an almost continuous anti-neutron belt.

Also, for protection against weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical and bacteriological and for extinguishing fires arising in the vehicle, a special semi-automatic collective protection system (SKS) installed in the tank is intended. It includes: a radiation and chemical reconnaissance device (PRKhR), switching equipment ZETs-11 -2, a filter-ventilation unit (FVU), a sub-pressure meter, an engine stop mechanism (MOS), closable seals with actuators, and permanent hull and turret seals.

The system operates in two modes: automatic and manual - by commands from the control panel (in exceptional cases, to extinguish fires by command from the PI-5 panel).

In the automatic (main) mode, when radioactive or chemical air contamination is detected outside the tank (using the PRHR device in the constant air monitoring mode), a command is sent from the sensors of the system to the actuators of the closing seals and the filter-ventilation unit is turned on, creating an excess pressure of purified air in the habitable compartments . At the same time, sound and light alarms are activated, notifying the crew of the nature of the contamination of the area. The efficiency and reliability of the system's operation have been proven during special tests with simulations of air contamination situations that are close to realistically possible.

The fire-fighting equipment is connected to the CPS through the ZETs-11-2 switching equipment and can operate automatically or from the buttons on the consoles of the driver and commander. In automatic mode, the equipment is triggered by a signal from the temperature sensors of the ZETs-11-2 equipment. At the same time, the supercharger is turned off and the HVU valves are closed and the MOD is activated. As a result, air access to the MTO is stopped. Then the squib of one of the three cylinders with fire extinguishing composition is blown up and through the sprayer it is filled with the appropriate (place of fire) compartment of the tank. After extinguishing the fire, the HVU supercharger automatically turns on with the opening of the valves, which contributes to the rapid removal of combustion products and fire extinguishing composition from the habitable compartments of the tank. In this case, an electrical signal is removed from the MOD, which makes it possible to start the engine.

The listed design solutions serve to protect the crew and internal equipment of the tank in case of hit by various anti-tank weapons. In order to reduce the likelihood of their hitting, thermal smoke equipment was installed on the T-80. Thus, the camouflage properties of the vehicle were increased, which, combined with its low silhouette and high dynamic qualities, makes it much more difficult for the enemy to accurately aim.

As the main armament, they used the D-81 (2A46) 125 mm caliber smoothbore gun, which had proven itself on the T-64A, stabilized in two planes with an automatic loader. The range of a direct shot from it with a sub-caliber projectile (initial speed of 1800 m / s) was 2100 m. A PKT tank machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber, also used on previous machines, is paired with a cannon. Anti-aircraft machine gun NSVT caliber 12.7 mm mounted on the turret of the commander's cupola. Optical stereoscopic sight-rangefinder TPD-2-49 with independent stabilization of the field of view vertically allowed the gunner to quickly and with high precision determine the range to the target within 1000–4000 m. To determine smaller ranges, there was a rangefinder scale in the field of view of the sight. Measurement data was automatically entered into the sight (the aiming mark was raised or lowered). Also, corrections for the speed of the tank were automatically introduced (mechanism HELL) and the type of projectile used (ballistic mechanism). In one block with a sight, a weapon guidance control panel with buttons for determining the range and firing was made. The night sights of the T-80 commander and gunner were borrowed from the T-64A.

In general, the tower of the first samples of the T-80 tank was largely similar to that installed on the T-64A (including aiming and observation devices, as well as a fire control complex). The difference was only in the capacity of the mechanized ammo rack of the automatic loader. Here it was possible to place only 28 shots instead of 30 for the T-64.

The T-80 power plant consists of a GTD-1000T gas turbine engine (with a capacity of 736 kW (1000 hp)), with its servicing systems, and a set of special equipment. The engine is made according to a three-shaft scheme with two independent turbochargers and a free power turbine. In the car, it is located longitudinally (with the power turbine back) and is attached at three points. Unlike all previous tanks, the front engine attachment point of the T-80 is located not on the bottom, but on the upper armor plate of the hull. The other two supports are similar to the supports on the T-64A - in the yokes at the junction with the gearboxes.

The systems serving the engine (fuel, lubrication, air cleaning, air) are made in the same unit with it (with the exception of fuel and oil tanks and some pumps) and are structurally very different from those used in tanks with diesel engines. Thus, the fuel system of this tank, in addition to traditional functions (storage, transportation, fuel purification and its supply to the combustion chamber), also controls the engine start panel, protects it from operating at modes exceeding the maximum gas temperature and turbocharger and power turbine speeds, provides the operation of the hydraulic mechanism of the drive of the adjustable nozzle apparatus, periodically removes fuel from the engine flow path.

