"The T-24 existed as a pre-World War 2 design for the Soviets though reliability problems ensured it was out of service by the time of the conflict."
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the T-24 Medium Tank Prototype.
1 x M-6 8-cylinder Otto gasoline-fueled engine developing 250 to 300 horsepower to track-and-wheel arrangement. Installed Power
16 mph 25 kph Road Speed
75 miles 120 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the T-24 Medium Tank Prototype.
5 (MANNED) Crew
18.6 ft 5.68 meters O/A Length
9.2 ft 2.8 meters O/A Width
9.8 ft 3 meters O/A Height
40,786 lb 18,500 kg | 20.4 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the T-24 Medium Tank Prototype.
1 x 45mm Model 32 main gun in turret.
1 x 7.62mm DT machine gun in flexible coaxial mounting in turret.
1 x 7.62mm DT machine gun in front-left bow area (forward-facing, flexible).
1 x 7.62mm DT machine gun in smaller, independently-operated turret atop the main turret.
AMMUNITION: 2,000 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated).
Variants Notable series variants as part of the T-24 family line.
T-24 - Base Series Designation; 25 examples completed into 1931.
T-12 - Prototype of 1929 based on enlarged T-18 design.
Soviet tank design underwent a tremendous period of experimentation during the 1930s and this work begat such designs as the "T-24", a medium tank of great promise for the period that was ultimately let down by its reliability issues. Just 25 of the tanks were produced and none remained in service by the time of World War 2 (1939-1945).
Origins of the T-24 set it in the late 1920s when the Locomotive Works (Kharkov) took up design of a new medium tank based in the earlier T-18 and designated the T-12 in prototype (pilot) form. When tested in 1929, this design proved a failure but, with changes to its drivetrain and fuel delivery scheme, was modified to become the T-24 of 1930. The new design was evaluated into 1931 to which point some twenty-five examples had appeared. However, these early-form tanks lacked the 45mm main armament until 1932 due to general unavailability of the weapon system in the numbers required.
Structurally, the T-24 showcased a weight of 18,500 kilograms with an overall length of 5.7 meters, a beam of 2.8 meters, and a height of 3.0 meters. The riveted hull was given some angled facings for basic ballistics protection and armor ranged from 8mm to 20mm in thickness. A crew of five was stuffed into the cramped fighting compartment of the tank that included the primary turret and a smaller, cylindrical turret at the turret's roof (offset to starboard side). The engine was fitted to a compartment at the rear of the hull, leaving the middle-to-frontal portions of the design free for crew spaces and ammunition storage. An anti-ditching structure was fitted to the rear of the hull - a throwback to World War 1 (1914-1918) tank design.
Internally, drive power was provided for by a single M-6 8-cylinder engine developing between 250 and 300 horsepower to a traditional, multi-bogied track-and-wheel arrangement. Suspension was of vertical springs. There were eight small double-tired road wheels to each hull side, two pairs to each of the four total bogies. The drive sprocket was at front with the track idler at the rear and three track-return rollers were used to guide the upper run of track-links about. Road speeds could reach up to 25 kph (16mph) and the tank ranged out to 140 kilometers.
Armament was the typical 45mm cannon of the Soviet Army, giving a good punch against enemy armor for a 1930s design. Up to three 7.62mm DT machine guns were fitted for anti-infantry work - one in the front-left bow, the other coaxially in the frontal turret face, and the final unit installed in the smaller, independently-rotating, turret set atop the primary turret. Overall, the T-24 carried excellent firepower for a tank of the period, capable of engaging enemy armor at range while closing in with a battery of machine gun fire against infantry.
Despite all of the investment in the T-24 design, it too proved itself something of a failure for its reliability issues could not be worked out. The design was dropped from further development and serial production, leaving just the aforementioned 25 units in existence. These were used in training and second-line roles for the duration of their service lives in the Soviet Army.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the T-24. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 25 Units Contractor(s): Locomotive Works Kharkov (KhPZ) - Soviet Union
[ Soviet Union (retired) ]
1 / 1
Image from the Public Domain.
Going Further... The T-24 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.
