The tank that could fly into battle
In World War Two, the Soviet Union devised a tank that could fly into battle. What happened to this ingenious, if unorthodox, concept?
www.bbc.com
Why no glider tanks in Russian OB?
- Thread starter rtroha
- Start date
www.bbc.com
Zakopious
Senior Member
"One T-60 was converted into a glider in 1942, intended to be towed by a Petlyakov Pe-8 or a Tupolev TB-3. The tank was lightened for air use by removing its armament, ammunition and headlights, and leaving a very limited amount of fuel. Even with these modifications, the TB-3 bomber had to ditch the glider during its only flight, on September 2, 1942, to avoid crashing, due to the T-60's extreme drag (although the tank reportedly glided smoothly). The A-40 was piloted by the famous Soviet experimental glider pilot Sergei Anokhin. The T-60 landed in a field near the airport, and after dropping the glider wings and tail, the driver returned it to its base. Due to the lack of a sufficiently powerful aircraft to tow it at the required 160 km/h (99 mph), the project was abandoned."
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_A-40
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_A-40
Zakopious
Senior Member
Hutch
Curator of the ASL Armory
The 93a Annual (Available in the Wargame Vault), had the article "Iron Eagle: A new airborne unit for ASL" by Rex Martin, which was the A40-T, complete with errata.
Last edited:
Zakopious
Senior Member
Did Rex Martin or others make any scenarios for the flying tanks ?
Wayne
Doing Plenty, Kinda Slow
Certainly nothing historical could be done. It was never fielded.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
- Messages
- 19,952
- Reaction score
- 6,046
- Location
- St-Légier
- First name
- Robin
- Country
-
It was a joke, as for other fancy counters suggestions.
Actionjick
Forum Guru
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2020
- Messages
- 8,089
- Reaction score
- 5,516
- Location
- Kent, Ohio
- First name
- Darryl
- Country
-
A common occurrence.
Would make a super chrome scenario: flying tanks and para dropped mine dogs versus a Maus. Coming soon!
Zakopious
Senior Member
T-60 tanks versus a Maus ?
Actionjick
Forum Guru
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2020
- Messages
- 8,089
- Reaction score
- 5,516
- Location
- Kent, Ohio
- First name
- Darryl
- Country
-
Yes. Firing as they glided down at the thinner upper armor. The para dropped mine dogs are specially trained. Some to drop into the open hatch while others poo poo on the vision slits.
Sorry Rick. It was an informative thread till I got involved.
Actionjick
Forum Guru
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2020
- Messages
- 8,089
- Reaction score
- 5,516
- Location
- Kent, Ohio
- First name
- Darryl
- Country
-
In a vain attempt to contribute some useful information to this thread I tried to find out the top armor thickness of the Maus. There was none specifically about the top but the rear hull was 150 mm or 190 mm depending on the source.Yes. Firing as they glided down at the thinner upper armor. The para dropped mine dogs are specially trained. Some to drop into the open hatch while others poo poo on the vision slits.
Sorry Rick. It was an informative thread till I got involved.
Zakopious
Senior Member
The counter from the 93a ASL Journal.
Attachments
Hutch
Curator of the ASL Armory
Hey, if the A-Team can do it, the Russians can copy it...
No as the project was cancelled and never used in any actual operation. Also remember that this series of “Extra” counters were for more of a joke like the piper counters, tiger traps and the likes.
Last edited:
The broken side of the piper counter was really nice
lol!The broken side of the piper counter was really nice