Poland's Czolg lekki 7TP (7 ton) light tank
Photos
7 TP light tank: |
7 TP light tank: |
7 TP light tank: |
7 TP light tank: |
Design
The PZI design bureau was given the task to figure out a way to make a Polish made copy of the British Vickers-Armstrong 6-ton tank.2 It was a 9 ton vehicle with a twin turret.2
Engine
A Saurer engine was installed making the 7 TP the first diesel powered tank to be in production.2
Prototype
Production
- 7 TP: 132, 1704
- Manufacturer: PZI2
- Production: 1934 - 19392
- 7TP dw: 24 twin turret
- 7TP twin turret: 245
- Production: 1935 - 19365
Variants
- 7TP dw: These models had twin turrets.4
- 7TP jw: Made with single turret which was built in Sweden.4
- 7TP (Improved): Had new turret, thicker armor (40 mm), and a strong suspension. This did not enter production.
Usage
Used by the 10th Mechanized Brigade against the German 4th Panzer Division's advance on Krakow.5
German Usage
Used for police, anti-partisan, and tractor duties.
Specifications
| 7TP dw | 7TP jw | 7TP Improved | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 32,5 | Commander, gunner, driver 31,5 |
32 |
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 6 tons2, 9.25 tons5 9,000 kg |
21,000 lb, 21,056 lb, 24,251 lb 9,571 kg, 11,000 kg, 9,550 kg1 9.4 tons1, 9.5 tons4, 9.74 tons5 |
11 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 14' 11"5, 15' 1"2 4.56 m5 |
14' 11"5, 15'4, 15' 1"1, 16' 4.56 m5, 4.57 m, 4.6 m1 |
|
| Length w/o gun | |||
| Height | 7' 0.5"2, 7' 2"5 2.19 m5 |
6' 7"1, 7', 7' 2"4, 7' 6"5, 7' 6.5" 2.13 m, 2.02 m1, 2.3 m5 |
|
| Width | 7' 11"2,5 2.43 m5 |
7' 1"1, 7' 11"4,5, 7' 11.5, 8' 2.43 m5, 2.16 m1 |
|
| Ground clearance | |||
| Ground contact length | |||
| Ground pressure (psi) | |||
| Turret ring diameter | |||
| Armament | |||
| Main | 2: 7.92 MG2 2 (1 in each turret): 7.92 mm Ckm wz.30 MG5 |
37 mm1 37 mm Bofors wz.375 37 mm Bofors4 |
|
| Secondary | |||
| MG | 7.92 mm MG1 7.92 mm wz 30 Browning |
||
| MG - coaxial | 1: 7.92 mm Ckm wz.305 | ||
| Side arms | |||
| Quantity | |||
| Main | 80 | ||
| Secondary | |||
| MG | 3,960 | ||
| Side arms | |||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 172 | 5-171 Min: 254 Max: 404 |
402 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 17 | ||
| Hull Front, Lower | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | |||
| Hull Sides, Lower | |||
| Hull Rear | |||
| Hull Top | |||
| Hull Bottom | 5 | ||
| Turret Front | 40 | ||
| Turret Sides | |||
| Turret Rear | |||
| Turret Top | |||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Saurer VBLDd5 | Saurer VBLDd5, Saurer1 | |
| Cylinders | 62 | 61 | 62 |
| Net HP | 1102,5 | 1101,4,5 | 1102 |
| Transmission | |||
| Fuel type | Diesel2,5 | Diesel1,4,5 | Diesel2 |
| Octane | |||
| Capacity | |||
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | 360° | ||
| Speed - Road | 19.9 mph2, 23 mph5 37 kph5 |
20 mph1, 23 mph5 32 kph1, 37 kph5 |
|
| Speed - Cross Country | |||
| Range - Road | 99.42 miles5 160 km5 |
99 miles5, 100 miles1,4 160 km1,5 |
|
| Range - Cross Country | |||
| Turning Radius | |||
| Elevation Limits | |||
| Fording depth | |||
| Trench crossing | 6', 10' 3.12 m |
||
| Vertical Obstacle | 2' | ||
| Suspension (Type) | 2 pairs of twin bogies on rocker with leaf springing4 | ||
| Wheels each side | |||
| Return rollers each side | |||
| Track length | |||
| Tires | |||
| Track width | |||
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- -
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Western Allied Tanks 1939-45, David Porter, 2009
