WesWorld

I know I've said I would no longer specify, and I meant it. But to fiddle with the Standard Panzer meant playing with tanksharp, during which I found a field with top plate width, which led me to go back and fiddle with my old T-35 and T-41 sims, and then wander off into producing the entire runs of those two tanks.

This is the other reason to avoid specifying- I get sucked in and time flies.

So the following posts will be first the T-35- which originally entered service ~1936/7 as the LT-35, then became the LT-35A&B, then was renamed the T-35A&B, and has long been specified. Based roughly on the S-35, it was meant to be

The T-35C and D models were planned, as was the "T-41", but I had no fixed dates for any of them.

However, you will see the Dutch progression from 45L48 to 60L50 to 75L54 to 90L60, while the various models grow in weight as they fight that war of firepower/armor/speed...with speed usually loosing.

Skoda-Royal Armory T-35A
Developed to Dutch specifications

SRA T-35A Heavy Tank
Designed for a assault/counter assault role on a shell-torn muddy battle field, the tank features heavy all-round armor, extremely wide tracks, long chassis for trench crossing, heavy machine guns to penetrate field fortifications and light armor, and a high velocity gun. The large chassis gives plenty of room for ammunition and crew. Originally envisioned as a 24 ton tank, escalating requirements pushed the vehicle to nearly 26 tons, almost twice that of the Lt-33.

While the prototype features riveted armor, the production version armor is expected to feature face hardened plates stepped and welded together. The hull mixes sloped 50 mm plates in the front and sides with thicker 55mm vertical plates facing the enemy at the drivers position and turret. Thinner 30mm horizontal plates provide protection from artillery splinters and aerial gunnery. Most of the armor is Rolled RHA, with only the frontal plates being hardened. Early versions are riveted.

The driver is provided with a vision slit with a 70mm thick armor glass vision block. A lever allows lowering an 10mm armor flap over the exterior, at which time a small Gundlach periscope may be used for navigation.

The commander is provided with a small coupla, featuring 8 of the vision blocks to allow visibility while under cover. The commander’s seat can be racheted up a notch to allow seated viewing through the coupala. The Commander’s hatch splits when opened, with half opening forward and half aft, providing a torso shield while unbuttoned or using the pintle mounted MG.

The suspension was designed by Eugène Brillié. Transmission and drivetrain are robust, designed against up to 35 tons. This feature was meant to ensure mechanical reliability in shell torn terrain. In practice it meant considerably more weight could be applied. Both transmission and steering were mechanically assisted with compressed air, reducing driver fatigue. Eight doubled road wheels on four bogies carried the tank, with a single front idler, and four track return wheels. Each road wheel features a light sealing ring to prevent mud from wedging between the wheels and freezing.

The engine is a V-12 21.7 L diesel engine of 220 kW (300 hp) which propells the tank at a maximum speed of 28kph on roads and 16kph cross country for up to 300 km. The engine is mounted sideways at the rear of the hull, with armored loevers above to release heat. A Praga-Wilson pre-selector gearbox simplifies the gear changing. The fuel tank is between the engine and the fireproof bulkhead between the engineering section and fighting compartment. An innovative liner combination of vulcanized and natural rubber serves to seal any fuel tank holes. The floor under the fuel tanks is secured by small bolts. This is made to blow out the floor if an explosion happened inside the tank to reduce the damage internally.



T-35A
26.07 tonnes
6.35m long, 2.71m wide, 2.62m high
2 hull positions (Driver, MG/Radio), 3 turret positions
1x 45L48 , 3x 13.2mm HMG (hull/coax/commander)
150 rounds 45mm, 6000rounds 13.2mm carried.

252hp (185kw) diesel engine
Max spd :17.39mph (28kph)
Range : 185miles (300km)
0.42m ground clearance, 8.47 psi
Torsion bar suspension

Armor front/side/rear/top/bottom
Turret: 55 / 40 / 35 / 30 / na
Hull : 50 / 35-40 / 30-35 / 30 / 15
Armor skirts : 10mm.

