Postwar Soviet Experimental Tanks

[axlzed3301]

On 20.5.1952, Ministry of Defense industry of USSR organized a meeting with tank constructors and with the marshal of tank forces, I.S.Bogdanov, to discuss the future of armored forces development. The result of this meeting was a set of tank requirements from 18.6.1952. The resulting tank was to be better than T-54 - that was however no easy tasks and several teams (notably from plants no. 75, 174, 183 and research institute no.100) were tasked to make a preliminary study. The design, produced by the research institute was designated "Object 907" and - as requested - its armor was significantly better than the one of the T-54. From 1954 to 1956 the metal prototypes of the hull and turret were manufactured in order to conduct armor tests and to find ways to improve the protection even more.

 

[axlzed3301]

There two variants of the hull. The first hull was cast as whole, the second was welded from cast components. After the tests, the protection levels of the vehicle were found to be significantly higher than the ones of the T-54 (by as much as 30 percent). The turret was (thanks to its angles) as well protected as the one of the T-10 heavy tank.

The vehicle was to be equipped with the 100mm D-10T gun, but there was a plan to install even the 122mm M-62 gun. It was to be propelled by the 700hp B12-5 diesel engine with two transmission types: hydrodynamic (like in T-54) and mechanical (like in T-34).

The vehicle stayed in the semi-prototype phase, apparently because by the time it was introduced, the production of T-54 tanks was already underway.

 

[axlzed3301]

Design Data

 

[axlzed3301]

The Obiekt-777 was another radical re-design of the T-10 series that was
developed on paper as a potential replacement for the T-10M, but did not progress to prototype stage. The Obiekt-777 also drew its origins from the Obiekt-770, using the T-10 series hull but with seven large (750mm) diameter road wheels with internal amortization and hydro-mechanical transmission. The armament was to have been the 122mm M-62-T2, with 15 armour piercing and 25 HE-FRAG rounds. The secondary armament was reconfigured so that the co-axial weapon was a 7.62mm SGM instead of the 14.5mm KPV of the T-10M, which allowed 3,000 rounds of ammunition for the co-axial weapon to be stowed. A 14.5mm KPV was nevertheless retained as an AAMG, located in a remote control mounting above the turret rear.

The original design drawings considered alternative engine options, one of which was the installation of a V-12 gas turbine engine developing 850hp, giving the 49.8 tonne tank (still inside the heavy tank limit by 200kg) a maximum road speed of 50km/h. The crew was to be reduced to four due to the use of an autoloader system.

Although reviewed as a design project with completed drawings and

options, the Obiekt-777 was not developed beyond concept stage.

 

[axlzed3301]

Wooden Models

 

[axlzed3301]

Object 140 was an experimental medium tank developed between 1953 and 1958 in Nizhny Tagil in order to improve/replace the T-54. Two prototypes were built, but in 1958 the project was terminated in favor of the Object 430, better known under his production designation T-55.
At the time when Morozov was working on his Object 430 tank, a young engineer, Leonid N. Kartsev, was the head of the OKB-520 design bureau of Uralvagonzavod factory (UVZ) in Nizhny Tagil. He was responsible for the T-54A (Object 137G) and T-54B (Object 137G2) modernizations of T-54 main battle tank. After work on the T-54M (Object 139) modernization was abandoned he and his design team started working on a new tank, called Object 140. The new tank had a suspension with six light road wheels made of aluminum. The turret was cast and armed with a 100 mm D-54TS tank gun with the Molniya two-plane stabilization system. The tank carried 50 rounds. The chief designer of the legendary V-2 diesel engine, Ivan Trashutin refused to modify the engine to demanded 580hp specification, so Kartsev turned to Barnaul engine plants chief designer Evgeny Artiemejev. The plant manufactured V-series engines for agricultural and other domestic applications. Artiemejev received the idea well and agreed to develop the 580hp version.

After initial prototypes were completed, the weight stood at 36.5t, a half ton over the design specification. Kartsev choose to work the weight down for real, instead of hiding it to the paperwork (an usual procedure among designers of the era). To overcome this, aluminum roadwheels and aluminum engine cover were introduced among other minor modifications. The engine was turned on its lap to the bottom of the hull, a solution which reduced the height of the engine compartment but caused further modifications to the engine and considerably complicated maintenance.

