Light tank T 80 model 1943. When the first tanks appeared in the USSR. Tactical and technical characteristics of tanks
Legend.
The choice for this model fell under the influence of all the previous ones. They were all large and very large machines. I was mentally tired of working on dinosaurs and became interested in something small. And as it usually happens with me - extremely small) I have a Mouse, as a sample of maximum size, I wanted something in the opposite direction - a sample of minimum size. But not a wedge, which of course come in smaller sizes, but what a tank, even a light one. At first I remembered the popular German E-10, E-25, but I love variety and I didn’t want to make a third German car out of five models. Plus, another preference of mine is tanks from the late stages of World War II. I studied history, alternatives of different countries. And the Soviet T-80 caught my eye. I really liked it, it’s an unusual, nice tank, asymmetrical layout, small size and weight. At that time there were no fewer of his full-fledged tanks; there were, plus or minus, the same.There is no historical connection. I imagine the legend that he was part of the 8th self-propelled artillery brigade. They were the ones who used the sign in the form of a bird in the circle that I made. And apparently the tank was a command tank, since even by the end of the war, Soviet armored vehicles very rarely had walkie-talkies, especially on such “bugs.” And here she is.
Usually, I always strive to give the model uniqueness, through various additions in moderation and within the framework of logic. This time it's a cable, a ramp and an antenna.
I also always prefer to paint camouflage; I like that it is more complex than a single-color fill and is more effective in general. Yes, kamo was rarely used in the Red Army. But the one I used is a real circuit from those times. I was fooling around for a long time to authentically mix 4BO, 6K and 7K paints. There is a lot of debate about their authenticity, but I can say that 4BO I found a recipe that is completely identical to 4BO from Akan. There was even less information on 6K and 7K, but I also think that I achieved something very close to the combined average result between different sources.
Materials used.
1. Set T-80 Miniart 351172. Photo-etched Voyager PE 35516 for T-70m
3. Metal tracks MasterClub MTL-35036 for T-70m
4. External parts for Su-76m Kit Zip 35010
5. Rollers and sprockets for T-70m Kit Zip 35009
6. Turned barrel and machine gun 20K 45mm Aber 35L-055
7. Headlights of Soviet technology Elf 3502
8. Cable with thimbles for T-34/76 and Su-122 Eureka XXL ER-3528
9. Antenna of the Soviet BTT WW2 Aber R-33
10. Rivets 1.0 MC435017 MasterClub
11. Bolts 0.6 Mc435043 MasterClub
12. Bolts 0.7 Mc435044 MasterClub
13. Bolts 0.9 Mc435036 MasterClub
14. Copper wire, scraps of etched boards, plastic and other available materials.
What was done additionally?
Let me clarify that not only the set itself does not count, but also the photo-etching.1. Cut off and replaced all hex bolts, including those on the transmission cover.
2. Cut and replaced the rivet at the junction of the side sheets.
3. Drilled out the hole for the torsion shafts and glued adequate hex bolts there.
4. I made a corner mount for the winter engine warm-up lamp.
5. Changed the shape of the suspension travel limiters to the correct one.
6. Narrowed the joint of the side sheets with putty.
7. Use putty to narrow all the joints on the top sheet.
10. Replaced the mechanical drive hatch with the correct one. I made it workable and laid a seam around the perimeter.
11. Replaced transmission covers.
12. Replaced the road wheels with the correct ones.
13. Replaced the drive sprockets with the correct ones.
14. I laid vertical seams on the stern and imitated a gas cutting mark on the vertical section of the stern sheet.
15. I laid a horizontal seam at the junction of the VLD and NLD and imitated the mark of a gas cutting machine on the cut of the NLD.
16. I laid the missing seams of the VLD and side sheets.
17. Replaced all types of handrails and handles (3 types) on the body with wire of different diameters. I simulated weld marks at the place where they were attached.
18. At the side ventilation casing, I corrected the internal bulkheads, making two instead of three.
19. I cut a hole at the bottom of the side ventilation casing and inserted a grille.
20. I laid the missing seams on the front and rear edges of the side ventilation casing and added two missing bolts each.
21. I made loops for folding the side ventilation casing.
22. Moved the fastening of the manual winding handle from the side to the fenders.
23. Replaced the headlight from the kit with Elf, laid the wiring to the headlight and signal.
24. The turret ledge on the left was completely converted to the right one. I made a seam.
25. I made two slots on each of the slats to secure them with wings when folded.
26. Made the slats working.
1. Made the tower working, rotating, but not falling off.
2. Replaced the barrel of the cannon and machine gun with turned ones.
3. I laid seams on the sides of the gun mantlet and around the entrance of the gun into the mantlet.
4. I replaced the antenna input glass, since it came from the kit underfilled. I put a seam around it
6. Replaced all types of handrails and handles (3 types) and loops (2 types) with wire of different diameters. I imitated weld marks at the place where they were attached.
7. Made working hatches on the tower, that’s all.
Construction.
Construction began in February and finished in mid-November. But I think it took a little more than six months of active time.Something new for me: for the first time I made a roll myself and for the first time I used separate bolts and rivets.
What can I say about the construction site itself and the recruitment. In the last photos from the gallery you can see for yourself that there is no living space left on the model in its original form. I think that the number of alterations and replaced parts significantly exceeds the number of untouched parts from the box as they are. The set is both very low quality in everything and not a copy in particulars. Only a god of modeling can assemble the tracks out of the box, the antenna input is underfilled, some parts need to be marked and glued along a ruler, there are a lot of “washed out” small parts, all the torsion bars are crooked, which means all the wheels are difficult to align, the plastic itself is soft and brittle. There are no numbers on the sprues. There are also a lot of errors in the hardware. In general, everything is in the style of old firewood from the 90s and earlier. But! The general geometry and dimensions are correct and with serious effort and desire (this is the main thing) you can bring the model to an excellent look. I would like to believe that this is exactly what happened to me.
Main tank T-80, Cuban.
