World of Tanks (W.O.T.)

[Aristaeus]

For the United States the T-18 Tank Destroyer.
Development of this self-propelled gun on the chassis of the M3 light tank started in October 1941. The first prototype passed trials in the spring of 1942, but the vehicle never saw mass production.

Crew:
3

Armament:
75MM Howitzer M1A1

Engine:
Continental R-975 C-1, 350HP

Chaissis:
M3

 

[Aristaeus]

For the U. K. the Universal Carrier 2-pdr.
"The origins of the Universal Carrier family can be traced back generally to the Carden Loyd tankettes family which was developed in the 1920s, and specifically the Mk VI tankette.

In 1934 Vickers Armstrong produced, as a commercial venture, a light tracked vehicle that could be used either to carry a machine gun or to tow a light field gun. The VA.D50 had an armoured box at the front for driver and a gunner and bench seating at the back for the gun crew. It was considered by the War Office as a possible replacement for their "Dragon" artillery tractors and took 69 as the "Light Dragon Mark III". One was built as the "Carrier, Machine-Gun Experimental (Armoured)" carrying a machine gun and its crew. The decision was made to drop the machine gun and its team and the next design had a crew of three – driver and gunner in the front, third crew-member on the left in the rear and the right rear open for stowage. A small number of this design as "Carrier, Machine-Gun No 1 Mark 1" were built and entered service in 1936. Some were converted into pilot models for the Machine gun Carrier, Cavalry Carrier and Scout Carrier – the others were used for training.

The carrier put the driver and commander at the front sitting side-by-side; the driver to the right. The engine was in the centre of the vehicle with the final drive at the rear. The suspension and running gear was based on that used on the Vickers light tank series using Horstmann springs. Directional control was through a (vertical) steering wheel. Small turns moved the front road wheel assembly warping the track so the vehicle drifted to that side. Further movement of the wheel braked the appropriate track to give a turn.

The hull in front of the commander's position jutted forward to give room for the Bren gun (or other armament) to fire through a simple slit. To either side of the engine were two areas in which passengers could ride or stores be carried.

Initially, there were several types of Carrier that varied slightly in design according to their purpose: "Medium Machine Gun Carrier" (the Vickers machine gun), "Bren Gun Carrier", "Scout Carrier", "Cavalry Carrier", and "In 1940, a variant was developed mounting a 40-mm anti-tank gun". However, production of a single model came to be preferred and the Universal design appeared in 1940; this was the most widely produced of the Carriers. It differed from the previous models in having a rectangular body shape in rear section, with more space for crew.



Specifications:
(Universal Carrier, Mk 1)

Weight:
3 ton 16 cwt laden (3.75 t)

Length:
12 ft (3.65 m)

Width:
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)

Height:
5 ft 2 inch (1.57 m)

Crew:
3

Armour:
7–10 mm

Main armament:
Bren light machine gun or Boys anti-tank rifle

Secondary armament:
Vickers machine gun; M2 Browning machine gun; 2-inch mortar; 3-inch mortar; Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank carried

Engine:
Ford V-8 petrol
85 hp at 3,500 rpm

Suspension:
Horstmann

Operational range:
150 miles (250 km)

Speed:
30 mph (48 km/h)

 

[Aristaeus]

For Germany the Panzer II, (PZ KpfwII)
Although the vehicle had originally been designed as a stopgap while larger, more advanced tanks were developed, it nonetheless went on to play an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns. The Panzer II was the most numerous tank in the German Panzer divisions beginning with the invasion of France. It was used in both North Africa against the British and on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union.

Development and limited production models:
Panzer II Ausf. a (Pz.Kpfw. IIa)
Not to be confused with the later Ausf. A (the sole difference being the capitalization of the letter A), the Ausf. a was the first version of the Panzer II to be built (albeit in limited numbers), and was subdivided into three sub-variants. The Ausf. a/1 was initially built with a cast idler wheel with rubber tire, but this was replaced after ten production examples with a welded part. The Ausf. a/2 improved engine access issues. The Ausf. a/3 included improved suspension and engine cooling. In general, the specifications for the Ausf. a models was similar, and a total of 75 were produced from May 1936 to February 1937 by Daimler-Benz and MAN. The Ausf. a was considered the 1 Serie under the LaS 100 name.

