Tank T-44M was a modernized T-44 tank produced in 1944-1947, developed at the design bureau of plant No. 183 in Nizhny Tagil under the leadership of chief designer A. A. Morozov in July 1944. The machine was adopted by the Red Army by GKO decree # 6997 of November 23, 1944 and put into mass production at plant # 75 in Kharkov (chief designer of the plant MN Shchukin). In the post-war period, plant # 75 produced 1253 T-44 tanks.
TankT-44M
Combat weight - 32-32, 5 tons; crew - 4 people; weapons: gun - 85 mm rifled, 2 machine guns - 7, 62 mm; armor protection - anti-cannon; engine power 382 kW (520 hp); the maximum speed on the highway is 57 km / h.
Measures for the modernization of the machine on the instructions of the GBTU were developed by the design bureau of plant No. 75 in Kharkov under the leadership of the chief designer A. A. Morozov in 1957-1958. When working out the drawing and technical documentation, the tank had the factory designation "Object 136M". The modernization was carried out since 1959 at the repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense during the overhaul of machines. Almost all previously released machines (with the exception of those decommissioned during operation) were modernized 173.
In the course of modernization measures on the T-44M tank, more reliable units, systems and components of the power plant, transmission and chassis of the T-54 tank were used. To ensure the possibility of driving a car at night, a night vision device was installed.
The T-44M tank had a classic layout with a crew of four and the placement of internal equipment in three departments: command, combat and logistics. The control compartment occupied the left forward part of the tank hull. It contained: a driver's workplace, above which in the roof of the hull there was an entrance hatch with a swivel base and an armored cover; tank controls; instrumentation; battery switch; sockets for a portable lamp and external engine start; two air cylinders; TPU apparatus; relay regulator; signal lamps for the exit of the gun barrel beyond the width of the tank and the DTM machine gun with part of the ammunition. To the right of the driver's seat behind the partition were the front fuel tanks, the main part of the gun ammunition and batteries. Behind the driver's seat in the bottom of the hull was an emergency (emergency) exit hatch, the cover of which was hinged to the left side of the hull.
TankT-44M
To observe the terrain and drive the tank in combat conditions, the driver used three viewing devices: a prism device mounted in the shaft of the rotary base of the entrance hatch; glass block installed in front of the viewing slot in the upper frontal sheet; prism device (side) located in the cutout of the left side of the hull. The TVN-2 night vision device, which served when driving a tank at night, was mounted instead of a prism device in the rotary base of the driver's hatch (in combat) or on a special bracket in front of the hatch (in a marching manner). The power supply unit of the device was attached to the roof of the compartment on the left behind the driver's hatch. When driving a tank in a marching manner in daytime conditions, a wind shield could be installed in front of the driver's hatch, which fit in the control compartment on the lower frontal sheet.
The fighting compartment, located in the middle of the tank hull and in the inner volume of the tower, housed: the main weapon, sight, observation devices, weapon aiming mechanisms, a radio station, three TPU devices, part of the ammunition, a shield of electrical equipment, a fighting compartment fan, two fire extinguishers and three seats for the crew (to the left of the gun - the gunner and tank commander, to the right - the loader). On the roof of the tower above the commander's workplace, a commander's turret was mounted with an all-round view with five viewing slots with viewing prisms of multiple reflection and protective glasses and an entrance hatch covered with an armored cover. In the rotary base of the commander's hatch, a TPKUB (TPKU-2B) or TPK-2174 observation device with a fivefold magnification was installed (the MK-4 periscope observation device was used on the T-44), which provided the commander with observation of the terrain, recognition and determination of the range to targets, and also the possibility of targeting the gunner (using the button on the left handle of the device) and correcting artillery fire. Above the workplaces of the gunner and loader in the roof of the tower were two rotary periscopic viewing devices MK-4. In addition, above the loader's workplace in the roof of the tower there was an entrance hatch, which was closed by an armored cover.
On the bottom of the fighting compartment on the left in the direction of the tank there was a heater (under the seat of the tank commander) and an emergency exit hatch (in front of the gunner's seat). The torsion shafts of the suspension passed along the bottom under the floor of the compartment, and the control rods on the left side of the hull.