The first of these was the insufficient power of the GAZ-203 twin propulsion system. It was planned to increase it by boosting it to 170 hp. With. in total due to an increase in the cylinder filling ratio and an increase in the compression ratio. The second obstacle arose from the requirement to provide large elevation angles for the gun to hit targets on the upper floors of buildings in urban battles. This could also make it possible to increase the fire countermeasures of enemy aircraft. In particular, the commander of the Kalinin Front, Lieutenant General I. S. Konev, insisted on this. The already developed two-man turret for the T-70 did not satisfy this requirement and was redesigned to allow firing from a gun at a high elevation angle. The second prototype with the new turret received the factory designation 080 or 0-80. For more convenient placement of a gun with the possibility of anti-aircraft firing and two crew members, it was necessary to widen the diameter of the shoulder strap and make an armored barbette ring with a thickness of 40-45 mm under the inclined edges of the turret. Due to the wider turret shoulder strap, it became impossible to dismantle the engine without first removing the turret - the armor ring began to overlap the removable over-engine armor plate.
Production
Despite the fact that the production of the T-80 at GAZ named after. Molotov was not planned; in practice, already in January 1943, on the initiative of the plant management and the People's Commissariat of Medium Engineering (NKSM), work was in full swing to prepare for its release. Already at the beginning of March, the first reference copy of the T-80 was built. During testing of the first production T-80, problems were discovered. After the 11th shot, the reaction rod bracket of the lifting mechanism was torn apart. Work has begun to fix the problem. Meanwhile, by March 11, 2 more tanks were ready, and 6 more were in assembly. By the end of the month, 8 T-80s were ready, although 7 of them were fully equipped with all units. Another 9 tanks were laid down and awaiting assembly. The reason why these tanks did not appear in the reports on the production of GAZ named after. Molotov, is that they were not officially accepted. In his monthly report, senior military representative Okunev wrote that due to problems when firing at maximum elevation angles, the tanks were accepted only conditionally. The tanks with defective gun mounts standing in the factory yard continued to wait in the wings. Since they were never accepted, the plant could not even send them to the training unit. The solution to the problem was to limit the elevation angle to 25 degrees. GBTU KA approved this proposal with a resolution that such T-80s can only be used in training units. True, only 2 tanks were transferred there. They ended up in the 1st training tank brigade. This happened in June 1943, when GAZ named after. Molotov was bombed. It is quite possible that the remaining vehicles were destroyed during its course. At least then it becomes clear where 4 tanks appear in the GAZ report - 2 training ones plus 2 prototypes.
Serial production of the T-80 began in Mytishchi at plant No. 40 in April 1943. Despite all the difficulties, already in April 1943, the assembly of the first T-80s began in Mytishchi. Although the assembly of the tanks was carried out in a very tense situation, by May 1 they managed to deliver 5 tanks, 2 of them radio-based. By June 1, they managed to deliver 7 more tanks, while all previously produced vehicles were equipped with radio stations. Then production of the T-80 completely stopped for a month. In June, the factory workers assembled 8 tanks, but the military did not accept them. The plant met the beginning of July with a backlog of 22 tanks. In fact, only 3 new tanks were assembled in July, the rest were being completed. The stock also included 11 tanks from April-May 1943, which underwent major modifications. This fact led to an error in estimating the number of T-80s produced by Plant No. 40. In July, the first shipments took place: 6 T-80s went to the Gorky Tank School, another 5 vehicles to the Syzran Tank School. The leadership of the Red Army did not dare to send the very first T-80s to combat units. Mass production began only in August, when 40 tanks were delivered. But after the Battle of Kursk, the leadership of the GABTU KA came to the conclusion that there was no point in further producing the T-70 and T-80. According to GKO decree No. 3964ss of August 21, 1943, from September 1, production of the T-80 at plant No. 40 ceased. According to documents of the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army, a total of 70 “eighties” were built. However, reports from the People's Commissariat of the Tank Industry contain slightly different figures. According to this department, 81 T-80 tanks were produced in 1943, and 85 throughout the war. However, this number may include prototypes, development and pre-production vehicles. Also, some authors include experimental vehicles built by GAZ in the total number of T-80s produced. According to plant number 40, only 66 tanks were produced in 1943, and 11 of them were delivered twice. Hence the confusion. In total, together with four samples of the GAZ plant, 70 vehicles were built, not counting several tanks destroyed during the bombing of Gorky. At the same time, Plant No. 176 managed to produce 334 sets of hulls and turrets; all unused ones were melted down.
The cessation of production of the T-80 was due to several reasons: to a lesser extent - the unreliable operation of the forced propulsion system M-80 (in the sources its designations also differ - the indices M-80 or GAZ-203F are mentioned); to a greater extent, the reasons were the insufficient firepower and armor protection of the “eighty” for 1943 (see section “”) and the extreme need of the Red Army for the SU-76M self-propelled artillery mounts. By the end of 1943 - beginning of 1944, the upgraded propulsion system was brought to an acceptable level of reliability, but there was no question of resuming production of the T-80.
Due to the unreliable operation of the propulsion system, weak weapons for 1943, and the great need of the Red Army for self-propelled guns SU-76M, the T-80 was discontinued. On the basis of the T-80, an experimental tank with a high-power 45-mm VT-43 tank gun was built at the beginning of 1943, but it was not adopted by the Red Army.
But, according to other sources, the curtailment of the production of these tanks was caused by the destruction of the production facilities of the Gorky Automobile Plant as a result of a series of bombings by the Luftwaffe in 1943.
Description of design
Armored hull and turret
The armored body of the tank was welded from rolled heterogeneous (surface hardening was used) armor plates with a thickness of 10, 15, 25, 35 and 45 mm. Armor protection is differentiated, bulletproof. The front and rear armor plates had rational angles of inclination, and the sides were vertical. The side of the T-80 was made of two armor plates connected by welding. To strengthen the weld, a vertical stiffening beam was installed inside the hull, riveted to the front and rear side parts. A number of hull armor plates (over-engine and over-radiator plates) were removable for ease of maintenance and replacement of various components and assemblies of the tank. The driver's workplace was located in the front part of the tank's armored hull with some offset to the left from the central longitudinal plane of the vehicle. The hatch for boarding and disembarking the driver was located on the frontal armor plate and was equipped with a balancing mechanism to facilitate opening. The presence of the driver's hatch weakened the resistance of the upper frontal part to projectile hits. The bottom of the T-80 was welded from three armor plates 10 mm thick, and to ensure rigidity, transverse box-shaped beams were welded to it, in which the torsion bars of the suspension units were located. An emergency hatch was made in the front part of the bottom under the driver's seat. The hull also had a number of air inlets, hatches, hatches and technological openings for ventilation of the habitable spaces of the tank, draining fuel and oil, and access to the necks of the fuel tanks and other components and assemblies of the vehicle. A number of these holes were protected by armored covers, flaps and casings.
