T-60 tank |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Type | Light tank |
| In service | 1941–45 |
| Built | 6292 |
The T-60 scout tank was a light tank produced by the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1942. During this period, 6,292 units were built. The tank was designed to replace the obsolete T-38 amphibious scout tank.
Source: T60 tank on Wikipedia
| T-60 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 44 |
See also:
General Characteristics
The T-60 was a Soviet light tank produced from 1941 to 1942. Designed by Nicholas Astrov, it was intended as a simple, high-volume stopgap measure to quickly replace the heavy losses suffered by Soviet tank forces following the German invasion, while factories were being prepared for the mass production of the T-34 and KV tanks. It was built in non-specialized factories, such as the GAZ truck plant. Although it was better armored than its predecessor, the T-40, and featured a sloped frontal hull, its weak main gun and thin side armor quickly relegated it to infantry support and reconnaissance roles against more modern German armor. Over 6,000 units were built during its short production run, making it a critical, though flawed, vehicle during the initial crisis years of the Eastern Front.
| Property | Typical Value (T-60) |
|---|---|
| Role | Light Tank, Reconnaissance, Infantry Support |
| National Origin | Soviet Union |
| Designer | Nicholas Astrov |
| Production Years | 1941–1942 (In service until 1945) |
| No. Built | Approx. 6,292 |
| Crew | 2 (Driver and Commander/Gunner/Loader) |
| Mass (Combat) | 5.8–6.4 tonnes (5,800–6,400 kg) |
| Length | 4.10 m (13 ft 5 in) |
| Width | 2.30 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
Armor and Mobility
- Armor (Hull Front): 15–20 mm (upgraded to 35 mm in some late/applique versions) on sloped plates.
- Armor (Hull Side/Rear): 15 mm / 10–25 mm.
- Armor (Turret Front): 25–35 mm.
- Engine: GAZ-202 6-cylinder gasoline engine (an adapted truck engine).
- Power Output: 52 kW (70 hp). Later variants sometimes used the 85 hp GAZ-203.
- Maximum Speed (Road): 44–45 km/h (27–28 mph).
- Operational Range: Up to 450 km (280 mi) on road.
- Suspension: Torsion bar.
🔥 Armament
- Main Armament: 1 x 20 mm TNSh cannon (a tank version of the ShVAK aircraft autocannon).
- Ammunition Capacity: Approx. 750 rounds.
- Limitation: The gun was adequate against soft targets but struggled to penetrate the armor of even contemporary German medium tanks (e.g., Panzer III and IV).
- Secondary Armament: 1 x 7.62 mm DT machine gun (coaxial).
- Proposed Upgrades: Several attempts were made to re-arm the tank with a 37 mm or 45 mm cannon, but these plans were ultimately abandoned in favor of producing the T-70 light tank.
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