The history and virtual tour of Kubinka tank museum Hall N 3 at 1972-2014
Part 1: soviet pre-WW2 tanks T-37A, T-38, T-26
T-26 twin-turreted soviet light tank
The tank was developed in 1931. It was produced serially from 1932 to 1937. It was in service with the Red Army. Used in the battles in the area of the river Khalkhin-Gol and in Spain. For 2016 there is no pavilion N3.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-26 tank: Weight – 8,4 tons, Number of crew – 3 people, Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 4650 x 2440 x 2330 mm.
Armament: gun – 1 piece, caliber – 37 mm., Ammunition – 113 shots; a machine gun – 1 pc., caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 3087 cartridges. Armored protection – 13 mm.
Engine power – 90 horsepower, The maximum speed is 30 km / h, Cruising range on the highway – 160 km.
The depth of water barriers to be surfaced is 0.8 meters.
Design Features: The base was a T-26 tank of the 1931 model.
General layout – power plant is located in the stern of the hull.
Armament – gun and machine gun with shoulder stops, installed in ball bearings, horizontal angle of fire from each turret 270 degrees; The turrets are rotated by a planetary mechanism with a manual drive.
Protection – riveted body of armored rolled sheets has a box section.
Chassis – power transmission consists of a main clutch, a five-speed transmission of a tractor type, two side friction clutches and two single-stage side gears.
T-26 soviet light tanks (1938 model)
The T-26 tank was developed in 1938. It was produced serially from 1938 to 1940. He was in service with the Red Army. Participated in the battles of the Great Patriotic War, mainly the initial period (“The Battle for Moscow”, “The Battle for Leningrad” ..) For 2016 there is no in pavilion N3.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-26 tank: Weight – 10.25 tons, Number of crew – 3 people, Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 4620 x 2445 x 2330 mm.
Armament: gun – 1 piece, caliber – 45 mm., Ammunition – 165 shots; machine gun – 2 pieces, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 3087 cartridges. Armored protection – 15 mm.
Engine power – 95 horsepower; The maximum speed is 30 km / h, Cruising range on the highway – 240 km., The depth of water barriers to be surfaced is 0.8 meters
Design Features: The base was a T-26 tank of the 1933 model.
OT-130 soviet light flamethrower tank
Flamethrower tank OT-130 (USSR), serial
The tank was developed in 1938. It was produced serially from 1938 to 1939. He was in service with the Red Army. Used in battles in the Khalkhin Gol river area. Location for 2016 there is out of pavilion N3.
Tactical and technical characteristics of OT-130: Weight – 10 tons, Number of crew – 3 people, Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 4660 x 2440 x 2330 mm.
Armament: flamethrower equipment; machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition 2898 cartridges.
Armored protection – 15 mm.
Engine power – 95 horsepower, The maximum speed is 30 km / h, Cruising range on the highway – 130 km., The depth of water barriers to be surfaced is 0.8 meters.
Design Features: Base – T-26 light tank. General layout – the power plant is located in the stern of the machine. Armament – range of flame throwing 50 meters; the number of shots is 40.
Protection – riveted body from rolled sheets has a box section.
Chassis – carburetor four-cylinder engine with a horizontal arrangement of cylinders, air cooling; The transmission consists of a main clutch mounted on the crankshaft of the engine, a five-speed gearbox of the tractor type installed on the bow of the hull, two onboard multi-plate clutches, two side gears; The gearbox is connected to the engine by a cardan shaft running along the tank.
T-37A soviet amphibious light tank
The tank was developed in 1933. It was produced serially from 1933. It was in service with the Red Army. In the battles was not used. The tank is in running condition. Participated in holidays and military parades.
Location: for 2016, the tank in pavilion N3 is missing.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-37A tank: Weight – 3.2 tons, Number of crew – 2 people, Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 3730 x 1940 x 1840 mm.
Armament: machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., Ammunition – 2140 cartridges.
Armor protection – 8 mm.
Engine power – 40 horsepower, The maximum speed is 40 km / h, Cruising range on the highway – 230 km., Speed of crossing water obstacles afloat – 6 km / h
Design Features: Base – the original*. The overall layout – the transmission is located in the front of the car; Combat department and department of management are combined; The driver is located on the left, the commander is on the right in the direction of the traffic.
Armament – a machine gun DT with a shoulder stop is installed in the ball joint.
Protection of the tank body riveted or welded, hermetic.
The chassis – the engine of automobile type “Ford-AA” is installed along the axis of the tank; transmission – mechanical, consists of a clutch, gearbox and a simple differential with shoe brakes; Suspension blocked, spring; for motion afloat there is a propeller.
BT Soviet light tanks (on USA Christie chassis)
BT-2 soviet light tank
Developed in 1931 based on the chassis of the US Christie” truck. Adopted by the Red Army in 1932. Produced in series. Released 620 tanks.
