T-42 (tank)

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T-42
Schematic representation of the T-42 tank

Schematic representation of the T-42 tank
General properties
crew 14-15
length
width
height
Dimensions 101.6 t
Armor and armament
Armor up to 70 mm front armor
Main armament 107 mm cannon M1910 / 30
Secondary armament 2 × 45 mm cannon M1932 / 38 20K; 4-5 x 7.62 mm MG DT
agility
drive 2 diesel engines
2,000  PS (1,471  kW )
Top speed 20–27 km / h (road)
Power / weight 19.7 hp / t

The T-42 (also known as the TG-W ) was a design for an extremely heavy Soviet battle tank from the 1930s.

history

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the military and political situation in the Soviet Union required the technical rearmament and modernization of the army. This included an armored vehicle equipment program adopted by the Council of People's Commissars in 1929. The tanks available to the Red Army at that time consisted mainly of light infantry tanks of the T-18 type from their own production and some medium and heavy British tanks from the First World War . Work on the creation of its own medium and heavy tanks, which began in the USSR, quickly collided with the lack of technical and scientific personnel and experience in building tanks. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to develop a completely domestic tank project (like the T-30 ), it was decided to recruit appropriate personnel from abroad, especially from the German Reich .

In March 1930, a group of specialists led by engineer Eduard Grote came from Germany. This was commissioned to develop potential tanks for the Red Army. Grote's first work was the concept of the TG (" Tank Grote ") medium tank , which had many promising solutions and, in general, exceeded the level of global tank construction of the time. The tank made a very positive impression on the Red Army leadership, but it was too complex for series production. Then Grote began to design a heavy tank. The Red Army had also started work on the T-35 heavy tank in parallel .

description

The construction of the T-42 was basically similar to that of the T-35 and its prototype T-35-1. The driver's seat was in the front part of the tank. The main tower was placed along the longitudinal axis of the tank and strongly supported forward. The large number of weapons were used in five towers, which were arranged in two levels (corresponding to the previous TG-IV project). The first stage was formed by four towers, which were arranged around the main tower. Before him two gun turrets were armed with the 45 mm gun M1932 / 38 20K, and with them two 7.62 mm MG DT coupled to the rear, who were also able to shoot at air targets. The second stage was the main tower, armed with the 107-mm cannon M1910 / 30, which was to be adapted for installation in the tank. A DT machine gun was also provided for the commander on the roof of the main tower.

The engine-gearbox unit was in the rear of the tank. The drive unit of the tank posed a great challenge for the developers, because the power of the engines available at the time was not enough to move the 100 tons from the spot. In order to move the tank at an acceptable speed, the T-42 had to be equipped with an output of around 2000 hp. Since such a powerful engine did not exist in 1932, two locomotive diesel engines with 1000 hp each were planned as twin systems.

The tank was to have a roller carriage drive with 6 roller carriages each with 2 rollers, a single roller at the front and rear, and a roller carriage with 3 rollers in the middle of the vehicle, a total of 17 rollers on each side. The idler was at the bow, the drive wheel at the rear of the tank. As in the case of the TG-IV, electrical transmission and servo control were provided to facilitate the control of the tank. While this led to a significant improvement in controllability, it made the tank very complicated and expensive.

It is assumed that the tank had variously graded armor with a maximum thickness of 70 mm on the front and the turrets.

Result

Like most of the superheavy tanks developed worldwide in the 1920s and 1930s, the T-42 had almost no practical use. The sheer size and weight of such a tank made it a perfect target despite anti-aircraft measures. In addition, there were concerns about how to bring a tank of this size and weight to the front line and into combat. For example, it was unclear how such a heavy tank was to be moved over bridges or onto a rail vehicle. For these reasons and because of the prohibitive cost, the development of the T-42 was not pursued, despite its powerful armament. Thus, the tank was inferior to the T-35, which was eventually selected by the USSR for further development.

See also

Remarks

  1. ↑ ... or a ( armored ) land battleship ...