From 1961 to 1968, in the control and combat departments, a cover with a PCZ set (on the tool box, to the right of the driver), a gas mask (mounted on air cylinders), a box for packing dry rations (behind the mechanic's seat -driver) and a cover for cans of dry soldering (on top of the rack for shots), an OP-1 raincoat in a cover (to the left of the gunner's seat), gas masks (in the tower niche and on the MTO partition), a box with an ADK set and a cover with a set PChZ (on the MTO partition).
MTO occupied the aft part of the tank hull and was separated from the fighting compartment by a partition. It housed the engine with its servicing systems and transmission units.
The armament of the tank consisted of an 85-mm tank gun ZIS-S-53 arr. 1944 and two 7, 62-mm DTM machine guns, one of which was paired with a cannon, and the other (course) was installed in the control compartment to the right of the mechanic. driver. A twin installation of a cannon and a machine gun was mounted in a tower on trunnions and had a common sight and aiming drives. The height of the line of fire was 1815 mm.
To aim the cannon and coaxial machine gun at the target, a telescopic articulated sight TSh-16 was used, which had a heated protective glass. Shooting from closed firing positions was carried out using a lateral level and a turret goniometer (goniometric circle), marked on the lower pursuit of the tank turret. The lifting mechanism of the sector-type gun provided vertical aiming angles of the paired installation from -5 to + 20 °. The worm-type MPB had manual and electric motor drives. The electric motor of the turning mechanism was turned on by the gunner using the controller by placing the MPB handle in a vertical position in a special cutout in the limiter ring. Moving the handle upwards ensured the rotation of the tower from the electric motor to the right, downwards - rotation to the left. The maximum rotation speed of the tower from the electric drive reached 24 deg / s. At the same speed, the turret was transferred with the commander's target designation.
Installation of the 85-mm ZIS-S-53 cannon and the DTM coaxial machine gun in the turret of the T-44M tank
A cannon shot was fired using an electrical or mechanical (manual) trigger mechanism. The electric release lever was located on the handle of the flywheel of the lifting mechanism, and the manual release lever was located on the left shield of the gun guard.
The maximum range of aimed fire from a cannon was 5200 m, from a machine gun - 1500 m. The greatest firing range of the cannon reached 12,200 m, the combat rate of fire was 6-8 rds / min. The inimitable space in front of the tank when firing from a cannon and a coaxial machine gun was 21 m.
To lock the gun in the stowed position, the turret had a stopper that allowed the gun to be fixed in two positions: at an elevation angle of 0 ° or 16 °.
The coaxial machine gun was fired by the gunner (the loader was loading and cocking the bolt), and the driver from the directional machine gun, aiming at the target by turning the tank (the electric trigger of the directional machine gun was located in the upper part of the right steering lever). The height of the line of fire for the course machine gun was equal to 1028 mm.
Ammunition for the cannon was increased from 58 to 61 rounds, for DTM machine guns - from 1890 (30 discs) to 2016 rounds (32 discs). The tank's ammunition included unitary shots with armor-piercing tracer (BR-365, BR-365K), subcaliber armor-piercing tracer (BR-365P) and high-explosive fragmentation (OF-365K and OF-365 with full and reduced charge) shells. In addition, one 7, 62-mm AK-47 assault rifle with 300 rounds of ammunition (of which 282 with a bullet with a steel core and 18 with a tracer bullet), a 26-mm signal pistol with 20 flare cartridges and 20 hand grenades were stored in the fighting compartment. F-1.
Laying ammunition in the T-44M tank before 1961
Laying ammunition in the T-44M tank (1961-1968)
In connection with the laying of additional equipment in the fighting compartment and the control compartment of the tank in the period from 1961 to 1968, the ammunition for the DTM machine guns was reduced to 1890 cartridges.
Unitary shots were placed in special packings in the hull and turret of the tank. The main rack stack for 35 shots was in the bow of the hull. Shelving for 16 shots was installed in the recess of the tower. Ten-shot collars were located on the right side of the hull (five shots), on the right side of the turret (two shots), and on the left side of the hull (three shots). Cartridges for DTM machine guns were loaded into 30 magazines and packed in special frames: on the right side of the turret - 3 pcs., In the rear right corner of the fighting compartment - 20 pcs., Under the rack storage of the turret niche - 8 pcs., On the bulkhead of the power compartment - 2 PCS. and in the bow of the tank hull - 2 pcs.