In total, there are 13 tanks in the fuel system (in the outer and inner groups). There are 5 tanks on the right and left fenders (2 on the right and 3 on the left). Inside the vehicle, tanks are installed almost along the entire perimeter of the hull, encircling the fighting compartment. The front left and front right tanks and a tank rack are installed in the front part. Ammunition is placed in the rack tank (a variant of the so-called wet ammo rack). Further, clockwise, there are the middle right (in the fighting compartment), the right, aft and supply tanks (in the engine compartment) and the middle left (in the fighting compartment). Thus, the most efficient use

almost the entire reserved volume of the tank (with the exception of the crew necessary for combat work) and a high degree of protection against damaging effects neutron weapons.

The engine control system also differs significantly from the systems of known diesel engines. It consists of a mechanical drive for fuel supply and a hydraulic servomotor of an adjustable nozzle apparatus (RSA). The fuel supply can be controlled by the pedal or the handle of the manual feed sector. However, the use of these drives is limited, as a rule, only to set a certain mode of fuel supply. The control of the acceleration and deceleration of the engine is carried out using the PCA. It is a rotary vanes in the flow part of the engine in front of the impeller of a free turbine. Due to the rotation of the PCA blades, the vehicle is braked by the engine, the speed of the free turbine (through a gearbox is connected to the transmission) is controlled during the movement of the tank, and the turbine rotor is not carried out at the time of gear shifting.

Due to the absence of a rigid connection between the transmission and the engine shaft (there is only a gas connection between the rotor of the free turbine and the second turbine), stopping the impeller of the free turbine (due to the high resistance to the movement of the tank) does not lead to engine stop.

One of the most important elements of the T-80 power plant is the air cleaning system. This is explained by the fact that the gas turbine at maximum power consumes a lot of air (up to 4 kg / s), its flow rate is very high. Naturally, the engine is very sensitive to the presence of dust in the air entering it. Therefore, a high-efficiency air cleaning system is installed in the T-80 tank. A compromise solution is implemented in its design: a high efficiency of air purification from mechanical particles is achieved with a minimum inlet resistance. The system includes: air intake shutters for the roof of the engine compartment with a protective mesh, an air cleaner unit and oil coolers; fan blowing units; two fans for dust extraction and oil cooling; two air ducts for ejection of cooling air and dust; engine bulkhead hatch; air filters of the nozzle apparatus of the high-pressure turbine and pressurization of the support cavities. The air cleaner unit (single-stage inertial type) and radiators is installed transversely in the engine compartment and is attached to the front support of the monoblock. All fans are engine driven and mounted on the front drive box. The air cleaning system operates in two modes: movement on land and movement with OPVT. In the first case, air is taken from the atmosphere above the air cleaner louvers and, having passed through the cyclones, enters the engine flow path. When installing the OPVT, special casings, an air supply pipe and a gas exhaust pipe are attached to the inlet shutters. Instead of the cover of the air cleaner housing, a mesh is installed. In this mode, the air flow is taken through the air supply pipe and firstly enters under the left casing and, through the connecting pipe, under the right one, and then into the air cleaner unit, similarly to work when driving on land. In this case, the resistance at the air inlet increases slightly. To compensate for these losses, a charge is used from the cooling air and dust selection system, which enters the MTO (the exhaust air ducts are closed) and is taken back into the air cleaner and then into the engine flow path.

To ensure the normal functioning of the engine and its service systems in various conditions operation, special equipment is included in the T-80 power plant. It includes: dust blowing and vibration cleaning systems; a device for spraying fuel with compressed air and blowing nozzles, thermal smoke equipment.

The dust blowing system is designed to remove dust deposits from the interblade channels of the impellers of the engine compressors when operating in conditions of high dust content in the air. For this purpose, it is used compressed air from air balloons. The system operates in two modes - automatic and manual. A vibration cleaning system is used to clean the body and blades of the nozzle apparatus of the high-pressure compressor turbine from glass-like deposits and loess dust melted in the combustion chamber.

The device for atomizing fuel and purging injectors is designed to improve the atomization of diesel fuel and direactive mixtures (ensuring multi-fuel and easier start-up) when starting the engine, as well as for purging injectors after it has stopped. Thermal smoke equipment provides the setting of camouflage smoke screens during combat operations. Since fuel from the engine power system is used as a smoke-generating substance, the equipment can act repeatedly.

