TKS
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2008-07-11T15:50:02Z
Aldis90
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{{Infobox Weapon
|name=TK-3 / TKS
|image=[[Image:TKS P1010141 2.jpg|300px]]
|caption=TKS tankette
|origin={{POL}}
|type=[[Tankette]]
|is_vehicle=yes
|service=
|used_by={{flagcountry|Poland}}<br />{{flagcountry|Estonia}}
|wars=
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=[[Fabryka Samohodov P.Z. Ins.]]
|unit_cost=
|production_date=1931 - 1939
|number= 575
|variants=
|weight=2.43/2.6 tonnes
|length=2.58 m
|width=1.78 m
|height=1.32 m
|crew=2 (commander, driver)
|armour=4 – 10 mm
|primary_armament=7.92 mm [[km wz.25]] [[machine gun]] or 1x7.7mm [[Hotchkiss M1909 Benet-Mercie machine gun|Hotchkiss Machine Guns]]<br> 2000 rounds
|secondary_armament=
|engine=Fiat petrol engine
|engine_power=40/46 hp (30/34 kW)
|transmission=
|fuel_capacity=70+8 l
|pw_ratio=17/18 hp/tonne
|suspension=bogie
|clearance=
|vehicle_range=200 km (roads), 100 km (cross-country)
|speed=46/40 km/h
}}
The '''TK (TK-3)''' and '''TKS''' were [[Poland|Polish]] [[tankette]]s during the [[Second World War]].
==Design and development==
The TK tankette was a Polish design produced from 1931 that was based upon an improved chassis of the British [[Carden Loyd tankette]]. The TKS was an improved model with a new hull and a more powerful engine. The [[vehicle armour|armour]] of the TK was up to 8 mm thick (10 mm on the TKS). In 1939, re-arming of the tankettes with 20 mm guns began, but only about 24 were completed before the outbreak of World War II.
On [[6 November]] [[1934]] Estonia purchased 6 vehicles from [[Poland]], with the contract deal worth over 180,000 [[Estonian kroon|krones]]. The deal also included one additional tracked-lorry, and a motorcycle was given free as a bonus.<ref>[http://www.raamatukoi.ee/cgi-bin/raamat?79813<br />Estonian Armoured Machines. Tiit Noormets & Mati Õun. Tammiskilp 1999. Page 52]</ref>
==Combat history==
The 575 TK/TKS tankettes formed the bulk of the Polish armoured forces before the outbreak of war. They suffered heavy losses during the [[Invasion of Poland (1939)|Invasion of Poland]], often being the only armoured fighting vehicles available. Due to their light armament of a single [[machine gun]], they stood no chance in combat against German tanks, except the [[Panzer I]] (also based on the Carden Loyd tankette), but their small size suited them for [[reconnaissance]] and infantry support. Only the handful of tankettes armed with 20 mm guns had a fighting chance against the enemy tanks; in one instance on [[18 September]] [[1939]] a 20 mm gunned TKS commanded by sergeant Roman Orlik destroyed three German [[Panzer 35(t)]] tanks.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:TKS.jpg|TKS
Image:TK-3.jpg|TK-3
Image:EST-Tanks-TSK.jpg|Estonian TKS tankettes on the Republics anniversary parade on 24th of February, 1925.
Image:EST-TKS-2.jpg|
Image:EST-TKS-3.jpg|
Image:EST-TKS-4.jpg|
</gallery>
===Variants===
*TK (TK-3) - from 1931, about 280 built
*TKF - TK tankette with 46 hp (34 kW) engine, about 18 built
*TKS - improved model of 1933, about 260 built
*TKS with 20 mm gun - about 24 TKS fitted with 20 mm gun in [[1939]].
*C2P - unarmoured light [[artillery tractor]], about 200 built.
Experimental models:
*TK-1, TK-2 - first prototypes
*TKD - light [[self propelled gun]] with 47 mm gun, four made.
*TKW - light reconnaissance tank with turret, one prototype made.
*TK-3 with 20 mm gun - only one prototype with a modified hull was completed.
*TKS-D - light [[tank destroyer]] with [[Bofors 37 mm|37 mm Bofors]] [[anti-tank gun]], two made
==References==
<references/>
* Adam Jońca, Rajmund Szubiński, Jan Tarczyński Wrzesień 1939 Pojazdy Wojska Polskiego wyd. WKiŁ Warszawa 1990 ISBN 83-206-0847-3
==External links==
*[http://www.1939.pl/uzbrojenie/polskie/pojazdy/tk/index.html TKS tankette]
*[http://www.wwiivehicles.com/poland/tankettes/tk-tks.asp TK & TKS tankettes] wwiivehicles.com
*[http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pol/poltk.htm TK Tankette Series Small / Light Reconnaissance Tank] achtungpanzer.com
{{WWIIPolishAFVs}}
{{Tanks of Estonia}}
[[Category:World War II armoured fighting vehicles of Poland]]
[[Category:Tankettes of World War II]]
[[Category:Armoured fighting vehicles of the interwar period]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Poland]]
[[Category:Military equipment of Estonia]]
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[[es:Tanqueta TKS]]
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