Panzer II Ausf. b (Pz.Kpfw. IIb)
Again, not to be confused with the later Ausf. B, the Ausf. b was a second limited production series embodying further developments, primarily a heavy reworking of suspension components resulting in a wider track and a longer hull. Length was increased to 4.76 m but width and height were unchanged. Additionally, a Maybach HL62TR engine was used with new drivetrain components to match. Deck armor for the superstructure and turret roof was increased to 10–12 mm. Total weight increased to 7.9 tonnes. Twenty-five were built by Daimler-Benz and MAN in February and March 1937.

Panzer II Ausf. c (Pz.Kpfw. IIc)
As the last of the developmental limited production series of Panzer IIs, the Ausf. c came very close to matching the mass production configuration, with a major change to the suspension with the replacement of the six small road wheels with five larger independently sprung road wheels and an additional return roller bringing that total to four. The tracks were further modified and the fenders widened. Total length was increased to 4.81 m and width to 2.22 m, while height was still about 1.99 m. At least 25 of this model were produced from March through July 1937.



Specifications:

Crew
3

Engine
Maybach HL57TR with 6 gear transmission plus reverse

Weight
7.6 tonnes

Dimensions
4.38 m(l) x 2.14 m(w) x 1.95 m(h)

Speed
40 km/h

Range
200 km

Communications
FuG5 radio

Primary armament
2 cm KwK 30 L/55 gun with TZF4 gun sight, turret mounted

Secondary armament
MG34 7.92 mm machine gun, coaxially mounted

Ammunition
180 20 mm and 2,250 7.92 mm carried

Turret
360° hand traverse with elevation of +20° and depression to -9.5°

Armour
13 mm front, side, and rear; 8 mm top; 5 mm bottom

 

[Aristaeus]

For France, the Char D1.

"The French plan of 1926, calling for the creation of a Light Infantry Support Tank, led to the development of the existing Renault NC1 prototype into the Char D1. One hundred and sixty vehicles of this type were produced between 1931 and 1935. There was a pre-series of ten vehicles and later 150 standard vehicles were built. Until 1936 the vehicles were fitted with Renault FT turrets because the intended cast ST2 turrets were not ready yet. The ST2 turret was armed with a short 47mm SA34 tank gun with a coaxial 7.5mm MG. The hull carried a 7.5mm MG in the bow. The type did not serve as an infantry support tank as originally intended, but as France's major battle tank of the early thirties; it was quickly phased out in 1937 because of its mechanical unreliability.

On 23 December 1930 a first order of 70 main production series vehicles was made, followed on 12 July 1932 by a second order of 30; the last order on 16 October 1933 was of 50 vehicles, for a total of 150, delivered between January 1932 and early 1935, at a price of 375,000 FF per hull. Including the NC31s the series numbers were 1,000-1,160. The factory designation was still Renault NC.

The series vehicles had many improvements: a Cleveland differential; a 74 hp instead of a 65 hp engine; the exhaust pipes were placed to the right, no longer crossing the engine room and there were support rollers fitted to prevent resonance in the top track run. Finally, the fuel tank was enlarged to 165 litres and a new radiator was fitted.

In May 1930 Renault was asked to develop two derived types, the Char D2 and the Char D3; the original Char D now received as designation Char D1."




Specifications:

Weight
14 metric tons

Length
5.76 m

Width
2.16 m

Height
2.40 m

Crew
3

Armor
40 mm

Main armament
47 mm SA34 tank gun

Secondary armament
2x 7.5 Reibel MG

Engine
Renault V-4
74 hp

Suspension
vertical springs

Operational range
90 km

Speed
18.6 km/h

 

[Bingo]

Alas. WOT does not run on the Mac.

 

[Aristaeus]

Alas. WOT does not run on the Mac.

I am sorry the hear that, I enjoy this game, there are 10 levels and I haven't collected all of level 1 yet, allot left to go.