KE resistance :
Armor front/side (tracks) /rear/top/bottom
Turret: 72 / 46 / 38 / 30 / na
Hull : 54 / 48 (53) / 30 / 15


T-35B
Armed with a Belgian Canon de 75mm (6.6kg HE/455mv) for anti-infantry work

26.92 tonnes
6.35m long, 2.7m wide, 2.62m high
2 hull positions (Driver, MG/Radio), 3 turret positions
1x 75L21, 3x 13.2mm HMG (hull/coax/commander)
80 rounds 75mm

252diesel engine
Max spd :16.94mph
Range : 180miles
0.42m ground clearance, 8.69 psi

Armor as above



T-35C / D/ E
A major upgrade on the basic vehicle.
Construction was shifted from a plate & frame held by rivets to a new technique.

The engine was updated and the fuel tank enlarged by 50liters , and the Belgian FRC 60L50 anti-tank gun fitted as the main weapon. The 13.2mm MGs and armored skirts are retained.

The hull and turret are cast in 15mm RHA steel, allowing even cooling and quality control. Flanges for handling the sections then serve as attachment points for the sections. Once assembled, the flanges extrude 100mm from the cast hull & turret. This gives sufficient space for riveting (later welding) RHA rolled (hardend in front) plates to the surface of the flanges. The cast hull then serves as not just the skeleton, but the spall lining for the armor. For the roof, lower hull, and floor armor, there is not room for the airgap, and so conventional riveting of RHA-rolled plates directly to the cast hull is used. The total armor thickness remains that of the “A” and “B” models, as they have no need to upgrade.

While overall total armor thickness is the same, according to tanksharp, this spacing has the happy side effect of making the tank Bazooka-resistant in the frontal turret, as well at the skirts.

T-35 C
28.16 tonnes
6.35m long, 2.71m wide, 2.62m high
2 hull positions (Driver, MG/Radio), 3 turret positions
1x 60L50 , 3x 13.2mm HMG (hull/coax/commander)
120 rounds 60mm, 6000rounds 13.2mm carried.

300hp (220kw) diesel engine
Max spd :19.29mph (31kph)
Range : 191miles (307km)
0.42m ground clearance, 9.08 psi
Torsion bar suspension

Armor front/side/rear/top/bottom
Turret: 55 / 40 / 35 / 30 / na
Hull : 50 / 35-40 / 30-35 / 30 / 20
Armor skirts : 10mm.

KE resistance :
Armor front/side (tracks) /rear/top/bottom
Turret: 82 / 51 / 42 / 29 / na
Hull : 64 / 50 (49) / 29 / 19

The tank proves to be bazooka-resistant at the front turret, and the side skirts.

T-35 D

The T-35D sought to upgrade the armor package. The roof and floor were thinned, as they were believed to be over armored, and weight savings applied elsewhere.

By time this version was introduced, the T-35s had been reclassied from 'Assault' to 'battle', and the new category of 'Scout' tank was introduced. As such the T-35 variants replaced the Lt-33 in line battalions, while the Lt-33 and later the Pz-IIL filled the Scout squadrons. As such the “D” became the primary production version, and as the T-35D entered service, it eventually replaced the early T-35As, which were converted to other uses.

30.47 tonnes
6.35m long, 2.71m wide, 2.62m high
2 hull positions (Driver, MG/Radio), 3 turret positions
1x 60L50 , 3x 13.2mm HMG (hull/coax/commander)
120 rounds 60mm, 6000rounds 13.2mm carried.

300hp (220kw) diesel engine
Max spd :17.84mph (29kph)
Range : 177miles (285km)
0.42m ground clearance, 9.87 psi
Torsion bar suspension

Armor front/side/rear/top/bottom
Turret: 75/ 50 / 35 / 25 / na
Hull : 70 / 40-50 / 30-35 / 25 / 20
Armor skirts : 10mm.

KE resistance :
Armor front/side (tracks) /rear/top/bottom
Turret: 114 / 65 / 42/ 24 / na
Hull : 91/ 64 (52) / 24 / 19

The tank proves to be bazooka-resistant from the front and in the side skirts

T-35 E

The T-35E is the final version, introduced once it was apparent that newer tanks outmatched the T-35D, and with the next Dutch heavy tank not yet ready. Believing the 60L50 to be retain it's effectiveness at shorter ranges, and with the turret ring prohibiting a larger gun, the choice was made to further up armor to the limits of the suspension (35tons), resulting in a slow and heavily armored tank. While the ground pressure exceeded Dutch parameters, it remained less than of most other tanks. Replacing T-35Cs in service, these vehicles were deployed in “heavy” troops to stiffen Dutch tank squadrons.

