During the Cold War, Soviet scientists and engineers tackled complex, and sometimes unimaginable, tasks. One of the development priorities of that time was the creation and improvement of military equipment. The achievements of the “Soviet years” still amaze our imagination with their power, strength and article.
But not all developments were implemented and introduced into mass production. A sad fate befell the Soviet experimental heavy tank Object 277. Only two models of this series were released, and only one has survived to this day. But even in the drawings, this "iron giant" makes one tremble.
Historical reference
The development of a new generation of heavy tanks began in 1955 at the Leningrad Design Bureau of the Kirov Plant. The project was led by chief engineer Kotin Joseph Yakovlevich. According to some reports, all work was carried out on a competitive basis, although this was not publicly advertised anywhere.
On the account of the designer there were already many military developments. These are self-propelled artillery mounts based on the KV-1 and IS ISU-152, ISU-122, SU-152 tanks , as well as the notorious heavy IS-4, amphibious tank PT-76 and armored personnel carrier BTR50-P. But his main achievement was the T-10, the replacement of which was supposed to come the new "277 Object."
From the very beginning, two types of equipment were developed - with a diesel engine and with a gas turbine power plant ("Object 278"). Both prototypes were lowered from the conveyor in 1957.
For several months they went through field trials and appeared before the first secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Khrushchev. But he did not appreciate the new models of heavy tanks, as he was an ardent opponent of traditional firing systems. This was the reason for the cessation of all development by 1960.
New Tank - New Requirements
The difficult situation on the world political scene, the toughened “cold war” required engineers to create fundamentally new types of military equipment and weapons. "Object 277" - a new generation tank had to meet the special requirements put forward by the government:
- The total mass is in the range of 55-52 tons.
- The basis of the weapons was to be a rifled 130-caliber gun.
- The initial velocity of the projectile is not less than 1000 m / s.
- Engine power - 1000 horsepower.
The basis of the new machine was the heavy tanks T-10 and IS-7, which had already proved themselves well. Perhaps it was this fact that caused the new copy to not satisfy Khrushchev - the country needed a fundamentally new “defender”.
general description
The design of the heavy tank was made up of units and assemblies from the IS-7 and T-10. The new car had a classic layout - the engine and two leading ones were located at the rear. The frontal part of the hull was completely cast, but the sides were made of bent steel sheets.
Its tower "277 Object" is almost completely adopted from the base models. It expanded in its front part, where an optical rangefinder was installed. In the elongated aft was located ammunition with a mechanized loading system. The ammunition included only 35 shells.
The prototype Object 278 with a gas turbine power plant was no different from its diesel engine. But to see it with our own eyes and to understand whether it really was so, we were not destined - the model was not even completed.
The performance characteristics
"Object 277" compares favorably with its contemporaries by the presence of tried and tested components and assemblies. If not for the whim of the first secretary, a heavy tank would become one of the most reliable and powerful representatives of military equipment. At that time, its characteristics were quite impressive:
- combat weight - 55 tons;
- Dimensions (L x W x H) - 6990 x 3380 x 2292 mm;
- the length of the tank with a gun - 11 m 78 cm;
- ground clearance - 435 mm;
- engine - M-850;
- maximum speed on the highway - no more than 55 km / h;
- power reserve (driving without refueling) - 300 km;
- armament - rifled 130-mm gun M-65.
A crew of four was to drive the car. Presumably, the commander, the driver, the gunner and the loader were supposed to be part of the tank platoon.
Reservation
The armor of the heavy tank met the requirements of that time. She easily withstood a point-blank shot from the D-25T - 122 mm gun. Cumulative shells with a caliber of 76-122 mm, as well as rocket-propelled grenade launchers at that time were not piercing the defense.
The 277 Object had such impressive resistance to tank and howitzer guns thanks to the design of its hull. It was welded with a cast frontal part. On the sides were installed bent metal sheets of alternating profile. Reservation of the frontal part of the hull was 140 mm / deg, and the sides - 153 mm / deg. The solid tower in its frontal part had 290 mm / degree of armor.
Armament
The main weapon of the tank was a 125-mm rifled gun M-65 with no less sad fate than the "Object 277". Its development began in 1955 (simultaneously with a heavy tank) under the leadership of M. Yu. Tsirulnikov in the design bureau of plant No. 172 - now the public company Motovilikhinskiye Zavody.
In June 1956, the first tests of new weapons were completed. The design of the M-65 included three main elements:
- a barrel with a length of 7330 mm and providing a projectile with an initial velocity of 1030 m / s;
- an ejector that performs the function of purging the bore in order to avoid excessive contamination of the fighting compartment;
- muzzle brake compensator - reduced return due to the kinetic energy of powder gases.
To facilitate the loading process in the experimental heavy tank "Object 277" (USSR), a mechanized combat station was installed with an electromechanical dosing device. For the guidance of the gun on the target, two hydraulic cylinders were responsible. In this case, the left element played the role of a hydrostop, and the right element stabilized in the vertical plane.
The development of the gun was discontinued in 1961 after the closure of the project "277 Object". A total of 10 copies of such guns were produced, and one modification was also carried out. The redesigned M-65 GL gun had no significant differences and was discontinued in the same year.
Engine, transmission and chassis
It was planned to use one of two types of engines as a power plant in a heavy tank - a modernized V-2 diesel unit or an M-850 marine engine. Designer Kotin decided to dwell on the second option as the most powerful and reliable. It was manufactured at the Voroshilov plant in Leningrad and had an impressive power at that time - more than 1000 horsepower.
In the experimental heavy tanks - "Objects 277" - the engine was placed parallel to the longitudinal axis. On both sides it was surrounded by ejectors of the cooling system, and underneath it had tanks with oil and diesel fuel. Behind the engine, a transmission was introduced, represented by a planetary mechanical gearbox with 8 steps. It also had a hydraulically controlled turning mechanism.
At Object 277, a tracked mover with a metal closed joint was used. On each side were 4 supporting and 8 road wheels. The torsion bar suspension on symmetrically located nodes had hydraulic shock absorbers. All this gave the car a smooth ride and high traffic.
Interior fittings
For the first time in the history of the creation of heavy tanks in the "Object 277" was installed a system of anti-nuclear defense. What exactly she was, is not known for certain. In addition, thermal smoke devices, cleaning devices for monitoring devices, and equipment for controlling the tank under water were installed in the fighting compartment.
The main means of communication was the P-113 Granat radio station, designed by special order (especially for tanks) and released into the world in 1953. It provided uninterrupted two-way communication with walkie-talkies of the same type, or in the same frequency range.
Implementation in the modern world
An experienced heavy tank was implemented in a rather popular computer online game, Ground Var: Tank. Gamers immediately liked the “Object 277” and earned popularity for the good reservation of the frontal part of the hull and tower. Players also note high maneuverability and speed, which is usually not expected from this class of military equipment.
In another popular multiplayer game World of Tanks, the “Object” was not given a place in the hangar. Apparently, the developers decided to concentrate their efforts on the implementation of more "non-standard" heavy tanks and replaced it with "Ob.777 II" during the supertest. However, the hope that in the future fans will be able to see “Object 277” in action still remains.
Those who want to learn and enjoy the game on the most accurate game copy should wait for the corresponding changes in World of Tanks. The heavy tank "Object 277" in the Ground War Tanks, although close to the existing prototypes, will not be able to please the true connoisseurs of military equipment.