 

[Aristaeus]

For the Soviet Union, the T-26.
"The T-26 tank was a Soviet light infantry tank used during many conflicts of the 1930s as well as during World War II. It was a development of the British Vickers 6-Ton tank and is widely considered one of the most successful tank designs of the 1930s. It was produced in greater numbers than any other tank of the period, with more than 11,000 manufactured.

The T-26 was a Soviet development of the British Vickers 6-Ton (Vickers Mk.E) light tank, which was designed by the Vickers-Armstrongs company in 1928–1929. The simple and easy to maintain Vickers 6-Ton was intended especially for export to less technically advanced countries: the Soviet Union, Poland, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Thailand, China and many others. Vickers advertised the tank in military publications, and both the Soviet Union and Poland expressed interest in the Vickers design. In the spring of 1930, the Soviet buying committee, under the direction of Semyon Ginzburg, arrived in Great Britain to select tanks, tractors and cars for use in the Red Army. The Vickers 6-Ton was among four models of tanks selected by Soviet representatives during their visit to Vickers-Armstrongs. According to the contract signed on May 28, 1930, the company delivered to the USSR 15 twin-turreted Vickers Mk.E (Type A, armed with two .303 calibre (7.71 mm) water-cooled Vickers machine guns) tanks together with full technical documentation to enable series production of the tank in the USSR. The ability of the two turrets of the Type A to turn independently made it possible to fire to both the left and right at once, which was considered advantageous for breakthroughs of field entrenchments. Several Soviet engineers participated in assembly of the tanks at the Vickers Factory in 1930.

In 1931, the only Soviet factory suitable for T-26 production was the Bolshevik Factory in Leningrad, which had had experience manufacturing the MS-1 (T-18) light tanks since 1927. It was also planned to use the Stalingrad Tractor Factory which was under construction at that time. But the production of the T-26 proved to be much more complicated than the semi-handicraft assembly of the MS-1, so the planned production of 500 T-26s in 1931 proved to be impossible. The Bolshevik Factory needed to convert all tank drawings from inch scale into metric scale, in order to develop a production technology, special tools, and equipment. The first 10 T-26s were assembled in July 1931 – they were identical to British Vickers 6-Ton tanks except for their armament. Soviet tanks were armed with the 37 mm Hotchkiss (PS-1) gun in the right turret and the 7.62 mm DT tank machine gun in the left turret. These T-26s from the development batch were of low quality and made from mild steel, but it was an important test of the new tank production technology.

The series production of the T-26, equipped with new higher turrets with observation window, began in August 1931. Such turrets proved to be more suitable for mass production. The production of the T-26 encountered many problems: a lot of armoured hulls and turrets supplied by the Izhora Factory were of low quality (with cracks) and were 10 mm in thickness instead of the planned 13 mm. Poor production standards were the reason behind the frequent failures of tank engines, gear boxes, springs in suspension, tracks and rubber-covered road wheels of early T-26s. Thirty-five of the 100 T-26s produced by the Bolshevik Factory in 1931 had hulls and turrets made from mild steel. Later, it was planned to replace these hulls with ones built of armour plate as well as to mount engines of better quality. Nevertheless, the business plan for 1932 called for 3,000 T-26s. For this, the tank workshop of the Bolshevik Factory was reorganised into the Factory No. 174 named after K.E. Voroshilov in February 1932. The director of the tank factory became K. Sirken and the chief engineer was S. Ginzburg. But the problems with organizing the complicated new technological processes, poor production planning of parts suppliers, a great shortage of qualified engineers and technicians as well as of necessary equipment still resulted in a large percentage of the tanks being flawed, and thus were not accepted by army representatives. On October 26, 1932, the Trust of Special Machine Industry, consisting of four factories, was established to solve the problem of tank production in the USSR. The planned production of T-26s for 1932 was decreased significantly and special attention was given to increasing the quality of the tanks. A production run of the new model single-turreted T-26 armed with the 45 mm gun was launched in the middle of 1933.

