Quote:
Originally Posted by PvtJoker
Unit 335 T-40S: the correct name for this tank would be T-40 "030" or T-30. The T-40S had the same armament as the original T-40, but deleted amphibious capability. Production of the T-40S started a couple of months earlier than T-30. Armor was not increased as such (construction was changed to all welded), so it should be the same as Unit 006 for all T-40 variants. Speed should also be the same. All of these tanks were officially called just T-40; the "030" was the factory index of a T-40 with a 20mm TNSh AC. T-30 seems to have been the most popular contemporary name for this variant. T-40S is an unofficial post-WW2 designation.
|
According to a monograph by I. Moshchanskiy "T-30, T-40, T-40S" of
Военная летопись series, generally right, but not exactly.
This unit indeed should be named T-30, which was semi-official designation, used sometimes also in the army and factory documents. However, increased armour is correct - "030" index was connected just with armour strengthened to 15mm and some minor improvements, that entered production from around 8/41. Actually it should be given armour 2 also at hull rear - it was 13 mm, lightly sloped.
Part of "030" tanks were produced with DShK MG, only part were given 20mm gun from late August, although it was initially unreliable and their production was low. Dates are correct then
Part of them had radio - say 21 or 31 (now 01).
There should be also added
T-40S as a Light Tank, armed with DshK, like unit 006, but without swimming capability - produced from late July 41. It should be available in 8/41-12/42.
(A drawing in this book suggests, that T-40S had strengthened amour as well, to lightly sloped 13mm from all sides, although there's no such clear mention in a text - IMHO it should be strengthened to 2 to represent also DShK-armed T-30s).
Also part of original 006 T-40 were quipped with radio - it should have some 21-31 of radio chance. By the way, a front armour 2 might be too big - it was 9 mm sloped at 30deg from vertical.
Michal