T-70 Tank: Light Tank of the Great Patriotic War

The T-70 is a Soviet light tank developed in 1941–1942 and mass-produced from January 1942 to 1943. Created at the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) as a replacement for the outdated T-60The T-70 became the Red Army's last mass-produced light tank. It combined ease of production, good mobility, and a 45mm gun, providing infantry support and reconnaissance. Approximately 8200 units were produced, participating in key battles of the Great Patriotic War. Despite becoming obsolete by 1944 due to the strengthening of German armor, the T-70 played a vital role in maneuver operations and became a symbol of Soviet industry during the war, demonstrating the ability to quickly adapt automotive technology to the front.

Background and creation

In 1941, with the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet tank industry faced a severe shortage of armored vehicles. The German invasion exposed the weaknesses of the T-26 and BT light tanks, which could not withstand the fire of the Wehrmacht's 37mm and 50mm anti-tank guns. In response, the GKO (State Defense Committee) issued Resolution No. 112 of June 23, 1941, ordering the creation of new light tanks for mass production. KB-37 at the GAZ, under the direction of Nikolai Astrov, known for his work on the T-60, began work on a successor. The T-60, introduced in August 1941, proved itself in defensive battles near Moscow and Kiev, but had drawbacks: weak armor (15–35mm), a cramped two-man crew, and inconvenient access to the engine. Intelligence on the German Pz.Kpfw. II and III emphasized the need to increase protection and firepower without sacrificing speed.

Development of the T-70 began in October 1941. Astrov and his team (including engineers I.S. Mochalin and A.A. Lipgart) used the GAZ-MM chassis (a Ford analogue), adapting it for a tank. The first prototype was assembled on November 29, 1941, and the second on December 30. Tests at the Gorky proving grounds revealed advantages: better cross-country performance and ergonomics compared to the T-60. By GKO Decree No. 8111ss of December 29, 1941, the T-70 was accepted into service, and production began on January 7, 1942. GAZ, No. 37, and No. 38 (in Sverdlovsk) produced 3442 tanks in 1942 and 4785 in 1943. Total production was 8237 units, including T-70M variants with reinforced frontal armor (up to 45 mm). The evacuation of factories to the Urals and Siberia did not halt the assembly line: GAZ switched to tanks, sacrificing trucks. By 1943, production was curtailed in favor of the medium T-34 and heavy KV/IS tanks, but the T-70 remained in service until the end of the war.

Design and specifications

The T-70 was designed as a light tank for reconnaissance and infantry support, with an emphasis on ease of assembly (up to 80% of parts are from the GAZ-67) and low cost (approximately 60 rubles). The hull is welded from rolled armor, with sloped plates for improved protection. The front of the hull is 35 mm thick (at an angle of 30–45°), the sides are 15 mm thick, the rear is 10 mm thick, and the roof is 10 mm thick. In the T-70M modification, the front is reinforced to 45 mm. The turret is cast, manually rotating, with 35 mm of armor on the front and 15 mm on the sides. It is mounted at the rear, with the engine moved forward for better visibility. The center of gravity is low, which increased stability on the move.

The main armament was the 45 mm TNSh-45 tank gun (model 1938/1940) with 69-146 rounds of ammunition (BR-240 armor-piercing, OF-240 fragmentation). The gun could penetrate 40-50 mm of armor at 500-1000 m, effective against Pz.Kpfw. II and III. The rate of fire was 10-15 rounds per minute. A twin 7,62 mm DT-37 machine gun (1515 rounds) was used for infantry. An anti-aircraft machine gun was not installed, but a DShK was mounted in the field. The sighting system was a TMFD-7 with 2,5x magnification; there was no rangefinder. The crew consisted of two people: a driver-mechanic in the front, a commander-gunner in the turret, which simplified control, but put a burden on the commander (he was responsible for firing, aiming, and communications).

The engine is a two-cylinder diesel GAZ-203 (70 hp at 2000 rpm), running on diesel or a mixture. Specific power is 7,6 hp/t. Speed ​​is 45 km/h on the highway, 25-30 km/h on rough terrain. Cruising range is 250-360 km. Transmission is mechanical with four forward and one reverse speed. Suspension is individual leaf-spring with five rollers per side (diameter 500 mm), tracks are 300 mm wide. Specific ground pressure is 0,42 kg/cm², which ensures good cross-country performance. The tank could overcome slopes of 30°, ditches of 1,6 m, walls of 0,6 m, fords of 1,1 m. Radio station 9-R or 12-RP for communication, searchlight IP for night. The fuel tank had a capacity of 170 liters. The design allowed the tank to be assembled in 4–5 days on a conveyor belt using automotive machine tools.

