T-45 (tank)
| T-45 | |
|---|---|
| General properties | |
| crew | 2 (commander and driver) |
| length | 4.12 m |
| width | 2.34 m |
| height | 1.8 m |
| Dimensions | 7 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 25 to max. 45 mm |
| Main armament | 45mm 20K Model 1938 |
| Secondary armament | 1 × coaxial MG DT |
| agility | |
| drive | Six-cylinder ZIS-5 gasoline engine 73 to 76 hp |
| suspension | Torsion bar suspension |
| Top speed | 37.2 km / h (road) |
| Power / weight | 10.86 hp / ton |
The T-45 was a prototype of a light tank made during the Second World War from Soviet production. It was intended as an emergency solution to bridge the gap between the T-60 and the production of the T-70 in 1942. Only a prototype based on the T-60 with a new main armament, tank turret and engine was built. However, it never went into series production as the T-70 was preferred. The whereabouts of the prototype is unknown, it was probably lost during the war.
history
prehistory
The People's Commissariat for Tank Industry (NKPT) determined that the production of the T-70 in the tank factory No. 37 in Sverdlovsk was not possible due to delivery problems of the GAZ-202 engines from the Gorkier Automobile Plant , and alternative options were sought.
development
At a meeting of the NKPT on May 14, 1942, the idea came up to introduce a type based on the T-60, but without affecting the production of the T-70. This tank was to use a 45 mm cannon and had armor reinforced to 35 mm. The tank factory No. 37 under the direction of NA Popow was commissioned to design the new vehicle. The T-45 was armed with a 45mm 20K model 1938 and a coaxial MG DT . This armament was very common among Soviet light tanks, similar to the T-70. The T-45 initially received a used ZIS-5 engine from a truck, but long-term plans were made to use a more powerful ZIS-16 engine from the bus of the same name. The first tests were carried out on May 20, 1942 with the first driving tests from June 6 to 13, a total of 1505 km were covered on various surfaces. The tests showed several deficiencies, especially in the ventilation of the engine due to excessive speeds due to the used ZIS-5 engine. The T-45 achieved 7–8 rounds per minute while stationary and three while moving.
The combination of the T-60 variant was inferior to the T-70 in terms of armament, engine power and mobility. Ultimately, the T-45 failed to convince the Soviet leadership, as another type of tank would have complicated production and maintenance and they had to rely on making as many tanks as possible as quickly as possible. Added to this was the scarcity of parts, which became more and more obvious. This sealed the fate of the T-45, which thus remained a side note in Soviet tank development.
See also
Web links
- Technical data with photos (Russian)