| Revision as of 10:15, 1 June 2007 editLostArtilleryman (talk | contribs)445 edits →Evaluation← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:57, 5 June 2007 edit undoCremepuff222 (talk | contribs)15,717 edits bad link repair, Replaced: World War 2 → World War II, Typos fixed: oficially → officially, using AWBNext edit → | ||
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| |used_by= {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<br/> | |used_by= {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<br/> | ||
| {{flagcountry|Finland}} | {{flagcountry|Finland}} | ||
| |wars= ] (], ]) | |wars= ] (], ]) | ||
| <!-- Production history --> | <!-- Production history --> | ||
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| == Production history == | == Production history == | ||
| The T-28 was in many ways similar to the British ] tank. This tank greatly influenced tank design in the period between the wars, although only one prototype was manufactured in 1926. The Kirov Factory in ] began manufacturing a tank, which was based on the British Independent in 1932. The T-28 tank was |
The T-28 was in many ways similar to the British ] tank. This tank greatly influenced tank design in the period between the wars, although only one prototype was manufactured in 1926. The Kirov Factory in ] began manufacturing a tank, which was based on the British Independent in 1932. The T-28 tank was officially approved on August 11, 1933. The T-28 had one large turret with a 76.2mm gun and two smaller turrets with 7.62mm machine guns. A total of 503 T-28 tanks were manufactured over a period of 8 years from ] to ]. | ||
| The type would not have that much success in combat, but it played an important role as a development project for the Soviet designers. A series of new ideas and solutions were tried out on the T-28 and were later incorporated in future models. | The type would not have that much success in combat, but it played an important role as a development project for the Soviet designers. A series of new ideas and solutions were tried out on the T-28 and were later incorporated in future models. | ||
| == Combat history == | == Combat history == | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The T-28 was deployed during the ], the ] against ] and against the ]. During the initial stages of the Winter War, the tank was used in direct fire missions against Finnish pillboxes. In the course of these operations it was found that the armour was inadequate and programs were initiated to upgrade it. Frontal plates were upgraded from 50 mm to 80 mm and side and rear plates to 40 mm thickness. With this up-armoured version the Red Army broke through the main Finnish defensive fortification, the vaunted ]. Shortly thereafter, production was halted to focus on the new ]. According to Russian historyan M. Kolomietz's new book ''T-28. Three-headed Stalin's Monster'', over 200 T-28s were knocked out during the Winter War, but only 20 of them were in irrecoverable losses (including 2 captured by Finnish Army). Due to proximity of Kirov Plant all other knocked out tanks were repaired, some of them more than 5 times. Most T-28s were lost during the first two months of the German invasion, where they met a lot of mechanical problems and breakages. However, one T-28 did a spectacular raid (trying to return to Soviet forces from encirclement) through captured by Germans ], ramming, firing and smashing trucks, APCs and personnel. This tank was near to escape but it was hit several times by German 37 mm anti-tank gun and caught fire. It's commander was killed after bailing out from burning T-28 but two survived crewmen were caught by Belarusian women and went in hide with their help. | The T-28 was deployed during the ], the ] against ] and against the ]. During the initial stages of the Winter War, the tank was used in direct fire missions against Finnish pillboxes. In the course of these operations it was found that the armour was inadequate and programs were initiated to upgrade it. Frontal plates were upgraded from 50 mm to 80 mm and side and rear plates to 40 mm thickness. With this up-armoured version the Red Army broke through the main Finnish defensive fortification, the vaunted ]. Shortly thereafter, production was halted to focus on the new ]. According to Russian historyan M. Kolomietz's new book ''T-28. Three-headed Stalin's Monster'', over 200 T-28s were knocked out during the Winter War, but only 20 of them were in irrecoverable losses (including 2 captured by Finnish Army). Due to proximity of Kirov Plant all other knocked out tanks were repaired, some of them more than 5 times. Most T-28s were lost during the first two months of the German invasion, where they met a lot of mechanical problems and breakages. However, one T-28 did a spectacular raid (trying to return to Soviet forces from encirclement) through captured by Germans ], ramming, firing and smashing trucks, APCs and personnel. This tank was near to escape but it was hit several times by German 37 mm anti-tank gun and caught fire. It's commander was killed after bailing out from burning T-28 but two survived crewmen were caught by Belarusian women and went in hide with their help. | ||
