T-80 Production Woes

 "To the Chief of the Tank Directorate of the GBTU, Engineer-Colonel comrade Afonin

1.

The poorly organized and irresponsible actions of the factory management as well as a lack of responsibility and assistance from the NKTP in the organization of a new tank factory throughout the first half of 1943 led to a drop in the quality and quantity of T-80 tanks produced at factory #40.

The First T-80

The T-70 tank, developed as a continuation of the T-60, had a large number of drawbacks, especially compared to the T-50 that was supposed to become the Red Army's main tank according to pre-war plans. Nevertheless, the T-70 evolved in two directions. A small modernization led to the T-70B. A more thorough modernization led to the T-80, the last Soviet wartime light tank that was put into mass production.

Manufacturing Limbo

"On the T-80 tank: 8 T-80 tanks were built in March and 9 tanks were started, which already have suspensions, engines, and transmissions. Final assembly is stalled due to a lack of armour, elevation, and turning mechanisms. Out of the 17 started vehicles, only 7 have fully turbocharged engines, the other 10 have half-turbocharged engines: with old compression ratios and a cast iron cylinder head. The first 8 vehicles have been broken in, are fully equipped, and are only conditionally accepted while work on the additional return mechanism for AA firing is performed.

It must be said that the factory is dedicating very little attention to the topic of organizing T-80 production due to a lack of production plans.

Senior Military Representative of the GBTU at the Molotov GAZ factory, Engineer-Lieutenant-Colonel Okunev."

American Steel

"State Committee of Defense Decree #3056s
March 19th, 1943
Moscow, Kremlin

On the use of American armour plates in production of T-70, T-80, SU-12, and armoured trains

1. Allow the NKTP (comrade Zaltsmann) to:
1. Use 6, 10, and 15 mm armoured plates, equivalent in armoured resistance to domestic plates, for general purposes according to existing standards for armour in 1943.
2. Allow 35 mm thick armour that spalls in an area less than 5 calibers in diameter to be used in manufacturing.
3. 35 mm thick plate with carbon content of up to 0.26% can be used for T-70, T-80, and SU-12 hulls.
4. 35 mm thick plate with carbon content of over 0.26% can be used as armour for trains and for T-70 and T-80 turrets welded in high tempering mode.
2. The NKTP (comrade Zaltsmann) must establish a technological process for preparation and welding of components from American armoured plates that guarantees quality according to presently established standards.

Deputy Chair of the State Committee of Defense, V. Molotov"

RGASPI 644-2-146

AA T-80

Many people know of the T-90 AA tank, a T-70 with AA machineguns that could reach a high elevation, but fewer know that there was also an attempt to make such a tank on the T-80 platform.

"Based on experiences of tanks fighting in cities and in mountains, GABTU requested that Artkom develop tank guns that can fire with elevation of up to 70 degrees. Therefore, tank guns based on the M-42 currently being tested should have depression to -6 degrees and elevation of up to 70 degrees. The recoil brake and return mechanism should be tested at maximum elevation.

Due to the high elevation, the recoil is allowed to be variable, and the recoil brake must be strengthened. An additional return mechanism mounted on top of the gun in the mantlet is allowed. In order to provide smooth braking, the recoil brake must be variable at various elevations.

If tank guns based on the M-42 are nearing completion and these changes will be difficult, it is necessary to begin designing new prototypes that satisfy the above requirements."

However, before testing a fancy new gun at high elevation, it's reasonable to try it with an old gun. Doing this revealed some problems.

"The T-80 tank design proposed by comrade Astrov, deputy chief engineer at the GAZ Molotov factory, is an interesting design, as it offers the possibility of shooting at enemy aircraft.

At the same time, the T-80 has a series of drawbacks, such as:

1. The angle of elevation (65 degrees, 60 in the prototype) is not enough for quality AA fire, which requires an angle of elevation of at least 85 degrees.
2. The rate of fire is 14-15 RPM, which is not enough for an AA gun.
3. The sights are primitive and observation from the turret is limited, which is unacceptable for an AA gun.
4. The recoil mechanisms do not operate in normal conditions, and a knocking is heard when the gun is returned at low elevations, requiring a new recoil brake and return mechanism combination.

The first three drawbacks severely limit the value of the T-80 as an AA platform and will turn up during proving grounds trials, if any take place. Raising the issue of adopting the tank after only 375 trial shots at the factory is premature.