The body of the T-44M tank until 1961
The body of the T-44M tank (1961-1968)
Armor protection of the tank - differentiated, projectile. The vehicle body was welded from rolled armor plates with a thickness of 15, 20, 30, 45, 75 and 90 mm. The maximum thickness of the frontal part of the turret was 120 mm. During the modernization, the design of the hull and turret did not undergo significant changes, with the exception of the elimination of holes for firing personal weapons in the sides of the turret and some changes in the hull associated with the installation of new and additional units and assemblies of the power plant and transmission of the tank. So, for example, for a constructively modified input gearbox of the transmission, a cut was made in the bottom of the car, which was closed from the outside and welded with a specially made armor plate. In connection with the use of a new exhaust system, a cutout was made in the left side, and the old holes for the passage of exhaust pipes were welded using armored plugs. In connection with the installation of a PMP, an oil tank, a nozzle heater and other units and devices, the bottom of the hull had the necessary hatches and openings, which were closed by armored covers and plugs. Two hand-held carbon dioxide fire extinguishers OU-2 in the fighting compartment were used as fire-fighting equipment. The vehicle was not equipped with means for setting up a smoke screen.
In the MTO tank, instead of a 368 kW (500 hp) V-44 diesel engine, a V-54 engine with a 382 kW (520 hp) capacity was installed at a crankshaft speed of 2000 min-1 with a Kimaf oil filter. The engine (main) was started using an ST-16M or ST-700 electric starter with a power of 11 kW (15 hp) or compressed air from two five-liter cylinders. To ensure engine start-up at low ambient temperatures (from -5 ° C and below), a nozzle heater was used to heat the coolant, fuel and oil.
In the engine air cleaning system, one VTI-4 air cleaner with two cleaning stages and automatic (ejection) dust removal from dust collectors was used, which had a higher degree of air purification. The capacity of the four internal fuel tanks was 500 liters, the capacity of the three external fuel tanks included in the engine fuel system was increased from 150 to 285 liters. The tank's cruising range on the highway increased from 235 to 420-440 km. In the period 1961-1968. in the aft part of the hull, two 200-liter fuel barrels began to be installed, not included in the engine fuel system.
The cooling system and the engine lubrication system used water and oil coolers, an oil tank with a pressure reducing valve and an MZN-2 oil pump, borrowed from the T-54 tank.
Fuel system of the T-44M tank engine
The transmission is mechanical. It used an input gearbox, a main clutch (with both 15 and 17 friction discs), a gearbox and two-stage PMP with control drives borrowed from the T-54 tank. In the gearbox in high gears (II, III, IV and V gears), inertial synchronizers were used. The fan of the engine cooling system is duralumin, with 24 or 18 blades, with an open or closed clutch. The installation of a duralumin fan in combination with a reinforced drive from the gearbox excluded cases of destruction of the bevel gears of the fan drive.
It was not possible to completely replace the final drives, as this would lead to a large amount of work associated with replacing their armored crankcases. The driven gear, housing and final drive cover remain unchanged. Structurally new drive and driven shafts with seals and other parts were installed in the final drives. In addition, breathers were welded into the final drive housings, which ensured communication of the internal cavities of the final drives with the atmosphere, which made it possible to exclude cases of grease leakage due to increased pressure inside the crankcases.
In the undercarriage of the machine, small-link tracks of pinned engagement and drive wheels were installed, borrowed from the T-54 tank mod. 1947 The track width was 500 mm. The guide wheels have been reinforced. Subsequently, instead of the previous road wheels, the road wheels of the T-54A tank with box-type disks were used. The individual torsion bar suspension of the car has not undergone structural improvements.
In connection with the installation of new transmission and chassis units, the speed of the car has changed somewhat. Since the drive to the SP-14 speedometer remained the same, its readings did not correspond to the actual distance traveled and the actual speed of the car, therefore, to obtain valid data, it was necessary to multiply the available readings of the device by a factor equal to 1, 13.
