T-38 (tank)

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T-38 light tank in the "Breakthrough of the Leningrad Blockade" War Museum, Kirovsk , Russia

The T-38 was a light Soviet amphibious and reconnaissance tank of the Second World War .

history

The tank was a further development of the T-37 and was initially viewed by the Soviet leadership as an optimal design. However, the maneuvers in 1937 and the winter war already showed that the vehicle was unreliable and insufficiently armored. The tank could only swim in good conditions and could not even transport two soldiers. The subsequent modernization produced the T-38M, of which only 15 were built, as only some of the weaknesses could be remedied. For this reason, further development of the T-38 was stopped and work on the new T-40 amphibious reconnaissance vehicle was intensified. Most of the T-38 tanks were lost in the 1941 battles; they were last used in 1944 near Leningrad.

Use in the Wehrmacht

Captured T-38s were mostly used by the Wehrmacht under the designation 732 (r) in security units in the occupied hinterland of the Soviet Union or as tractors. When used as a tractor, the tank turret was often removed. Infantry units also use the T-38 as a reconnaissance vehicle. Air force security units for airfields also used the T-38. German units partially replaced the tank turret with German machine guns or 2 cm machine cannons with a protective shield.

Technical specifications

  • Classification: Light Main Battle Tank
  • Chief designer: Nikolai Alexandrovich Astrov
  • Manufacturer: Plant No.37 (Sawod No.37) in Moscow (1340), Gorkowski Avtomobilny Sawod (36)
  • Armament: 1 × 7.62 mm MG Degtjarjow DT
  • Ammunition : 1512 rounds 7.62 × 54 mm R
  • Armor:
    • Tub
      • 9 mm bow / inclination 70 °
      • 9 mm driver front above / 80 °
      • 6 mm driver front below / 10 °
      • 6 mm tub side / 90 °
      • 9 mm tail
      • 6 mm ceiling / 0 °
      • 4 mm bottom / 0 °
    • tower
      • 9 mm tower front / 0 °
      • 9 mm tower side / 0 °
      • 9 mm rear / 0 °
      • 6 mm ceiling / 0 °
  • Weight: 3.3 tons
  • Engine: 4-cylinder gasoline engine GAZ-AA with 29 kW (40 PS)
  • Fuel consumption per 100 km (road): 48 liters
  • Fuel supply: 120 liters
  • Power-to-weight ratio : 8.9 kW / t (12.1 PS / t)
  • Drive position: front
  • Driving range (road): 250 km
  • Top speed: (road / terrain) 40 km / h / 10–15 km / h
  • Suspension: coil springs
  • Chain width: 152 mm
  • Ground pressure : 0.45 kg / cm²
  • Ground clearance: 30 cm
  • Overall length: 3780 mm
  • Overall width: 2334 mm
  • Height: 1630 mm
  • Crew: 2 men
  • Years of construction: 1936–1937, 1939
  • Number of pieces: 1376

See also

literature

  • Свирин М. Н .: Броневой щит Сталина. История советского танка 1937–1943.
    (Swirin MN The armored shield of Stalin. The history of the Soviet tank 1937–1943. ) «Eksmo», Moscow 2007, ISBN 978-5-699-16243-7 .
  • Alexander Lüdeke : captured tanks of the Wehrmacht - Great Britain, Italy, Soviet Union and USA 1939–45. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-613-03359-7 .

Web links

Commons : T-38  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Lüdeke: captured armor of the Wehrmacht. 2011, pp. 49-50.