Specifications:

• Weight: 9,2 tons (T-70M - 9,8 tons)
• Crew: 2 people (commander-gunner, driver-mechanic)
• Armor: hull front - 35 mm (45 mm in the T-70M, at an angle of 30–45°), sides - 15 mm, rear - 10 mm, turret front - 35 mm
• Armament: 45 mm TNSh-45 cannon (69–146 rounds of ammunition), 7,62 mm DT-37 machine gun (1515 rounds)
• Engine: GAZ-203, diesel, 70 hp.
• Speed: up to 45 km/h (highway), up to 30 km/h (rough terrain)
• Power reserve: ~250–360 km (highway)
• Suspension: individual leaf spring with 5 rollers per side
• Obstacles to be overcome: ditch - 1,6 m, wall - 0,6 m, ford - 1,1 m

Production was adapted to military conditions: the metal shortage was compensated for by simplification (welding instead of casting), and the labor shortage was compensated for by female and adolescent labor.

Combat application

The T-70 was actively used by the Red Army from the spring of 1942, primarily for reconnaissance, infantry support, and assaults on fortifications. The first vehicles arrived at the front in February 1942: the 20th and 24th Tank Brigades at Stalingrad used them to counterattack Romanian positions. In the Battle of Stalingrad (July 1942 – February 1943), T-70s from the 13th and 38th Guards Tank Brigades supported infantry in street fighting, destroying fire positions and transport vehicles. Their mobility (45 km/h) allowed them to outflank, but weak armor (penetrated by the 37mm Pak 35/36) led to losses: of the 200 T-70s at Stalingrad, about 50% survived. During the Battle of Kursk (July 1943), T-70s with the 5th Guards Tank Army conducted reconnaissance during the Battle of Prokhorovka, distracting Tigers and Panthers with long-range fire. They were effective against infantry and light vehicles: during the Oryol Operation (August 1943), crews of the 11th Guards Brigade destroyed up to 100 firing points.

By 1944, the T-70 was obsolete: the German 75 mm Pak 40 could penetrate it at 500–1000 m. It was reassigned to support roles: evacuating the wounded, towing guns, and training. In the Belorussian Operation (June–August 1944) and in the Balkans (with Romania and Bulgaria), the T-70 was used in rear-area combat. Losses amounted to about 60% of production (due to breakdowns and fire). They served in the Red Army until 1945, then were decommissioned; captured vehicles were in the Wehrmacht as the Pz.Kpfw. 70(r). Modifications: T-70M (1943, 2650 units) with reinforced armor for the front; SU-76 based on the T-70 (12 self-propelled guns). In battle, the T-70 showed a 1:3 loss ratio in favor of the Germans, but saved thousands of infantrymen.

Meaning and Legacy

The T-70 became the pinnacle of Soviet light tank design during the war, symbolizing the transition from pre-war concepts to industrial might. Its 40-day development and production of over 8000 units demonstrated the effectiveness of the GAZ "tank-automotive" school: 70% of its components were sourced from trucks, and assembly took place on a truck assembly line. The T-70's design principles (diesel engine, low silhouette, simplicity) influenced the post-war PT-76 and ZSU-57-2 light tanks, while its chassis influenced the SU-76M self-propelled gun (12 units), a key element in artillery support. By the end of the war, light tanks were obsolete, outclassed by the T-34/85 and IS-2 medium tanks, but the T-70 ensured numerical superiority in 1942–1943, contributing to the turning point at Stalingrad.

Historically, the T-70 is an icon of the Great Patriotic War: photos from the Kursk Bulge and crew memoirs (like that of Guards Senior Lieutenant V. Shilov) emphasize its role in the maneuver. More than 20 examples are preserved in museums: in Kubinka, Victory Park (Moscow), and Khabarovsk. Popular in culture: in the films "Liberation" and "T-34," and in the "World of Tanks" video game (Tier IV, 50 mm of penetration). Compared to the Pz.Kpfw. II (13 tons, 20 mm of armor), the T-70 was heavier and more powerful, but inferior in optics.