The Factory No. 174 also manufactured a few T-26s for military educational institutions. These were dissected tanks to demonstrate the relative position and function of tank components during training of tankers."




Specifications (T-26 mod. 1933):

Weight:
9.6 tons (10.6 short tons)

Length:
4.65 m (15 ft 3 in)

Width:
2.44 m (8 ft)

Height:
2.24 m (7 ft 4 in)

Crew:
3 (commander, gunner, driver)

Armor:
Bottom: 6 mm (0.24 in)
Roof: 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in)
Hull and Turret: 15 mm (0.59 in) (front, rear, sides)

Main armament:
45 mm 20K mod. 1932/34 tank gun (122 rds.)

Secondary armament:
7.62 mm DT tank machine gun (2,961 rds.)

Engine:
4-cylinder gasoline flat air-cooled T-26 (Armstrong Siddeley type); engine volume 6,600 cc
90 hp (67 kW) at 2,100 rpm

Power/weight:
9.38 hp/t

Transmission:
single-disk main dry clutch, drive shaft, gearbox with five gears, steering clutches, final drives

Suspension:
leaf quarter-elliptic springs

Ground clearance:
380 mm (1 ft 3 in)

Fuel capacity:
290 L (64 imp gal; 77 U.S. gal) [with additional 110-L fuel tank]

Operational range:
Road: 220–240 km (140–150 mi)
Off-road: 130–140 km (81–87 mi)

Speed:
Paved: 31.1 km/h (19.3 mph)
Gravel: 22 km/h (14 mph)
Off-road: 16 km/h (9.9 mph)

 

[Aristaeus]

For China, the Vickers mk. E Type B.
"The Vickers 6-Ton Tank or Vickers Mark E was a British light tank designed as a private project at Vickers. It was not purchased by the British Army, but was picked up by a large number of foreign armed forces and was copied almost exactly by the Soviets as the T-26. It was also the direct predecessor of the Polish 7TP tank. By the start of World War II it was the second most common tank design in the world after the Renault FT.

The first Mark E was built in 1928 by a design team that included the famed tank designers John Valentine Carden and Vivian Loyd. The hull was made of riveted steel plates, 1 inch (25 mm) thick at the front and over most of the turrets, and about 3/4 inch (19 mm) thick on the rear of the hull. The power was provided by an Armstrong Siddeley Puma engine of 80–95 horsepower (60–70 kW) (depending on the version), which gave it a top speed of 22 mph (35 km/h) on roads.

The suspension used two axles, each of which carried a two-wheel bogie to which a second set of bogies was connected with a leaf spring. Upward movement of either set of bogies would force the other down through the spring. This was considered to be a fairly good system and offered better than normal cross-country performance although it could not compare with the contemporary Christie suspension. High strength steel tracks gave over 3000 miles (5000 km) of life which was considerably better than most designs of the era."



Specifications:


Weight:
7.3 tons

Length:
4.88 m (16 ft 0 in)

Width:
2.41 m (7 ft 11 in)

Height:
2.16 m (7 ft 1 in)

Crew:
3

Armor:
13 mm

Main armament:
47 mm gun (Type B only)
50 rounds

Secondary armament:
1 or 2 machine guns

Engine:
Armstrong Siddeley Puma petrol
80–98 hp (60–70 kW)

Power/weight:
11–13 hp/tonne

Suspension:
leaf spring bogie

Operational range:
160 km (99 mi)

Speed:
35 km/h (22 mph)

 

[Aristaeus]

For the United States the TIE6 light tank.
Experimental vehicles T1E4 and T1E6 were heavily influenced by the British Vickers E. The first prototype was manufactured by the Cunningham corporation in 1931. The original intent of the T1E4 was to fix the problems caused by a frontal engine in the T1 Cunningham.

After tests with the T1 light tanks, it was determined that a frontal engine was not desired. In 1931, the Cunningham corporation presented it's design for an improved version of the T1 Cunningham, called the T1E4. Testing began in 1932 and the tank originally had a 110hp engine. The weak engine caused the vehicle to stall when turning and other various problems. It was then equipped with a more powerful 140hp V-8 Cunningham engine. Eventually, it was decided to give the tank a 244hp engine. This new tank was called the T1E6. However, even with the enlarged engine compartment, it was very crowded and difficult to service the engine. The project was eventually dropped However, the two different engines that were used in it proved to be insufficient, and a different experimental tank, the T2, was preferred.