34.49 tonnes
6.35m long, 2.71m wide, 2.62m high
2 hull positions (Driver, MG/Radio), 3 turret positions
1x 60L50 , 3x 13.2mm HMG (hull/coax/commander)
120 rounds 60mm, 6000rounds 13.2mm carried.

300hp (220kw) diesel engine
Max spd :15.77mph (25.4 kph)
Range : 156miles (251km)
0.42m ground clearance, 11.12 psi
Torsion bar suspension

Armor front/side/rear/top/bottom
Turret: 80/ 55 / 45 / 30 / na
Hull : 70 / 45-55 / 40-50 / 30 / 15
Armor skirts : 10mm.

KE resistance :
Armor front/side (tracks) /rear/top/bottom
Turret: 154 / 87 / 56 / 24 / na
Hull : 123 / 85 (61) / 56 / 19

This version is resistant to Bazookas in the front turret, side turret, front hull, and resistant to super-bazookas in the lower hull. The 0.6 high upper side hull is still vulnerable to bazookas.

Image is a US T14, permission sought and granted from Hrolf during his tenure, angles are not going to be correct, as the main point is to illustrate the skirts.



T-41

After a Defense review in 1936, the Dutch decided that they should conduct research and development for a range of potential armored fighting vehicles. This included planning for a maximum weight armored vehicle, limited by infrastructure, and then slightly overbuilt. So work was done on preliminary chasiss, track arrangements, driver assistance, and developing a transmissions capable of transmitting the power to move a behemoth. Eventually it was thought this R&D effort may prove useful, perhaps as a platform for siege artillery, or a massive assault tank suitable for tackling fortresses. However it was mostly a precautionary move, in case a neighbor decided to build a tank just to the limits of the local bridges and railways.

The need for such a vehicle came much sooner than expected. The T-35 series proved too limited to adapt to the rapid escalation in tank size, speed and firepower. So an effort was put into developing prototypes for what was still initially viewed as an assault tank, but later would be understood to be a simple tank. Prototype testing began in 1941.

The primary purpose of the new tank was to mount a larger gun, and for that the FRC-bourges semi-automatic 75L54 anti-aircraft gun was chosen for adaptation. Partial stabilization is provided, but 'shoot and scoot' leapfrog tactics are still taught. The final tank was larger than desired, but lacking a domestic alternative, put into production as the “heavy” tank, bumping the T-35E to the standard line squadrons. Later, as opposing tanks continued to spiral upwards, the 90L60 gun was placed into service on the T-41C, while work on the successor vehicle, to be dubbed the T-44-100 began.

Speed and range were kept consistent with the T-35 series, as no need for variance was seen.

The initial vehicle kept a 10mm cast hull with hardened plates welded on, as it was still felt to be economical, faster, and provided critical protection against spalling armor from partial penetrations or glancing hits. Further, there was a political consideration, as it was Dutch “aid” that built Cockerill's Lourges casting facility to help spur Belgian employment. It was not until much later that T-35Cs became “surplus” and were expended in weapons trials, and the spaced armor was appreciated as effective against HEAT and HESH rounds.

The final result was a wider, shorter hull than the T-35, with immensely wide tracks to satisfy the Dutch desire for a low ground pressure, roughly 70% of what was accepted elsewhere. Based largely on an demonstration FT-17 sinking in the soil of Den Hague, and imagined problems in flooded fields and jungles, ground pressure became an unquestioned design feature that drove weight up, while reducing the speed and the range obtained. While undoubtedly valuable in limited circumstances, and lending the otherwise slow tanks a certain nimbleness, the cumulative opportunity cost proved steep.

Seeking to keep costs of the armored force under control, this period also saw the development and production of a tank destroyer. While familiar with the concept from the the Belgians, who rely on fast but lightly armored TDs along the OTL US model, the Dutch chose to go with the OTL German/Soviet assault gun/TDs using the T-35 chassis & powertrain as a base for both TDs and SPGs.
Despite plans to field “Infantry Tanks” on the T-41 chassis, this was never pursued as the larger 75mm proved to have a reasonable HE shell. Those T-35Bs in service were eventually issued HESH rounds, while T-35C/D/Es were given APRC rounds.


T-41A
40.63 tonnes
6.1m long, 3.49m wide, 3.0m high
2 hull positions (Driver, MG/Radio), 3 turret positions
1x 75L54 , 3x 13.2mm HMG (hull/coax/commander)
100 rounds 75mm, 6000rounds 13.2mm carried.

