The Soviet light amphibious tank PT-76B is an armored amphibious type combat vehicle. The tank was created as a means of strengthening the army units and subunits of the marines during the landing operations, involving the overcoming of large water obstacles. Created in 1951, the car remained in service with parts of the Soviet Army until the early 90s of the 20th century. A lot of amphibious tanks were delivered abroad, where the vehicles formed the backbone of armored units and subunits.
The history of the creation of a floating tank and mass production
The first Soviet amphibious tanks built in the pre-war period did not meet the realities of the new conditions of warfare, so most of them were destroyed or lost in the first months of World War II. However, the battles of the Second World War clearly demonstrated to all the warring parties the need to have armed tanks.
The decision to resume the production of amphibious tanks was made by high military leaders immediately after the end of World War II. However, work directly on the creation of a new amphibious tank began only in August 1949. A year later, in March 1950, the first prototype of a amphibious tank - object 740 - was ready for testing. As a result of comprehensive testing of the prototype in difficult field conditions, it was decided to adopt the tank. The machine called light amphibious tank PT-76B went into series.
The product was manufactured at the Volgograd Tractor Plant. In total for the period of serial production from 1951 to 1967, 3039 cars left the factory conveyor.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the floating tank PT-76B
- Crew - 3 people.
- Combat weight - 14 tons.
- Length - 6.9 m, width - 3.1 m, height - 2.1 m, ground clearance - 370 mm.
- Armament: 76-mm gun (loading unitary, direct shot range - 780 m, armor penetration (90 degrees angle): at a distance of 1000 m - 60 mm, at a distance of 2000 m - 60 mm, ammunition - 40 shots); 7.62-mm tank machine gun (ammunition - 1000 rounds).
- Armor thickness: 10 mm front body, 10 mm board, 15 mm turret.
- Diesel engine, power - 240 hp
- Maximum speed: on the road - 44 km / h, afloat 10 km / h.
- Cruising on the highway - 260 km.
- Overcoming obstacles: wall - 1.1 m, ditch - 2.8 m.
The Soviet light amphibious tank PT-76B remained in service with units and subunits of the Soviet Army for a long time. The machine was delivered to the countries of the Warsaw Pact, to the DPRK and to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The combat experience of using a PT-76B amphibious tank is associated with a number of armed conflicts of the second half of the 20th century.
Photo PT-76B
