"Per-unit cost was, once-again, an issue in adopting this new medium combat tank - the TG-1 - by the Soviet Army during the interwar period."
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the TG-1 Medium Tank Prototype.
1 x M-6 8-cylinder gasoline-fueled engine developing 300 horsepower to track-and-wheel running gear. Installed Power
22 mph 35 kph Road Speed
311 miles 500 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the TG-1 Medium Tank Prototype.
3 (MANNED) Crew
21.3 ft 6.5 meters O/A Length
9.2 ft 2.8 meters O/A Width
9.8 ft 3 meters O/A Height
55,116 lb 25,000 kg | 27.6 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the TG-1 Medium Tank Prototype.
1 x 76.2mm PS-3 cannon in casemate.
1 x 37mm cannon in turret.
1 x 7.62mm DT machine gun left of 76.2mm gun.
1 x 7.62mm DT machine gun right of 76.2mm gun.
1 x 7.62mm DT machine gun in portside mounting (casemate).
1 x 7.62mm DT machine gun in starboard side mounting (casemate).
1 x 7.62mm DT machine gun in rear face of casemate.
AMMUNITION: Not Available.
Variants Notable series variants as part of the TG-1 family line.
TG-1 - Base Series Designation; single prototype completed and tested.
Lacking the know-how to design and develop modern battle tanks, the Soviets imported German engineer Edward Grote to solve their modernization requirement of the 1930s. This partnership led to several experimental designs of which the TG-1 Medium Tank was just one result. The tank had several interesting features for the period but was deemed ultimately too costly to mass-produce when there were other cheaper alternatives available to the Soviet Army. As such, the TG-1 existed as nothing more than an experimental entry in Soviet armor lore.
With work beginning at the Bolshevik Works of Leningrad in 1930, the 25-tonne tank utilized welded plate construction as opposed to riveted and its frontal face received 50mm thickness for maximum protection. To aid in steering, a hydropneumatic system was installed and drive power was to come from a still-to-be-developed 300 horsepower gasoline-fueled unit. Dimensions included a length of 6.5 meters, a width of 2.8 meters, and a height of 3 meters. The crew would number three.
Instead of a traditional turret over the hull, the TG-1 showcased a fixed casemate with a small, independently-operated turret atop it. The casemate was fixed as part of the hull proper, and positioned at the center of the design, housing the main armament consisting of a single 76.2mm PS-3 cannon. This was straddled by a 7.62mm DT machine gun (to each side) and each casemate side facing, as well as its rear facing, also showcased a single 7.62mm DT machine gun mounting (for a total of five DT machine guns). The small turret atop the casemate was home to a single 37mm PS-2 cannon and, above this, a commander's cupola further extended the height of the vehicle. All this gave the tank considerable fire power and, to an extent, situational awareness when compared to contemporaries.
The pilot form was completed in June of 1931 but its intended 300 horsepower engine was not yet available so the M-6 8-cylinder gasoline-fueled model was used instead. In testing, the design proved sound on-the-whole though there were noted issues with the drive train, fighting compartment (the crew of three was required to do quite a bit between them), and suspension system. The vehicle was tested up to speeds of 35 kmh on roads with a range out to 500 kilometers. Like the BT series of tanks, the TG-1 could also be run track-less on its roadwheels, improving driving ranges out to 700 km on prepared roads. The tank could ford water sources up to 1.2 meters deep.
Soviet authorities believed enough in the tank to plan for a fleet of 2,000. This was quickly undone when it was revealed that about twenty-five BT-2 Fast Tanks could be hand for the price of a single TG-1 - thus ending the TG-1 venture.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the TG-1. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 1 Units Contractor(s): Bolshevik Works Leningrad - Soviet Union
[ Soviet Union (cancelled) ]
1 / 1
Image from the Public Domain.
Going Further... The TG-1 Medium Tank Prototype appears in the following collections:
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.