Specifications:

Main Armament:
37 mm Semiautomatic Gun M1924A1

Engine:
American LaFrance 312A V-12, 244hp

Speed:
48 Kmh

Suspension:
Vickers E

 

[Aristaeus]

For the U. K. the Cruiser MK I.
In 1934 Sir John Carden of Vickers-Armstrong was asked to provide a "reasonably cheap tank" as a replacement for some of the mediums then in use. The pilot model of his design was finished in 1936 and given the designation A9E1.

It incorporated the best features of the earlier Mk III Light Tank, and was powered by a commercial petrol engine. However, this was still in the time of the Great depression and the tank had a number of cost-cutting measures applied. It was the first British tank to have a centrally located turret and to have powered traverse. The system was by Nash & Thompson and similar to that being introduced on the Vickers Wellington bomber aircraft. The armour was light with a maximum of 14 mm thickness, many armour faces were vertical, and there were numerous shot traps but it could achieve 25 mph and carried the new high velocity 2pdr gun.

The driver's compartment and the fighting compartments were not separated. As well as the turret armament, which consisted of a QF 2-pounder (40 mm) gun and a coaxial Vickers machine gun, there were two small turrets either side of the driver's compartment, each sporting one more machine-gun. Both these smaller turrets were permanently manned, which gave the tank a total crew of 6 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver and two machine-gunners).

The A9E1 was tested against other designs and -although lacking in some areas - in 1937 it was accepted as an interim design until a Christie suspension cruiser tank could be delivered. An order was placed for 125. Seventy-five were built by Harland and Wolff, and the other 50 were built by Vickers. Originally a Rolls-Royce car engine was used, but this proved underpowered and was replaced by an AEC bus engine.

The later Valentine Infantry tank essentially used the same lower hull and suspension, though with considerably more armour.

The A9 weighed 12 tons, was 5.8 meters long, 2.65 meters high, 2.5 meters wide, and had a top speed of 25 mph on road and 15 mph off. Its maximum road range was 150 miles. The ammunition load was 100 2-pounder rounds and a total of 3,000 rounds for the three Vickers machine guns.



Specifications:

Weight:
12 tons

Length:
19 ft (5.8 m)

Width:
8 ft 4 in (2.5 m)

Height:
8 ft 8 in (2.65 m)

Crew:
6 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, 2x MG gunners)

Armour:
6 - 14 mm

Main armament:
QF 2-pdr
100 rounds

Secondary armament:
3 x 0.303 Vickers machine gun
3,000 rounds

Engine:
AEC 179 6-cylinder petrol[1]
150 hp (110 kW)

Suspension:
sprung triple wheel bogie

Operational range:
150 miles (240 km)

Speed:
25 mph (40 km/h)

 

[Aristaeus]

For Germany, the G.Pz. Mk. VI (e) S.P.G.
In 1940, German forces captured approximately twenty British Mk. VI tanks. The captured vehicles were used for training purposes until fall of 1942. In November it was decided to develop a self-propelled gun on the basis of the captured Mk. VI. In 1942, modifications with a 105- and 150-mm field howitzer were developed. All these SPGs were lost in the defense of France in the summer and fall of 1944.


Specifications:

Crew:
4 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Armour:
front 22 MM
sides 14 MM
rear 14 MM

Main armament:
10,5 cm le.F.H. 16 L/22
15 rounds

Engine:
Rolls-Royce I-6
66 hp

Suspension:
Light Tank Mk. VIB

Speed:50 km/h

 

[Aristaeus]

For France, the Renault UE 57.
Developed in 1943 in Great Britain by mounting the British 6-pounder gun on the chassis of the French tankette UE2. One prototype was manufacturer.


The Renault UE Chenillette was a light tracked armoured carrier and prime mover produced by France between 1932 and 1940.

