7TP
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7TP | |
---|---|
Ckm wz.30 machine gun | |
Engine | PZInż.235(Saurer VBLDd) Liquid-cooled inline 6-cylinder 4-stroke direct injection diesel engine 110 hp (80 kW) |
Power/weight | 11 hp/tonne |
Suspension | leaf spring bogie |
Ground clearance | 0.38 m |
Operational range | 150 km (93 miles) |
Maximum speed | 37 km/h (23 mph) |
The 7TP (siedmiotonowy polski - 7-tonne Polish) was a Polish
Design
The 7TP was the Polish development of the British Vickers 6-ton Mark E tank licence. Comparing to Vickers, the main new features of 7TP were: a better, more reliable and powerful
Although the 7TP is often claimed to be the world's first (production) diesel-powered tank, this distinction actually goes to
Like its British predecessor, the 7TP was initially produced in two variants: twin
Prior to the outbreak of World War II most of the twin turret tanks were converted to single turret versions and only 24 twin-turret types remained in Polish service (as opposed to roughly 108 of the other type). Twin and single turret variants had no specific designations. In some modern books they are unofficially designated "7TP dw." and "7TP jw." (Polish abbreviations for dwuwieżowy – dual turreted; jednowieżowy – single turreted).
In 1938 Państwowe Zakłady Inżynierii also produced 13 prototype models of a better armored version of the 7TP – the 9TP.[2][3] Although the 9TP never entered production, these prototypes were used in the defense of Warsaw in September 1939.[4]
Foreign interest
Combat history
All 7TP tanks took part in combat in the defence of Poland during the German Invasion of Poland in 1939. Most of them were attached to two light tank battalions (the 1st and the 2nd). The remaining tanks, that is the ones used for training as well as tanks that were finished after the outbreak of the war, were used in an improvised tank unit fighting in the defence of Warsaw. Although technically superior to any of the German light tanks of the era, the 7TP was too scarce to change the outcome of the war.
The 1st Light Tank Battalion (49 single turret tanks) fought in the ranks of the
The 2nd Light Tank Battalion (49 single turret tanks) was attached to the Piotrków Operational Group of the Łódź Army. It entered combat on September 4 near the river of Prudka, Bełchatów. The following day it was ordered to lead the Polish counter-assault on Piotrków, but the attack failed because, in spite of retaking some ground from the Germans and destroying German tanks and armored vehicles, the objectives of the mission were not met (the Germans reinforced their positions with artillery). The unit lost 2 tanks and 6 more were taken away disabled. The unit was down to 24 fully operational tanks. The battalion was then rallied and withdrew to Warsaw and then to Brześć, where it shielded the mobilization of the Polish 60th Infantry Division. On September 15 it took part in a two-days long Battle of Włodawa, but suffered heavy losses due to air bombardment and was withdrawn southwards. The remaining 11 tanks had to be destroyed by the crews due to lack of oil and on September 17, after the Soviet Union joined Germany in her war against Poland, the crews and the staff of the unit crossed the border with Romania.
The remaining tanks found in Warsaw were formed into the 1st and 2nd Company of Light Tanks by the Command of the Defence of Warsaw. The 1st company had 11 twin-turreted tanks, previously used for training. In the opening stages of the Siege of Warsaw the unit took part in heavy fighting for Warsaw's suburb of Okęcie and the major airport located there. Due to lack of anti-tank armament, the tanks of the 1st company suffered losses and were withdrawn to the rear on September 12, where the unit was joined with the 2nd company.
The 2nd company had 11 single-turret tanks, as well as an unknown number of other armoured vehicles. It took part in successful defence of the borough of
The combat experience proved that the
Reconstruction
No complete 7TP tanks have survived to this day, although it is planned to build a copy of the tank for the
A turret gun from a 7TP which was used against the invading Germans in September 1939 and later employed by the Germans in France, is on display in the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in London.
A 7TP is being reconstructed in Bielsko-Biała, its reconstruction will include many original parts recovered from various places in Poland. It now has an original gearbox and will be soon armed with an original 37mm Bofors gun. The tracks come from a T-26. The reconstructors presented progress of their work at various reenactors' meetings and historic anniversaries.
Operators
- Poland - 133 7TP jw, 16 7TP dw, and 13 9TP.
- German invasion of Poland.
Evaluation only
- Soviet Union - At least 4 7TP jw captured during Soviet invasion of Poland, used for testing.[7]
See also
- T-26, a similar Soviet tank, also based on the Vickers 6-Ton
- Comparison of early World War II tanks
Bibliography
- (in English)The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- (in English)Tanks of the World, 1915–1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- (in Polish)J. Magnuski, "Czołg lekki 7TP" vol.I, Militaria, 1996;
- (in Polish and English) Janusz Magnuski, "7TP vol.II", Militaria (317), Warsaw 2009.
- (in Polish)L. Komuda, "Polski czołg lekki 7TP", TBiU nr 21, 1973;
- (in Polish)A. Jońca, R. Szubański, J. Tarczyński, "Pojazdy Wojska Polskiego 1939", WKŁ, 1990;
- (in Polish)J. Magnuski, "Produkcja czołgów 7TP 1935-39 r.", nTW 12/1996;
- (in Polish)J. Magnuski, "Angielski lekki czołg Vickers Mark E w polskiej służbie", nTW 5/1999;
- (in Polish)R. Szubański, "Polska broń pancerna 1939", wydawnictwo MON, 1982;
References
- ISBN 978-1-84603-091-8.
- ISBN 83-206-0847-3.
- ISSN 1732-9450.
- ^ A. Jońca, J. Szubański, R. Tarczyński: op. cit., s. 32.
- ^ gen. maior Nestorescu, Valerian, File din trecutul artileriei române moderne, Editura Militară, București, 1972, p. 87
- ^ 7TP vol.II,Janusz Magnuski, Militaria 317,Warszawa 2009.
- ISBN 5-901266-01-3, s. 59–60.