Comintern (tugboat)
| ХПЗ имени Коминтерна | |
|---|---|
 Comintern tugs (around 1935)
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| Comintern | |
| Manufacturer: | ChPS imeni Kominterna |
| Sales designation: | Коминтерн |
| Production period: | 1935-1940 |
| Previous model: | Communar |
| Successor: | Voroshilovets |
| Technical specifications | |
| Designs: | Cot |
| Engines: | 4-cylinder gasoline engine |
| Power: | 96 kW |
| Payload: | 2 t |
| Perm. Total weight: | 12.5 t |
The Comintern ( Russian Коминтерн ) was a Soviet medium artillery tug that was used by the Red Army during World War II . The design of this vehicle, named after the Communist International , was developed in 1931; series production in the Kharkov locomotive factory ran from 1935 to 1940. A total of 1798 tractors of this type were produced. With the Comintern , the Soviet rifled artillery received a reliable power towing device for their motorization, but the number of tugs produced was insufficient to achieve this completely. The vehicles were used by the Red Army (from 1946 Soviet) until the mid-1950s, when they were replaced by more modern tractor models. No Comintern has survived completely.
history
development
Due to the rapid development of the Soviet artillery in the years 1929–1930 there was a need for a power towing device for the new heavy artillery. The progress in military science of this time also required the motorization of all weapons. That is why the main artillery office of the Red Army commissioned the development of a whole series of tugs in 1930. The Kharkov locomotive factory, experienced in military and civil tractor construction, was commissioned with the development. The designers D. M. Ivanov and D. F. Bobrow developed from 1931 under the direction of B. N. Voronkow the "medium artillery tractor" according to the requirements based on the T-24 tank produced in small series . The drive and suspension were taken over from the T-24 without any major changes. The first test vehicle still showed many defects. In 1932, the engineering collective under N. G. Subarew's leadership was able to successfully revise the design, which effectively turned the vehicle into a full-track truck. The state tests of the improved vehicle ended successfully in 1934 and the Red Army accepted it for its own service as the " Comintern " medium artillery tug . Series production followed in the next year with a monthly output of around 25-30 vehicles. Starting in 1939, the manufacturer produced the new, more powerful “ Voroshilovets ” type tractor and finally stopped production by the Comintern in favor of this type .
commitment
The Comintern tugs were successfully used as tugs for heavy division and corps guns. The tractor was used to tow the artillery systems 107-mm division cannon M1940 (M-60) , 122-mm cannon M1931 / 37 (A-19) , 152-mm howitzer M1938 (M-10) , and 152-mm Cannon Howitzer M1937 (ML-20) used. He was responsible for the mobility of the Soviet artillery. But the insufficient number of powerful tugs in the Red Army led to large losses of heavy artillery in the early phase of the German-Soviet War . The Comintern was also able to tow the extremely heavy 203 mm howitzer M1931 (B-4) , but only on good roads. In 1945 the Red Army owned 568 tugs of this type, the losses from September 1, 1942 until the end of the war amounted to only 56 vehicles. During the Russian campaign, the German Wehrmacht captured some of these tractors and put them into service under the designation Artillerie-Schlepper 604 (r) . Many Comintern also worked in the Soviet military and civil industries.
technology
The Comintern were powered by a 4-cylinder four-stroke carburetor engine of the KIN type. The oil-cooled engine developed about 131 hp, the five-speed gearbox allowed it to cover a wide range of pulling power. The maximum value was around 6,800 kilopond at 2.6 km / h. The vehicle was equipped with a powerful cable winch driven by the traction motor, the maximum towing force of which was almost 10,000 kilopond.
| Technical data: Artillery tugs Comintern | |
| General properties | |
| classification | Medium artillery tug |
| Type | Chain tractor with truck body |
| Drive position | back |
| Weight | 10.5 tons |
| Developer and manufacturer | Kharkov Locomotive Factory ( Russian Государственный Харьковский Паровозостроительный Завод ) |
| Chief designers | Boris Nikonorowitsch Voronkow, NG Subarew (reworking of the original design) |
| Engineering collective of developers | D. M. Ivanov, D. F. Bobrow, A. G. Gulita, W. P. Kaplin |
| Years of development | 1930-1934 |
| Years of construction | 1935–1940 (prototype also 1934) |
| number of pieces | 1798 |
| Load and towing force data | |
| Seats in the driver's cab | 2 |
| Seats in the bunk | 12 |
| Load capacity of the platform | 2 tons |
| Maximum towing power | 6800 kp (66.7 kN ) |
| Weight of the towed trailer without overload | 12 tons |
| Weight of the towed trailer with overload | 14 tons |
| Dimensions | |
| Length over all | 5765 mm |
| Width without tarpaulin | 2208 mm |
| Width with tarpaulin | 2980 mm |
| Height above cab | 2538 mm |
| Height above bed with tarpaulin | 2980 mm |
| Area of the bed | 5.36 m² |
| Track width | 1530 mm |
| Chain width | 360 mm |
| Ground clearance | 400 mm |
| agility | |
| engine | 4-cylinder petrol engine KIN with 131 hp (96 kW) at 1280 min -1 |
| Power to weight ratio | 12.48 hp / ton |
| Maximum speed (road): | 30.5 km / h |
| Fuel supply | 550 liters |
| Fuel consumption per 100 km (road, without trailer) | 250 liters |
| Driving area (road, without trailer) | 220 km |
| Driving area (road, with trailer) | 170 km |
| Ground pressure | 0.495 kg / cm² |
| Climbing ability (with load in the flatbed, without trailer) | 33.5 ° |
Overall, the vehicle was reliable and fast enough. The tug was able to work with different fuels ( gasoline , kerosene , ligroin and their mixtures) and in harsh winter conditions. Its main shortcomings were the need for qualified maintenance, the high fuel consumption, the high center of gravity and the insufficient maneuverability.
See also
literature
- Прочко Е. И .: Артиллерийские тягачи Красной Армии [Бронеколлекция № 3] . Моделист-Конструктор, Москва 2002
(Russian and in Cyrillic script; German roughly: Ewgeni I. Protschko: Die Artillerie-Schlepper der Red Army [Bronekollekzija No. 3] . Modelist constructor, Moscow 2002) - Шунков В. Н .: Оружие Красной Армии . Харвест, Минск 1999, ISBN 985-433-469-4 .
(Russian and in Cyrillic script; German roughly: WN Schunkow: Die Waffen der Roten Army . Harvest, Minsk 1999) - Бескурников А., Свирин М. Н .: Первые советские танки. [Армада №1]
(Russian and in Cyrillic script; German roughly: A. Beskurnikow, Michail N. Swirin: The first Soviet tanks. In: Armada Nr.1 )