Turret of the T-80 light tank. Left view
Armament
Turret of a T-80 light tank with a 45-mm 20-K cannon. Right view
The main armament of the T-80 was a rifled semi-automatic 45-mm tank gun mod. 1938 (20-Km or 20Km) The gun was mounted on axles in the plane of longitudinal symmetry of the turret. The 20-K gun had a 46-caliber barrel, the height of the firing line was 1630 mm, the direct fire range reached 3.6 km, the maximum possible was 6 km. The gun was paired with a 7.62 mm DT machine gun, which could easily be removed from the twin mount and used outside the tank. The twin installation had a range of elevation angles from −8° to +65° and horizontal circular fire. The rotating mechanism of the gear-type turret, with a manual drive, was located to the left of the tank commander, and the lifting mechanism of the gun (screw type, also with a manual drive) was located on the right. The machine gun's release was mechanical; the gun was equipped with an electric trigger.
Engine
The T-80 was equipped with a GAZ-203F power unit (later designated M-80) from twin four-stroke in-line six-cylinder carburetor liquid-cooled GAZ-80 engines. As a result, the maximum total power of the GAZ-203F unit reached 170 hp. With. (125 kW) at 3400 rpm. Both engines were equipped with K-43 type carburetors. The engine crankshafts were connected by a coupling with elastic bushings. To avoid longitudinal vibrations of the entire unit, the flywheel housing of the front GAZ-80 was connected by a rod to the right side of the tank. Each “half” of the GAZ-203F had its own ignition, lubrication and fuel supply systems. In the cooling system of the power unit, the water pump was common, but the water-oil radiator was two sections, each section was responsible for servicing its own GAZ-80. The GAZ-203F installation was equipped with an oil-inertia type air cleaner.
Like its predecessor T-70, the T-80 was equipped with an engine pre-heater for operation in winter conditions. A cylindrical boiler was installed between the side of the tank and the engine, in which heating was carried out due to thermosiphon circulation of antifreeze. The boiler was heated with an external gasoline blowtorch. The heater boiler and water-oil radiator were an integral part of the cooling system of the entire power unit of the tank.
The engine was started by two parallel-connected ST-06 starters (power 2 hp or 1.5 kW). The tank could also be started by hand or towed by another tank.
Transmission
The T-80 tank was equipped with a mechanical transmission, which included:
- double-disc semi-centrifugal main clutch of dry friction “steel on ferodo”;
- four-speed gearbox (4 forward gears and 1 reverse), parts from the ZIS-5 truck were used;
- cardan shaft;
- bevel final drive;
- two multi-disc onboard clutches with dry friction “steel on steel” and band brakes with ferodo linings;
- two simple single-row final drives.
All transmission control drives are mechanical; the driver controlled the rotation and braking of the tank with two levers on both sides of his workplace.
Chassis
Chassis of the T-80 light tank
The chassis of the T-80 tank was almost completely inherited from its predecessor, the T-70M. The vehicle's suspension is individual torsion bar without shock absorbers for each of 5 single-pitch solid stamped road wheels of small diameter (550 mm) with rubber bands on each side. Opposite the suspension units closest to the stern, travel limiters of the suspension balancers with rubber buffers were welded to the armored hull to soften the blows; for the first and third suspension units from the front of the vehicle, the role of limiters was played by support rollers. The lantern gear drive wheels with removable gear rims were located in front, and idlers unified with support rollers and a caterpillar tension mechanism were located in the rear. The upper branch of the caterpillar was supported by three small support rollers on each side. Fenders were riveted to the tank's hull to prevent the track from jamming when the tank moved with a significant list on one of the sides. The caterpillar is small-linked and consists of 80 tracks; the width of the double-ridge track is 300 mm.
Electrical equipment
The electrical wiring in the T-80 tank was single-wire, the second wire being the armored hull of the vehicle. The sources of electricity (operating voltage 12 V) were a GT-500S generator with a relay-regulator RRK-GT-500S with a power of 500 W and two series-connected 3-STE-112 batteries with a total capacity of 112 Ah. Electricity consumers included:
Sights and observation devices
The twin installation of the 20-K cannon and DT machine gun was equipped with a TMF-1 sight for firing at ground targets and a K-8T collimator sight for firing at air targets and the upper floors of buildings. The driver's, gunner's, and commander's positions on the T-80 also each had one periscope viewing device for monitoring the environment outside the tank. However, for a vehicle with a commander's cupola, visibility could have been even better - the lack of viewing devices still affected it.
Communications
On T-80 tanks, a 12RT radio station and an internal intercom TPU for 3 subscribers were installed in the turret.
The 12RT radio station was a set of transmitter, receiver and umformers (single-armature motor-generators) for their power supply, connected to the on-board electrical network with a voltage of 12 V. From a technical point of view, it was a duplex tube shortwave radio station with a transmitter output power of 20 W, operating for transmission in frequency range from 4 to 5.625 MHz (wavelengths from 53.3 to 75 m, respectively), and for reception - from 3.75 to 6 MHz (wavelengths from 50 to 80 m). The different ranges of the transmitter and receiver were explained by the fact that the 4-5.625 MHz range was intended for two-way “tank-to-tank” communication, and the extended range of the receiver was used for one-way “headquarters-to-tank” communication. When parked, the communication range in telephone (voice, amplitude modulation of the carrier) mode in the absence of interference reached 15-25 km; while moving, it decreased slightly. A greater communication range could be obtained in telegraph mode, when information was transmitted by a telegraph key using Morse code or another discrete coding system.