In the course of long-term tests over the entire set of road-ground and climatic conditions, as well as during the period of military operation, on long marches and during exercises and tactical exercises, the high efficiency and reliability of the gas turbine power plant were proved, reserves for its further improvement were identified, which were implemented on subsequent models of the T-80.

The transmission of the T-80 tank is two-block mechanical, with a hydraulic servo control system. It consists of two onboard planetary gearboxes, structurally combined into one unit with onboard gearboxes. Gearboxes are similar to those on the T-64, but differ from them in the number of gears (4 instead of 7). This reduction was facilitated by the favorable torque characteristics of the engine, which significantly expanded the range of application of each gear. Thanks to this, it was possible, while maintaining acceptable dimensions of the boxes, to significantly strengthen their elements, which, in turn, contributed to an increase in the reliability and durability of the units. Rectilinear motion The tank is ensured by the synchronous operation of both units, and the rotation is carried out by turning on the lagging side of the gearbox, which is lowered by one gear stage. Therefore, a turn with a minimum design radius equal to the track width of the tank is possible, like the T-64, only in 1st or reverse gear. However, depending on the position of the control lever, the following are provided: machine turns with a free radius (at the beginning of the lever travel), depending on road and ground conditions, since at this moment the gear is simply switched off in the lagging side box; smooth turns (with further movement of the lever) due to slipping of the engagement clutches and a smooth decrease in the turning radius from the value of the free one; turns with the estimated radius in gear (with the lever fully depressed).

There is no clutch mechanism in the traditional sense in the transmission of the T-80 tank. Its role is performed by the RSA mentioned above. When shifting gears, the PCA pedal is moved all the way. In this case, the blades of the nozzle apparatus are rotated by 70–80° from the position corresponding to the maximum traction power of the turbine, which actually leads to its stop (zero power position). Moreover, it is possible to move the selector lever only when the PCA pedal is depressed, since in the initial position it mechanically and electrically blocks the gearshift hydraulic servo drive. Thus, the guaranteed protection of the turbine rotor against runaway is ensured. By the way, the absence of such a mechanism in the GTD-ZT engine of object 167-T led to the destruction of the turbine blades during testing.

Gearbox control drives of the same type as on the T-64. Their driving elements are the gearshift lever, two steering control levers and the brake pedal located in the control compartment, while the actuating devices are hydraulic servo drives. The driver, acting on any setting control, applies the forces necessary to turn the small spool in the distribution mechanisms. This requires so little effort that it was necessary to install additional loaders on some controls (for example, in the steering drive).

To ensure shockless and smooth gear shifting, the hydraulic control system has a special smoothness box. Due to its presence, the processes of relieving oil pressure in the clutch boosters of both boxes (when the gear is turned off) and its increase are automatically adjusted in time.

The machine is braked at the moment the pedal is pressed, which through a mechanical drive acts on the hydraulic booster control valve, the piston of the latter, moving under pressure, turns on the stopping brakes of the gearboxes. The parking brake (mountain) has a mechanical servo drive.

The caterpillar mover of the T-80 tank (as applied to one side) consists of a small-sized caterpillar with a rubber-metal hinge and a rubber-coated treadmill, six dual road wheels with external shock absorption in the form of rubber arrays, five rubber-coated support rollers, a drive wheel with removable rims and a guide wheel with tension mechanism.

As already noted, the increase in the dynamic characteristics of the tank due to the installation of a more powerful engine than that of the T-64 and T-72 led to the need to improve the chassis. However, its design, similar to the T-72, was too heavy, similar to the T-64 - simply could not withstand the loads. The designers found a compromise. The track rollers were made somewhat smaller in diameter than those of the T-72, and the caterpillar track (the inner surface of the tracks) was covered with rubber shoes.

The caterpillar of the machine is a small-linked lantern gear (the transmission of force from the drive wheel is carried out through brackets fixed at the ends of the fingers) consists of 80 tracks with a rubber-metal hinge. Each track consists of two stamped links, in the eyes of which two fingers are pressed, and on upper part vulcanized rubber pads. The tracks are interconnected in the middle part with ridges and shoes, which are bolted together. Staples (the so-called binoculars) are put on the fingers of adjacent tracks along the edges. Caterpillar tracks are symmetrical and can be put on from any side.

