T-18

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T-18
T-18 (MS) (model 1928)

T-18 (MS) (model 1928)
General properties
crew 2
length 3.50 m (4.50 m above sea level)
width 1.80 m
height 2.20 m
Dimensions 5.5-5.9 t
Armor and armament
Armor 6-22 mm
Main armament 1 × 37 mm Model 1916 Hotchkiss gun
Secondary armament 2 × 7.62-mm MG DT
agility
drive Fiat 6-cylinder petrol engine T-18
35 hp
Top speed 16-22 km / h
Power / weight 5.5 kW / t (7.4 PS / t)
Range 100-120 km

The T-18 was the first Soviet tank to be built in large series . The original designation MS-1 goes back to the designation system of that time and stands for malyi soprowoschdenija ( Russian малый сопровождения , small, accompanying) and describes the task as an escort and support vehicle for the infantry  - later the name was changed to T-18 .

development

In mid-1926 a three-year plan for tank construction was drawn up, which was based on the concept of an infantry breakthrough by two opposing infantry divisions up to a depth of 10 km. Several foreign models were examined for their suitability, in particular the French Renault FT appeared suitable for infantry support. Some Renaults were copied, but ultimately regarded as unsuitable (too large, too slow and overall too weak and not accurately targeted armament at long distances) and too expensive.

The Italian Fiat 3000 was ultimately selected as a better starting model, especially because of its higher speed and smaller dimensions, and a 5-ton tank was planned on its basis from mid-1926. The first prototype was available for tests from March 1927 and was named T-16. Compared to the Renault replica, it was lighter, smaller, faster and cheaper, but still had a few problems that made it necessary to revise the design. The chassis was extended by a roller and the drive system was redesigned. The new prototype was available in mid-May and began testing as the “Small Support Tank Model 1927 MS-1”. Since the planned armament was not yet available, a dummy was installed for the time being . The official acceptance by the Red Army took place in June and was overall positive. On February 1, 1928, 108 tanks were ordered, which were to be delivered between 1928 and 1929, 30 of them as early as 1928. Production started in one factory, followed by a second in May 1929 - but production was sluggish and only 96 of them Planned vehicles were delivered, but at the same time production of a further 300 units was required by the end of 1930. In addition to the 37 mm Hotchkiss cannon, the tank was armed with two MG DTs, one of which was installed in the turret at a 45 ° angle to the cannon and the second served as a reserve.

Conversions

As early as 1929, there were weaknesses in the use of the troops; Attempts to improve cross-country mobility have not been successful. At the same time, in mid-1929, the structure and doctrine of the Red Army was revised towards the construction and use of armored and mechanized formations, for which the T-18, however, was out of date. But since no successor model was in sight, the T-18 was inevitably retained as a transitional model and various modernization measures were undertaken. A more powerful engine (40 hp ) with a new gearbox was installed, thus increasing the speed, but the installation of a more modern 37 mm cannon could not be implemented. The turret was revised, the reserve machine gun removed and the installation of a radio enabled, although only a few tanks received one. The tanks modernized in this way were referred to as "MS-1 (T-18) Model 1930". Overall, these measures did not bring the hoped-for improvements, so that at the end of 1929 the development of a new T-20 support tank began. The T-18 Model 1930 remained in production until the T-26 was released in late 1931.

Another attempt at modernization was made in 1933 by designing the chassis similar to that of the T-26, but this proved to be a complete failure.

In 1937 it was decided to modernize all outdated armored vehicles from the period before 1930 so that they should meet modern operational requirements - the T-18 played a special role in this modernization program. First it was decided to install the transmission of the T-38 , for which the engine compartment had to be rebuilt. The turret was renewed and a new 45 mm cannon was partially installed. The tanks that were modernized in this way were called T-18Ms, and the conversion was carried out industrially in the manufacturer's factory. But even this modernization did not bring the hoped-for results - the speed was still too low at just under 25 km / h (calculated were 35 km / h) and the center of gravity of the tank had moved so far back that it became unstable on slippery ground and couldn't climb any bigger hills. Overall, the combat value was completely inadequate compared to the modernization costs. Nevertheless, isolated T-18s were still used in combat with reserve units in 1941, where they proved to be hopelessly inferior to the corresponding enemy patterns.

Technical data (T-18 model 1930)

  • Combat mass: 5.3 t
  • Length: 4.50 m
  • Width: 1.80 m
  • Height: 2.20 m
  • Ground clearance: 0.31 m
  • Ground pressure : 3.7 N / cm²
  • Engine power: 29 kW (40 PS)
  • Speed: 17.5 km / h (road)
  • Gradeability: 35 °
  • Cross slope: 30 °
  • Ability to cross: 1.80 m
  • Climbing ability: 0.55 m
  • Wading ability: 0.80 m
  • Fuel supply: 110 l
  • Driving range: 120 km
  • Armament: 1 cannon 37 mm (Hotchkiss or PS-1, 97 grenades), 2 MG DT (individual specimens a 6.5 mm Awtomat Fjodorowa , 1,800 cartridges)
  • Combat set
    • Cannon: 104 shell cartridges
    • MG DT: 2016 cartridges
  • Crew: 2 men

literature

  • Robert Jackson: Panzer: Models from all over the world from 1915 until today , Parragon Books Ltd, ISBN 978-1-4075-7742-5 , p. 31 ff.
  • AW Karpenko: Soviet-Russian tanks . 1905-2003. Elbe-Dnjepr, Klitzschen 2004, ISBN 3-933395-44-5 , p. 158 (Russian: Обозрение отечественной бронетанковой техники (1905–1995 гг.) . Translated by R. Meier).

Web links

Commons : T-18  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files