In 1930 the French Infantry decided to develop a light armoured vehicle able to tow and supply small cannon and mortars. In 1931 the Renault company was given the contract for production of its Renault UE, combined with the Renault UK trailer. In 1937, from a number of competitors, the Renault UE2 was chosen as an improved type for large-scale production. Of both types combined over five thousand were built, including licence production in Romania, and they were part of the standard equipment of all French infantry divisions. Most Renault UE vehicles in French service were unarmed; those in 1940 captured by Germany were used for a variety of purposes, including being armed with machine-guns, antitank-guns and rocket artillery.

Specifications:

Crew
Commander (Radio Operator)
Gunner
Driver
Loader

Armament:
6-pdr AT Gun Mk. IV

Engine:
Renault ACL

suspension:
Renault UE bis

 

[Aristaeus]

For the Soviet Union, the T-60 Light Tank.
The T-60 scout tank was a light tank produced by the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1942. In this time over 6,292 were built. The tank was designed to replace the obsolete T-38 amphibious scout tank.
Nicholas Astrov's design team at Moscow Factory No. 37 was assigned the task of designing amphibious and non-amphibious scout tanks in 1938. They produced the T-30A and T-30B prototypes. The former was to be manufactured as the T-40 amphibious tank starting in 1940. It also led to the T-40S (sukhoputniy, "dry-land" version), a heavier tank prototype which was considered too complex to manufacture. The T-30B prototype, sharing the T-40's chassis but simpler in construction and with heavier armor, was accepted as the T-60 scout tank, and began production in July 1941, just after the German invasion.

Although at first intended to carry a 12.7 mm machine gun like the T-40, the armament was later upgraded to the 20 mm TNSh cannon, a tank version of the ShVAK, on the advisement of the People's Commissar for Tank Industry, Vyacheslav Malyshev. This weapon could penetrate 15 mm of perpendicular armor at 500 m range which proved inadequate against the newer up-armored German tank designs thus attempts were made in 1942 to re-arm the T-60 with the 37 mm ZIS-19 cannon, but were abandoned due to the Soviet Union's shortage of 37 mm ammunition. Due to this a new project started as to house the standard 45mm tank gun on a modified turret. That became impossible, and a new turret designed and tested successfully in the summer 1942. The new turret had the gun moved to its right side as to make more room for the crew member and a co-axial machine gun added. At the end the project terminated when STAVKA choose T-70 as the new standard light tank which had matured earlier that year.

The T-60 was also used in the design of the experimental T-90 antiaircraft tank.




Specifications:

Weight
5.8 tonnes

Length
4.10 m

Width
2.30 m

Height
1.75 m

Crew
2

Armor
7–20 mm


Main armament
20 mm TNSh cannon (750 rds.)


Secondary armament
7.62 mm coax DT machine gun

Engine
GAZ-202 6-cylinder
70 hp (52 kW)

Power/weight
12 hp/tonne

Suspension
torsion bar

Fuel capacity
320 l


Operational range
450 km

Speed
44 km/h

 

[Aristaeus]

[video=youtube;xzYgj2kU0N0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzYgj2kU0N0#t=77[/video]

 

[Aristaeus]

For China the Type 2597 Chi-Ha light tank.
The Type 97 Chi-Ha was a medium tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Battles of Khalkhin Gol against the Soviet Union, and the Second World War. It was the most widely produced Japanese medium tank of World War II, although the armor protection was considered as average in the 1930s. The 57 mm main gun, designed for infantry support, was a carry over from the 1933 Type 89 medium tank. Later it was replaced by a 47 mm gun that was more effective against armor. The 170 hp Mitsubishi engine was a capable engine for the tank in 1938, and – notably for the time – it was an air cooled diesel. After 1941, the tank was less effective than most Allied tank designs.

The Type 97's low silhouette and semicircular radio antenna on the turret distinguished the tank from its contemporaries. The crude suspension was derived from the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank, but used six road wheels instead of four.
Captured Type 2597"s were used by China as a light tank and saw action in the Korean War. 2597"s were withdrawn in 1953 when surplus Soviet T-34/85s became available in larger numbers.