In 1957 Uralvagonzavod built two Ob'yekt 140 prototypes which were put on trials soon after. On his memoirs Kartsev recall that during assembly and factory tests he became more and more aware that the tank was low-tech, difficult to operate and repair. Only one plant in the whole soviet union was able to cast some of the necessary plates, and specific parts on the engine compartment were not serially producible at all. Kartsev mentions that his engineers needed to use dentist mirror to install exhaust collectors from a hatch below the tank. After few sleepless nights, Kartsev decided to write a letter himself to the Central Commitee, and demand the cancellation of the project. To his surprise, he was agreed and not even punished for wasting 16 million rubles of public money on the project.

Whilst still on moral guilt from his failure, he started working on yet another T-54 main battle tank modernization called the T-55 (Object 155) in which he included one of the key innovations from his Object 140 tank: the upper fuel tanks were fitted with mounts for tank gun ammunition. This increased the ammunition load carried by the tank to 45 rounds. The aluminum roadwheels later made it to the T-72 tank.

The T-54/55 series eventually became the most-produced tank in history. Estimated production numbers for the series range from 86,000 to 100,000.

 

[axlzed3301]

Object 140

 

[XtraSaltee]

What was the reason behind almost every round, flat, and wide turrets and chassis for soviet tanks? And why the turret sat so far forwards?

 

[axlzed3301]

World War II Legacy

What was the reason behind almost every round, flat, and wide turrets and chassis for soviet tanks? And why the turret sat so far forwards?

 

[axlzed3301]

Object 490 "Poplar"
Development of future Soviet tank in 80-s and was a continuation of works started in 1970-s under designation “Project 101”. Necessity for development was grounded by the development of next generation tank in US and NATO. The importance of this task was well realized by Nikolay Shomin, a new chief designer of Kharkov design bureau, who replaced Alexander Morozov after he retired in 1976. The development of the tank had two main directions – conventional layout with 3-man crew and unmanned turret, which was known under designation “Object 490A” and later “Object 477” and unconventional 2-man design known as “Object 490”. The project “490” developed in the 80s was under development by Eugenie Morozov, son of the famous designer of tanks T-34, T-54, T-64 Alexander Morozov.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

We already have a topic posted by Andrei himself for the Object 490 - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/object-490-poplar-fmbt.30901/

 

[axlzed3301]

The main features of the “Object 490” were:

- crew consisting of two people - commander-gunner and driver. Reduce the crew to two people and place them in a compact, well-protected capsule. Depending on the specific layout, this gives a volume saving of up to 1.2 m3.

- the use of hydro pneumatic suspension. In addition to solving the main problem - increasing average speeds by improving running smoothness, it allows to control the clearance of the tank, which increases maneuverability and survivability in battle. In addition, controlled hydro pneumatic suspension by changing the hull angle allows to increase the pointing angles of the gun in the vertical plane.

- Creation of a special armored refueling and reloading vehicle capable of accompanying the tank in the same formation, overcoming hard natural and artificial obstacles, passing through nuclear contaminated areas of the terrain, and operating under conditions of use of nuclear weapons. In layout no. 1 and 2, it was supposed to implement the replenishment of ammunition and refueling the tank without leaving the crews of the tank and refueling-loading machine.

 

[axlzed3301]

We already have a topic posted by Andrei himself for the Object 490 - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/object-490-poplar-fmbt.30901/

This topic is a collection of information

 

[axlzed3301]

Object 780​

Developed in the first half of the 1960s, this tank represented a modification of the Object 775 rocket tank prototype. The tank was to have been provided with a 125 mm rifled gun/launching device that could fire both standard shells and rockets. Another unique feature of the tank's design was the placement of the driver in the center of the turret in an immobile cabin that would remain stationary during turret rotation. Existed in blueprints. Some full-size prototypes were manufactured.

 

[Scott Kenny]

What was the reason behind almost every round, flat, and wide turrets and chassis for soviet tanks? And why the turret sat so far forwards?

They were trying to make the tank as physically small as possible, because that means you get more armor thickness for less total weight.

 

[axlzed3301]

Object 252
A draft project, prepared during the development of the IS-6 heavy tank. The draft was completed by the end of 1944. Later, work on the IS-6 tank was stopped, and the development of the project was discontinued. The vehicle never entered service.

 

[axlzed3301]

To create an easy-to-produce airborne and land tank, Institute 100 (VNII-100) took a classic layout with rear engine placement and the position of the driver in the compartment at the left side. The design of BMP Object 765 propusion systems were used in development and, in connection with the new modified engine compartment volume (MTO) and a decrease in body height, undergone significant changes. The chassis (according to one schematic) was developed as semi-supported after the model of BMP "Object 765". The tank was to be transported by AN-12 aircraft and parachuted to landing.In a joint operation with GSKB-47 (design bureau 162), under the command of L.S. Troyanova, preliminary layout study was held in preparation for the development of a primary weapon complex, which was to be carried out by head engineer A.A. Timofeev. It was comprised of a new 100mm active-reactive missile launching system with increasing cumulative projectile armor penetration at range, capable of being effective at 400m up to 1200m. The light tank project, at this point, was given the designation T-100, also called VNII-100 project in blueprints after the institute name.

