User:HorsePower68/Object 907 (Medium tank)

Object 907 is a soviet medium tank of Soviet Union, to succeed the T-54, already produced in mass.

History and conception
In 1944, began project A-22, renamed as T-22, project of well perform medium tank, a prototype was made in 1949 in Izhorskie's factory of Saint-Petersburg. This project was abandonned in favour of Object 726/279 projects. But it contribute a lot for the creation of the Object 907.

In may 1952, a meeting with the directorate of armoured vehicules factories and armored forces marshal Semion Bogdanov at the Ministry of Engineering and Transports.

This meeting focused on brand new tank types, more powerfull, with a increased armor protection and better dynamics and operationals performances without exceeding the T-54 total weight.

In june of the same year, the technics and tactics exigences of the new medium tank were decided.

These exigences that were concluded are much upper than the T-54 ones, that are the next ones:


 * 1) A maximal battle mass of 36 tons.
 * 2) A lenght inferior to 3300 mm, and a lower profile than the T-54 one.
 * 3) A armor from 20 to 30% better than T-54.
 * 4) A road speed superior to 55 km/h and a rough speed between 35 and 40 km/h.
 * 5) A minimum weight power of 20 hp/t.
 * 6) A operational range superior of 350 km.
 * 7) Passing a slope at least of 40°.

In view of the fixed requirements, it was decided to commission a preliminary study from Factories N°75, 174, 183 and VNII-100.

Once the preliminary study is completed with a positive notice. It was request in 1954 to the VNIITransmash factory to produce a first prototype. This prototype was delivered in 1956, without any cannon, engine, suspension... This prototype was used to estimate survival capacities and performances of the tank with balistic experimentations. These tests demonstrated that special shapes used, increased the armor by 30% compared to the T-54.

However, the project was abandoned due to the excessive complexity of mass production and the entry into mass production of the T-54, which is much cheaper and easier to build.

Hull and Turret
Because of their shapes, hull and turret are both made of molded steel. The rounded shapes gave a better armor.

From 55 to 162 mm at 50 to 110° for the hull's front.

40 to 124 mm angled at 60° for the hull's flanks.

The floors from 16 to 30 mm, for the back, 45 mm at 10°.

The turret is armored from 46 to 288 mm at 30 to 60°.

Armament
Object 907 should have first the 100 mm gun D-54TS, like many other soviet medium tanks of this peridod. It was concluded to install the 100 mm D-10T or the 122 mm M-62 cannon. This tank could contain 40 shells of 100 mm.

Like secondary armament, it should have one 14,5 mm KVPT placed in AA, et 2 other machine guns of 7,62 mm SGMT placed in coaxial. Their cartridge capacity were: 500 for the KPVT and 3000 for SMGTs.

Internal equipment
Object 907 had in internal equipment, a radio RTU of the same size as a radio 10PT-12.

On optics could be installed, a Ts-30 sight. The commandant periscope was stabillized, and could have a telemetric sight. The gunner was equiped with a telemetric sight too.

Engine
The Object 907 had to have the V-12-5 engine from ChTZ manufacturer, this engine was equiped of the Object 268 too. His power being 900 hp, at 515 kW, the weight power of Object 907 could be of 20 hp by ton and a road speed of 50 km/h, 35 on rough dry terrain and passing a slope of maximum 30°.

Suspension
It must be equiped with a tension bars suspension and with hydraulic shock absorbers on all rollers. The suspension is composed, by each side, of 6 carrying rollers, one similar which is on front, 3 support rollers and the drive gear.

Existing copies
Any of Object 907's prototypes were finished, this project stayed as prototype. The prototypes used, damaged were surely scraped.

Popular culture/ video games
Object 907 is in the game World of Tanks like a competitive event recompense tank.