T-70 RUSSIAN LIGTH TANK

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By: Carlos Giordano

In January of 1942 because the T-60/T-60a light tanks had a too light shield, also an insufficient armament to face the new German models of tanks, begins to be replaced by the new T-70, built by the Gorki Car Factory. The T-70 used the same chassis of the T-60, with the driver habitacle lightly reinforced, the turret was redesigned and was welded, was mounted a 54 mm cannon and one coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. This new turret had a semicircular hatch in the ceiling and an external mantlet with a sleeve for the tube, which gave better protection; for the driver was made an armored viewfinder. It was motorized by two Hudson Soviet engines of 110 HP. Another characteristic of the T-70 was the twin exhausts located in the back right side of the chassis, and the tracks presents twin guides in each side. 

T-70 

The T-70 had a maximum speed of 50 km/h. a rim for the blower pipe was added underneath the turret in the right of the chassis, and was added too a service hatch for the engine in the right side of the cowling. One of the defects that maintained the T-70 was that in the turret is located a single crew member, which made troublesome handling of the cannon during the combat.

T-70 Interior T70-19.jpg (25269 bytes) T70-17.jpg (25869 bytes) T70-18.jpg (30660 bytes)
T-70 T70-26.jpg (31146 bytes)

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T70-30.jpg (19082 bytes) T70-37.jpg (22010 bytes) T70-28.jpg (24228 bytes) T70-46.jpg (27434 bytes) T70-47.jpg (17821 bytes) T70-25.jpg (27611 bytes)

In June of 1943 appears the T-70a that had a greater shield and engines with a little more power. There were construct around 8200 T-70 of the both types between March of 1942 and October of 1943.

T-70 A

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 01t70a.jpg (47549 bytes) 04t70a.jpg (47383 bytes) 03t70a.jpg (50371 bytes) 02t70a.jpg (59031 bytes)

During year 1944 many chassis of T-70 was reconverted in self propelled antitank guns, mounting them 45mm antitank cannons, 47 mm antitank cannons (Czechoslovakian origin), and later the new antitank ones of 57 and 76.2 mm. In the last stages of the war many T-70 were provided to the 1st. Tank Polish Brigade.

T-70 Captured for the German Army

Many T-70 was captured by the German Army during the Russia invasion, and were used in combat, altough was not were appreciated by the tank crewmen because it took a single man in the turret which made the actions in combat very difficult. These tanks conserved (according to is appraised in photos) the original Russian green color, to which was added the balkenkreutz in white in the turret and in the sides of the chassis. Some T-70 was reconverted by the Germans in artillery tractors.

ale00t70a.jpg (45139 bytes) T-70 in service with the 98th. Infantry Division.
ale01t70a.jpg (114391 bytes) T-70 of the 82nd. Infantry Division, in repair.
ale02t70a.jpg (55659 bytes) T-70 of the 82nd. Infantry Division, making cannon tests. 
ale03t70a.jpg (73211 bytes) T-70 converted in artillery tractor, towing a Pak 40 antitank cannon.

Sources