T-60

Presentation

Having received the order to produce the T50 and its engine V4 in May 1941, the persons in charge of the factory n°37 of Moscow were unable themselves to launch this too pointed production for their production equipments. In August, the chief engineer N.A. Astrov launched a project of replacement the “060” which it conceived in a fifteen or so days while being based on the tested frame of the T40. A new case better armor-plated and less bulky because of disappearance of any characteristic amphibian was drawn by engineer A.V. Bogachev and a new made octagonal turret of plates of 25mm thickness was conceived by U.P. Udovich.
Stalin, prevented by mail, sent as of following day V.A. Malyshev to examine the new vehicle which required that one mount a gun of 20mm ShVAK of aviation instead of the Mitrailleuse DShK, and the evening even the model was accepted for the service under its designation of T60 and a production of 10 000 specimens was ordered. The production started at once and n°37 machines it succeeds in producing of them 245 between the September 15th where left the first specimen series and the October 9th, day when its evacuation towards Sverdlovsk was ordered. In October 1941, in front of the shortage of engines, V.A. Malyshev ordered the assembly of any engine available.
In February 1942, the office of the new factory developed a remotorized version, the “060” or T60-1, with an engine ZIS-60 of 95cv which was thereafter thorough with 110cv. On the other hand the tests of increase in the armament, namely the assembly of a VYa gun of 23mm then the ZIS19 of 37mm and finally the ZIS19BM of 45mm, could not lead because of weakness of the turret, then startup of the T70 in the middle of the year 1942.

Engagements

Engaged, as of September 1941, in the area of Poltava, they had a paramount role during the battle of Moscow during the winter 1941-1942, where they were engaged in great number. To spring 1942, sixty were sent in Leningrad besieged camouflaged in coal barges, and the January 12th 1943, they formed the avant-garde of the 61e armor-plated brigade which with the head of the armed 67e, broke the surrounding of the city through the cold river Neva. During spring 1942, it took part of number in the offensive of Kharkov then to the defense of Sébastopol and Stalingrad. Thereafter, it was relegated to the escort of convoys and the reconnaissance missions.

Alternatives

T60-1 alternative with engine ZIS-60
T60-2 alternative with turret of T45 and gun ZIS19BM of 45mm
prototype SU-76 of motorized of 76 mm, refused with the tests in May 1942
BM8-24 multiple rocket launcher on frame of T-40 and T-60 brought into service in October 1941.
the tank sailplane KT conceived by Antonov which flew once.
prototype OSA-76 of motorized light, 3,5 tons, armoured tank with 6 mm, driving GAZ-MM, crew of 3 men and ZIS-3Sh gun of 76,2 mm.
OSA-57 even frame, anti-tank gun ZIS-2 of 57 mm.
OSA-23 idem, anti-aircraft gun of 23 mm.
OSA-12 idem, anti-aircraft machine-gun of 12,7 mm.

Technical information

|valign=top width=50% align=center| |-------- | Armament || Propulsion |--- |valign=top width=50% align=center| |valign=top width=50% align=center| |------- | Protection thickness in mm/slope compared to the Horizontal in ° || Equipment |--- |valign=top width=50% align=center| |valign=top width=50% align=center| |}

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