The drive wheel consists of a two-piece welded hub, two removable gear rims and a restrictive disk. The toothed rims have 12 teeth each, the working sections of the profiles of which are reinforced with wear-resistant surfacing. As the teeth wear, the drive wheels are swapped or replaced with gear rims. The track roller T-80 is dual-slope, with removable disks, made of aluminum alloy. The outer surface of the discs is vulcanized with massive rubber tire. Support rollers are single-sided, also equipped with a rubber tyre.

The steering wheel of the machine consists of two cast discs welded together with windows for the exit of dirt and snow and stiffeners. In the bores of the axles of the guide wheels there is a gearbox and an electrospeedometer sensor (on the right) and a gearbox with a tachogenerator to ensure the operation of the IM mechanism (on the left). The track tensioning mechanism is single-worm with globoid gearing, directly perceives the forces acting on the idler wheel.

The suspension of the car is individual. Long, full-width torsion bars are used as elastic elements, providing a large dynamic travel of the road wheels. On the 1st, 2nd and 6th suspension units, powerful double-acting hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers are installed. In general, the chassis of the T-80 satisfies the requirements of marching conditions and provides high maneuverability on weakly bearing and loose soils in combat conditions. The design of the tank turned out to be quite light ("openwork") and reliable, having a reserve for increasing the mass of the tank.

The machine has several sets of special equipment designed to increase the autonomy of the machine in combat conditions. These include OPVT (it was discussed above), equipment for self-digging and equipment for self-extraction. The self-digging equipment is a blade with four struts and guides, which is installed on the lower front armor plate of the tank hull. With its help, the machine can independently, without the involvement of special engineering facilities, uncover a hiding place for yourself in a short time.

The self-extraction kit is even simpler. This is a log, two cables with loops and brackets with bolts and nuts. Using this simple set, the tank crew is able, without the involvement of evacuation means, to ensure an independent exit of the vehicle in the event of its sticking with one or two tracks on the ground with poor grip.

In addition, the T-80 has special devices for installing the KMT-6 anti-mine trawl, with which you can make rut passages in minefields.

T-80 tanks are the main combat vehicles that were mass-produced back in the USSR, starting in 1978. Operation was carried out until 1998. This combat unit was the first of its kind to be equipped with a dynamic projectile protection system, as well as a power plant based on a gas turbine.

Light tanks T-80 were also produced in the period from 1942 to 1943. Only 70 samples were released. Subsequently, at the plant, its “stamping” was replaced by the production of SU-76M artillery systems. Light tanks T-80 were no longer produced.

History of creation

The history of the tank dates back to 1964, when at a meeting of the Central Committee of the CPSU it was decided to develop a new combat vehicle, based on the T-64. The innovative tank was conceived as a carrier of a gas turbine engine, which would contribute to a cruising range of 450 kilometers at 1000 horsepower and a warranty period of 500 hours.

The reason for making such a decision is due to the obsolescence of the T-64. Management relied on as a means of increasing performance characteristics combat unit. A feature of this mechanism was the absence of the need for warm-up before starting work, which significantly reduced the time for bringing the tank crew to combat readiness. Especially in harsh winter conditions.

First tests

From about 1968 to 1974, experimental T-80 tanks (then still bearing modest experimental names like "Object-219") underwent a series of tests. Some showed unsatisfactory results in the operation of a new type of engine, some completely failed.

After a number of improvements, the equipment was again tested - either in conditions of high dustiness, or during maneuvers on virgin snow.

The T-80 tanks with a diesel engine were noted for their high maneuverability when interacting with the tank. The vehicle easily advanced to the front positions in order to attack the enemy, developing a speed of 20 to 30 km/h.

On different types of terrain, these tanks showed average speeds from 20 to 40 km / h, while oil consumption tended to zero, and fuel costs ranged from 435 to 840 liters.

Tank T-80. Characteristics and modernization

In 1976, the "Object-219" was put into service under the designation T-80. This is how the first tanks with a gas turbine engine appeared. For comparison: american tank Abrams was put on stream only in 1980.

The T-80 tank (photo below) had a hull made of welded armor plates, in many respects similar in design to its predecessors - the T-72 and T-64A.

The turret is completely cast from armored steel, has a complex configuration and is equipped with a rangefinder. The caliber of the gun is 125 mm, the gun is equipped with a casing at the base of the barrel, the charging mechanism and the projectile chambering system are in many ways similar to the T-64A. Also located on the tower anti-aircraft machine gun "Cliff" and infantry PKT.

