The fleet of the Russian Armed Forces is represented by a large assortment of various models of armored personnel carriers and combat vehicles. During the years of the Soviet Union, the T-62 became one of the first production tanks of 115 mm caliber. According to experts, the appearance of this model has made a huge contribution to the development of domestic tank building. For ten years, the industry of the USSR produced at least 20 thousand units of this equipment. Information about the device, combat use and performance characteristics of the T-62 tank is contained in the article.
Introduction to the combat unit
T-62 is a Soviet medium tank. It was designed on the basis of the T-55. Serial production of the model lasted until the 70s. In 2013, the T-62 was officially withdrawn from service in Russia. However, it is still used by several armies around the world.
Beginning of creation
In the 1950s, the T-55 was used as the main medium tank in the USSR, equipped with a 100 mm D-10T rifled gun. As they sayspecialists, firing from this gun with caliber armor-piercing shells was not able to effectively hit the American M48 medium tank that appeared at that time. The armies of Western countries have already produced a line of new cumulative and sub-caliber shells. At an optimal combat distance, such ammunition could destroy an old Soviet tank. The appearance in a potential enemy of new and better shells stimulated Soviet weapons designers to create a domestic tank that is not inferior to Western models.
About trends in design
Engineers of the Design Bureau of Uralvagonzavod carried out design work to create a new promising tank, which was listed as Object No. 140 in the technical documentation. In 1958, the chief designer of the plant, L. N. that the unit would be too low-tech and difficult to use.
At the same time, work was underway on Object No. 165. For this model, the designers took the hull and turret from Object No. 140, and the engine compartment and chassis from the T-55. After successful factory tests in 1959, the USSR Ministry of Defense decided to continue development in this particular direction. The Soviet weapons engineers were given the task of creating a promising tank, structurally close to the T-55.
On further developments
Initially, Object No. 165 was planned to be equipped with a new100-mm rifled gun D-54, created back in 1953. This gun was also used as the main gun in other medium Soviet tanks. Unlike the D-10, the projectile fired from the new gun had an increased muzzle velocity, which was 1015 m/s. Improvements also affected armor penetration, which was increased by 25%. However, according to Soviet experts, this was not enough to effectively resist Western tanks. In addition, the muzzle brake of the gun caused a lot of criticism. During the operation of the gun, a cloud of snow, sand or dust unmasked the tank. It also prevented the observer from seeing the result of the shooting. In addition, the muzzle wave could harm the he alth of infantry and landing troops close to the tank. Work on a promising new tank began in 1957 at the Design Bureau of Plant No. 183. In 1959, the first prototype was ready. His testing lasted until 1961. In August, the model of the T-62 tank was completely ready.
About design
The T-62 tank (a photo of the combat unit is presented in the article) is characterized by a classic layout. Namely: the engine compartment is located in the aft part, the management compartment is in the front, and the fighting compartment is in the middle. The crew of the T-62 tank has four people: a driver, commander, gunner and loader.
The tank is protected by differentiated anti-shell armor. For the manufacture of a rigid box-shaped welded structure of the armored hull, steel sheets with a thickness of 1.6 to 10see. The frontal part was made by connecting two 10-centimeter armored plates. The upper one is inclined by 60 degrees in relation to the lower one. The lower one in the vertical plane was placed at an angle of 55 degrees. For the sides of the T-62 tank, solid vertical steel armored sheets 8 cm thick were used. The aft part consists of two sheets: the upper 4.5 cm is located vertically, and the lower one, whose thickness is 1.6 cm, is placed at an inclination of 70 degrees. The thickness of the roof of the tower is 3 cm, and the cover covering the engine compartment is a little thinner - 1.6 cm. In the manufacture of the bottom for the T-62, Soviet designers used four sheets that passed the stamping procedure. Their thickness is 2 cm. Chrome-nickel-molybdenum steel 42 SM was used for the production of frontal and side sheets, 49 C grade for the aft and roof, and chromium-molybdenum steel 43 PSM was used for the bottom.
On crew protection
Since a nuclear explosion produces excess pressure inside the tank, the developers developed special anti-nuclear protection in order to protect the crew from radiation. It consisted in the fact that the hull and turret of the T-62 were made as airtight as possible. In addition, the combat vehicle is equipped with automatic closing hatches, air intakes and shutters. A special supercharger-separator operates inside the cabin, the purpose of which is to create increased pressure in the tank and filter the incoming air. Activation of anti-nuclear protection is carried out automatically after the RBZ-1M device, which reacts to gamma-radiation. Additionally, the tank was equipped with a DP-ZB device, which also registers ionizing radiation.
