T-50 tanks

As for the Red Army, For example, one T-50 tank was part of the 5th armored guard in the Guard in 1943 year.

There is no reliable information about this, how "the 1950s" appeared in the fighting. However, there is no doubt, that out of three modern Soviet tanks, which went to service on the eve of the Second World War, T-50 turned out to be the most constructively developed and balanced, optimal in terms of combination of combat and operational values. In terms of armament, He exceeded his armor and mobility or not inferior to the German medium tank PZ.LLL, being much smaller and combat mass. In the T-50 tower, which had the same shoulder strap diameter as the T-34, Three crew members were placed, which ensured the separation of their functional duties. That's true, that in this case the defects have become a continuation of the advantages. Even if a 45-mm gun was placed in the tower, It was tight for three tankers. Therefore, the commander's dome had to be moved to the right side, and the commander had to sit half a turn to the axis of the tank. Perhaps it made sense to limit yourself to a two -person tower with a large number of observation instruments, such as Object 126. In the case of a light tank it is acceptable. All foreign counterparts, Main light tanks of the Second World War – „Stuart”, „Valentine”, and even created in 1944 year "chaffee" – they had two -person towers.

The T-50 armament was also sufficient for a year 1941, and even 1942:

45-MM Armata 20K at a distance 500 M could successfully fight all types of Wehrmacht tanks. It was well known to tankers, and in addition, there were a large number of missiles for this weapon in the warehouses. W 1943 20k was already quite weak, But at this time OKB No. 172 created, He tested and recommended the 45-mm VT-42 tank gun with a barrel length 68,6 caliber and the initial speed of the anti -tank projectile 950 m / z. The VT-42 gun was different from 20K in a very dense system, which made it possible to place it even in a single T-70 tower tower. There would be no problems when installing the same "fifty". Bullet of this cannon from a distance 500 m pierced the front armor of every German tank, except for PZ.IV Ausf.h and J, Panther i Tiger.

He left a reserve for modernization, including armor strengthening, and high density of the tank power – 21,4 KM / t! For comparison: T-34 MA 18,65, Stewart Ma 19,6, Valentine ma 10, Pz.lll at 15 KM / ton. 300-A 45-mm armor could "drag" a horse-drawn diesel engine boldly.

To sum up the above, You only have to regret it, that the mass production of the T-50 was never created.

It is worth noting, that in 1941 year, at Factory No. 174, A prototype fire broom is installed on the T-50 tank with a shutter designed by DEGTYAREVA, which later received the AT-41 brand and relied on the OT-34 and KV-8 tanks. At the same time, a Savin Tower with a 37-mm anti-aircraft plot was experimentally placed on the tank.

The history of the T-50 light tank would be incomplete without mentioning its other sample. W 1941 year, as part of technical requirements for the T-50, Leningrad Kirovsky Plant has been developed and produced by the object on his own initiative 211 (Chief designer A.S. Ermolaev). The welded hull of the combat vehicle had a narrowed beak with a "marked" end cap of the kirov of the driver; welded tower – streamline, extended shape; The armament and power plant were identical to the T-50 tank from power plant no 174. The Kirowa variant was slightly lighter than the Voroszyłowa variant, but he had no significant advantage over him, and the shape of his hull was less successful. At the beginning of the war, work at the facility 211 They were suspended at the plant in Kirów, And the only copy produced took part in the defense of Leningrad.

Three combat vehicles have survived to this day: At the Museum of Armored and Armored Equipment in Kubinka near Moscow, you can see the object 126 and a serial t-50 tank; Another T-50 tank with additional armor covers has survived in Finland, at the Museum of Tank in the City of Parola.