The TPU tank intercom made it possible to negotiate between members of the tank crew even in a very noisy environment and to connect a headset (headsets and laryngophones) to a radio station for external communication.
Modifications
Serial
The T-80 light tank was officially produced in a single production modification without any significant design changes during production. Serial combat and special vehicles (self-propelled artillery, ZSU, armored personnel carriers, armored vehicles, tractors, etc.) based on the T-80 light tank were also not produced.
Experienced
The lack of armament (primarily the low armor penetration of the 20-K cannon by the standards of the end of 1942) of the T-80 tank actively stimulated work on its re-equipment with a more powerful artillery system. As a solution to the problem, it was proposed to use a 45-mm long-barreled gun VT-42 jointly developed by Plant No. 40 and OKB No. 172 with the ballistics of a 45-mm anti-tank gun mod. 1942 (M-42). This gun has already been successfully tested in the T-70 tank, however, due to the planned transition to the production of the T-80, it was not installed in the serial "Seventies". However, the VT-42 did not have the ability to fire at the high elevation angles required by the T-80, so its design had to be significantly redesigned. At the beginning of 1943, this work was completed, and a version of the 45-mm long-barreled gun VT-43 was successfully tested in the T-80 tank. With the exception of a higher muzzle velocity (950 m/s) and a larger maximum elevation angle (+78°), all other characteristics of the tank remained unchanged. The gun was adopted for arming T-80 tanks, but due to the cessation of their production, all work on it was completed.
Organizational and staffing structure
The T-80 light tank was intended to replace the T-70 light tank in the army and was to be used as part of separate tank brigades, tank regiments and armored battalions. However, due to the objective weakness of the T-70, from November 1943 the organizational structure was revised towards their exclusion from the tank brigades (united states No. 010/500 - 010/506), and from March 4, 1944, the General Staff of the Red Army released Directive No. Org/3/2305 on the exclusion of the T-70 from tank regiments. T-80s began to arrive at the front during the course of this reorganization, so it is not yet possible to establish exactly their place and number in the organizational structure. The surviving T-70s and new T-80s were transferred to reconnaissance armored battalions (they included a company of light tanks numbering 7 vehicles, the rest were BA-64 armored vehicles) and, for use as command vehicles, in self-propelled artillery units, armed with self-propelled guns SU- 76, which had the same type of chassis components and assemblies as the T-70M and T-80.
Combat use
In May 1943, one of the first tanks produced arrived at the NIABT Test Site. In July, the first shipments to educational institutions took place: 6 T-80s went to the Gorky Tank School, another 5 vehicles to the Syzran Tank School. On September 7, 1943, 27 T-80s (of which 20 were radio-equipped) were shipped to Tula to the 230th Tank Regiment. Another 27 vehicles were shipped there for the 54th Tank Regiment of the 12th Guards. cd .
The T-80 was repaired by repair plant No. 8, which ended up in Kyiv in the spring of 1944. In July 1944, the plant repaired and delivered 4 tanks, and in August - 12. In the summer of 1944, the last combat use of these vehicles took place; they again fought as part of tank regiments of cavalry divisions. For example, in the 61st Tank Regiment of the 1st Guards. CD there were 4 T-80s, and in the 58th tank regiment of the 2nd Guards. KD - 2. From front-line reports, we know about the use of several T-80s in self-propelled artillery regiments in 1944. There is also information about the receipt by the 5th Guards Tank Brigade of two T-80 tanks from repairs on February 15, 1945. After the Lvov-Sandomierz operation, these tanks were used as training tanks. As of 1946, about two dozen of these vehicles survived, which were located at the Kharkov Tank School.
Nothing is known about the use of the T-80 in the armies of other states besides the USSR.
Project evaluation
Light tank T-80 in the Armored Museum in Kubinka, front right view
The Eighty, created in extreme wartime conditions, was the last in a series of Soviet mass-produced light tanks of the Great Patriotic War. According to the pre-war views of the Soviet leadership, light tanks were supposed to make up a significant portion of the material part of the tank forces of the Red Army, have a low production cost compared to medium and heavy vehicles, and also, in the event of a large-scale war, be produced in large quantities at non-specialized enterprises. The pre-war T-50 was supposed to be such a light tank. However, for a number of reasons (evacuation of the manufacturer, shortage of diesel engines, etc.), the production of the T-50 amounted to about 70 tanks. In addition, for plant No. 37, whose mobilization task was to master the production of the T-50, the task turned out to be impossible. However, a tank with characteristics close to the T-50 was objectively needed by the Red Army. The design bureau of plant No. 37 (later GAZ), headed by N. A. Astrov, starting from the T-40 small amphibious tank, which was well established in production, and consistently improving the idea of a light tank with the widespread use of cheap automobile units, managed to create such a tank by the end of 1942. the car that the T-80 was. The previous stages in this intense work were the T-60 and T-70 light tanks. However, the lighter weight “eighty” was not a full-fledged substitute for the T-50, inferior to the latter in a number of indicators: power density, visibility, armor protection (especially onboard), power reserve. On the other hand, the manufacturability and low cost of the “eighty” compared to other Soviet tanks (the legacy of the predecessor T-70) made it possible to fulfill the wishes of the top management about the potential possibility of mass production of such tanks at non-specialized enterprises, the ergonomics of the vehicle (a significant weakness of the “seventy”) could be considered acceptable. However, for reasons not directly related to the design of the tank, this potential opportunity was not realized in practice.