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| The T-28 had a number of advanced features for the time, including ] (in all tanks) and anti-aircraft machine-gun mounts. Just before the ], many received armor upgrades, bringing it on par with the early ]. | The T-28 had a number of advanced features for the time, including ] (in all tanks) and anti-aircraft machine-gun mounts. Just before the ], many received armor upgrades, bringing it on par with the early ]. | ||
| The T-28 had significant flaws. The plunger-spring type suspension was poor, but many of the better suspension designs used in |
The T-28 had significant flaws. The plunger-spring type suspension was poor, but many of the better suspension designs used in World War II tanks had not yet been developed. The engine and transmission were troublesome. Worst of all, the design was not flexible. Although the T-28 and early Pzkpw IV were comparable in armour and firepower, the good basic design of the Pzkw-IV allowed it to be significantly upgraded, while the T-28 was a poor basis for improvement. | ||
| Unfortunately for the ], by the time the T-28 saw combat in 1939, events had overtaken it. The 1930s saw the development of the first reliable high-speed suspensions, the first purpose-designed antitank guns, and a gradual increase in the firepower of tanks. The ] showed that infantry units with small, towed anti-tank guns could defeat most contemporary tanks, and made the under-armoured tanks from the early 1930s particularly vulnerable. | Unfortunately for the ], by the time the T-28 saw combat in 1939, events had overtaken it. The 1930s saw the development of the first reliable high-speed suspensions, the first purpose-designed antitank guns, and a gradual increase in the firepower of tanks. The ] showed that infantry units with small, towed anti-tank guns could defeat most contemporary tanks, and made the under-armoured tanks from the early 1930s particularly vulnerable. | ||
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| == References == | == References == | ||
| * {{wikicite | id= Zaloga-1984 | reference= Zaloga, Steven J., James Grandsen (1984). ''Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War |
* {{wikicite | id= Zaloga-1984 | reference= Zaloga, Steven J., James Grandsen (1984). ''Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II'', London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-606-8. }} | ||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
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| * at War is Over | * at War is Over | ||
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Revision as of 00:57, 5 June 2007
For other uses, see T28. Medium tank| T-28 | |
|---|---|
 T-28 at the Finnish Tank Museum in Parola | |
| Type | Medium tank |
| Place of origin |  Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1933 to 1944 |
| Used by | Soviet Union Finland |
| Wars | World War II (Winter War, Continuation War) |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1931 |
| Produced | 1932 to 1941 |
| No. built | 503 |
| Variants | T-28E, T-28 Model 1940, OT-28 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 28 tonnes |
| Length | 7.44 m |
| Width | 2.87 m |
| Height | 2.82 m |
| Crew | 6 |
| Armor | 30 mm |
| Main armament | 76.2mm gun with 70 rounds |
| Secondary armament | 4 or 5×DT 7.62mm machine guns with 8,000 rounds |
| Engine | M-17 12-cylinder 500 hp (373 kW) |
| Power/weight | 18 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | twin bogies with plunger springs |
| Operational range | 220 km |
| Maximum speed | 37 km/h (road) 22 km/h (off-road) |
The Soviet T-28 was among the world's first medium tanks. The prototype was completed in 1931 and production began in late 1932. It was an infantry-support tank intended to break through fortified defences. The T-28 was designed to complement the heavier T-35, with which it shared many components.
Production history
The T-28 was in many ways similar to the British Vickers A1E1 Independent tank. This tank greatly influenced tank design in the period between the wars, although only one prototype was manufactured in 1926. The Kirov Factory in Saint Petersburg began manufacturing a tank, which was based on the British Independent in 1932. The T-28 tank was officially approved on August 11, 1933. The T-28 had one large turret with a 76.2mm gun and two smaller turrets with 7.62mm machine guns. A total of 503 T-28 tanks were manufactured over a period of 8 years from 1933 to 1941.
The type would not have that much success in combat, but it played an important role as a development project for the Soviet designers. A series of new ideas and solutions were tried out on the T-28 and were later incorporated in future models.