 

[axlzed3301]

ChTZ's BMP "Object 765", basis vehicle of the T-100 light tank, that also became the BMP-1 later.

 

[axlzed3301]

To create an easy-to-produce airborne and land tank, Institute 100 (VNII-100) took a classic layout with rear engine placement and the position of the driver in the compartment at the left side. The design of BMP Object 765 propusion systems were used in development and, in connection with the new modified engine compartment volume (MTO) and a decrease in body height, undergone significant changes. The chassis (according to one schematic) was developed as semi-supported after the model of BMP "Object 765". The tank was to be transported by AN-12 aircraft and parachuted to landing.In a joint operation with GSKB-47 (design bureau 162), under the command of L.S. Troyanova, preliminary layout study was held in preparation for the development of a primary weapon complex, which was to be carried out by head engineer A.A. Timofeev. It was comprised of a new 100mm active-reactive missile launching system with increasing cumulative projectile armor penetration at range, capable of being effective at 400m up to 1200m. The light tank project, at this point, was given the designation T-100, also called VNII-100 project in blueprints after the institute name.View attachment 722777

In the mid-60s the Soviet Army Command decided a new low-profile airborne light tank was needed. Research Institute No.100 was assigned with the carrying out of the project. To put the basis of the new light tank, components and assemblies were taken from ChTZ's BMP Object 765.

 

[axlzed3301]

What was the reason behind almost every round, flat, and wide turrets and chassis for soviet tanks? And why the turret sat so far forwards?

Before the creation of composite armor and tail-stabilized decloaking armor-piercing shells, round turrets were prone to ricochet, so they were better defended than neatly assembled shaped turrets, and therefore had good evasive properties.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Where does the "German" come into this topic?

 

[axlzed3301]

Where does the "German" come into this top

Will update.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

No thanks. I don't like "random things" topics, focused topics are much better.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

No thanks. I don't like "random things" topics, focused topics are much better.

And yet you continue to post on two different unrelated subjects in one topic. Please, no. At the least, two topics.

German tank posts moved here: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/postwar-german-experimental-tanks.42506/

 

[axlzed3301]

Object 105

The SU-100P (Object 105) was a Soviet prototype self-propelled howitzer. It was the main competitor to Object 416, which was being developed at the same time. One of its standout features was the D-50 anti-tank cannon, which was a modified D-10 with a higher muzzle velocity and was specifically designed for the vehicle. However, flaws in the design were discovered during testing. Notably, the gun, chassis, lifting mechanism, and a number of other components were discovered to be unreliable, causing numerous issues. As a result, the SU-100P faced significant challenges and required an overhaul in design to address these issues and improve its overall performance. Although the SU-100P was making significant progress, the project was ultimately canceled due to Khrushchev's views on the future of tank warfare, which did not see self-propelled guns as a viable option. But its potential wasn't fully wasted, as the chassis of the SU-100P was the basis of many other designs.

 

[axlzed3301]

Object 268
In the days of the Second World War, heavy self-propelled guns played an important part on the battlefield. It is not surprising that after the end of the war, heavy SPGs, including tank destroyers, remained a priority for designers from all nations. It's surprising that only a handful of these vehicles were ever built in metal, and none were mass produced. The Soviet Union and its Object 268 were no exception.

Development of the Object 268 was started in the summer of 1952 at the Kirov Plant, Leningrad, under the supervision of Joseph Kotin. The vehicle was developed on the basis of the T-10 heavy tank. A prototype was manufactured in 1956. The vehicle passed trials, but never saw mass production.

 

[XtraSaltee]

I want to know more about the Object 120 Soviet tank destroyer built in 1965, which never progressed past the experimental stage. I know its not before 1945 but I do really love tank destroyers

 

[riggerrob]

On 20.5.1952, Ministry of Defense industry of USSR organized a meeting with tank constructors and with the marshal of tank forces, I.S.Bogdanov, to discuss the future of armored forces development. The result of this meeting was a set of tank requirements from 18.6.1952. The resulting tank was to be better than T-54 - that was however no easy tasks and several teams (notably from plants no. 75, 174, 183 and research institute no.100) were tasked to make a preliminary study. The design, produced by the research institute was designated "Object 907" and - as requested - its armor was significantly better than the one of the T-54. From 1954 to 1956 the metal prototypes of the hull and turret were manufactured in order to conduct armor tests and to find ways to improve the protection even more.