An important circumstance that influenced the fate of both the T-80 and domestic light tanks in general was the changed situation at the front. The appearance on the battlefield of T-34s in large numbers required the Germans to qualitatively strengthen their anti-tank artillery. During 1942, the Wehrmacht received a large number of 50 mm and 75 mm anti-tank guns, tanks and self-propelled guns armed with long-barreled 75 mm guns. If the frontal armor of the T-80 could at least somehow help against 50-mm shells in some cases, then the 75-mm long-barreled guns had no problems hitting the T-80 at any distances and battle angles (given thicknesses of homogeneous hull sheets for 50 -mm armor-piercing projectile: bottom sheet - 60 mm, ram sheet - 52 mm, top sheet - 67 mm). The latter's side armor did not save even the outdated 37-mm Pak 35/36 cannon from normal fire, although, compared to the T-70M, thickening the side armor to 25 mm improved its projectile resistance at oblique firing angles. As a result, when breaking through the defense prepared in anti-tank terms, T-80 units were doomed to high losses. The power of 45-mm shells was clearly insufficient to combat both enemy anti-tank guns and German armored vehicles (the frontal armor of even medium-sized modernized PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV could only be penetrated by a sub-caliber projectile from extremely short distances). Therefore, the attack on enemy armored forces by T-80 units had to be carried out primarily from ambushes, firing from short distances at the side and stern. This required high skill and skill from Soviet tank crews. The Battle of Kursk clearly demonstrated the validity of these theses in relation to the T-70; The T-80 in this regard was practically equivalent to the Seventy, which was one of the reasons for the cessation of production of light tanks in the USSR.
They tried to solve the above-mentioned problems with the reliability of the GAZ-203F propulsion system by transferring domestic light tanks to a licensed diesel engine from General Motors. However, its development and production were disrupted by German bombing of Yaroslavl and Gorky. By the end of 1943, the “spark” was brought to an acceptable level of reliability, but by that time the domestic line of light tanks in production had already ended with the T-80. However, the idea did not die: there was a project for a light tank, similar in layout to the T-80, with a diesel engine and weapons in the form
T-80 (light tank)
Main Features
Briefly
Details
2.3 / 2.3 / 2.0 BR
3 people Crew
74% Visibility
forehead / side / stern Booking
0 / 0 / 15 housing
35 / 35 / 0 towers
Mobility
11.6 tons Weight
324 l/s 170 l/s Engine power
28 hp/t 15 hp/t specific
46 km/h forward
6 km/h back42 km/h forward
5 km/h back Speed
Armament
94 rounds of ammunition
2.5 / 3.2 sec recharge
8° / 65° UVN
1,071 rounds of ammunition
8.0 / 10.4 sec recharge
63 rounds clip size
600 rounds/min rate of fire
Economy
Description
The single turret of the T-70 tank made it extremely difficult to control and fire (the commander had to do his job, as well as the job of the gunner and loader). Based on this, on the basis of the T-70B tank, in 1942 the design bureau of the GAZ plant developed the T-80 light tank with a crew of 3 people. The tank received an upgraded engine and a new two-man turret. A special feature of the T-80 was the large elevation angle of the 45-mm cannon (up to 65 degrees), which was necessary when conducting battles in urban conditions and for mounted howitzer fire. The T-80 was equipped with a K-8T anti-aircraft collimator sight; this sight made it possible to fire at air targets. There was a new driver's hatch with a more advanced periscope instrument, which significantly improved visibility.
The T-80 tank was put into production at plant No. 40 in Mytishchi, Moscow region in February 1943. Soon their production was discontinued due to the unreliable operation of the propulsion system, weak weapons for 1943, and the great need of the Red Army for the SU-76M self-propelled guns. The T-80 tank was the last production model of domestic light tanks during the Great Patriotic War. A total of 70-80 vehicles were built. T-70 and T-80 were transferred to reconnaissance battalions (they included a company of light tanks consisting of 7 vehicles, the rest were BA-64 armored vehicles) and, for use as command vehicles, in self-propelled artillery units, armed with SU-76 self-propelled guns.
Main Features
Armor protection and survivability
T-80 frontal armor
T-80 side armor
T-80 stern armor
Internal modules T-80
The T-80 has quite serious armor protection, but with large vulnerabilities that can be penetrated even by small-caliber guns (20-37 mm). The most vulnerable places on the forehead include the driver's hatch, the turret shoulder strap, and the places on the sides of the gun. The most protected areas of the tank are the upper and lower frontal plates, the area under the gun (covered by two armor plates), and the upper part of the mantlet. The turret has a narrowed shape with bevels that increase the turret's protection when fired from the front.
The tank has a transmission at the front and an engine at the side - these units provide additional partial protection for the crew. Tank crew size: 3 people (2 in the turret and 1 in the hull). The protruding engine radiator guard has a weak protection of 15 mm, accessible to damage from the front and side. The rear of the tank has good protection, which can save even from small guns. Under the rear hull armor there is a large gas tank and radiator - which can trap projectiles, improving crew protection.
Mobility
The T-80 has good mobility and maneuverability. Maximum speed: 42 km/h. Reverse speed: 5.5 km/h. Specific power in realistic battles (RB-SB): 14.6 l/s per ton (with 11.6 tons of weight per 170 l/s). Specific power in arcade battles (AB): 27.9 l/s per ton (with 11.6 tons of weight per 324 l/s).
Armament
Main weapon
- Armor-piercing chamber blunt-headed BR-240 - designed to destroy armored targets, as well as aircraft.
- Armor-piercing solid sharp-headed BR-240SP - designed to destroy armored targets, as well as aircraft.
- Armor-piercing sub-caliber BR-240P - designed to destroy armored targets, as well as aircraft.
- High-explosive fragmentation O-243 - designed to destroy mainly unarmored ground targets.
The BR-240 chambered armor-piercing projectile (with explosives inside) has the best armor-piercing effect on tanks. The sub-caliber projectile can be used against particularly armored targets at close to medium distances, as well as against aircraft (since it has the best ballistics). A solid projectile has the greatest penetration, it can be useful for firing at long distances (1 km), for example at Japanese or German tanks with 50 mm armor. A high-explosive projectile with low ballistics was historically intended for mounted howitzer firing at unprotected ground targets, which is why it is practically unsuitable for firing at aircraft. A landmine can be used to destroy unarmored self-propelled guns and self-propelled guns for a very powerful effect - it does not pass through like an armor-piercing one, but is detonated immediately. Thanks to the curved trajectory, a landmine can hit a target behind a hill.
Machine gun weapons
DT machine gun (7.62 mm). Rate of fire: 600 rpm. Disc magazine capacity: 63 rounds. Reload speed: 8 seconds. Bullet speed: 840 m/s. Thanks to its high elevation angles of 65 degrees, the machine gun can be effectively used against aircraft. DT is effective against unarmored and lightly armored vehicles. By shooting, you can point your allies at the enemy and make it difficult for the enemy to see.
