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T-10M Heavy Tank

Compared to the T-10 and T-10A, the T-10M featured a longer barrel, and a redesigned muzzzle brake. The design of the muzzle brake reduces recoil through venting the gases in a more desirable direction. Minimising recoil (or managing it in a desirable direction) is important in reducing metal (and crew) fatigue across the whole vehicle. The turret ring and suspension may not be directly connected to the gun, but do absorb some of the energy, as most vehicles physically recoil on firing. In addition it allows the crew to resist fatigue from being tossed around, and allows the TC/driver/gunner to keep a closer eye (literally and figuratively) on their observation devices without cracking their skull and/or having to completely reorient following a shot. Muzzle brakes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are generally described by the number of baffles or chambers or flanges they have, when seen from the side.

The length of barrel is tied to the muzzle velocity. A longer barrel produces a higher muzzle velocity. There are two ways to increase the velocity of a projectile: 1) Using more propellant to increase the force. 2) Use a longer barrel to provide more time for acceleration. But bigger guns with longer barrels may need a bigger turret (especially due to balancing) and a bigger turret means more weight, thus it means there needed to be more powerful engine to run the tank.

The T-10M design was repeatedly modified. Since 1959, for example, every fifth tank was equipped with anti-aircraft machine guns. In the 60s, the 8-speed gearbox was replaced with a simpler 6-speed gearbox. From 1963, the T-10M was equipped with an OPVT system, which made it possible to overcome obstacles along the bottom to a depth of 5 m. T-10 tanks initially entered service with heavy tank-self-propelled regiments. Since 1947, one such regiment was part of the staff of a tank and mechanized division. As more and more T-10 and then T-10A, T-10B and T-10M tanks entered the troops, the formation of heavy tank divisions began. Each such division had two regiments of heavy and one regiment of medium tanks.

The T-10 tank served as the basis for the creation of many experimental and serial machines. In 1957, a tank was created (object 266), on which they tested a hydromechanical transmission. Otherwise, it was the usual T-10 with a D-25TA gun, equipped, however, with a stabilizer. From 1953 to 1956, a prototype 269 was tested for testing a rangefinder sight.

In 1956, the only ACS, created on the basis of the T-10, was put to the test. The vehicle had the designation “object 268” and was armed with a 152-mm M-64 cannon with an initial projectile speed of 720 m / s. The gun was installed in a spacious welded wheelhouse with a frontal armor thickness of 187 mm. A 14.5-mm KPVT machine gun and a TKD-09 rangefinder were installed on the roof of the cabin. The gun was equipped with a tray-type filing mechanism. Included were 35 shots for a cannon and 500 cartridges for a machine gun. The combat weight of the machine was 50 tons, the crew consisted of 4 people. This self-propelled gun was never adopted into service.

In the 1950s and 1960s, as more and more T-10 and then T-10A, T-10B and T-10M tanks began to enter the army, heavy tank divisions began to be composed of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. There were two such units. - 13th and 25th Guards heavy tank divisions. "Tens" were not exported and were not used in hostilities. With the exception of the maneuvers, the only major operation in which the T-10M tanks had to participate was the “Danube” operation — the entry of the Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia in 1968. In 1966, the production of T-10M stopped. According to Western data, about 8,000 T-10 tanks of all modifications were produced. If this is true, then it can be considered the most massive heavy tank in the history of tank building. In the following years, as modern combat vehicles entered the troops, the T-10, T-10A, T-10B and T-10M tanks were transferred to long-term storage, and partly sent for stripping. Formally, they were decommissioned by the Russian Army in 1993, that is, 40 years after being put into service.