Specifications:

Crew:
4

Armament:
47 mm Gun Type 1

Engine:
Type 100 V-12 A, 240/HP

Speed:
40 Km/h

suspension:
Type 97-Kai

 

[Aristaeus]

W.O.T. just added a Japanese tech tree.
For Japan, the Renault Otsu, light tank.
Developed from 1925 through 1928 in France as an upgraded modification of the Renault FT. The modernization project was finished and the vehicle saw mass production. In 1929, a total of 10 vehicles were purchased by Japan and were designated the Otsu-Gata Sensha (Tank B Model). The Japanese vehicles were slightly modernized and were widely used both in action and for training purposes.

Near the end of World War I, the Japanese showed an interest in armored warfare and tanks and obtained a variety of models from foreign sources. These models included one British Heavy Mk IV and six Medium Mark A Whippets, along with thirteen French Renault FT-17s (later designated Ko-Gata Sensha or "Type A Tank"). The Mk IV was purchased in October 1918 while the Whippets and Renaults were acquired in 1919.

Trials with these vehicles were successful, and the Army decided to establish an armored force in 1925, planning to form three light tank battalions and one heavy tank battalion. However, the greatest problem was equipping these units, as the Japanese did not have any indigenous tank production capability. The IJA therefore sent a mission to purchase more tanks from Britain and France, requesting newer designs. However, the newer tanks were not available as these countries had difficulties supplying them to their own armored forces, and the only available model was the older Renault FT-17. The Japanese reluctantly imported these but in 1929 they were able to acquire ten examples of its successor, the Renault NC1 (designated Otsu-Gata Sensha or "Type B Tank"). Both types of tanks were still in active service in 1940, and additional vehicles and spare parts were obtained after the Japanese occupation of French Indochina.

A

Specifications:

Crew
2

Weight 
4.87 t

Armament

37 mm Sogekihou

Engine
Mitsubishi A475VD

 

[Aristaeus]

For the United States, the T-7 Combat Car.
T7 Combat Car was a prototype light tank design of the inter war period. It could run on tired wheels on roads or mount tracks for cross-country use. Although adequate in some areas, it lacked armament compared to contemporary vehicles and the project was cancelled after only one was built.

In November 1936, the US Army's cavalry branch decided to modernize and needed a fully armored vehicle, capable of keeping up with the cavalry and of fulfilling regular combat duties. Prohibited from developing tanks by the National Defense Act of 1920, it could not develop a “tank” in the conventional sense, so opted for a smaller and lighter “car” class vehicle. Designed and built at the Rock Island Arsenal between 1937 and 1938, the T7 Combat Car was based on the M1 Combat Car but with an extended chassis and a convertible suspension - the ability to travel using wheels or tracks. Theoretically, it was more versatile than a conventional tank, having the ability to move with and without tracks on roads, much like the Christie designed tanks. The main gun of the project was traditional - one .50 cal M2 Browning heavy machine gun and three .30 caliber M1919 machine guns. However, this armament was useful only against infantry, and was inadequate for use against other tanks of the period.



Specifications:

Weight:
11 tons

Length:
5.12 m (16 ft 10 in)

Width:
2.63 m (8 ft 8 in)

Height:
2.46 m (8 ft 1 in)

Crew:
4

Armor:
16 mm maximum

Main armament:
0.5 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun

Secondary armament:
M1919 Browning .30 in (7.62 mm) medium machine gun

Engine:
Continental R-670 Radial
250 hp

Suspension:
Coil spring-based wheel and track.

Speed:
56 km/h (35 mph) on tracks, 85 km/h (53 mph) on wheels

 

[Aristaeus]

For the U.K. the Loyd Gun Carriage.
The Loyd Gun Carriage is a British self-propelled gun.
A proposal to mount a 76.2-mm gun on the chassis of the Loyd Carrier artillery truck. Developed from 1940 through 1941. No prototypes were manufactured.

statistics:

Weapon:
Q.F. 13-Pr. Mk. III

Engine:
Ford V8-221
85 hp

suspension:
Loyd Carrier Mk. II

 

[Aristaeus]

For Germany, the Pz.Kpfw. I Light Tank.
The Panzer I was a light tank produced in Germany in the 1930s. The name is short for the German Panzerkampfwagen I ("armored fighting vehicle mark I"), abbreviated PzKpfw I. The tank's official German ordnance inventory designation was SdKfz 101 ("special purpose vehicle 101").

