TM tank prototype, source: Aviarmor.net with permission of the operator, edited

Origins

As Soviet tank crews discovered the shortcomings of the T-37 amphibious tank, calls from military officials for their rectification grew louder. The GAZ factory therefore began work on developing a new version of the tank that would address these problems. Although the design made use of a large number of components from the T-37, it was sufficiently different overall that the vehicle under development soon came to be regarded as an entirely new tank.

Design Description

The new tank accordingly received a new designation: Tank Molotova, abbreviated TM. With this name the designers were most likely attempting to curry favour with the feared Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov. Compared to the T-37, the TM had a considerably longer hull, intended to improve both its aquatic and land-driving characteristics. The running gear on each side consisted of six small-diameter spoked road wheels, suspended and sprung in pairs. At the very front was a toothed drive sprocket with circular lightening holes; at the rear a spoked idler wheel with a rubber tyre around its rim. Two return rollers completed the track arrangement, supporting the track from above. The road wheels, drive sprocket, idler wheel and tracks themselves were all of identical design to those of the T-37.

The hull was riveted from flat 9 mm steel plates. Above the level of the mudguards, the crew compartment and — at the rear — the engine compartment rose from the hull, with the tank's turret mounted above the crew compartment. As on the T-37, the turret was offset to the right of the vehicle's centreline and was manually traversed. In its front wall was the tank's sole armament: a 7.62 mm DT machine gun. The two-man crew consisted of the driver, seated on the left inside the fighting compartment, and the commander, who also served as gunner and loader. The commander's position was of course in the turret, with a roof hatch for entry and exit. The driver had his own hatch directly above his seat.

TM tank prototype entering the water, source: Aviarmor.net with permission of the operator, edited

The powerplant was a GAZ M1 engine with a maximum output of 50 hp. With this engine, the four-and-a-half-tonne tank could reach a maximum road speed of 49 km/h. The TM prototype was built in 1936 and subsequently subjected to thorough testing. The results, however, were not encouraging: the new tank proved to have just as many shortcomings as the older T-37. Series production was not approved, and Molotov's tank remained a single prototype.

Technical Specifications

ARTICLE
CONTENTS:

ORIGINS

DESIGN DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL DATA