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7TP

1936 WORLD WAR 2

7TP History

The 7TP series are Polish light tanks based on the British 6 ton Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd (Mark E) light tanks. As the prospect of war in Europe grew, the Polish government saw a need to replace their small "tanks" with more powerful combat systems, and to increase offensive and defensive capabilities. Cheap little tanks had their best days and by the 1930s had become an outdated breed.

Designing a new Polish light tank from 1931, early proposals were a derivative of the existing Vickers-Armstrong approach, which used a twin-turret machine gun configuration. Vehicle has 2 x Ckm wz installed. 30 series machine guns in separate turrets blocked the hull superstructure.

The engine is mounted at the rear, and the fuel tank provides power via a conventional "track wheel" system.

Although 22 of them were produced in 1936, a new reorganization program of the Polish government called for the introduction of 37mm anti-tank weapons on a light tank chassis as the world thought gradually moved away from the concept of "multi-turret" tanks Total. So the above production car was modified with the Swedish 37mm Bofors 37 L/45 main gun, followed by a completely new version in 1938. The 7TP series was the world's first diesel powered main battle tank (gasoline powered engine prone to fire when hit by enemy shells).

The tower also contains a radio kit. The 7TP was officially delivered to the Polish Armed Forces in 1939. While there is no official designation between the twin- and single-turret designs, postwar publications will " 7TP dw" is assigned to the former, and "7TP jw" is assigned to the latter.

During the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, the 7TP acted almost immediately, albeit in limited numbers. Regardless, the 7TP proved to be a sturdy but unobtrusive weapon, bringing the advancing Germans to a halt, while the Polish aircrew achieved a respectable early kill rate. Unfortunately for the Poles, light tanks were in short supply, and in the long run the speed and dedication of the German army outstripped Poland's battlefield capabilities.

Polish troops were thrown into the last defensive positions, the available 7TPs lost more and more, and as numbers grew and air superiority was gained, German tactics improved with experience. At least 24 twin-turret 7TP tanks were in service when Germany invaded Poland.

After the conquest of Poland, the German army began to restore captured 7TP tanks (up to 20, named Pzkpfw 731(p)) to increase the stockpile - of which securing the newly acquired Polish territory became the main task. This is the war trophy.

Some of them were reportedly handed over to the Romanian army. An improved version called "9TP" was in prototype stage at the time of Germany's invasion of Poland, so it was never mass-produced. Available finished prototypes were used in the final defense of the Polish capital, Warsaw.

Standard armament for the 7TP light tank (the final single turret model) consists of a 37mm Bofors wz. 37 main guns and a 7.9mm Ckm wz anti-infantry gun. 30 machine guns Universal machine gun (coaxial mount). Main battery ammunition is 80 x 37mm projectiles and 4,000 rounds of 7.9mm ammunition.

The crew compartment consisted of three people - the driver, commander and gunner, the former sitting in the forward fuselage and the latter two living in the turret. Power comes from 1 x Saurer VBLD 6-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 110 hp for a driving speed of 37 km/h and a range of up to 150 km.

The vehicle is suspended by a leaf spring bogie suspension system.

A total of 139 7TP tanks were produced from 1935 to 1939. Poland fielded 133 7TP-JW tanks, 16 7TP-DW tanks and 13 9TP tanks during the war. Aside from being used by Poles and Germans, the 7TP series has never been used outside of Poland.

Romania had shown interest in this design before the war, before opting for the Czech LT vz. 35 series instead. The Red Army managed to capture a specimen during their Polish invasion.