T-10
IS-8 | T-10M
Overview
T-10M
T-10M heavy tank on display at the National Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Kiev, Ukraine, in 2005.
Source: ChrisO -
© CC BY-SA 3.0
1958 for T-10M
Soviet Union - GSBK-2 design bureau
1953 - 1965 (T-10/A/B/M)
Soviet Union - LKZ / Leningrad Kirov plant
1958 - 1962 (T-10M only)
Most T-10/A/B upgraded to T-10M in 1960's
Estimates of over 8.000 T-10 are overstated
Object 734 / 272 (GABTU index for T-10M)
IS-5 (planned designation befor redesign)
IS-8 (early name, renamed 1953 to T-10)
Russia
Description
Introduction
The T-10 is an early Cold War era heavy tank of Soviet origin. The T-10 represents the final iteration of the Iosif Stalin series of heavy tanks to enter service, and was also the first to ditch the Stalin name after his death. Introduced officially in 1954, initial production was slow and various upgrades were applied. Western assumptions of many thousands of T-10 being produced proved to be wrong, with total production figures of around 1.500. The T-10M was to be the final Soviet heavy tank in serial production and active service. Widespread adoption of HEAT warheads in both guns and guided missiles could defeat heavy armor even at extended ranges. In the late 1960's all nations focused on the main battle tank concept going forward.
Design
The T-10 follows the design lineage of the IS-3 heavy tank. At a glance the turret design and angled hull front are very similar. The T-10 has a longer hull with an extra roadwheel either side. This results in more internal space and less ground pressure. The T-10 also introduced various subsystems over time that the IS-3 lacked. These include stabilized main gun, a rammer to assist loading, night vision equipment, modern ammunition types, improved mobility and reliability, etc.
Firepower
The original T-10 was fitted with the D-25TA gun with double baffle muzzle brake. The T-10M introduced the M-62TS with multi-slotted muzzle brake and ability to fire shells at a higher pressure. Rate of fire was 2 to 3 rpm in the original T-10. Using a loading tray and rammers this was upgraded to 3 to 4 rpm in T-10 and nearly 5 rpm in T-10M. The D-25TA/TS fires full caliber armor piercing or high explosive shells. The M-62TS adds the ability to fire subcaliber armor piercing discarding sabot rounds as well as a HEAT shell. Both rounds added nearly 50% to the effective armor piercing capability.
Protection
The T-10 features a cast steel turret and welded steel hull. The hull front is sloped and features the same angled "pike nose" design on the upper glacis plate. The T-10 returned to the 50 t weight category and is thus less armored than the much heavier IS-4 it replaced on the production line. However, over the frontal arc the line of sight armor exceeds 250 mm for both hull and turret. The Early models lacked NBC protection and had only two large BDSh-5 smoke bombs. T-10M introduced an overpressure NBC system, exhaust diesel injection and automated fire extinguishers.
Mobility
As a heavy tank the mobility aspect is poor compared to firepower and protection. An uprated version of the venerable V-2 diesel engine is used, which produces 700 hp. A maximum speed of 42 km/h can be achieved. The T-10M introduced an uprated 750 hp engine and more reliable gearbox. Increased internal fuel and the ability to carry external fuel tanks greatly increased operational range. Upon introduction the operational range was only 200 to 250 km on roads. In the field this figure often fell to below 100 km. Interestingly, the long wide tracks result in a lower ground pressure than a T-55 or Western medium weight tanks.
Users
The T-10 was introduced in 1954, but only after the turn of the century production numbers increased. The T-10 was thought to be in use in the Middle East with Egypt, but these proved to be the updated IS-3M. The T-10M was a rather capable heavy tank, but only came available at a moment in time the main battle tank took over as a concept. After the breakup of the Soviet Union the T-10M ended up in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The T-10M was formally removed from Russian service in 1997.
T-10 variants
T-10
Oblique forward view of original Object 730 / T-10 heavy tank. Note the two 12.7mm DShKM heavy machine guns.
Source: www.btvt.info -
© Copyright lies with original owner
List of original T-10 models
T-10M
T-10M production
The T-10M is the main production variant with 1.179 T-10M/MK vehicles produced new since 1958 to 1965. Known as Object 272 for production in Leningrad and Object 734 for slightly different model in Chelyabinsk before switching to Object 272 as well. Many existing T-10/A/B converted to T-10M standard in the 1960's during depot maintenance cycles.
