|
Posted on 01/17/2005 7:40:40 PM PST by SAMWolf
|
|
 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
|
| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
|
 In December 1930, the USSR had undertaken work to develop a new breakthrough heavy tank, the T-30. This work began after the signing of an agreement between UMM RKKA and the General Design Bureau of the Artillery Department. The first proposals were for a 50-ton vehicle armed with a 76-mm gun and five machine-guns. However, a lack of experience with such vehicles hampered the finishing of a plausible design - even on paper! At the beginning of 1932, the first sketches and a wooden prototype were created, but the T-30 project was canceled due to design problems (almost insuperable problems with running gear) which appeared during its development.  Prototypes of the T-35 (left) and the T-28 (right). Another attempt was undertaken by the Auto-Tank-Diesel Section of the Economic department of the OGPU. This was a special section that employed tank designers convicted during the Purges. As in the previous case, this project had too many serious problems and was also abandoned.  The T-35-1 on parade in Moscow. May 1, 1933. Only foreign specialists could get the project off the ground. In March 1930, a small group of German engineers led by Edward Grotte arrived in the USSR. This group was assigned to the Special Design Bureau AVO-5 in Leningrad in the "Bolshevik" Factory. AVO-5 had already worked on the TG-1 project. As far as I understand, the TG-1 was intended only to teach Soviet engineers how to develop a heavy vehicle, it was not intended as full-functional production vehicle. In August 1931, when the TG-1 was completed and tested all the German engineers were repatriated from the USSR. The AVO-5 was then reorganized. The New design bureau was issued a directive by UMM RKKA: "By 1 August 1932, a new 35-ton heavy tank based on the TG-1 must be developed and built." The new project received the "T-35" designation. On February 28, 1932, G.G. Bokis (Deputy Chief of the UMM RKKA) was reporting to M.N. Tukhachevsky: "The work on the T-35 is going briskly, and should be completed on time." On August 20, 1932, assembly of the very first prototype under the T-35-1 designation had been completed, and on September 1, it was shown to a special commission of the UMM RKKA. The tank made an impression on all the members of the commission. Outwardly, the T-35 looked like the English A1E1 "Independent" five-turret tank. Many people believe that the T-35 was copied from the "Independent", however, the Russian Archives have no documents, which can confirm such conjecture. Without such documents, we have no right to suspect Russian developers; the question is still open.  The T-35A on trials. The main turret was supposed to be armed with a powerful 76.2 mm PS-3 tank gun and one DT machine-gun, but because of a lack of PS-3 guns, a dummy gun was mounted instead. Later, the shortage of PS-3s remained, and the 76.2 mm KT Tank Gun used instead. The transmission of the T-35-1 had been developed with experience gleaned from the TG-1. It consisted of the M6 petrol engine, the main friction clutch, the gearbox and side clutches. Driving the tank was quite easy due to a well-designed pneumatic system.  The running gear of the T-35A tank Tests conducted in the autumn of 1932 revealed some defects in the transmission. Moreover, it was too complex and expensive for mass production, and all work on the T-35-1 had been canceled and the vehicle sent to Leningrad as a study aid for tank corps trainees. In February 1933, new work on the T-35-2 began. As per Stalin's order, standardization of tank turrets for the T-28 and T-35 was implemented. On the T-35-2 the new M-17 tank engine, a new gearbox, and an improved transmission were installed. All other parts were the same as on the T-35-1. This tank was also intended to be arm with the 76.2 mm PS-3 gun. The vehicle was completed in April 1933, and on May 1, it was shown on military parade in Leningrad while the T-35-1 was shown on parade in Moscow.  The T-35-2 on parade in Moscow. November 7, 1933. Both the T-35-1 and the T-35-2 were prototypes. Almost simultaneously, the first production model, the T-35A, was developing using experience from these prototypes. In May 1933, the Soviet Government ordered mass production at the KhPZ Factory. All documents and the T-35-2 prototype were sent here. The T-35A had many changes, which distinguished it from its predecessors. The new vehicle had a longer chassis, smaller turrets, an improved hull, and some other alterations. In essence, it was a new vehicle, and so it had some teething troubles during its manufacture. I wish to notice, each T-35 was unique, since minor improvements were made in every tank, and therefore they were not true production vehicles because they didn't pronouncedly follow the base blueprints. Different parts of the T-35 manufactured at different factories:
 The first production T-35A on parade in Moscow. May 1, 1934. According to the production plan, all these factories should have started manufacture in June 1933, but due to unforeseen problems, they began in August 1933. Final assembly began on October 18, 1933, and was finished on November 1. The final assembly was usually aided by using hydraulic lifting jacks, but in this case, the hull was placed on an elevated assembly jig in order to install the final components such as the running gear, turret, and armament. The first production T-35A was put on parade in Moscow on May 1, 1934. Per a Governmental order of October 25, 1933, the KhPZ had to complete five T-35A tanks and one T-35B (with an M-34 engine) before January 1, 1934, but up to this date only one vehicle had been fully completed. The other three T-35A's were still unarmed, and the manufacture of the T-35B had not even started. The T-35B project was later abandoned at all.  Sectors of fire of the T-35A The production of the T-35A was extremely expensive: a single tank cost 525,000 rubles - as much as nine BT-5 light tanks. This was a definitive reason why its manufacture was cancelled. According to the plan of 1934, the KhPZ had to produce ten vehicles (T-35A). During production, the factory made some changes to cut production costs. However, factory engineers met with many problems. For instance, the tracks of the tank were too fragile, and the M-17 engine often overheated. The first vehicle had to be completed on August 20, 1934, but was not. However, the KhPZ built ten by the very end of 1934.
|
Did I mention that it has a working cannon as well. Kind of a low powered spud gun on compressed air.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
LOL
Too, funny!
No, can't make it. Can't afford to take the time off.
Evening Matt.
I probably couldn't lift a broadsword. ;-)
I figured the T-35 might be classified doublelarge but with thin armor.
I took a photo workshop once in Cedar Key Fl. it was in the 30-40's at night. Now what do I know about Fl., warm beaches sunny sky's....WRONG WRONG WRONG. I froze my bunns off. I had one long sleve shirt, we had too drive up to Gainsville to get some warm clothes. What was worse I did get any good photos.
COOL! A little bit of re-designing and you could turn that into a Panther, the boggies would be easier to make too.
I would of killed for something like that when I was a kid.
You'd be right. And it seems to burn pretty well too, at least in my experience. :)
And the buffalo roam. . . .
In other news, Condoleezza Rice set up shop in the Senate today, hanging out her shingle, "Clocks Cleaned While U Wait".
"Clocks Cleaned While U Wait".
LOL! She's one gutsy lady. :-)
You two, anybody else, see the Senate hearings? I hate television so don't have cable, but would make an instant exception for Dr. Rice.
So how did it go?
I think I see in her the true killer instinct, what the boxers call "heart". I don't think she has a simple ass kicking in mind for those people. Something much more satisfying, at least for me. Total humiliation for starters.
BTTT!!!!!!!
Me too! Gonna have to build a fleet of them. The spud gun clinches the deal.
Heh heh heh I know exactly what you mean. I used this one for fighting, before I cleaned the edges up for show. 
Mornin, snippy.
I won't be awake much longer myself.
There you are! Thanks for checking in. Hope you are well and safe.
I have cable but couldn't stand to watch it. Listening to those 'holier than thou' spewing democrats just gets me to riled up so I took a pass.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
