During World War II, tank technology developed greatly. When World War II just started, most tanks were small tanks weighing less than ten tons. By the end of the war, there was already a super huge rat tank weighing 188 tons.
There is also the planned land cruiser of 1,000 tons, which makes people admire that war is the catalyst for weapons.
In the era at that time, technology was not advanced enough, so it could only enhance performance in a certain aspect. Most of the ways to increase self-weight were to put protection first, as long as your tank was shot by the opponent's tank gun.
If you don't wear it, there will be hope for success.
However, this puts higher demands on motivation.
Just like the mature Tiger style, the Tiger King tanks use gasoline engines with a capacity of more than 700 horsepower, which is already difficult to drive themselves. If one tank does not move, at least two will be towed.
!
The increase in self-weight requires motivation to adapt.
After the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War, the technical routes between the East and the West were different. Soviet tanks focused on small and mass production, which facilitated a war of attrition. Therefore, most of the Soviet tanks were thirty tons.
A grade-level tank, even the T-72 tank weighs only 41 tons. Such a weight is definitely a slim compared to the West.
The Western benchmark Leopard-2 tank has a weight of 55 tons, an M1 tank has a weight of 57 tons, and a challenger tank has already gone for 60 tons!
The tanks in the West are of great importance, first of all, because the car body is tall. If the car body is large, there must be more steel plates. In order to satisfy the size of the big and thick figure, it has to be built so large. On the other hand, it is because of the weight of the armor.
Too amazing.
Especially the Chobam armor invented by the British, it was ceramic! It was quite bulky. When using this armor, the challenger's self-weight came up. The early M1 tanks also used Chobam armor.
This brings about a surge in weight.
When the weight comes, the engine performance needs to be improved. Soviet tank engines almost did not exceed one thousand horsepower. What about Western ones? One thousand two hundred horsepower is not rich, and it takes 1,500 horsepower to be enough.
In order to simplify, Americans even used the turbine engine on the plane directly.
How big should the domestic tank weigh?
In the past, the tanks were only about 30 tons, and the 122 tank chassis had the potential of 40 tons, but it would not be enough to increase it. If our side really plans to develop third-generation tanks, we must aim for the entire battle of 50 tons.
Heavy!
"With the advancement of technology, the increase in tank self-weight is an inevitable trend." Qin Zhenhua introduced to Mr. He: "Our armor-piercing technology has developed very quickly. So, in order to enable our tanks to withstand the enemy's armor-piercing bombs,
That requires thicker armor protection and greater self-weight. Therefore, we can use fifty tons as the standard to have higher development potential in the future.”
In the future, advanced protective armor will continue to be released, and the tank's self-weight will continue to increase. If the explosion reaction armor is successful, do you want to hang it outside the tank? If it is hung, it will gain weight! The engine has been improved and the performance has been improved.
Do you want to change it? Your weight will increase if you change it!
This requires a new chassis. The current 40-ton tank chassis is already an extreme. It is necessary to have a tank chassis with higher performance.
If you simply survey and map the T-72, it will be a base of 40 tons. How big is it to be different from your own 122 tank? There is no need at all!
Since you have to do it, you have to do the big one once!
"In terms of engines, our 1,000 horsepower diesel engine has been tested. The goal of the next stage is to expand to 1,200 horsepower, and finally to 1,500 horsepower. Such a diesel engine is not equipped with a tank of 122.
So, if we develop a new chassis, we must consider the development of our technology." Qin Zhenhua said: "This is good for us, and it can be matched with high and low."
The 122 tank chassis can be stuffed in if it is to be stuffed, but the tank's butt is too big and inconsistent.
"But if it is fifty tons, we may not be able to adapt to the conditions of the water network in the south, and many bridges cannot withstand it." A staff officer next to Mr. He couldn't help but say.
There are many reasons why there have been many tanks in China that are more than 30 tons. One of the reasons is that the bridges are restricted and the weight is too large, so many bridges cannot be crossed. The conditions in the south are not something that heavy tanks can easily deal with.
"Why do we have to go to the south?" Qin Zhenhua asked, "If our 50-ton tank is to be developed, it is to deal with the threat from the north. It is to deploy it on the grassland and to our northeastern region, where it is still considered
What water net area? If we go to the south, our current tanks are enough."
Don’t want a tank to be fully equipped. When you get certain benefits, you must also give up certain requirements. Almighty does not exist.
Now, the domestic situation in the Soviet Union in the north is unstable and there is no possibility of large-scale conflicts on the border. However, this must not be relaxed, after all, the shadows of the past few years still exist.
The Eastern Power is a traditional land power. Looking around, the biggest threat is in the north.
Mr. He nodded: "That's right, what you said makes sense! It seems that we must be cautious about the plan for the 123 tank!"
Originally, I didn’t plan to completely survey and map the T-72, but now, Qin Zhenhua has provided everyone with a new idea. If you want to build it, you have to build a fifty-ton scale. This is a hard indicator!
In later generations, although from the appearance, the 96 tank and the 99 tank seem to be the same, there is no difference. The same six-pair load wheels, the same 125mm cannon, the same appearance turret, and even the brass are all together.
Added, however, there is a fundamental difference between the two.
One is upgraded from a second-generation tank, and the other is developed directly!
Since the beginning of research and development, we have aimed at the order of 50 tons. When designing the tank chassis, we can consider more from the beginning, such as the position of the load bearing wheel, the matching of torsion rods, etc. The new design is better than repairing and repairing.
It must be good.
Since the weight is large, the margin will be large. The tank can be equipped with more armor to increase protection capabilities and have greater internal space, leaving conditions for future upgrades. In short, since we want to do it now, we have to have high standards!
Of course, considering the national conditions, this is not a complete big step. Qin Zhenhua did not raise 55 tons or even 60 tons, but just considering his own situation. If he said 60 tons, it would be an absolute castle in the air.