510hp (380kw) diesel engine
Max spd : 22.75mph (36.6kph)
Range : 167miles (269km)
0.4m ground clearance, 8.54 psi
Torsion bar suspension

Armor front/side/rear/top/bottom
Turret: 80/ 65 / 30 / 25 / na
Hull : 75/ 30-65 / 40 / 25 / 20
Armor skirts : 25mm.

KE resistance :
Armor front/side (tracks) /rear/top/bottom
Turret: 125/ 85 / 37 / 24 / na
Hull : 126 / 85 (59) / 53 / 24 / 19

This version is resistant to Bazookas across the frontal and side arcs, and superbazookas at the skirts.

T-41B

This version of the tank is similar to the “A” , but with upgraded armor, principally on the sides, as there were concerns the traversed turret could be engaged at long ranges.

44.64 tonnes
6.1m long, 3.49m wide, 3.0m high
2 hull positions (Driver, MG/Radio), 3 turret positions
1x 75L54 , 3x 13.2mm HMG (hull/coax/commander)
100 rounds 75mm, 6000rounds 13.2mm carried.

510hp (380kw) diesel engine
Max spd : 20.71mph (33.4kph)
Range : 152miles (245km)
0.4m ground clearance, 9.39psi
Torsion bar suspension

Armor front/side/rear/top/bottom
Turret: 80/ 65 / 30 / 25 / na
Hull : 75/ 30-65 / 40 / 25 / 20
Armor skirts : 25mm.

KE resistance :
Armor front/side (tracks) /rear/top/bottom
Turret: 140/ 105 / 37 / 24 / na
Hull : 135 / 107 (59) / 53 / 24 / 21

This version is resistant to Bazookas across the frontal and side arcs, and superbazookas at the skirts.

T-41C

Alarmed by the introduction of even more heavily armed tanks on the world scene, the Dutch cast about for a gun of sufficient size and power which would allow them to field at least some tanks with comparable firepower. Having funded Cockerill's development of a 90mm Anti-aircraft gun in the 1930s, this was chosen for use in the T-41C. The armor scheme was once again reworked to combat weight gains and keep overall weight near the T-41B model.

44.76 tonnes
6.1m long, 3.49m wide, 3.0m high
2 hull positions (Driver, MG/Radio), 3 turret positions
1x 90L60 , 3x 13.2mm HMG (hull/coax/commander)
80 rounds 90mm, 6000rounds 13.2mm carried.

510hp (380kw) diesel engine
Max spd : 20.65mph (33.4kph)
Range : 152miles (245km)
0.4m ground clearance, 9.41psi
Torsion bar suspension

Armor front/side/rear/top/bottom
Turret: 100/ 77 / 35 / 25 / na
Hull : 90 / 35-65 / 40 / 26 / 22
Armor skirts : 25mm.

KE resistance :
Armor front/side (tracks) /rear/top/bottom
Turret: 156 / 101 / 44 / 24 / na
Hull : 152 / 102 (64) / 53 / 25 / 21

This version is resistant to Bazookas across the frontal and side arcs, and superbazookas at the skirts.

T-41D

The final upgrade of the T-41, it was considered a failure as the weight exceeded the load capacity of too many infrastructure elements. This led to the choice of overloading those structures and hastening their demise, building specialized structures to distribute the loads better, or simply limit the vehicles range of action. Built in limited numbers, production was halted after complaints from the first squadron so equipped filtered upwards, and the T-41C was resumed until the T-44-100 entered service.

49.61 tonnes
6.1m long, 3.49m wide, 3.0m high
2 hull positions (Driver, MG/Radio), 3 turret positions
1x 90L60 , 3x 13.2mm HMG (hull/coax/commander)
80 rounds 90mm, 6000rounds 13.2mm carried.

510hp (380kw) diesel engine
Max spd : 18.63mph (30kph)
Range : 137miles (220km)
0.4m ground clearance, 10.28psi
Torsion bar suspension

Armor front/side/rear/top/bottom
Turret: 120/ 92 / 40 / 30 / na
Hull : 100 / 35-81 / 40 / 31 / 24
Armor skirts : 25mm.

KE resistance :
Armor front/side (tracks) /rear/top/bottom
Turret: 188 / 121 / 44 / 29 / na
Hull : 169 / 102 (64) / 53 / 30 / 23

This version is resistant to Bazookas across the frontal and side arcs, and superbazookas at the skirts.