The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - The 7TP/7-Tonowy Polski Light Tank - June 1st, 2004

achtungpanzer.com ^

[SAMWolf]

The 7TP, VAU33dw, VAU33jw, 7TPdw, 7TPjw

All the names above have been seen in western writings as a designator for the Polish production of the Vickers 6-ton tank. All are correct, and misleading. Every designator is correct if used within the right context. Only the prototypes used the designator "VAU33-dw or VAU33-Jw". The VAU33-dw was the dual turret model while the VAU33-jw was the single turret type. 7TP tanks were produced with two designations; the 7TPjw and the 7TPdw. The 7TPdw was the dual turret design. Most writings simply state "the 7TP" and that designation is used most often to refer to the single turret (7TPjw) model. The single turret model was the tank that Poland was the most proud of and was their most modern production design. By the start of WW2, the 7TPdw was no longer in production and was considered slightly out of date. Some writings refer to the designators VAU33jw and VAU33dw. This designation is used in some Western sources for Polish Vickers Mk.E tanks. It's especially used by some model manufacturers, but this is an ERROR in fact. VAU is a short of "Vickers-Armstrong-Ursus", sometimes they supplement it with "wz.33". The Ursus factory had nothing to do with Vickers-Armstrong tanks. Polish researcher J. Magnuski wrote, that "VAU" was an initial designation for Polish Vickers development project, which led to 7TP tank. Some sources state that the VAU-33 was a prototype of 7TP and was a modification of the Vickers Mark E with a Swiss diesel engine Saurer VBLDb.

Unlike many nations, Poland did not simply produce (or even buy) more clone Vickers 6 ton tanks, but actually improved on the already excellent basic design. Poland's 7TP was the first step in an uncompleted process (interrupted by WW2) of gaining engineering and industrial ability needed to produce a truly Polish Tank.


A back-door view of a prototype 7TP turret interior (serial turrets had no back door). From the left, visible are: periscopic sight, pistol grip of 7.92mm wz.30 TMG, telescopic sight, 37mm wz.37 gun's breech guard and a pipe for case ejecting, and commander's periscope. An interior of serial turrets was similar.

The Vickers tank was well within the capacity of the Polish industrial technology, and the design offered some potential for further development. The PZI design bureau was tasked with the study of making a homemade copy. PZI produced the 7-TP, a 9-ton twin turreted tank that was to be a considerable step forward in design over the Vickers original. At first the original engine of the Vickers was installed, but this was replaced by a license-built Saurer 6-cylinder diesel engine which developed 110hp. This made the Polish 7-TP the world's first diesel-powered tank to reach production status. The 7-TP's armor was also 4mm thicker than the Vickers originals. The first 7-TP to be built by PZI left the works in 1934. While the production of the modified twin turret model 7-TP was proceeding, it was decided to introduce a single version carrying a Bofors gun. This variant appeared in 1937, but the production was slowed by the difficulties of making armor plates and procuring the turrets from Sweden.


Dismounted co-axial mounting of wz.37 gun and wz.30 TMG of 7TP tank.

In 1939, after some minor arguments unsuitable armor thickness, PZI got involved to evolve a heavier variant with an improved engine, welded armor thickened up to 40mm in front, a strengthened suspension, wider tracks and a turret with a rear overhang which could accommodate both transmitter and receiver radio sets. The new up-armored 7-TP, which now weighed 11-tons, did not have time to go beyond the pre-production stage before the events of 1939. During the nineteen thirties and during the development of the 7-TP, the question of designing tanks in Poland had become a very controversial matter. Two schools of thought were in contention: the first one defended the launching of domestic design and production programs, the second one (represented by the Chief of the Armored Force himself), considered this as a waste of time and money which could be better spent in purchasing well-proven foreign tanks. Nothing came of these debates except friction and the slowing of progress. A total of 169 7TPs saw service.

[SAMWolf]

Based on a Vickers Armstrong 6 ton design, a popular product world wide, the 7TP was produced in Poland starting from 1931. Poland purchased 38 Vickers E tanks (22 twin turret and 16 single turret) for the Polish Army along with the license allowing Poland to produce them in Poland. The 7TP was considered a light tank by standards at the time. Some early models had 2 turrets, each mounted a machine gun. Later models had a single turret with a 37 mm cannon as shown above. The 7TP (with the 37 mm cannon) was more than a match for German Panzer 1 and 2, and an equal of Panzer 3's except in armor protection*. The German army was so impressed with this design they incorporated as many 7TP tanks as possible into their service.