Undercarriage of the T-44M tank
The electrical equipment of the machine has undergone changes in comparison with the electrical equipment of the T-44. It was made according to a single-wire circuit (emergency lighting - two-wire). The voltage of the on-board network was 24-29 V. Four storage batteries 6STEN-140M (until 1959 - 6STE-128, with a total capacity of 256 A × h) were used as sources of electricity, connected in series-parallel, with a total capacity of 280 A × h and generator G-731 with a capacity of 1.5 kW with a relay-regulator RRT-30 and a filter FG-57A (until 1959 - a generator G-73 of similar power with a relay-regulator RRT-24). To illuminate the terrain when using the TVN-2 device, an FG-100 headlight with an infrared filter was installed next to the FG-102 headlamp with a blackout nozzle located on the right of the frontal sheet of the tank. In addition, the front and rear side lights were included in the light signaling system, and the C-57 sound signal was replaced with the C-58 moisture-resistant signal.
Placement of electrical devices in the T-44M tank
Laying spare parts outside the T-44M tank
Laying of spare parts inside the T-44M tank before 1961
Installation of spare parts in the T-44M tank (1961-1968)
For external communication, the R-113 radio station was installed on the tank (in the tower to the left of the tank commander). Internal telephone communication between the crew members, as well as access to external communication between the commander and the gunner through the radio station was provided by the TPU R-120 tank intercom. For communication with the commander of the landing, there was a special socket on the tower behind the commander's cupola.
The installation of spare parts outside and inside the car has undergone changes.
On the basis of the T-44M tank, the T-44MK command tank, the BTS-4 tracked armored tractor and prototypes of the T-44MS tank with the stabilizer of the STP-2 Cyclone tank gun were created.
The T-44MK command tank, developed in 1963, differed from the line tank by the installation of additional radio equipment. Re-equipment of some of the tanks into command options was carried out during the overhaul of vehicles at the repair plants of the Ministry of Defense.
The T-44MK was equipped with an additional R-112 radio station, a 10-meter semi-telescopic antenna and an AB-1-P / 30 autonomous charging unit. Due to the presence of additional equipment, a rack with 12 shots for the cannon, as well as three machine-gun magazines (189 rounds) for DTM machine guns, were removed from the turret niche. In addition, the installation of TPU R-120 devices in the fighting compartment has undergone a change.
The transceiver of the R-112 radio station, power supplies (umformers UTK-250 and UT-18A), a remote control drive for the antenna tuning unit, a radio station spare parts box and the A-1 TPU R-120 apparatus were located in the tower niche, behind the seats of the tank commander and loader. The antenna tuner of the R-112 radio station, the A-2 TPU R-120 (for the tank commander) and the A-3 TPU (for the gunner) were mounted on the left wall of the tower.
Charging unit of the T-44MK tank
To the right of the loader-radio operator's seat, on the right wall of the tower, an additional socket was installed to connect the headset of his headset to it. The second device A-3 TPU was in the control compartment, on the right behind the driver's seat on the turret plate of the tank hull.
The AB-1-P / 30 charging unit consisted of a 2SDv two-stroke air-cooled carburetor engine with a capacity of 1.5 kW (2 HP) at an engine speed of 3000 min-1 with a centrifugal speed governor; generator GAB-1-P / 30 direct current; charging unit shield and a 7 liter fuel tank.
The charging unit was located to the right of the driver's seat. The charger shield, the FR-81A filter and the fuse were mounted above the generator, on the wall of the battery rack. The petrol tank of the charger was attached to the battery rack to the right of the driver's seat.
When operating on the 10th semi-telescopic antenna, the R-112 radio station provided two-way communication in the parking lot by radiotelephone at a distance of up to 100-110 km, and on selected, interference-free waves - up to 200 km.
Tank T-44MS was a prototype of the modernized T-44M tank, on which (after a major overhaul at 7 armored personnel carriers in Kiev) Kharkov 115 armored personnel carriers in the spring of 1964 was installed two-plane stabilizer weapons "Cyclone". We made two prototypes. In March 1964, the first prototype with an installed stabilizer passed field tests at the NIIBT proving ground, according to the results of which some changes were made to the design of the machine. The second prototype with the Cyclone stabilizer and additionally installed night observation and aiming devices was tested at the NIIBT proving ground in the period from June 15 to August 30, 1964. The tank was not accepted for service and was not in serial production.
