T-10 1645099 218059562 2008-06-08T23:45:12Z Mattisse 1386816 article uses a single source only {{Onesource|date=June 2008}} <!-- SCROLL DOWN TO EDIT THE ARTICLE --> {{Infobox Weapon | name=T-10 Heavy Tank | image=[[Image:T-10 tank.jpg|300px]] | caption= | type=[[Tank classification|Heavy tank]] | origin={{flagcountry|Soviet Union}} |is_vehicle=yes | crew=4 | length=hull 7.41 m, overall 9.87 m | width=3.56 m | height=2.43 m | weight=52 tonnes | armour=250 mm | primary_armament=122 mm [[D-25TA]] | secondary_armament=2×12.7 mm [[DShKM]] machine guns (coaxial, anti-aircraft) | engine=39 l 12-cyl. [[diesel model V-2]]-IS | engine_power=700 hp (522 kW) | suspension=[[torsion-bar]] | speed=42 km/h | pw_ratio=13 hp/tonne | vehicle_range=250 km }} {{redirect|T-10|other uses|T10}} :''For the Sukhoi fighter aircraft prototype T-10 see [[Sukhoi Su-27]]'' The '''T-10''' (also known as Obiekt 730) was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] heavy [[tank]] of the [[Cold War]], the final development of the [[Kliment Voroshilov tank|KV]] and [[Iosif Stalin tank|IS]] tank series. It was accepted into production in 1952 as the '''IS-10''' (''Iosif Stalin'', Russian form of [[Joseph Stalin]]), but due to the political climate in the [[History of the Soviet Union (1953–1985)|wake of Stalin's death]] in 1953, it was renamed T-10. The biggest differences from its direct ancestor, the [[IS-3]], were a longer hull, seven pairs of road wheels instead of six, a larger turret mounting a new gun with fume extractor, an improved diesel engine, and increased armour. General performance was similar, although the T-10 could carry more ammunition. T-10s (like the IS tanks they replaced) were deployed in independent tank regiments belonging to armies, and independent tank battalions belonging to divisions. These independent tank units could be attached to [[mechanized unit]]s, to [[combined arms|support infantry operations]] and perform breakthroughs. == Demise of Soviet heavy tanks == The mobile nature of armoured warfare in WWII had demonstrated the drawbacks of the slow heavy tanks. In the final push towards Berlin, mechanized divisions had become widely split up as heavy tanks lagged behind the mobile [[T-34]]s. The Soviets continued to produce heavy tanks for a few years as part of the [[Cold War]] arms race (compare the heavier U.S. [[M103 heavy tank|M103]] and British [[Conqueror tank|Conqueror]]), but the more flexible [[T-54]] and [[T-62]] medium tanks already had armour and armament comparable to the T-10's. In the 1960s, the Soviets embraced the main battle tank (MBT) concept, by replacing heavy tanks with mobile medium tanks. In the late '60s, the independent tank battalions with heavy tanks were re-equipped with the higher-technology [[T-64]]s, and later, the very fast [[T-80]]s, while regular tank and mechanized units fielded the more basic [[T-55]]s and [[T-72]]s. T-10 production was stopped in 1966, and heavy tank projects were cancelled, such as the auto-loaded, 130 mm-armed ''Obiekt 770''. [[Antitank guided missile]]s (ATGMs) started to be deployed widely during this period, and would become an effective replacement for the heavy tanks' long-range firepower. The Soviets made use of them first on [[BMP-1]] infantry fighting vehicles, and later on the [[T-64]] and other MBTs. Eventually, light, sophisticated [[reactive armour]] was used to give the MBTs a further edge in protection without slowing them down. According to Bryan Perret, "the engagements of the [[Six-Day War]], especially that at Rafah, merely emphasised what the Soviet Army already knew, namely that the heavy tank had had its day." == Production history == The T-10 served with the [[Soviet Union]] and probably in soviet forces stationed in other [[Warsaw Pact]] countries, but very unlikely in [[Egypt]], [[North Vietnam]], and [[Syria]], as widely believed. Heavy tanks were withdrawn from Soviet front-line service by 1967, and completely removed from service in [[1993]]. Many of the tank chassis were converted to missile vehicles. It is estimated that some 6,000 Soviet heavy tanks were built after the end of WWII, including [[IS-2]]s, IS-3s, and T-10s. === Models === * '''T-10''' - (1952) improvement of the [[IS-3]]. * '''T-10A''' - (1956) modification, adding a single-plane [[gun stabilizer]]. * '''T-10B''' - (1957) adding a 2-plane gun stabilizer. * '''T-10M''' - (1957) improved version with longer [[M-62-T2]] L/43 gun with five-baffle [[muzzle brake]], 2-plane gun stabilizer, machine guns replaced with 14.5 mm [[KPVT]] (a better ballistic match for the new main gun), infrared night vision equipment, [[NBC weapon|NBC]] protection. Overall length is 10.29 m. ** 1963 - T-10Ms are equipped with OPVT deep-wading snorkel. ** 1967 - T-10Ms are supplied with [[APDS]] and [[HEAT]] ammunition. ==References== * {{cite book | first = Bryan | last = Perret | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1987 | month = | title = Soviet Armour Since 1945 | chapter = | editor = | others = | edition = | pages = | publisher = Blandford Press | location = London | id = ISBN 0-7137-1735-1 | url = }} == External links == {{commons|T-10|T-10}} * [http://www.battlefield.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=44 Last Heavy Tanks of the USSR] - Heavy tanks and prototypes from IS-4 through T-10, at battlefield.ru. {{PostWWIISovietAFVS}} [[Category:Heavy tanks]] [[Category:Cold War Soviet tanks]] [[cs:T-10]] [[de:T-10]] [[ja:T-10 (戦車)]] [[pl:T-10]] [[ru:Т-10]] [[sv:T-10]] [[th:ที-10]] [[tr:T-10]] [[uk:Т-10]]