T-19

The T-19 was a Soviet Union tank design of the interwar years. Conceived as the mainstay of the new Soviet tank armies, it was a development of the T-18 and was ultimately based on the First World War era French Renault FT-17. When ready for production in 1931 it was already obsolete and the project was terminated in favour of the Vickers based T-26.

History

The idea of creating a new tank direct support of infantry, capable of replacing T-18, appeared at the meeting RVS July 17–18, 1929. According to the plan RVS, a T -19 was supposed to be the main strike force mobile units in

T-19 Tank

the Red Army in a maneuverable combat . From the tank required, in particular, the ability to overcome most of the field fortifications and barbed wire without the help of the "tail " and at the highest possible speed. Firepower tank was supposed to provide a tank superiority over all known fighting vehicles of similar weight, but booking would protect the crew from rifle and machine gun bullets at all ranges, and at a distance of 1000 meters and fire 37-mm antitank guns.

In autumn 1929, the tank was formulated technical task. Under the terms of reference tank was supposed to have a mass not exceeding 7,3 tonnes . The machine was supposed to carry 40- mm cannon and two machine guns, armor was assumed to 18–20 mm . This engine is the estimated output of 100 hp was to inform the tank speed on solid ground not below 30 km / h.

Implementation of the overall management of the design of the T-19 was requested Ginzburg. Together with the project worked A. Mikulin and V. Simsk ( engine and chassis ), and D. Maydell (overall design and the tower) and P. Syachintov (weapons).

The original completion date of the Development, January 15, 1930, failed to survive, but already 1 March 1930 took place on acceptance of a project and preparations for the manufacture of the prototype.

Manufacturing of prototypes

Upon approval of the project in the spring of 1929, preparations began for the production of a prototype tank, but in the course of this work are constantly had difficulties and delays that hindered production . August 13, 1930 at a meeting of the RVS was agreed:

Medium Tank T -19 . Noting the very unsatisfactory momentum by making a prototype of the T -19 - Request - Ordnance Arsenal unite the Supreme Economic Council to finish making a prototype to March 1, 1931, and the gross production of the first installment in the IV quarter of 1930/31, with a view to 1 October 1931 to move to mass production of tanks of this type.

However, March 1, 1931 the tank was not ready . Moreover, at this point, as such, its production was not even started - impact fantastic complexity of manufacturing the tank. In addition, some parts such as bearings ( which required a lot of tank ), had purchased abroad. Direct production of a prototype began only in June 1931, and only to the end of August, the tank was mostly ready. Price tank rolls over the reasonable limits for such a machine - 96 thousand rubles (for comparison, production of the BT- 2 from beginning to end six months later will cost about 50-60 thousand rubles). To make matters worse the situation is that this sum does not take into account the tower with weapons and CPR . And if the gearbox later still collected, the conical tower, designed for the T -19 at Izhorskij not even started to do . Therefore, to test a prototype of the T -19 had to install a tower on the T-18, slightly expanded its insignia. Failed to time " to bring to mind " and was designed P. Syachintovym 37- mm gun, which, however, was somewhat smoothed by the same installation of the tower from the T -18 with standard 37- mm tank gun Hotchkiss with shoulder rest .

Was not completed on time and six-cylinder engine is air cooled 100 hp designed by Mikulina . From the position decided to leave, putting his place vysokoooborotny motor " Franklin "power 95 hp, but its application required a partial alteration of the motor - transmission compartment of the tank, because this engine was designed the larger in size . In addition , had to be replaced and the PPC .

Contribute significantly to complexity and higher cost have made the tank and a variety of additional equipment such as chemical protection or buoyancy.

However, the final draft of the T- 19 was " buried " the emergence of a Soviet tank "Vickers 6- ton" bought in the summer of 1930 in UK. In its main characteristics, it has not assigned any T -19, or even exceeded it, but calculations show that the production of Vickers will cost much less. Therefore, in the late fall of 1931 all work on the T-19 were dismantled and release the resources immediately thrown to the serial production of the tank T-26, a Soviet version of Vickers. By that time, more or less completely collected two T -19 (with the towers of the T-18 engines and "Franklin"), and additional time to produce a body of welded and cast components, as well as a number of subsidiary units. Subsequently, all this was sent to the smelter.

References

• M. Svirin , A. Beskurnikov . The first Soviet tanks . - M. : M - Hobby, 1995. - 64 pp. - ( Armada № 1). - 5000 copies. - ISBN 5-85729-045-7
• Svirin M. The armor is strong . History of Soviet tanks. 1919-1937 . - M.: Penguin Books, 2007. - 384 pp. - 5000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-699-13809-8

External links

• Russian tanks and armor
• Main infantry tank T-19
• The Russian Battlefield - T-19 Main Battle Tank (rus)
• Russian Battlefield article