As a result of the installation of the stabilizer of the main weapon STP-2 "Cyclone", the vertical aiming angles of the 85-mm ZIS-S-53 cannon changed, which ranged from -3 ° 05 'to + 17 ° 30'. The vertical aiming speeds of the twin weapon installation ranged from 0.07 to 4.5 deg / s, the maximum horizontal speed in the stabilization mode reached 15 deg / s.
When firing, the standard telescopic sight TSh-16 was used, which during the tests could not provide high-quality aiming of the stabilized gun at the target. According to the test results, the TSh2B sight was recommended for installation in the tank. Due to the presence of components and assemblies of the stabilizer STP-2 "Cyclone" ammunition for the gun was reduced to 35 shots. Ammunition for the coaxial machine gun remained unchanged.
The turret of the tank underwent minor changes: a hole for a coaxial machine gun was made in the frontal armor to the right of the cannon embrasure. Increased the height of the window for the telescopic sight in the gun mask. A protective dust cover was installed on the embrasure of the gun.
Tank T-44MS (first prototype)
Combat weight - 32-32, 5 tons; crew - 4 people; weapons: gun - 85 mm rifled, 2 machine guns - 7, 62 mm; armor protection - anti-cannon; engine power - 382 kW (520 hp); the maximum speed on the highway is 57 km / h.
General view of the location of the aiming mechanisms, the stabilizer control panel and aiming devices at the gunner's workplace of the T-44MS tank (second prototype)
The second prototype differed from the first in the following changes:
- instead of the A-137B engine with the 5 kW G-5 generator, the A-137 engine with the 3 kW G-74 generator with the RRT-31M relay-regulator was installed;
- sets of night devices for the gunner and tank commander were introduced and the corresponding electrical wiring was installed. The commander's cupola was equipped with a night vision device for the commander TKN-1 ("Pattern") with an OU-3 searchlight, on the left in the roof of the tower instead of the MK-4 viewing device, a night sight TPN-1 ("Luna") was mounted, and on a special bracket to the right of the embrasure cannons - searchlight L-2;
- moved forward turret turning mechanisms and control panel;
- the stabilizer of the weapon had two modes of operation: stabilized and semi-automatic;
- the gunner's guard was removed and the stopper of the hinged gun guard was moved to the right side;
- introduced a footrest for the gunner;
- reinforced bracket for fastening the button for locking the driver's hatch cover.
In the electrical equipment of the tank, instead of the 6STEN-140M storage batteries, four 12ST-70 storage batteries were used. The means of external and internal communication have not undergone changes.
The test results showed that the parameters of the weapons were within the technical conditions for the T-55 tank, with the exception of the backlash and the magnitude of the efforts on the flywheel of the lifting mechanism. The elevation and descent angles of the gun ranged from -4 ° 32 'to + 17 ° 34'. There was a slight increase in firing accuracy on the move - by 2% (due to the improved working conditions of the gunner). However, the installation of the stabilizer led to a deterioration in access to the main ammunition storage for artillery rounds and a deterioration in the working conditions of the crew members. Further work on the T-44MS tank was discontinued.
Tank T-44 with automated control drive … The equipment for automatic control of the movement of the tank was developed by the staff of the NIIBT test site together with the NTK GBTU in 1948. In February-April 1949, the T-44 tank with the installed equipment underwent sea trials at the test site in Kubinka in order to check the correctness of the calculation of the automation and the reliability of its operation. The T-44 tank with an automated control drive was not accepted for service and was not in serial production.
The experienced tank differed from the serial vehicle by the presence of automated traffic control equipment. It made it possible to simplify and facilitate the control of the tank by the driver; to give the tank commander the opportunity, while in the tower, through the control panel to control the movement of the tank independently of the driver. In addition, it was supposed to use the same equipment for remote control of the tank, adding only a set of radio control equipment with a command encoder.
When automating the control of the movement of the tank, two tasks were solved: to completely preserve the existing control mechanisms of the tank and to make the automated control equipment as simple as possible in design.
The tank control scheme included an automated control system for shifting gears, a remote servo control system for turning mechanisms and tank brakes, as well as a remote control system for fuel supply from the place of the tank commander. The automated control equipment of the T-44 tank included electrical and pneumatic equipment. One control panel was at the driver's seat, the second at the tank commander.
The electrical equipment of the control system included: a central distributor, two control panels (driver and tank commander), a foot control panel for fuel supply (rheostat) from the tank commander's seat and a tachometer with contacts.