“BT”- “Bystrohodny Tank”- “High-speed tank”
By June 1, 1941, the Red Army had 580 BT-2 linear reconnaissance tanks, including 396 in the western military district of USSR..
After restoration, the tank was moved to Patriot Park.
More pictures:
- Soviet BT-2 light tank near entrance, 2013
BT-5 soviet light tanks
Light wheeled / tracked tank, serial. It was developed in 1933 on the basis of the chassis “Christy” bought in the USA. It was produced serially from 1933 to 1934. It was in service with the Red Army. Used in the battles of the river Khalkhin-Gol and the war in Spain. The remaining BT-5 tanks were in service in the battles of the Great Patriotic War, mainly during the initial period
Location at 2016, there is no in Kubinka HQ pavilion N3.
BT-5 tactical and technical characteristics: Weight – 11.5 tons, Number of crew – 3 people, Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 5580 x 2230 x 2250 mm.
Armament: gun – 1 piece, caliber – 45 mm., Ammunition – 115 shots; machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition, ammunition .. 2709. Armored protection – 13 mm.
Engine power – 400 horsepower, The maximum speed is 72 km / h on the wheels, 52 km / h on the crawler track,
Cruising range on the highway – 200 km., The depth of the water barriers to be surfaced is 1.0 meters.
Design features: Base – tank BT-2. The overall layout – the engine-transmission unit is located in the stern of the machine.
Armament – unlike the BT-2 tank, the gun is paired with a machine gun. Protection – riveted box-shaped body has a narrowing nose.
Chassis – the tank is equipped with a 12-cylinder, carburetor, V-engine; The mechanical transmission consists of a main friction clutch of dry friction (steel on steel), which is mounted on the crankshaft toe, four-speed gearbox, two multi-disk side clutches with belt brakes, two single-stage side gears and two reducers (guitars) to the rear skating rinks when wheeled.
More pictures of BT-5 light tank:
- BT-5 soviet light tank in winter camouflage
- BT tanks have a steering wheel (Patriot Park, 2018)
After the BT tanks were moved from Kubinka to Patriot Park, visitors can sometimes look inside and see a car steering wheel.
When developing the T-34, the legendary Soviet medium tank, the BT-7 chassis and hull shape from the T-126 light tank were used. For this reason, we also show the T-126 prototype below.
BT Soviet light tanks (on USA Christie chassis)
BT-2 soviet light tank
Developed in 1931 based on the chassis of the US Christie” truck. Adopted by the Red Army in 1932. Produced in series, released 620 tanks.
“BT”- “Bystrohodny Tank”- “High-speed tank”
By June 1, 1941, the Red Army had 580 BT-2 linear reconnaissance tanks, including 396 in the western military district of USSR..
After restoration, the tank was moved to Patriot Park. More pictures:
- Soviet BT-2 light tank near entrance, 2013
BT-5 soviet light tanks
Light wheeled / tracked tank, serial. It was developed in 1933 on the basis of the chassis “Christy” bought in the USA. It was produced serially from 1933 to 1934. It was in service with the Red Army. Used in the battles of the river Khalkhin-Gol and the war in Spain. The remaining BT-5 tanks were in service in the battles of the Great Patriotic War, mainly during the initial period
Location at 2016, there is no in Kubinka HQ pavilion N3.
BT-5 tactical and technical characteristics: Weight – 11.5 tons, Number of crew – 3 people, Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 5580 x 2230 x 2250 mm.
Armament: gun – 1 piece, caliber – 45 mm., Ammunition – 115 shots; machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition, ammunition .. 2709, Armored protection – 13 mm.
Engine power – 400 horsepower, The maximum speed is 72 km / h on the wheels, 52 km / h on the crawler track,
Cruising range on the highway – 200 km., The depth of the water barriers to be surfaced is 1.0 meters
Design features: Base – tank BT-2. The overall layout – the engine-transmission unit is located in the stern of the machine.
Armament – unlike the BT-2 tank, the gun is paired with a machine gun. Protection – riveted box-shaped body has a narrowing nose.
Chassis – the tank is equipped with a 12-cylinder, carburetor, V-engine; The mechanical transmission consists of a main friction clutch of dry friction (steel on steel), which is mounted on the crankshaft toe, four-speed gearbox, two multi-disk side clutches with belt brakes, two single-stage side gears and two reducers (guitars) to the rear skating rinks when wheeled.
More pictures of BT-5 light tank:
- BT-5 soviet light tank in winter camouflage
- BT tanks have a steering wheel (Patriot Park, 2018)
After the BT tanks were moved from Kubinka to Patriot Park, visitors can sometimes look inside and see a car steering wheel.
When developing the T-34, the legendary Soviet medium tank, the BT-7 chassis and hull shape from the T-126 light tank were used. For this reason, we also show the T-126 prototype below.
Part 3: WW2 Soviet light tanks (Astrov series) – T-40, T-40S, T-30, T-60, T-70..
