T-10 Heavy Tank | |
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Type | Heavy tank |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1954–1996 (sources vary) |
Used by | Soviet Union Russia South Ossetia |
Wars | Cold War Invasion of Czechoslovakia |
Production history | |
Designer | Jozef Kotin |
Designed | 1949–53 |
Manufacturer | Factory 185, Factory 174 |
Produced | 1954–66 |
No. built | 1,439 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 52 tonnes |
Length | 7.41 m, 9.87 m over gun |
Width | 3.56 m |
Height | 2.43 m |
Crew | 4 (Commander/Radio Operator, Gunner, Loader, Driver) |
Armour | Turret:
Upper Glacis:
Lower Glacis:
Upper Side:
Lower Side:
Rear: 60 mm |
Main armament | 122 mm D-25TA gun T-10M: 122 mm M-62-T2 gun |
Secondary armament | 2 × 12.7 DShKM machine gun T-10M: 2 x 14.5 KPVT heavy machine gun |
Engine | 39-l 12-cyl. diesel model V-2-5 700 hp (522 kW) T-10M: 750 hp (559 kW) |
Power/weight | 13 hp/tonne |
Suspension | Torsion-bar |
Operational range | 250 km/150 miles |
Maximum speed | 42 km/h (26 mph) T-10M: 50 km/h (31 mph) |
The T-10 (also known as Object 730 or IS-8) was a Soviet heavy tank of the Cold War, the final development of the IS tank series. During development, it was called Object 730. It was accepted into production in 1953 as the IS-8 (Iosif Stalin, Russian form of Joseph Stalin), but due to the political climate in the wake of Stalin's death in 1953, it was renamed T-10.[1]
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, from 28 rounds to 30 rounds.
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 units, to support infantry operations and perform breakthroughs.