Combat history
The T-28 was deployed during the Invasion of Poland, the Winter War against Finland and against the Japanese in 1939. During the initial stages of the Winter War, the tank was used in direct fire missions against Finnish pillboxes. In the course of these operations it was found that the armour was inadequate and programs were initiated to upgrade it. Frontal plates were upgraded from 50 mm to 80 mm and side and rear plates to 40 mm thickness. With this up-armoured version the Red Army broke through the main Finnish defensive fortification, the vaunted Mannerheim Line. Shortly thereafter, production was halted to focus on the new T-34 medium tank. According to Russian historyan M. Kolomietz's new book T-28. Three-headed Stalin's Monster, over 200 T-28s were knocked out during the Winter War, but only 20 of them were in irrecoverable losses (including 2 captured by Finnish Army). Due to proximity of Kirov Plant all other knocked out tanks were repaired, some of them more than 5 times. Most T-28s were lost during the first two months of the German invasion, where they met a lot of mechanical problems and breakages. However, one T-28 did a spectacular raid (trying to return to Soviet forces from encirclement) through captured by Germans Minsk, ramming, firing and smashing trucks, APCs and personnel. This tank was near to escape but it was hit several times by German 37 mm anti-tank gun and caught fire. It's commander was killed after bailing out from burning T-28 but two survived crewmen were caught by Belarusian women and went in hide with their help.
The Finns knew the T-28 as the "Postivaunu" ("mail wagon" or stagecoach), a name which alluded to Finnish troops' discovery of Red Army field mail sacks inside the first destroyed T-28. Another explanation is that the high profile of the tank resembled the stagecoaches used during Wild West times in the western United States. Finns captured two T-28s during the Winter War and five in Continuation War, totaling 7 vehicles. They were used until 1944.
Today five T-28s remain, four in Finland and one in Moscow. One restored T-28 is on display in Finnish field camouflage in the Parola Tank Museum, Finland.
Evaluation
Although the T-28 was rightly considered ineffective by 1941, it is worth remembering that when the Red Army was fielding the first T-28s in 1933, the French Army was still largely equipped with the FT-17, and the Wehrmacht had no tanks at all. No army had a series-production medium tank comparable to the T-28 for several years.
The T-28 had a number of advanced features for the time, including radio (in all tanks) and anti-aircraft machine-gun mounts. Just before the Second World War, many received armor upgrades, bringing it on par with the early Panzer IV.
The T-28 had significant flaws. The plunger-spring type suspension was poor, but many of the better suspension designs used in World War II tanks had not yet been developed. The engine and transmission were troublesome. Worst of all, the design was not flexible. Although the T-28 and early Pzkpw IV were comparable in armour and firepower, the good basic design of the Pzkw-IV allowed it to be significantly upgraded, while the T-28 was a poor basis for improvement.
Unfortunately for the Red Army, by the time the T-28 saw combat in 1939, events had overtaken it. The 1930s saw the development of the first reliable high-speed suspensions, the first purpose-designed antitank guns, and a gradual increase in the firepower of tanks. The Spanish Civil War showed that infantry units with small, towed anti-tank guns could defeat most contemporary tanks, and made the under-armoured tanks from the early 1930s particularly vulnerable.
Despite the heavy combat losses, in Winter War Red Army 20th Tank Brigade, equipped with T-28s, fullfilled the given task - to break Mannerheim Line defensive line. So as infantry tank, designed to strengthen infantry in breakthrough operations, T-28 in general was successful for early 1930-ies idea and design.
Variants
- T-28 Model 1934 or T-28A — main production model with the same machinegun turrets, and similar main turret as the T-35 heavy tank and Model 27/32 76.2mm gun.
- T-28 Model 1938 or T-28B — version with improved L-10 76.2 mm gun (from 16.5 calibres to 26 calibres), improved gun stabilization system and improved Model M-17L engine.
- T-28E or T-28C — 1940 addition of appliqué armour in response to poor performance in Finland. Total front armour was increased to 80 mm, weight to 32 t, and road speed dropped to 23 km/h
- T-28 Model 1940 — the final batch of about twelve tanks had the same conical turret as late-production T-35 tanks.
- OT-28 — flamethrower version.
Experimental models
Several self-propelled guns, the IT-28 bridging tank, and an engineering vehicle with mine rollers were tested on the T-28 tank chassis, but none was accepted for production. The T-29 was a prototype medium tank, a modernized T-28 with Christie suspension — a later version of this vehicle was considered for the competition of prototypes which led to the T-34, but by then it was outdated (not to be confused with a Grotte tank project also called T-29). The T-28 also served as a testbed for the KV tank suspension.
Operators
- Soviet Union
- Finland: The Finns captured seven Soviet T-28 tanks during the Winter War and the Continuation War
References
- Zaloga, Steven J., James Grandsen (1984). Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II, London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-606-8.
See also
External links
- U.S. WWII Newsmap, "Russian Armored Vehicles", hosted by the UNT Libraries Digital Collections
- Multi-turret tanks photos at War is Over
Template:World War IISovietAFVs
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