T-40 amphibious soviet light tank and T-40S scout tank
It was developed in 1939 by the Design Bureau for the purpose of overcoming water obstacles in the offensive of the Red Army. It was produced serially from 1940 to 1941. He was in service with the Red Army. Used in the battles of the Great Patriotic War in the initial period, including in the Battle for Moscow. In 1941, it began to produce its “land” version of T-40S (without breakwater and screw). Sometimes after repair instead of a quick-firing machine gun (DSHK or SHKAS) a quick-firing cannon of 20 mm was installed. (SHVAK or TNSH). In 2016, there is no in the pavilion N3.
Tactical and technical characteristics of T-40 *
Weight – 5,5 tons, Number of crew – 2 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 4110 x 2330 x 1905 mm. Armament: machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 12.7 mm., Ammunition – 500 cartridges, machine gun – 1 pc., caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 2016 rounds. Armored protection – 13 mm. Engine power – 85 horsepower
The maximum speed is 45 km / h. Cruising range on the highway – 300 km. Speed of crossing water obstacles afloat – 6 km / h
Design Features: Base – the original. General layout – the power unit is located in the middle part of the hull; The turret is shifted to the left of the longitudinal axis of the body.
Armament – High-speed large-caliber aircraft machine gun ShKAS or DShK. In order to increase the rate of fire of the machine gun, the ammunition is placed in a roundabout.
Protection – the tank body is made of armored rolled sheets, connected by welding or riveting. Chassis – automobile type carburetor engine, transmission mechanical; clutch and gearbox are attached to the engine; The motion is afloat with the help of a four-bladed propeller and water-rudders; torsional suspension.
* TTC according to the initial development, really different in wartime conditions, especially in armament.
T-30 Soviet light tank
The tank was developed in 1940. A small batch was issued in 1941. It was in service with the Red Army. Used in the battles of the Great Patriotic War in the initial period, especially in the “Battle for Moscow”
This tank is in running condition and has repeatedly participated in holidays, military parades and military-historical reconstruction of the battles. In 2016, the T-30 tank in pavilion N3 is missing.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-30 tank:
Weight – 5,5 tons, Number of crew – 2 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 4110 x 2330 x 1905 mm. Armament: gun – 1 piece, caliber – 20 mm., Ammunition – 750 shots
machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 1512 cartridges. Armored protection – 15 mm. Engine power – 85 horsepower, The maximum speed is 45 km / h, Cruising range on the highway – 300 km. The depth of the water barriers to be surfaced is 1.1 meters
Design Features: the base is a Soviet light tank T-40. The overall layout – the power plant and transmission are mounted on the starboard side, occupying part of the combat compartment and control section.
Armament – The modified aircraft cannon (TNS) vertically is guided by means of a shoulder stop. Protection – the body of rolled sheets, welded, the thickness of sheets 5, 10 and 15 mm. Chassis – the car is equipped with a carbureted six-cylinder liquid-cooled engine; The transmission consists of one disc clutch, four-speed gearbox, a conical final drive, two multi-disk side friction clutches, two connecting shafts and two single-row side gears with cylindrical gears.
T-60 Soviet light tank
The tank was developed in 1941. It was produced serially from 1941 to 1942. He was in service with the Red Army. Used in the battles of the Great Patriotic War, mainly the initial period.
The tank is in running condition. Repeatedly participated in holidays, military parades and military historical reconstruction of the Battle for Moscow and the Kursk Bulge. On the photo below in winter camouflage. For 2016, the tank in pavilion N3 is missing.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-60 tank: Weight – 6,4 tons, Number of crew – 2 people, Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 4100 x 2300 x 1750 mm. Armament: gun – 1 piece, caliber – 20 mm., Ammunition – 780 shots; machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 4000 cartridges. Armor protection – 35 mm. Engine power – 70 horsepower, The maximum speed is 45 km / h, Cruising range on the highway – 450 km. The depth of the water barriers to be surfaced is 0.9 meters
Design Features. Base – original using elements of the T-30 tank. General layout – the power unit is located in the middle part of the hull. Armament – TNSH automatic rifled cannon with belt loading; the mechanism of the turret guidance is gear, the mechanism of the gun raising is screw, both with manual drives. Protection – tank hull made of rolled armor plates, thickness 13, 15, 25 and 35 mm, welded.
Chassis – carburetor engine, six-cylinder, liquid cooling; The transmission consists of a clutch mounted on the engine, a gearbox bolted to the clutch housing, final drive, on-board transmissions; individual tank suspension, torsion bar.
- WW2 Soviet T-60 light tank Kubinka museum 2007 archive
- T-60 tank turret and driver’s hatch (Kubinka museum 2007 photo)
- T-60 tank chassis and car engine section
- T-60 tank track close-up (Kubinka Museum 2007 photo)
See also soviet T-70 last WW2 soviet light tank