How much did thos angled/faceted hull side plates help protect against incoming projectiles?

 

[axlzed3301]

How much did thos angled/faceted hull side plates help protect against incoming projectiles?

Armor Testing

 

[axlzed3301]

Soviet 1K17 laser tank

 

[axlzed3301]

detail

 

[Scott Kenny]

Soviet 1K17 laser tank

Man, I'd do some sketchy stuff to get a busted ruby laser rod from that...

 

[axlzed3301]

Progrev-T​

 

[axlzed3301]

Russian

 

[axlzed3301]

Turbojet Minesweeper

Progrev-T​

 

[axlzed3301]

Object 430​

The Ob'yekt 430 was one of several experimental Soviet tanks designed to succeed the prolific T-54 medium tank, which had become the standard medium tank for the Soviet Army after the end of the Second World War. As the 1950′s came and went, however, it became more and more clear that the T-54's armament, maneuverability and armor configuration started lagging behind those of its Western counterparts. Therefore, several tank development programs were initiated with the goal of creating a vehicle that would outperform anything it could meet on the battlefield.
At the ZIM (Zavod imeni Malyshev - Factory in the name of V. A. Malyshev) in Kharkov, a new department called KB-60M was created specially for this purpose. It was led by the plant chief designers J. I. Baran and A. A. Morozov (who had worked on the T-34, T-44, and T-54 medium tanks). In 1953, KB-60M submitted a preliminary proposal for the new tank. The project was officially started in April 1954 and received the designation “Ob'yekt 430″. The sketches were ready by the end of 1954, and in May 1955, work began on the technical project itself. This all was finished by June 1955 and a wooden mockup was made.

The Ob'yekt 430 used a completely new chassis with torsion bar suspension, featuring characteristically small roadwheels with internal shock absorbers. The completely new 5TD diesel engine had a new ejection cooling system, the first of its kind to be installed on a medium tank (previously used on the IS-7 and T-10 heavy tanks). The radiator assembly was isolated from the engine-transmission compartment. This allowed water to be used to cool the engine during water crossings, preventing overheating and allowing an unlimited width of water obstacles to be crossed. The new 5TD was also the most compact engine of its time, with the Ob'yekt 430's engine-transmission compartment being half the volume of the T-54's

Armor protection was to be proof against 100 mm armor-piercing shells from a minimum distance of 1,000 m from the front. The hull glacis plate was 120 mm thick, while the ballistically well-shaped turret had a maximum thickness of 240 mm.

The 100 mm D-54TS (U-8TS or 2A24) rifled gun was selected as the armament, in common with other prospective T-54 replacements at the time. This was backed up by the "Metel" (Blizzard) 2-plane gun stabilizer, which allowed the gun to be automatically relaid on a target after being elevated for loading, a TPD-43b (TPDMS) stereoscopic gun sight, TPN-1 gunner night sight, and an automatic ejection mechanism for spent shell cartridges, expended through a hatch in the rear of the turret. A total of 50 rounds were carried. A 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun was also installed on the turret for anti-aircraft use.

The first two prototypes were finished in 1957, and they received the designations “Ob'yekt 430-1*Z” and “Ob'yekt 430-2*Z” ("Zavod" - Factory testing). These prototypes were tested by the factory and were also underwent comparison tests with another experimental Soviet tank, the Ob'yekt 140. A number of problems (especially regarding the engine) were uncovered during the trials, but overall the tests were considered a success. By June 1958, the plant was ordered to build 3 more prototypes for the military to test on proving grounds ("Poligon" in Russian). These were designated “Object 430-1*P, 430-2*P and 430-3*P”. These prototypes were ready in December 1959 and were tested thoroughly in two stages from March 1960 to May 1961.

Eventually, the conclusion of the testing committee was that, while all the development program goals were met and the Ob'yekt 430 was essentially ready for serial production, it did not represent much of an improvement over the T-54. Furthermore, other experimental tanks (Ob'yekt 165 and Ob'yekt 166 – otherwise known as T-62A and T-62) had also passed the tests by that time, but they also had the advantage of sharing components with the T-54. This, and the fact that there was still some more modernization potential left in the T-54, led to the Ob'yekt 430's cancellation on 17 February 1961.