Captured 7TP tanks in German service

*Late models had 40 mm of frontal armor. This made the tank stronger than the Panzer 3 of that period. In fact, the Germans lost a great deal of armor in the Polish campaign. That was one of the reasons for the "phony war" on the western front. Germany needed time to rebuild/repair their armor.


Warsaw September 1939 by David Pentland
Polish 7TP (Twin Turret) light tank of Captain F. Michalowski's training company breaks out from the street barricade to counter attack German reconnaissance elements.

Though Poland had limited industrial capacity, there was real interest in tank warfare and design. Sadly (and lucky for the Russians and Germany), the best designs had not reached production level prior to September 1939. The Polish army was equipped with less than 950 tanks in an odd mixture of imports, tankettes, and light tanks. This force had to face a German Panzerwaffe of over 3000. Soviet tank numbers are unknown.




The Poles were far ahead of many nations in tank development. Using the Sauer engine made the 7TP the worlds first diesel powered tank. The 7TP was the Polish version of the Vickers 6 ton (twin turrets) but with thicker armor (17 mm). This actually made the tank a 9.5 ton machine. In 1937 the unit was redesigned to a single turret with a 37 mm cannon. The final model of the 7TP had a larger turret and up to 40 mm of armor (welded). The model also included better suspension and wider tracks.

Specifications

Crew	3
Engine	Armstrong Siddley Puma 91.5 hp air cooled, or Swiss Sauer VBLDb 110 to 115 hp water cooled. Using the Sauer made the 7TP the worlds first diesel powered production tank.
Weight (battle)	11+ U.S. tons, 9.9 metric tons
Speed	22.98 mph
Range	150km (road) 130km (cross country)
Communications	7TPjw came equipped with N2C
Armament	7TPdw had 2 x Browning 7.92mm MGs. 7TPjw had 1 x 37mm Bofors and 1 x Browning 7.92mm MG.
Height	6.61'
Width	7.55'
Length	14.96'
Armor	5 - 18mm. Up to 40 mm (late models).
Power to Weight	11.1 bhp/ton
Track Ground Pressure	0.6kg/cm2

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Additional Sources:

mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/pol
derela.republika.pl
www.wargamer.com/articles/captured_tanks
www.military-art.com
www.wojmar.republika.pl

[SAMWolf]

When the Wehrmacht blasted into Poland in 1939, their main opposition was the TK-3, the 7TP, and about 50 French-built R35’s. The TK-3 was a tankette (better known as deathtrap) armed with only machineguns, and proved easy meat for the Panzers.




The 7TP was another matter: this light tank was armed with a 37mm gun and was capable of defeating the Panzer I and II’s that made up the bulk of German armor at the time. The tank had a 110 hp engine producing a speed of 22mph with a range of 93 miles. Armor was 5mm-17mm, with a weight of around 10 tons. There was a crew of three, and armament other than the 37mm consisted of two 7.92mm machineguns.



The Poles had two battalions equipped with the 7TP, and after the capitulation, the Germans used as many as they could salvage. They were initially used as tanks for policing in occupied territories but were later converted to artillery tractors. Thus started the practice of applying the Black Cross to a vanquished foe.

[SAMWolf]

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UPDATED THROUGH APRIL 2004



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[SAMWolf]

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[alfa6]

Night shift bump for Treadhead Tuesday

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alfa6 ;>}

[SAMWolf]

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[Neil E. Wright]

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[alfa6]

Ah the joys of 12 hour shift work and only having one 'puter that I can get FR on.

Well it could be worse and I don't want to find out how :-)

Back to work as I my timer went off.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Neil.

[snippy_about_it]

Good Night Sam. Thanks for today. ;-)

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Tonk and all.

[Aeronaut]

Oops..., I meant: Good morning Snippy.

Durned cut lists.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

[Tax-chick]

Good morning, all. Poles with tanks ... what'll they think of next?

[GailA]

Good morning

[The Mayor]

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