The pneumatic equipment consisted of: a compressor, four compressed air cylinders with a total capacity of 20 liters, an oil separator, an air filter, an air manifold with a safety valve, a valve block, actuators for controlling the main clutch, gear lever, fuel supply and side clutches.
Tank T-44 with an automated control drive.
Combat weight - 31.5 tons; crew - 4 people; weapons: gun - 85 mm rifled, 2 machine guns - 7, 62 mm; armor protection - anti-cannon; engine power - 368 kW (500 hp); the maximum speed on the highway is 45 km / h.
Tests of the T-44 tank with an automated control drive. The exit of the tank after overcoming a ditch 4 m wide. NIIBT polygon, 1949
The air compressor is two-cylinder, horizontal, air-cooled, attached to the gearbox with a flange and eight pins. The compressor was driven directly from the intermediate shaft (connected to the end with the compressor crankshaft using a finger and crackers). To clean the air from dust, a filter was used, which was connected to the suction port of the compressor using a fitting. The reduction of fluctuations in the working air pressure in the pneumatic line of the automation during its operation was provided by an air receiver (standard cylinders of the tank engine air vent system were used). In total, four air cylinders with a total capacity of 20 liters were installed.
The central distributor controlled all gear changing processes, receiving commands from the control panel. Control panels (interchangeable) were used to control gear shifting, turns and stopping the tank. Each control panel was a cylinder divided in height by a partition. On the top panel there were three buttons "More speed", "Less speed" and "Start, Stop", a toggle switch for turning off the circuit and a control lamp. Rheostats, a handle for controlling the rotation and braking of the tank, as well as return springs that returned the handle to its original position were installed on the partition. By means of electrical wiring, the control panels were connected to the central distributor.
Using the control panel, it was possible to give six commands: "More speed", "Less speed", "Start", "Stop", "Left tank", "Right tank". Gear shifting was carried out only sequentially, starting off - only in first gear.
When the command "More speed" was transmitted, the next gear was switched on, with the command "Less speed" - the previous one. After stopping the tank and pressing the "Less Speed" button, reverse gear was engaged.
The tachometer with its contacts prepared the electrical circuits for gear shifting. The contacts were automatically closed at the engine crankshaft speed of 1800 and 800 min-1, at the crankshaft speed in the range from 800 to 1800 min-1 the contacts were in the open state.
When shifting gears, an intermediate fuel supply ("overgassing") and double squeezing of the main clutch pedal were automatically carried out. Gear shifting was carried out by moving the stage lever using two pneumatic cylinders (longitudinal and transverse). The longitudinal cylinder moved the rocker arm in the longitudinal direction, setting it to any gear and output to neutral. The transverse cylinder moved the lever of the stage in neutral and installed it against the corresponding slot in the cover of the stage. When air was released from the cylinder, the rod, under the action of a spring, set the rocker lever against reverse and first gear. The main clutch was turned off by the pneumatic cylinder of the main clutch. When air was released from the cylinder into the atmosphere, the pedal lever, under the influence of the main clutch spring, put the piston in its initial (on) position.
Fuel control for the driver was left unchanged - mechanical. The tank commander controlled the fuel supply remotely - using a specially equipped foot pedal. To control the fuel supply, a pneumatic cylinder was also used, the piston of which was connected through the rod with the help of a thrust to the two-arm lever of the fuel supply control drive.
It was allowed to turn the tank smoothly - by turning off the side clutch, while the position of the turning off mechanism of the side clutch was strictly fixed. Sharp turns could be carried out with any degree of track braking. When controlling the turns of the tank from the control panel, the control levers of the onboard clutches remained stationary, and when shifting gears, the stage lever moved in the wings.
During the tests, the automated control equipment of the tank worked satisfactorily, but there were cases of failures in gear shifting. Tests have shown that the automated control system provides good control of the tank from both control panels, greatly facilitates the control of the tank and increases its maneuverability, and the lack of reliability in the operation of the automated drive can be increased by modifying the actuators and using a smaller compressor.
Tank T-34-85 arr. 1960
Tank T-44M with the chassis of the T-54 mod. 1947 year
Tank T-44M with road wheels of the T-54A tank. Drawings by A. Sheps
Photo by D. Pichugin