Design of the Panzer I began in 1932 and mass production began in 1934. Intended only as a training tank to introduce the concept of armored warfare to the German Army, the Panzer I saw combat in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, in Poland, France, the Soviet Union and North Africa during the Second World War, and in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Experiences with the Panzer I during the Spanish Civil War helped shape the German armored corps' invasion of Poland in 1939 and France in 1940. By 1941, the Panzer I chassis design was used as the basis of tank destroyers and assault guns. There were attempts to upgrade the Panzer I throughout its service history, including by foreign nations to extend the design's lifespan. It continued to serve in the Spanish Armed Forces until 1954.

The Panzer I's performance in combat was limited by its thin armor and light armament of two machine guns. As a design intended for training, the Panzer I was not as capable as other light tanks of the era, such as the Soviet T-26. Although weak in combat, it formed a large part of Germany's tank forces and was used in all major campaigns between September 1939 and December 1941. The small, vulnerable light tank would be surpassed in importance by better-known German tanks such as the Panzer IV, Panther, and Tiger; nevertheless, the Panzer I's contribution to the early victories of Nazi Germany during the Second World War was significant.



Specifications:


Weight:
5.4 tons (6.0 short tons)

Length:
4.02 m (13.2 ft)

Width:
2.06 m (6.8 ft)

Height:
1.72 m (5.6 ft)

Crew:
2: commander and driver

Armor:
7–13 mm

Main armament:
2 × 7.92 mm MG13 machine guns
2cm Breda

Engine:
Krupp M 305 four-cylinder air-cooled gasoline engine
60 PS (59 hp, 44 kW)

Power/weight:
11.1 PS/t

Suspension:
Quarter-elliptical leaf spring suspension.


Operational range:
200 km (120 mi) on-road; 175 km (109 mi) off-road.

Speed:
50 km/h (31 mph) on-road; 37 km/h (23 mph) off-road.

 

[Aristaeus]

For France, the Hotchkiss H35 Light Tank.

The Hotchkiss H35 or Char léger modèle 1935 H was a French light tank developed prior to World War II. Despite having been designed from 1933 as a rather slow but well-armoured light infantry support tank, the type was initially rejected by the French Infantry because it proved difficult to steer while driving cross-country, and was instead adopted in 1936 by the French Cavalry.
From 1938 an improved version was produced with a stronger engine, the Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39, which from 1940 was also fitted with a longer, more powerful 37 mm gun. It was intended to make this improved variant the standard light tank, with at least four thousand produced to equip new armoured divisions of both the Cavalry and the Infantry, but due to the defeat of France in June 1940 total production of both subtypes was limited to about 1200 vehicles.
For the remainder of the war Germany and its allies would use captured Hotchkiss tanks in several modifications.



Service history

In service
1936–1952

Used by
France, Poland, Nazi Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Yugoslav Partisans, Chetniks, Israel

Wars
World War II; Israeli War of Independence

Production history

Designer
Hotchkiss

Designed
1933

Manufacturer
Hotchkiss et Cie

Produced
September 1936 - June 1940

Number built
~1200

Variants
Hotchkiss H35 modifié 39

Specifications

Weight
11 metric tonnes

Length
4.22 m (13 ft 10 in)

Width
1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)

Height
2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)

Crew
2

Armour
40 mm turret, 34 mm hull

Main
armament
37 mm SA 18 gun

Secondary armament
7.5 mm Reibel machine gun

Engine
six-cylinder 3480 cc
78 hp

Power/weight
7.1 hp/t

Suspension
horizontal helical springs

Fuel capacity
180 litres

Operational range
129 km (80 mi)

Speed
28 km/h (17 mph)