It is necessary to at least partially resolve defect #4 and resolve defects #1-3 using the resources of TsAKB engineers at factory #92, the complete resolution of which requires a drastic redesign of the T-80 tank."

CAMD RF 38-11355-124

T-80 Green Light

"Extract from the act on the comparative trials on T-80 and T-70 tanks, conducted as a result of NKSM and GABTU KA order #6135, issued on December 4th , 1942

Summary:

1. The combat qualities of the T-80 tank, such as
1. Armour
2. Practical rate of fire
3. Accuracy
4. Ability to fire at airborne targets
5. Visibility
6. Crew comfort
   surpass those of the T-70 tank, and meet the requirements for a light tank.
2. The increased crew of 3 drastically increases the T-80's combat performance compared to the T-70B, and improves the control of tanks in battle. It is easier and faster to service the tank with three men.
3. The installation of two turbocharged GAZ-80 engines with a total power of 170 hp results in an effective 15 hp/ton, which provides the T-80 with better or equal performance compared to the T-70B.
4. The 45 mm gun with an additional return mechanism designed by Gorkiy factory performed flawlessly during trials (875 shots).
5. Drawbacks of the T-80 include:
1. The turret and turret platform ceiling must be removed to replace the engines, which will complicate field repairs.
2. Turbocharging the GAZ-80 engine resulted in large compression and filling ratios, which means that the cylinders, cylinder heads, valves, and cylinder liners are incompatible with the stock 6-cylinder engine.

Conclusions:

The commission considers it possible to recommend the T-80 for adoption by the Red Army to replace the T-70, pending correction of all defects outlined in this act and factory trials."

CAMD RF 38-11355-1656

Brief History of the T-80

Navigating archives is hard work. Thankfully there is sometimes a list of documents regarding a certain subject, like this one, for the T-80 tank, which gives an overview of its development without having to dig too far.

"During battle, the T-70's drawbacks become apparent. Commanders have alerted GABTU of this. Commander of the 1st Tank Brigade, Colonel Chukhin, points out the following:

1. The T-70 commander has difficulty when simultaneously observing the battlefield, loading the gun and machinegun, and firing on targets. The company commander's job is even harder, as aside from all this he must command the company. The turret must be widened to fit 2 men.
2. The armour of the T-70 is weak, and can be penetrated with a high caliber machinegun. T-70 tanks have to be used in the third echelon to fight enemy infantry, where the powerful armament, the 45 mm gun, is not used to its full potential.

July 15th, 1942. Minutes of a meeting of comrades Lebedev, Korobkov, Akopov, Kuchumov, and Lipgart on the issue of increasing the combat value of a T-70, namely:

1. Reinforcing the suspension.
2. Increasing engine power.
3. Increasing turret for two men.

September 1942: According to GOKO decree #2276 on September 8th, GAZ designed an experimental T-70 with a turret for two: the T-80.

October 10th, 1942: GAZ report on firing the 45 mm gun and coaxial DT machinegun on the T-80.

December 4th, 1942: An order of the People's Commissar of Medium Production and GBTU to perform comparative trials of the T-70 and T-80.

December 9th, 1942: Conclusions on trials are completed, signed by comrades Korobkov and Birzhukov.

December 18th, 1942: A letter to comrade Molotov about the comparative trials of the T-70 and T-80.

December 18th, 1942: A letter to comrade Stalin about the comparative trials of the T-70 and T-80.

December 27th, 1942: A GOKO decree on mass production of T-80 tanks. NKSM must produce 20 turbocharged engines (model M-80) in February, and install them on T-70 tanks. In March, conduct trials of these tanks.

April 30th, 1943: A GOKO letter ordering the trials of 12-RPT radios for the T-70 and T-80 to be completed before May 5th.

May 20th, 1943: A letter to comrade Akopov requesting blueprints and technical specifications for GABTU.

May 20th, 1943: A letter to comrade Romanov of the GBTU proving grounds from factory #40, on the start of warranty trials.

June 23rd, 1943: A report from the proving grounds, reporting that the T-80 was removed from trials on the 370th kilometer due to a broken final drive gear.

July 18th, 1943: Minutes of the meeting approving the blueprints and technical specifications of the T-80."

CAMD RF 38-11355-1656

As we already know, by this time, the SU-76 was already produced, failed, and the SU-76M was in the works. The time of need for the T-80 tank has already passed.