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From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Dimensions of Tanks
Message-ID: <1990Nov7.040157.13431@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 7 Nov 90 04:01:57 GMT
References: <1990Oct24.151639.16463@cbnews.att.com> <1990Oct29.034327.11628@cbnews.att.com>
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From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)

In article <1990Oct29.034327.11628@cbnews.att.com>, welty@lewis.crd.ge.com (richard welty) writes:
> 
> 
> From: welty@lewis.crd.ge.com (richard welty)
> 
> reportedly, american tanks are more effective at working from
> `hull down' positions as a result of their height; moreover,
> the crews are much less cramped than in their soviet counterparts.
> in an extended combat situation, we can presume that the more
> cramped crews will decline in effectiveness more rapidly than
> those with better working space.
 

  I've operated a Soviet T-55 and T-62 (as well as U.S. M60A3 and M1).
  Some observations: 
  
  Soviet tanks achieve a lower height since their turrets are smaller
  and do not have the built in 'basket' as U.S. tanks have.  Therefore,
  Soviet turrets sit on top of the turret ring - the turret rotates, the
  gun mechanisms, sighting devices, gunner stations and commanders station
  rotate with the turret - but the floor does not, neither does the tank
  sides.  The driver, gunner, commander all sit on the left side - inline.
  The gunner and commander must consciously keep their feet on pedals, and
  left arm away from the side.  When sitting/crouching in the commander's
  position - the gunner's head is right between my knees - and my knees
  on his shoulders.  The breech block on Soviet tanks is HUGE!  The loader
  is on the right side - (so should be left handed to load the gun) and must
  step lively when the turret/gun traverse (the floor doesn't traverse).
  It is extremely cramped.  Driving the tank is exhausting.  Unlike U.S.
  auto transmissions - Soviet T-55/T-62 transmissions were manual - plus
  with driving levers - so you let go of the right lever to shift (I found
  the tank then automatically begins to vere to the left).  The driver
  also has to watch out for the gun tube (in U.S. tanks the gunner's 
  head is just below the main tube).  First, the soviet driver has two red
  lights in front of him - if the tube is traversed to his left - the left
  red light is on.  In design - if the driver's hatch is open - it
  electronically deadens the turret (though the switch can be bypassed).
  If the driver's head is out of the hatch - the main gun traversing left
  will cleanly take the driver's head off.  Driving the T-62 around Hohenfels
  became very fatiguing quickly.  What impressed me was the onboard smoke
  generating system - the commander has a lever that throws diesel fuel into
  the exhaust system creating beautiful big clouds of sparkingly white 
  smoke.  The only problem is if the lever is held open for more than 3 
  minutes - the heat ignites the smoke creating beautiful big flames 
  shooting out (first time I did this - I thought the whole tank was catching
  on fire!).  The crew compartment is cramped - there are no creature 
  comforts here.  But, I am impressed by the simplicity and functionality. 
  It does what it is designed to do - with crews trained to operate in that
  style.  I wouldn't want to go on a long road march, though.
  
  Our Cav Sqdn tankers in M551 Sheridans thought the T-62 had more room.
  

  mike schmitt