TKS 353419 225033848 2008-07-11T15:50:02Z Aldis90 1372173 {{otheruses}} {{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]] [[cs:TKS]] [[da:TKS]] [[de:TKS (Panzer)]] [[es:Tanqueta TKS]] [[ja:TKS]] [[pl:TKS]] [[ru:TKS]] [[sl:TKS]]