In addition, the KB-60M, on its own initiative, attempted to fit the new 115 mm U-5TS (2A20) "Molot" (Hammer) smoothbore gun also used by the T-62. The resulting tank was designated Ob'yekt 435 KB-60M also undertook design studies for an up-armored Ob'yekt 430U (“Ulushenniy” – improved, or “Usileniy” – reinforced) with a 122 mm gun. The frontal hull armor was to be improved to 160 mm, and the turret was also reworked in order to improve its protection and to install the 122 mm D-25TA gun, also used on the T-10 heavy tank. The conclusion was that it would be possible to create a medium tank with the armor and firepower of contemporary heavy tanks. This would lead to the Ob'yekt 430A, later renamed Ob'yekt 432, the immediate predecessor of the T-64 standard tank.

A single example of both the Ob'yekt 430 and Ob'yekt 435 are both preserved in the Kubinka Tank Museum, near Moscow.

 

[axlzed3301]

Object 430M

 

[axlzed3301]

ISU-152 Type 1945(Object 704)
One prototype, developed in 1945, used elements of the IS-2 and IS-3 tanks. The overall height of the vehicle was reduced to 2240 mm, which was compensated with an increased width of the superstructure. The factory designation was Object 704 (Объект 704). It was armed with the 152.4 mm ML-20SM model 1944 (МЛ-20СМ обр. 1944 г.) gun-howitzer, with a barrel length of over 4.5 meters (29.6 calibers) and no muzzle brake, which further increased the firepower of the gun.

It had a maximum range of 13,000 meters. The self-propelled gun carried 20 rounds of two piece (shell and charge) armor-piercing and high explosive ammunition. The armor-piercing round, weighing 48.78 kg, had a muzzle velocity of 655 m/s. The rate of fire was 1-2 round/min. The ISU-152 model 1945 had four hatches at the superstructure roof and one emergency hatch at the bottom of the hull behind the driver's seat, which had an armored cover.

The self-propelled gun carried two external fuel tanks (90 liters each) not connected to the supply system. The secondary armament of the fighting vehicle consisted of two 12.7 x 108 mm DShK machine guns, one anti-aircraft and one co-axial.

The protection was increased by placing thicker armor at more radical angles. In the area of the gun, where the mantlet combined with the hull front behind it and the housing of the recoil mechanism, the armor thickness was 320 mm. The ISU-152 model 1945 (ИСУ-152 обр. 1945 г.) was the best protected of all experimental or production Soviet self-propelled guns of the Second World War. However, the radical incline of the superstructure walls combined with the increased recoil of the gun, due to the lack of a muzzle brake, significantly complicated the work of the crew, and for this reason mainly wasn't adopted. Today, the self-propelled gun is exhibited at the Kubinka Tank Museum.

 

[Scott Kenny]

ISU-152 Type 1945(Object 704)
One prototype, developed in 1945, used elements of the IS-2 and IS-3 tanks. The overall height of the vehicle was reduced to 2240 mm, which was compensated with an increased width of the superstructure. The factory designation was Object 704 (Объект 704). It was armed with the 152.4 mm ML-20SM model 1944 (МЛ-20СМ обр. 1944 г.) gun-howitzer, with a barrel length of over 4.5 meters (29.6 calibers) and no muzzle brake, which further increased the firepower of the gun.

It had a maximum range of 13,000 meters. The self-propelled gun carried 20 rounds of two piece (shell and charge) armor-piercing and high explosive ammunition. The armor-piercing round, weighing 48.78 kg, had a muzzle velocity of 655 m/s. The rate of fire was 1-2 round/min. The ISU-152 model 1945 had four hatches at the superstructure roof and one emergency hatch at the bottom of the hull behind the driver's seat, which had an armored cover.

The self-propelled gun carried two external fuel tanks (90 liters each) not connected to the supply system. The secondary armament of the fighting vehicle consisted of two 12.7 x 108 mm DShK machine guns, one anti-aircraft and one co-axial.

The protection was increased by placing thicker armor at more radical angles. In the area of the gun, where the mantlet combined with the hull front behind it and the housing of the recoil mechanism, the armor thickness was 320 mm. The ISU-152 model 1945 (ИСУ-152 обр. 1945 г.) was the best protected of all experimental or production Soviet self-propelled guns of the Second World War. However, the radical incline of the superstructure walls combined with the increased recoil of the gun, due to the lack of a muzzle brake, significantly complicated the work of the crew, and for this reason mainly wasn't adopted. Today, the self-propelled gun is exhibited at the Kubinka Tank Museum.

I regret not grabbing a couple models of the Object 704 from the Heer46 dude when I had the chance. He's closed up shop now...

 

[axlzed3301]

I regret not grabbing a couple models of the Object 704 from the Heer46 dude when I had the chance. He's closed up shop now...

Is this it?