Use in combat
The T-80 can serve not only as a light tank, but also as a medium tank in the offensive, attacking alone or with the support of allied tanks. Armor can save you, but you need to remember the vulnerable areas of the forehead. It is advisable to know the vulnerable areas of the enemy’s forehead or to bypass enemies on the flanks, make ambushes - guaranteed to hit them in the side and stern. The T-80 can serve as a ZSU. For this, sub-caliber shells with excellent ballistics or other armor-piercing shells are best suited (but not high-explosive, which has too crooked ballistics). You can increase the speed of reaching the enemy with the help of tracks.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- Most of the hull is well armored
- Good mobility and maneuverability
- Good vertical aiming angles for fighting tanks and aircraft
- A good gun with comfortable ballistics
- Excellent gun rate of fire
- Large selection of armor-piercing shells
- A high-explosive fragmentation shell can be thrown over a hill at a hidden unarmored enemy
Flaws:
- Slow speed of gun aiming and turret rotation
- Quite a few large vulnerable areas in the armor
- Shell penetration is not always enough
- A high-explosive fragmentation projectile has low ballistics, which makes it extremely difficult to use against aircraft
Historical background
T-80 on display in Patriot Park
When the first T-70 tanks went into battle in the summer of 1942, it became clear that the two-man crew was extremely small. It was difficult for the T-70 tank commander to simultaneously observe the battlefield, load the cannon, machine gun, and conduct aimed fire. The work of the company commander became even more complicated, since in addition to this work he had to lead the company. It was necessary to expand the tank turret to accommodate 2 people. On July 15, 1942, the leadership of the People's Commissariat of Medium Engineering, representatives of the GAZ plant and the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army (GABTU KA) decided to improve the design of the tank. The experimental T-70B with a side thickness of 25 mm was taken as the basis. Due to the fact that the diameter of the shoulder strap of the two-man turret increased from 966 to 1112 mm, it was necessary to redo the roof of the fighting compartment. The new turret became much wider; all its elements had to be redone, including the movable armor of the gun mantlet. The tower received a developed aft niche. This made it possible to place in it not only a radio station, but also two stacks of 10 shells for a 45-mm cannon. It was decided to make separate hatches for the commander/gunner and for the loader. The tower also received a floor covering, which improved the working conditions of the crew. The commander received a turret equipped with a periscopic viewing device. The loader also had a periscopic device installed. Instead of a viewing slot, for better visibility and safety, the driver was also given a periscope device; for this purpose, the shape of the front hatch was redesigned.
It was decided to make the gun elevation angle up to 65 degrees in the new turret - for protection from aircraft, for assaults on city blocks, and for howitzer firing along an overhead trajectory. The K-8T anti-aircraft collimator sight was added to the telescopic sight. To use it, a separate hatch appeared in the roof of the tower, which opened while firing at air targets. The combat weight of the tank reached 11.2 tons, so boosting the GAZ-203 engine became a necessity. The compression ratio was increased, thanks to which the power of each engine in the twin increased from 70 to 85 hp. The total power of the power plant, designated M-80, was 170 hp. During tests at the NIBT Test Site in Kubinka, the new experimental tank T-80 showed a 2 times better rate of fire compared to the T-70. And when driving, the T-80 showed itself no worse. Testers praised the tank's visibility. The commission considered the only significant drawbacks to be the difficulty of access to the power plant and the lack of interchangeability of a number of parts in the forced engine. In other respects, the T-80 was clearly superior to the T-70B. The driver's hatch of the experimental T-80 was cast, while the standard one was stamped. To make it easier to accommodate troops, special handrails were welded to the tank hull and sides of the turret.
On December 27, 1942, J.V. Stalin signed a decree on the production of the T-80 tank at the Mytishchi plant No. 40. But after the Battle of Kursk, the leadership of the GABTU KA came to the conclusion that there was no point in further producing the T-70 and T-80. Their creators, led by N.A. Astrov deservedly became the winners of the Stalin Prize of the second degree for 1943. According to the decree of August 21, 1943, from September 1, production of the T-80 at plant No. 40 ceased. The plant began production of the SU-15M (SU-76M).
54 T-80 "main" series were distributed between two tank regiments located in Tula. Both regiments operated together with cavalry units. Since October 8, 1943, the 230th Tank Regiment operated jointly with the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division. His first combat mission was the crossing of the Dnieper. By the time it was introduced into battle, the 230th tank regiment was armed with 10 T-34s, 18 T-80s and 1 T-70. On October 10, the regiment, interacting with cavalrymen, stormed Zatonsk. At the same time, the 1st tank company under the command of Senior Lieutenant A.V. distinguished itself. Oganesyan, which was armed with 4 T-34s and 3 T-80s. Tanks were used not only to support cavalry, but also as a means of delivering cavalrymen to the battlefield. On the 10th, the regiment lost 1 T-80 burned out and 2 shot down. The next day, the regiment's tanks rescued the cavalrymen surrounded in Sychevka. On October 12, stubborn battles for Zatonsk took place again. During their course, they managed to destroy 3 self-propelled guns (most likely Marder), 6 Pz.Kpfw.III and Pz.Kpfw.IV, 2 armored personnel carriers, 1 armored vehicle and 3 trucks. The losses of Soviet tank crews amounted to 3 burnt T-80s and 2 damaged T-34s, 5 people killed and 10 wounded. Stubborn battles for Zatonsk continued for several days. By November 3, the unit still had 4 T-34s, 12 T-80s and 1 T-70.