The T-10MK is a command tank with long range radio and generator in lieu of some of the 122mm ammunition storage. A total of 100 T-10MK were produced between 1959 and 1964.
T-10M
Oblique forward view of T-10M heavy tank. Note the 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine guns, unditching beam on the hull side and lack of infrared sighting system installed at a later date.
Source: www.btvt.info -
© Copyright lies with original owner
T-10M: deep modernization of the T-10
The T-10M is a deep modernization that includes a new 122mm M-62T2 main gun with improved ballistics, multi-slotted muzzle brake and more responsive 2E12 Liven stabilizer. A new rammer allows for a theoretical rate of fire of 5 rpm.
Two 14.5mm KPVT machine guns are fitted. The V-12-6 engine is fitted, which is more powerful. Armor on the turret mantlet is increased to 250mm. Night vision devices are fitted for driver, gunner and command. During and the production run and beyond various upgrades were carried out, see the table below.
List of T10M modernizations by year
Details
Media
T-10
Original T-10 heavy tank on display in the Kubinka tank museum in Moscow as seen in 2017.
Source: Alan Wilson
Copyright: CC BY-SA 2.0
T-10M
T-10M heavy tank on display in the Kubinka tank museum in Moscow as seen in 2017. Note the multi-slotted muzzle brake.
Source: Alan Wilson
Copyright: CC BY-SA 2.0
T-10M
T-10M heavy tank covered with snow seen in a museum in Kiev in 2009.
Source: AwOiSoAk KaOsIoWa
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
T-10M
T-10M heavy tank on display at the National Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Kiev, Ukraine, in 2008.
Source: Andrew Bossi
Copyright: CC BY-SA 2.0
T-10M
Forward view of T-10M heavy tank on public display in the Technical museum of Vadim Zadorogny in 2016.
Source: Mike1979 Russia
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
T-10M
Rear view of T-10M heavy tank on public display in the Technical museum of Vadim Zadorogny in 2016.
Source: Mike1979 Russia
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
T-10
An early model T-10 tank serving as a monument in the Kaliningrad region. Note the earlier model 122mm D-25TA main gun. Photographed in 2019.
Source: Alexey Petrushin
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
T-10M
Artist impression of the internal layout of the T-10M heavy tank.
Source: www.btvt.info
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
T-10MK
Artist impression of T-10MK command tank with antenna for long range radio in raised position.
Source: www.btvt.info
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
T-10A/B
Several T-10A or T-10B heavy tanks seen on parade in the Soviet Union. Note the D-25TS cannon with double baffle muzzle brake and bore evacuator.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
T-10M
Forward view of early production version of the T-10M heavy tank.
Source: www.btvt.info
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
T-10M
Oblique rear view of early production version of the T-10M heavy tank.
Source: www.btvt.info
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
T-10M
Left side view of T-10M heavy tank on public display as seen in 2013.
Source: Mikhail Martynov
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
Armament
122mm D-25T
The T-10 was armed with the 122mm D-25TA rifled cannon. The T-10A and B used the D-25TS.
122mm M-62T2
The T-10M is armed with the 122mm M-62T2, also known as 2A17. This is easily identified by the multi-slotted muzzle brake.
12.7mm DShKM heavy machine gun
The T-10, including A and B variants, is armed with 12.7mm DShKM heavy machine guns for both its coaxial armament and secondary armament on the turret roof. This reflects the role of long range firepower of the T-10.
14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun
The T-10M switched to the 14.5mm KPVT for its coaxial and secondary armament. The 14.5x114mm ammunition has about twice the muzzle energy over the 12.7mm rounds.
Related articles
IS-4
The T-10 replaced the much heavier and problematic IS-4 on the production line. The T-10 is not related to the IS-4 as the T-10 design program reverted back to the IS-3 design lineage.
IS-3
The design of the T-10 is a further development of the IS-3. The V-12-5 engine is an updated version of the one found in the IS-3. And the initial D-25TA/TS guns are derived from the D-25T used on the IS-2, IS-3 and IS-4.