Steel rolled and cast, as well as combined. The weight of the T-80 tank was 42 tons. Length (with gun) - approximately 9656 mm, hull - 6780 mm, width - 3525 mm, height (from the lowest point to the top of the tower) - 3525 mm.

T-80BV and other upgrades

Technological progress did not stand still. In 1978, an improved version appeared - T-80B. It was distinguished by the presence of the Cobra guided weapon system, the Tucha tactical smoke grenade launcher, and reinforced armor for both the hull and turret.

At the same time, the T-80BK model was being developed at the Omsk plant.

In 1985, the T-80BV model entered service. It differs from its predecessor by the presence of dynamic protection on the turret and hull.

The latest and most successful modification was the T-80U model, developed in the same 1985. Design principles inherited from the previous models of the "eighty". Weight increased to 46 tons.

The fire control system received a number of improvements, such as the gunner's night and day aiming system and the commander's computer-aiming mechanism.

Innovations made it possible to fight not only with armored targets, but also with low-flying helicopters thanks to the integrated Reflex missile guidance control system. The fired projectile is guided by a laser beam pointer at a distance of 100 to 5000 meters.

TTX of new products

T-80 tanks were rightfully considered one of the most advanced achievements of domestic design thought. For comparison, their performance characteristics should be considered.

The T-80BV weighed 43.7 tons, while the T-80U was heavier and weighed as much as 46.

The length of the first, together with the gun, was 9651 mm, while the improved model was shorter - 9556 mm.

As for the body itself, it's the other way around. The T-80B has a length of 6982 mm, a width of 3582 mm, and the T-80U had the characteristics of 7012 mm and 3603 mm, respectively.

The difference in height is almost imperceptible to the naked eye. The numbers indicate the difference only in the documentation - 2219 versus 2215 mm.

Termination of production

The T-80 tank (photo below) had a number of modifications intended for export to different countries of the world. Those are countless. For example, the model "eighties" on a diesel engine, produced in Kharkov under the marking T-80UD, formed the basis of Ukrainian military equipment: "Oplot", BM "Oplot" and T-84.

The production of the "eighties" was discontinued in 1998. The reasons, unfortunately, are unknown. Nevertheless, the combat vehicle is still in service with the army. Russian Federation.

"Armata"

On May 5, 2016, at the parade on Red Square, the new generation T-14 tank on the Armata platform was presented to the general public.

It was developed as part of the Combat Systems of the Future project, as well as to participate in the "network-centric war". This term refers to the military doctrine proclaimed by the NATO countries, which is the coordination of the actions of offensive or defensive forces, united in a single information network.

The T-14 was the first stealth tank in Russia. The body of the vehicle is constructed from a special material that makes it difficult to recognize vehicles by the main known radar waves and significantly reduces the distance required for target acquisition by Javelin or Brimstone missile guidance systems.

The peculiarity of the tank is that the crew is completely located in the hull. The tower remains uninhabited, which also contributes to the protection of crew members in combat conditions.

The Armata complex is equipped with the Afganit system, which makes it possible to intercept shells. The built-in system for the formation of smoke-metal curtains allows you to "dazzle" radio-controlled drones and mines due to signal distortion by the mentioned particles. This, in turn, does not harm the infantry and equipment accompanying the combat vehicle.

The T-14 is equipped with dynamic armor, the principle of which is based on firing armor plates towards a flying projectile. It is believed that this method of booking is also capable of reflecting shots from an anti-tank grenade launcher.

Technological progress does not stand still, every day new types of weapons are being developed in secret laboratories. It is known that "Armata" is put into mass production until 2020. And they do not plan to interrupt the "stamping" of innovative technology even in a crisis.

But what will be the novelty that can surpass the T-14, is it really futuristic walking tanks? Time will tell.

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 weapon 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 military-technical achievements. In the age-old confrontation "projectile - armor", as practice shows, protection from a projectile is being improved more and more, acquiring new qualities: activity, multilayeredness, self-protection. 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 numbers by almost all the 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 forces all of which are the most affected.