On November 5, the regiment received the task, in cooperation with the cavalrymen, to attack Rakovka and create a strong point there. Acting together with the cavalry, by November 11, the tankers reached the area of the city of Korostyshev, Zhitomir region. Regimental losses: 1 T-34 burned out and 1 T-80 destroyed. By the 14th the regiment was in Zhitomir. The next day, German troops counterattacked, and heavy defensive battles ensued. During the battles for Zhitomir, the regiment lost 5 tanks. On November 19, Zhitomir again found itself in the hands of German troops; it was liberated only on December 31. The 54th Tank Regiment operated jointly with the 12th Guards Cavalry Division. In addition to light tanks, the regiment also had 10 T-34 medium tanks. For almost the entire month of October, the regiment was engaged in pursuing the retreating enemy. The real battle unfolded for Poyarkin, Kherson region, on October 29, 1943. Here the regiment lost 5 T-34s and 2 T-80s, while destroying 2 self-propelled guns and 2 enemy tanks. By January 1, 1944, the regiment still had 6 T-34s and 25 T-80s. With this composition, the unit took part in the battles of January-February 1944. During this time, 2 T-80s were lost from enemy fire, the rest failed due to technical reasons. The T-80 was repaired by repair plant No. 8, which ended up in Kyiv in the spring of 1944. In July 1944, the plant repaired and delivered 4 tanks, and in August - 12. In the summer of 1944, the last combat use of these vehicles took place, again they fought as part of tank regiments under cavalry divisions. For example, the 61st tank regiment had 4 T-80s, and the 58th tank regiment had 2. After the Lvov-Sandomierz operation, these tanks were used as training tanks. As of 1946, about two dozen of these vehicles remained, which were located at the Kharkov Tank School.
Media
Experimental T-80 at the NIBT Test Site, December 1942
Rear view
Serial T-80
Since the First World War and to this day, tanks have dominated the fields of wars and local conflicts. In the USSR, tank building was well established. Tanks were modernized and became more and more efficient.
First tanks
Tanks first found combat use on the fields of the First World War. However, neither Russian nor German troops ever used tanks on the Eastern Front. The first stage in the development of tank building in Soviet Russia was the copying of captured samples captured during the Civil War. Thus, based on the Renault tanks captured in the battles near Odessa in 1919, a series of 12 tanks was created at the Sormovsky plant in Nizhny Novgorod. The next step was the creation of the MS-1 tanks, which found their first combat use in battles on the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1929. By the end of the thirties they began to be used as fixed firing points.
Searches and solutions
The second stage can be called the period 1929 - 1939, when our own tanks were created on the basis of projects acquired abroad. Some cars contained significant borrowings, others - much less. The main task was to provide the Red Army with a large number of tanks that were easy to manufacture and operate. This is how the relatively simple and mass-produced Soviet light tanks “T-26” and “BT” appeared, which proved themselves well in military conflicts of the interwar period.
The period of the 1930s for the whole world and not only for the USSR was a time of searching for solutions to what exactly a tank should be. There were a variety of ideas and concepts: from tactical and technical data to methods of application. The idea of creating a multi-turret tank in the USSR was reflected in the appearance of the T-28 and T-35 tanks, designed to break through enemy fortifications.
The T-28 performed well during the Polish campaign and in the difficult conditions of the Soviet-Finnish War. However, after the war with Finland, they settled on the idea of creating a single-turret tank with projectile-proof armor. A great success was the creation of the V-2 diesel engine, which was installed on all Soviet medium and heavy tanks during the Great Patriotic War. So, back on November 3, 1939, People's Commissar of Defense Voroshilov and People's Commissar of Medium Engineering Ivan Likhachev reported to the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) that Soviet tank builders in a short time “achieved truly outstanding results, having designed and built tanks that have no equal.” We were talking about the T-34 and KV tanks.
First in the world
On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, tank production was launched in Kharkov, Leningrad and Stalingrad (before the war they began to master the production of T-34). And by the beginning of World War II, the USSR surpassed any army in the world in the number of tanks. In addition, one of the features of the USSR was the massive (for example, in comparison with Germany) production of armored vehicles, which also played a significant role in the military conflicts of the late 1930s.
Refusal of light tanks
The period of the Great Patriotic War is characterized by a number of trends. Firstly, during the evacuation of industry to the east of the country and huge losses in tanks in the first months of the war, the creation and production of simple and cheap combat vehicles was required. This became the second most popular tank after the T-34, the T-60, created on the basis of the T-40 amphibious tank.
Armed with a 20 mm automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun, the tank played an important role in the Battle of Moscow. Its further development was the T-70 and T-80 light tanks with enhanced armor protection and a 45-mm cannon.
However, after 1943, further design and production of light tanks in the USSR was considered inappropriate due to their great vulnerability, although Germany and the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition continued to produce such vehicles in varying proportions.
"Thirty-four"
The second trend was the very rapid development and aging of tanks - if in 1941 the Soviet T-34 and KV with 76 mm guns were almost invulnerable in tank battles, then from mid-1942 the picture changed - the creation of more powerful tanks was required. The USSR took the path of creating, if not an ideal, but simple and mass-produced tank, which became the T-34/76 and T-34/85.
The T-34 became the most popular tank of World War II. In total, about 48 thousand Thirty-Fours were produced during the war years. For comparison: there are 48 thousand Sherman tanks, and about 9.5 thousand German T-IV tanks.
The T-34 really turned out to be the best option for domestic industry, the army and the specific conditions of combat operations from the Caucasus to the Arctic.
Similar trends were reflected in the creation of heavy IS tanks. In addition, if before the Great Patriotic War self-propelled guns did not occupy a significant place in the weapons system of the Red Army, then from the middle of the war, on the contrary, self-propelled guns began to play a significant role and their mass production began.
After the war. Three tanks
The post-war period is characterized by a generalization of the experience of the Second World War. Conceptually, heavy and medium tanks were left in service, and from the early 1960s there was a transition to the creation of a main tank.
In the USSR of the 1970-1980s, there were essentially three main tanks. The first was the T-64 (produced in Kharkov) - a fundamentally new machine in which a number of truly revolutionary ideas were embodied. However, the tank remained too difficult to master and operate. However, the vehicle was not removed from service and remained in the western districts of the USSR.
The second vehicle was the T-80 developed at the Kirov plant; the first vehicles were produced there, and mass production was launched in Omsk. The tank had a gas turbine engine, and due to the increased speed, the chassis also changed.
The third, and one of the most famous models, was the T-72, which was modernized several times. Its production was established in Nizhny Tagil. The post-war period is also characterized by large-scale exports of Soviet armored vehicles, due to both economic and political reasons. A number of countries also established their own production. First of all, this concerns the Warsaw Pact countries and partly China. Relatively simple and cheap Soviet tanks found widespread use in wars and local conflicts in Africa and Asia.