About weapons
The designers equipped the tank with a 115-millimeter U-5TS smoothbore semi-automatic gun. The attachment of the gun is made with the help of a casing. For the gun, an ejector and a spring-type semi-automatic are provided. It is equipped with a horizontal wedge gate and two triggers: electric and backup. Underbarrel hydraulic recoil and hydropneumatic knurler are used as recoil devices. The maximum indicator of pressure formed in the barrel channel is 3730 kg / cm2. After each shot, the cartridge case is automatically extracted through a special hatch in the turret.
About ammunition
Sub-caliber armor-piercing, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells were developed for the gun. In the ammunition load for one combat unit, shells of 40 pieces are provided. They are stacked in the engine compartment in special racks. The standard equipment of the tank is represented by 16 armor-piercing, 16 high-explosive fragmentation and 8 cumulative shells. However, according to experts, depending on the task assigned to the tank crew, the combat layout can be changed.
Initially, the feathered armor-piercing projectile was presented in two versions: 3BMZ and 3BM4 with the same mass and ballistic properties. The steel hull contained armor-piercing andballistic tips. In order to give the projectile a rotational moment, it was equipped with a special six-finger stabilizer. As a result, the rotation of the projectile had a positive effect on the flight speed. 3BM3, due to the presence of a tungsten carbide core, had better armor penetration. Soon, Soviet gunsmiths created a new ammunition, which is listed as 3BM6. Unlike previous versions, the new ammunition is characterized by the presence of an all-steel body and an increased amount of charge. Despite the fact that this ammunition has excellent ballistic qualities, they adopted 3BM21, containing a tungsten carbide core and a damper-localizer, and 3BM28, for the manufacture of a monoblock case of which depleted uranium was used.
About tank machine guns
In addition to the main gun, military equipment until 1964 was equipped with a 7.62-millimeter Soviet machine gun Goryunov. Later, the SGMT was replaced with a Kalashnikov machine gun of a similar caliber. Since both versions of the guns use the same ammunition and have similar ballistic properties, there was no need to change the sights. Nevertheless, according to experts, the new PCT is lighter and more compact. Unlike the Goryunov machine gun, the new model has an increased rate of fire. Within one minute, you can fire 800 shots, and not 600, as it was before. Machine-gun ammunition is represented by 2500 rounds. They are contained in assembled form in tapes of 250 pieces each. Ammunition is equipped with steel cores, tracer andarmor-piercing incendiary bullets. Using the latter option, it is possible to break through an armored plate 0.6 cm thick from a distance of 500 m. Nevertheless, the main purpose of coaxial machine guns is to destroy enemy manpower and unarmored weapons.
About powertrain
The tank is equipped with a V-55V, V-shaped, 12-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled diesel engine. The maximum power of the unit is 580 horsepower. According to the manufacturer, the warranty period for uninterrupted operation of the engine is at least 350 hours. Its location in the tank was the engine compartment. The power unit is cooled by one tubular-ribbon radiator and a special fan. The engine air intake is cleaned by a two-stage air cleaner VTI-4.
About the fuel system
Combat equipment is equipped with four internal fuel tanks, the total capacity of which is 675 liters. 280 liters are poured into the tank located in the bow of the tank. The rest of the tanks are designed for 125, 145 and 127 liters. Additionally, the tank was equipped with three external fuel tanks of 95 liters each. They are installed on a special fender on the right side of the combat vehicle. In addition, the aft part of the tank can be equipped with two fuel barrels of 200 liters each.
Their connection to the fuel system is not provided. The transfusion of their contents into the system is carried out at the parking lots by regular filling facilities. According to experts, the presencebarrels of fuel does not affect the maneuverability of the combat vehicle at all.
About performance characteristics
- T-62 belongs to the class of medium tanks.
- Military equipment was produced from 1961 to 1975. in Soviet Union. From 1980 to 1989 in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
- Dimensions of the T-62: 933.5 cm - the total length of the tank with a gun, 663 cm - the length of the hull. The height is 239.5 cm and the width is 330.
- Weight T-62 - 37 t.
- Equipment is equipped with telescopic and periscopic electro-optical night sights.
- On a flat paved surface, a tank can move at a speed of 50 km/h. Cross country - 27 km/h.
- Aiming the cannon and the coaxial machine gun at the target is carried out using the TSh2B-41 telescopic articulated sight.
About virtual military equipment
Judging by the numerous reviews, Armored Warfare is very popular among gamers among a wide range of different games. Of all the available samples of military equipment, it has proven itself especially well in the Armata T-62 project.
In the game, this model is listed as VTRN. According to experienced players, the T-62 Veteran tank practically does not differ in any way from the upgraded 62nd model. Since VTRN does not belong to the premium category, fans of tank simulators will have to re-open modules with this military vehicle.
In conclusion
In 1969, the T-62 tanks were delivered to the Far East, where their baptism of fire took place. In the 70syears they were active participants in the Arab-Israeli armed conflicts.
In Iraq, Soviet tanks opposed the American M60s and the British Chieftains. Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Africa and Georgia - this is an incomplete list of countries in which the T-62 proved to be the best.
