T-19
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| T-19 | |
|---|---|
 T-19 |
|
| Type | Light tank |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Ginzburg |
| Designed | 1929 |
| Produced | 1931 |
| Number built | Unknown |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7.20-8.10 tons |
| Length | 4.50 m |
| Width | 2.30 m |
| Height | 2.18 m |
| Crew | 3 |
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|
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| Armor | - mm |
| Primary armament |
37 mm |
| Secondary armament |
2x DT machine gun |
| Suspension | vertical springs |
The T-19 was a Soviet Light Tank built in 1931.
Contents |
[edit] Technical requirements
Tank T-19 were to become the mainstay of the mobile subdivisions of the USSR. The main requirements for the T-19 were:
- The ability to overcome the majority of field fortifications (entrenchment) and of wire entanglements without the aid of a “tail” and at a maximum speed;
- The firepower should ensure superiority in the battlefield over all known combat vehicles of similar mass;
- The armoring, should protect its crew from the rifle and machine-gun bullets on all distances, and from the fire 37 mm of guns at the distance of 1000 m.
According to the technical specifications, the tank's mass should not be more than 7,3 tons, with the maximum speed not below 30 km/h on a good soil, and engine with a power of 100 hp, the armament at least a 40 mm tank gun and 2nd machine guns and 18-20 mm thick armor. The production of tank T -19 was assigned to Ginzburg.
The suspension T-19 became the development of the same from the French tank Renault NC. The T-19 was longer than the T-18, which made it possible to improve its passability without the application “of a tail”, and to also decrease the longitudinal vibrations of housing.
[edit] Armor plating
Experts often state that armored plates for increasing the protection of tank was used first on the T-34. That is not the case. The fact is that when was explained the fact of exceeding the permissible mass T-19, that did not make it possible to use in it the armoring by thickness of more than 16 mm, an increase in the bullet resistance of housing they decided to reach by the thorough selection of the form of housing. For constructed T-19 was selected the diagram of armoring, proposed by designers to M.I.Tarshinovym (occupied in KB KHPZ with the creation T-12/T-24) and by Ginzburg. The idea of an improvement in the armour consisted in making of it with the large angles of the slope of armor sheets, which will affect the tendency of bullets and projectiles toward the ricochet.
[edit] Armaments
Armament of T-19 after the revision of project was assumed from 37 mm semi-automatic gun version 1930, and also two machine guns DT (one was located in the frontal sheet of housing in radio operator; the second - in the tower). The installation of armament in the tower was provided in two versions - independent installation of gun and machine gun, and their also coupled installation in the united mask.
The new tower with the armaments was not, and it obtained the same from series T -18. The cannon for long it was led and was mastered in a series and therefore it fell finally only on tanks BT. Domestic six-cylinder air-cooled engine with a power of 100 hp, so could not be brought to the condition, but the installation of high-speed motor “Franklin” (95 hp) required processing the construction of the gearbox, onboard transfers and even housing (engine it was more on the overall sizes). Especially pricked up ears the fact that T-19 it consumed a lot of ball bearings, which at that time were not produced, but they were bought abroad. Strongly raised in price for chemical warfare, floatings, etc, about which it was already said above.
[edit] Self containment
T -19 became the first tank, specially designed for the actions under the conditions of chemical warfare, for which it was equipped with plenum ventilation, productivity 180 m3/chas with filters, capable of neutralizing phosgene, hydrocyanic acid, chloropicrin, carbon monoxide and toxic smokes during 3-X of hours, after which crew could carry out combat mission in the gas
masks, or, after replacing filter, to act without them already 3 hours.
[edit] Maneuverability
T-19 was provided for the possibility of giving to it “floating” properties with the aid of the pneumatic, or skeleton floats, whose discharge could be produced without the output of crew from the machine. For the production were accepted the floating crafts of naval engineer B.S. Smirnov's system. There was initially the desire even to equip tank with two detachable screws for the motion on the water, but late the function of displacement T -19 over the aqueous smoothness they entrusted to the special “water tractor”, whose creation was assumed in 1931.
T-19 did not have “tail” and overcame entrenchments and narrow ditches to 2 meters due to the proper length. However, by the width 2,5 - 3 m two T -19 had to couple in the case of encounter with the antitank ditch, being lengthened doubly, for which in the front and rear extremities of machine it was provided for the installation of the special framework constructions (on the housing of tank there was on three openings in the nose and rear portions for the installation of the farms of cohesion).
For the battlefield surveillance in the tank no longer were used simple slots, just as “broneglaz”. Initially was planned to establish on T -19 the stroboscopic instruments of observation according to the type of those used on the tank E.Grote (TG), but more preferable proved to be the bulletproof glass of the type “Simplex- triplex” in the easily removable cartridge clips.
[edit] Political decision
The decision of the session of Revolutionary Military Council, which past from July 17 to 18, 1929, placed before the defense industry the complex problem: to create in a short time new combat vehicle - “basic tank of tracking T-19”. Task for its design was given out by GKB OAT in autumn. The end of development was assumed by January 15, 1930, but this period proved to be completely optimistic. Especially impeded design works numerous denunciations and complaints of the designers, and also the wishes from the leaders of RKKA (Workers' and Peasants' Red Army) different ranks and the following after them dismantlings. Thus, in one of those documents an unknown “patriot” complained about the designer's desire to use "... helical gears in the transmission of the T-19 instead of spur-gear, which is the direct proof of their sabotage… “. But one of the commanders required that the basic tank would be equipped "... by elbow-shaped paws with the shafts through the walls and motion under the conditions of the mountains, covered with snow… “. Nevertheless, the inspection of project took place on March 1, 1930.
[edit] Production
Production of first T-19 began in June 1931, and toward the end of August tanks were being delivered. However, the characteristics of the tank proved to be those below those planned, the weight was above the specifications (7,6-8 t), and the production was extremely complex.
All this was aggravated by the fact that stocked up in firm “Vickers” the 6-ton tank was quicker, and cheaper. So that in 1931 the works on T-19 were convoluted and all forces by urgent means were switched to the mastery of the series production of the tank “Vickers”, which was called in the USSR name T-26. They by that time completely gathered two tanks T-19 and additionally they had time to prepare housing from the welded and castings, and also number of accessories.
[edit] References
- M. Svirin and A. Beskurnikov. The First Soviet Tanks, in Armada Nº 1