Soviet light tank T-80.In 1942, a completely new tank was developed at the Gorky Automobile Plant. It was based on parts and components from the T-70 M tank. The thickness of the side armor of the new tank was increased to 25 mm. The tank was assigned the index T-80.
The tank's crew consisted of three people, two of whom were located in the turret. In this regard, the size of the latter had to be increased. The combat mass has also increased. The cannon and machine gun remained the same (45 mm and 7.62 mm, respectively), but the ammunition load was increased. The elevation angle of the cannon and machine gun was 60:. Because of this feature, the T-80 was sometimes called an anti-aircraft tank. The gun is equipped with a K-8T anti-aircraft collimator sight. which made it possible to fire at enemy aircraft and the upper floors of buildings during street fighting.
The tank had a torsion bar suspension, had five road wheels and a idler wheel with a track tensioning device. The upper branch of the caterpillar was supported by three rollers. All rollers are rubberized, the drive wheel is the front one. The caterpillar has been widened to 300 mm compared to the T-70.
Soviet light tank T-80. Soviet tanks from the Great Patriotic War.
The power plant consisted of two carburetor engines connected in series and a car transmission. After the mass of the tank was increased, it was necessary to boost the engines to 170 hp. But the increase in power had a negative impact on their durability and reliability. The engines are located in the middle part of the hull. For external communications there was a 12RT radio station and a tank intercom.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-80 tank
Despite a number of improvements made, tests showed that the tank requires further development. The weapons and armor were also weak. In general, the T-80 was not completed, and in the fall of 1943 its production ceased. A total of 75 vehicles were produced at the plant in Mytishchi. They were used in formations equipped with T-34 tanks, in motorcycle units, in self-propelled artillery divisions, brigades and regiments as command vehicles
Soviet light tank T-80. Soviet tanks from the Great Patriotic War.
MODIFICATIONS T-80
When designing the T-80, it was planned to install an anti-aircraft gun on its chassis, consisting of two heavy-caliber DShKT machine guns. Anti-aircraft machine guns were used to combat attack aircraft and dive bombers - the main air opponents of the troops. Of the machine guns that were in service and in production, there were only two suitable for these purposes - “Maxim” and DShK; DShK was produced mainly for naval pedestal installations. Its characteristics made it possible to place multi-barrel installations on a protected self-propelled base. The most suitable for creating anti-aircraft tanks were the T-60 and T-70 M, which were well developed by industry. In the second half of 1942, three models of anti-aircraft tanks were developed and built: two versions T-60 and T-70 produced by plant No. 37 and one version produced by GAZ, which later received the name T-90. Its design began in September 1942, with the main task being the defense of motorized columns.
Soviet light tank T-90. Soviet tanks from the Great Patriotic War.
Direct supervision of the design work was carried out by GAZ Deputy Chief Designer N.A. Astrov. The main differences from the serial T-80 tank were the new turret, the installation of weapons and the placement of ammunition. When installing such a turret on the T-60, minor modifications were required. The design of the tower was made in the form of an octagonal truncated pyramid and was formed from sheets of rolled armor. The angle of inclination of the sheets was greater than in a tank turret. For free visual observation of air targets, it was decided not to make a roof. To protect from bad weather, it was replaced by a folding canvas awning. DShK machine guns were installed on machines without shock absorbers and were protected by L-shaped armor. Targeting was carried out using mechanical hand drives.
Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (ZSU) based on T-80
Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun based on the T-80 tank
Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun based on the T-80 tank
The sights were separate. For firing at air targets, a K-8T collimator sight was installed. Firing at ground targets was carried out using a telescopic sight. The commander's seat was mounted on a rotating floor and quickly adjusted for easy use of the sights. The weapon is powered by a magazine, with a capacity of 30 rounds. To collect spent cartridges, a collection box was placed to the right of the commander. A flexible fabric sleeve served as a sleeve catcher. A 9 R transceiver radio station was installed on a rotating floor. It must be admitted that its installation was unsuccessful, and based on the test results, it was recommended to use other radio stations - RB or 12 RP. Internal communication between crew members is light-signal.
Since the turret ring was expanded in the T-80 tank, this made it possible to accommodate a third crew member. Having one commander perform the functions of loader, gunner, gunner and radio operator overloaded him and reduced the effectiveness of combat work. Based on the test results, it was recommended to install 14.5 mm machine guns to combat not only air targets, but also enemy tanks. This type of machine gun appeared in 1944. Under the name KPVT, it is still the standard weapon of almost all wheeled armored vehicles. It can rightfully be considered the oldest of the machine guns that were put into service during the Great Patriotic War. On November 8, 1942, tests of an anti-aircraft tank were carried out during the day and at night. They shot accurately at ground targets during the day; night shooting with illuminated sight scales was carried out at fires.
Anti-aircraft firing was carried out only in the evaluation mode of barrage fire, but aimed and only during the day. The run tests amounted to 55 km with the weapon and turret deployed. The tank traveled another 400 km in traveling mode. The test results were mostly positive. The management of the plant and representatives of the Main Armored Directorate came to the conclusion that it was advisable to build a pilot batch of the tank under the designation T-90 in the amount of 20 units. By that time, vehicles from factory No. 37 had already been created - anti-aircraft versions of the T-60 and T-70 tanks. But only the T-70 and T-90 were allowed to undergo comparative tests. In terms of basic tactical and technical characteristics, both tanks differed slightly. The T-90 had 16 ammunition magazines for 480 rounds, for comparison, the T-70 had 12 magazines for 360 rounds. The results of comparative tests were in favor of the T-90. The tank could enter service provided that the main deficiencies were eliminated.
However, the course and experience of combat operations of the Red Army, the development of weapons production, and changes in views on the type of armored vehicles taking into account combat use made their own adjustments. Production of the T-70M and T-80 tanks was discontinued, and accordingly the T-90 lost its chassis. A solution could have been found in installing anti-aircraft weapons on the chassis of the SU-76 self-propelled gun, but its tactical and technical requirements soon changed.