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, which lost most of his European territories and with difficulty recruiting tanks for the defense of Moscow, was he able to release powerful tank formations on the battlefield already in 1943? This book, which tells about the development of Soviet tanks "in the days of trials", from 1937 to early 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 that 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 of the 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 in general, 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: First, 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 from late XIX 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, in order 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 response. 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 free, 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 serial 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 new methodology, specially developed at the insistence of the new head of the ABTU D. Pavlov in relation to combat 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. Chief designer N. Astrov was suspended from work and was in custody and under 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 enough nice results, and therefore the torsion bar suspension did not immediately pave its way in the course of further work. 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 justifying his choice, N. Astrov said that the wheeled-tracked non-floating reconnaissance aircraft (factory designation 101 or 10-1), as well as the amphibious tank variant (factory designation 102 or 10- 2), are a compromise solution, since it is not possible to fully satisfy the requirements of ABTU.Option 101 was a tank weighing 7.5 tons with a hull like a hull, but with vertical side sheets of cemented armor 10-13 mm thick, since : "Sloping sides, causing a serious weighting of the suspension and hull, require a significant (up to 300mm) 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.

The T-80 is a Soviet main battle tank. He became the world's first serial tank with a single gas turbine power plant. It was and still is in service with a number of countries.

The history of the creation of the T-80

In 1969, on the basis of an experimental Kharkov gas turbine T-64T, a new gas turbine tank was built - "Object 219 sp1". After eliminating the shortcomings, the tank was renamed "Object 219 sp 2", and new model already significantly different from the 64-ki - the tank's undercarriage was seriously changed, as the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle changed. Also, the shape of the tower has undergone changes. The new tank was named T-80 and was soon put into service.

Tactical and technical characteristics (TTX)

general information

• Classification - main battle tank;
• Combat weight - 42 tons;
• The layout scheme is classic;
• Crew - 3 people;
• Years of operation - since 1976;
• The number of issued - more than 10 thousand pieces.

Dimensions

• Case length - 6982 mm;
• Length with gun forward - 9654 mm;
• Hull width - 3525 mm;
• Height - 2193 mm;
• Clearance - 450 mm.

Booking

• Type of armor - rolled and cast steel and combined, anti-cannon;
• Dynamic protection - Contact-1, Contact-5.

Armament

• The caliber and brand of the gun is 125 mm 2A46-1;
• Type of gun - smoothbore gun;
• Barrel length - 48 calibers;
• Gun ammunition - 38;
• HV angles: -5…+14°;
• Firing range - 3.7-5 km;
• Sights - optical sight-rangefinder TPD-2-49, periscope night TPN-3-49;
• Machine guns - 1 × 12.7 mm NSVT, 1 × 7.62 mm PKT.

Mobility

• Engine type and brand - GTD-1000T air-cooled gas turbine;
• Engine power - 1000 hp;
• Highway speed - 65 km / h;
• Cross-country speed - 50 km / h;
• Power reserve on the highway - 350 km;
• Power reserve over rough terrain - 250 km;
• Suspension type - individual torsion bar;
• Specific ground pressure - 0.84 kg / cm²;
• Climbability - 32 degrees;
• Overcoming wall - 1 m;
• Crossable moat - 2.85 m;
• Crossable ford - 1.2 m.

T-80 modifications

• T-80A, developed in the mid-1970s;
• T-80U - modification with various technical improvements;
• T-80UK - commander's version of the tank with additional radios, navigation system and sensors;
• T-80UE - a modification designed in 1995 for the Greek tender;
• T-80UM1 "Bars", a relatively new modification (1997). It was distinguished by an improved engine, air conditioning system, a new gun and installed complexes and systems;
• T-80B, put into service in 1978;
• T-80UD, "Birch", with an anti-aircraft machine gun and a diesel engine;

There were also a number of Ukrainian upgrades of this tank.

Use in combat

• On October 4, 1993, it was the T-80UD tanks that fired at the building of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation during the White House shooting;
• In 1994-1996, T-80s took part in the First Chechen War, for example, during the assault on Grozny;
• In early 2015, several T-80BVs were used by government forces in the armed conflict in Yemen. One T-80 was destroyed and another captured by the rebels;
• In 2015, in eastern Ukraine, in the zone of armed conflict, many unmarked T-80s were registered in the territory of the rebels.

tank memory

Today, the T-80 can be seen in many museums around the world:

• In the village of Arkhangelsk, in the Museum of Technology of Vadim Zadorozhny;
• In Bryansk, in the Memorial complex "Partisan Glade";
• In Verkhnyaya Pyshma, in the Museum of Military Equipment " Battle glory Ural";
• In the Armored Museum in Kubinka;
• Petersburg, in the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, engineering troops and signal troops;
• In the museum of the history of T-34;
• In the Ukrainian Museum of the Great Patriotic War.

Also, the T-80 is installed on a pedestal in many cities of Russia: in Kazan, in Moscow and the Moscow region, in Kostroma, in St. Petersburg and in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.