The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - Tankettes Part III (Russian) - Nov. 23rd, 2004

The Russian Battlefield ^

[SAMWolf]

The T-17 Tankette

According to three-year program of tank building, before December of 1930, the "plan minimum" called for a production, of a battalion of "support pulemetka", that's how tankettes were called in that document. So in 1926, starts working on a project of light, one seat reconnaissance tank "Lilliputian". The project was well balanced, but it needed a development of a special chassis and engine.

T-17 Tankette. The very first vehicle with metal tracks

The project was attempted to accomplish many times, but it did not progress any further than its discussion on various levels. On March 3, 1928, chief of Engine Laboratory A.P. Kushka along with L. J. Lalmen, as well as engineers S.A. Ginzburgh and E. Grote offered a project of the new tankette. As a base for it, they used elements of a running gear and a transmission of the prototype T-16 Close-Support Tank. Armor hull from tank "Lilliputian" was used. It was powered by the two-cylinder air-cooling engine, being as though "half" of engine T-16. The tracks were made of rubber and metal.

The hull of the tankette, which have received index Ò-17 (frequently called, as the predecessor, "Lilliputian"), was riveted on a frame. Driver was seated in the compartment, at same time acting as a machine-gunner; the machine-gun was offset to the right side (there also was a cannon version of the tankette).

Second prototype with rubber-metal tracks

Production of the prototype of T-17 was delayed, and it was ready only in autumn of 1929. Despite of technical faults, its driving characteristics were tested first in January of 1930, and later in June of the same year. It proved better mobility, than that of T-18 tank, however one of its biggest shortcomings was the fact that it was one-manned. Because of that, one of the three tankettes, ordered by summer 1930, had to have two-man crew. Second prototype of T-17 had rubber tracks of "Kergess" type. Mass production of T-17 was thought to be inexpedient, and a decision was made to continue work on a two-man tankette with use of standard units from T-18.

[SAMWolf]

The T-21 and T-23 Tankettes


T-23 Tankette

In 1929-1930's a project of tankette T-21 is started, becoming a logical continuation of T-17 Tankette. T-21 was classified as a "Small Reconnaissance Tankette", and closely resembled T-17, except that it had two-man crew, increased armor (13 mm) and support wheels from T-18 Escort Tank. The engine of power 20 h.p, and transmission were borrowed from Ò-17. However at this stage of development, its estimated speed of its movement and the characteristic of overcoming obstacles appeared insufficient; so the project wasn't authorized.


Initial Project of the T-23

In 1930, on an assignment of RKKA headquarters, and considering experience with T-17, works begin on a new two-men crew tankettes T-22 and T-23, classified as "large reconnaissance tankettes". Their difference was in the engine: T-22 was planned with original four-cylinder engine, and T-23 with the engine from tank T-20. Also, the difference was in location of crewmembers: on T-22 they were placed one after another, and on T-23 - in a row. Each project had its own strengths and weaknesses, but T-23 was chosen for production, as more economic and simple to build. First prototype of T-23 had a hull of simple metal and engine from T-18 (40 h.p.), but for second prototype a special modified engine of not yet finished T-20 was used, and four more were ordered. All tankettes were produced on 2nd Automobile Factory VATO (director - S.F. Ivanov), and works on T-23 were carried out in surprisingly short time and good quality.


T-23 that was actually built

During the production, tankette underwent countless technical modifications, which had almost completely changed it. Its length was increased by almost 300 mm. Instead of basic and supporting wheels from Ò-18, those of Ò-19 tank were used. A new facilitated track, with a new driving wheel was implemented, as old ones did not provide a speed of 40 km/h. However, even with the involved improvements, the tankette was unsatisfactory, since its price was almost that of the tank T-18, and in a version with a turret, even surpassed it (over 59 thousand rubles without armaments!), which did not allow for its mass production in required numbers. If the three-year program on support tanks had even surpassed its plan, for tankettes it was not even completed, which made it necessary to purchase a license for production of British tankette "VCL" (Vickers Carden-Loyd) to satisfy.


T-23 Tankette

Additional Sources:

www.nemo.nu

[SAMWolf]

T-33

The T-33 was a prototype of a light amphibious tank. It was based upon the Carden-Loyd tankettes (T-27) purchased from England. The only unit was completed in 1932 designated "Morskoi 33".

It had a 360 degree moving turret placed in the centre line of the hull, and a crew of two men, whose only weapon was a machine gun. The speed (on land only) was quite good. In 1933 a second unit, fully amphibious and with new suspension, became the T-37.

[GeronL]

These threads kill me. I have dial-up. This thread will take several minutes if not more to load.

Say... You wouldn't know where to find that cool military aviation art would you??

[GeronL]

Why does this look like they're about to race in go-karts that look like toy tanks???

[SAMWolf]

Morning GenonL

I remember the old dial up days, they were frustrating on heavy graphic threads.

One of the good Aviation Art sites

[alfa6]

A Tankette bump for Treadhead Tuesday

Hi manna

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[SAMWolf]

Why does this look like they're about to race in go-karts that look like toy tanks???

LOL! They remind me of the toy wind-up tanks from Japan I had as a kid.

[SAMWolf]

Morning alfa6.

Being a Capitalist pig is hard work ;-)

[GeronL]

Thanks for the link

[snippy_about_it]

"FALL IN" to the FReeper Foxhole!



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[snippy_about_it]

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************Snippy, I bequeath to you the FR TH PL.

148 posted on 08/24/2004 11:39:45 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)

Hi Cannoneer, we hope this finds you well. ;-)

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone!
WOO HOO ThreadHead Tuesday!

[GailA]

Good morning All..another wet, rainey morning here in Memphis. A day meant for coffee.

[alfa6]

Being a Capitalist pig is hard work ;-)

November Sierra Sierra

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

PS... I ran fast food resturants for about 20 years :-(

[soldierette]

Yes! More tankettes, SAMWolf, you made my day. I'm going to be full of fun facts and information today and an annoyance to everyone I talk to.

"Support Pulemetka" and "Lilliputian," I love it! I looked up pulemetka but its not in any of the dictionaries I found on line, darn!

[The Mayor]

November 23, 2004

"Just As I Am"

Read: John 6:35-40

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. —John 6:37

Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 20-21; James 5

---

Charlotte Elliott learned an important lesson about Jesus one sleepless night in 1834. She was an invalid, so when her family held a bazaar in Brighton, England, to raise money to build a school, she could only watch from afar.

That night she was overwhelmed by her helplessness and could not sleep. But her sadness turned to joy when she realized that God accepted her just as she was.

Her experience inspired these well-loved words: "Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!" When she published the poem in The Invalid's Hymn Book, she included with it John 6:37.

Jesus always accepts people as they are. In John 6, the people had come from miles around to hear Jesus. When the crowd became hungry, He miraculously fed them with a boy's unselfish gift of five loaves and two fish. Then the Lord offered Himself as "the bread of life," promising that He would not turn away anyone who came to Him.

It's still true today. No one who comes to Jesus will be turned away. Come to Him with all your sin. He'll accept you just as you are. —Dave Egner

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come! —Elliott

No one is too good or too bad to be saved.

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies. Flag-o-gram.