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Object 770. The last heavy tank.
Object 770 was one of the last soviet heavy tanks developed at the end of the '50s. And the last to get axed. Its performance is similar to that of object 279, though more conventional. And I think it could serve as an excellent tech tree counterpart to it, ending the heavy tanks after the T-10M. Being the last heavy tank the Soviets considered to replace it.
Compared to the 279, its gun would be no different. And like the 279, it would resist most conventional shells from the front, perhaps slightly worse though. Its side armour would be much worse. On the upside, due to its lower weight, it would benefit from better mobility (18.3hp/t vs 16.6hp/t).
Developmental history
See history
Sadly, little is written about its history. The sources I have are also quite poor and many contradict eachother on several aspects. But I will try to recount some information weighted towards the sources I believe most.
An order was sent out to develop a new heavy tank in 1955, with requirements to come in 1956. The new heavy tank produced by these requirements would’ve served as the T-10’s successsor. These requirements also led to the development of object 277, 278, and 279, developed by LKZ and VNII-100. Object 770 was the project created by ChKZ’s design bureau, SKB-2. Whom had previously designed the IS-3, IS-4 and T-10. They had also just in the years prior designed object 752 and 777, neither of which got prototyped. These were also intended as successors to the T-10. It is unclear why these were canned, but they served as references when creating both the T-10M, and object 770.
Model of object 777 with aircooled engine. A watercooled version was considered too.
Diagram of object 777.
Two prototypes of the 770 were created, one in 1959 and the other in 1960. The engine suffered from major vibrational issues which caused delays in its development. In trials, even though their characteristics were very similar, it clearly outperformed object 277, and thus the 277 (and 278) were cancelled on the 19th of July, 1960.
Object 277. LKZ’s competitor.
Multiple sources say Khrushchev himself stopped the development of all tanks above 37 tonnes during a demonstration on the 22nd of July, 1960. But I do not believe this is true. He likely remarked his distate for such heavy vehicles at the demonstration, as he seems to have done several other times before too. But development of both objects 279 and 770 seems to have continued. Though their future certainly was bleak.
Object 279. The unconventional design by VNII-100.
The object 279 was canned in January, 1961. While the 770 made it to mid February, 1961. Making object 770 the last surviving soviet heavy tank project of the USSR, and likely the last in the world. As by this time, every other major nation had already given up on heavy tanks too.
Specifications
Crew:
- Commander
- Gunner
- Driver
- Loader
Weaponry:
- 130mm M-65 (Ammo: 37* (see footnotes))
Elevation: -5/+16.5
Stabilizer: 2-plane stabilizer
Autoloader (18 rounds ready rack with assisted loading, 5-7 rpm)
Turret rotation: 18°/s - 14.5mm KPVT coaxial (Ammo: 800)
- Sights:
Rangefinder: TPD-2S
Night: TPN-12
Dimensions:
- Weight (total): 54 700kg
- Length (total): 11333mm
- Length (hull): 7280mm
- Width (total): 3400mm
- Height (total): 2420mm
Drivetrain:
- Engine: DTN-10 (1000hp at 2500rpm) (18.3hp/t)
- Transmissison: GTK-P
3 forward gears
1 reverse gear - Top speed: 55km/h
Armour: (cast, variable thickness):
Hull:
- Front:
Upper front plate: 85-138mm at 71-60°
Lower front plate: 187-156mm at 42-51° - Sides:
Upper sides: 86mm at 67°
Lower sides: 105mm at 0°
Turret:
- Front: 260-90mm at 30-70°
- Sides: 208-80mm at 35-70°
Footnotes:
See footnotes
-
My sources claim either 26 or 37 rounds of M-65 ammunition could be carried. It seems unlikely it would be as low as 26, though this could perhaps be a difference between the two prototypes. Not that any source suggests there were any difference between the two.
-
A similar issue arises with its coaxial ammution. Some say 800 and other 250. However 800 seems most reasonable.
-
There are some different claims on the vehicle’s length and width. Although it seems these are likely a mixup of information on the object 277.
Other images
See images
Object 770 diagram.
Report on the armour trials of the 770 hull.
Range target used in armour trials.
Object 770 in the old Kubinka museum.
Object 770 in the recently refurbished Kubinka museum.
Object 770 on trials in 1960. Note the rear of the 279 on the left.
Sources:
- Несчастливые три семёрки | Warspot.ru
- Танк «Объект 770»
- Obeikt 770 (Object 770) prototype experimental heavy tank
- Object 770 heavy experimental tank | Tank museum Patriot park Moscow
- https://dzen.ru/media/alternathistory/kakim-mog-stat-tank-is11-ili-obekt-770-sssr-5df267178f011100ad5e4236?utm_referer=www.google.com
- Опытный тяжелый танк (объект 770)
- Объект 770 / Книга: Бронеколлекция 1996 № 03 (6) Советские тяжелые послевоенные танки / Библиотека / Главная / Арсенал-Инфо.рф
- Оскорбленный свыше. Тяжелый танк "Объект 770"
- https://topwar.ru/6462-kak-vymirali-dinozavry-poslednie-tyazhelye-tanki-chast-5.htm