A small tank [1] , according to the Soviet classification of the 1930s, is a tank (usually floating ), which had a mass of up to 5 tons and equipped exclusively with machine-gun weapons located in the turret (unlike tankettes [2] , which included machine guns equipped with machine guns similar mass characteristics that did not have towers); occupied an intermediate position between wedges and light tanks . Small tanks were intended for reconnaissance operations in the interests of tank or combined-arms units and formations , providing communications, reinforcing infantry and cavalry , and also for transporting light anti-tank guns . The use of small tanks when attacking an enemy who switched to defense was also allowed, but only after breaking through the front edge of defensive positions and under the cover of light tanks [3] .
After the end of World War II , in connection with the obsolescence of the last pre-war small tanks and the final obsolescence of their concept, the separation of this class was completely obsolete and began to be used only in a historical context.
In Western countries, small tanks never stood out as a separate type of tanks, and therefore, in Western historical literature, vehicles that are Soviet tanks are small tanks , depending on their mass, are referred to as wedges or light tanks (in the second case, the term English is sometimes applied to them . ultra-light tank - "ultralight tank" [4] ).
Notes
- ↑ Field charter of the Red Army (PU-39), 1939.
- ↑ According to the Soviet classification, tanks were not considered, hence the name of the product - wedges.
- ↑ Solyankin A.G., Pavlov M.V., Pavlov I.V., Zheltov I.G. Classification of tanks // Domestic armored vehicles. XX century. 1905-1941. - M .: "Exprint", 2002. - T. 1. - S. 19-20. - 344 p. - 2000 copies. - ISBN 5-94038-030-1 .
- ↑ Swedish Armor . Tanks !. Date of treatment April 30, 2012. Archived June 7, 2012.
Literature
- Solyankin A.G., Pavlov M.V., Pavlov I.V., Zheltov I.G. Domestic armored vehicles. XX century. 1905-1941. - M .: "Exprint", 2002. - T. 1. - 344 p. - 2000 copies. - ISBN 5-94038-030-1 .