Tank of Louis Renault, constructed in 1916 and introduced into active service as the Char Léger Renault FTModèle 1917, construction was revolutionary in its time. Fundamental solutions of this tank (including armament in a rotating turret), and its composition became the classic one repeated till today.
FT-17 tanks were built in many plants – in addition to the parent Renault factory in Bilancourt near Paris – also in Berliet, Schneider,
Delaunay-Belleville and American factories. After the end of First World War, production of these tanks and vehicles patterned upon them, launched in many countries.
The Renault Tank in its basic version, called “char canon”, was armed with a 37 mm Puteaux SA model 1917 gun.
“Char mitrailleuse” was armed with a Hotchkiss wz. 14 caliber 8 mm machine gun.

Vehicles “char signal”, Renault TSF based upon FT-17 hull, fitted with a radio in a big superstructure in a place of a turret. were not armed. Only about 200 exemplary of them was build.

Nearly 1,000 tanks, marked Renault FT75RS, become equipped with a short-barreled 75mm de Blockhaus Schneider cannon .

Tank was slow, designed to fight in the ranks of infantry, but with satisfactory terrain characteristics .

He had a unit pressure 49 kPa and was able to go over 45 ° slopes, go across trenches with a width of 180 cm, and cross 70 cm ponds and walls 50 cm high.

In the thirties, the obsolete radio tanks TSF were scheduled to be rebuild to combat tanks, replacing the superstructure with a turret.

During this time period were also tested several variants of modernization projects of regular FT-17 tanks, including changes in hull shape and engine cooling system and become known as: FT-17 “Hanuś”

Cf. Stanislaw Marczewski, in 1925 designed the significant improvements in the engine cooling system, as well as to the power relay system and increased fuel tank capacity of the tank. In 1926, according to the project of Cf. Marczewski in the tanks Department of CWS, one prototype of modernized tank called Hanuś (reg. probably 3027) become build (iron, from the series 25-27 here built).

All of the changes also entailed the need to extend the fuselage ( tail was used for this purpose, after shielding him with complete armor).

This vehicle also differed from regular ones by the rounded armor plates protecting the driver’s head and changed shape of the front fuselage.

The tank become equipped with a small-link tracks developed before 1925 by Cpt. S. Kardaszewicz.

Those Tracks in its final form, have more cells with a smaller scale than the original tracks.
Usage of small-link tracks increased speed, improved fuel consumption, and lowered noise and shock level. At least 65 tanks were fitted with the new tracks since 1926 (it is not known how many tanks used these tracks in 1939).

The traction Trials of “Hanusia” were successful, however, proposals for revamping to its pattern held in armed state Renault tanks were not accepted due to the excessive costs of the entire project.

Data:
Engine: Renault: 39 HP per 1500 rpm; 4480 ccm, 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, water-cooled, inline.

Armament:
There were two variants of armament. The tanks had either 37mm Puteaux SA-18 (wz.18) L/21 low velocity gun with 237 rounds, or 8mm Hotchkiss Mle.14 machine gun with up to 4800 rounds. About 3/5 of the initial number of tanks were armed with guns.
In the late 1920s the machine guns in the Polish tanks were changed to a 7.92mm Hotchkiss wz.25 (the French FT-17 had their machine guns changed to 7.5mm Chatellerault (Reibel) Mle.31 in the thirties, receiving an unofficial designation: FT-31).

Armour:
Hull – riveted of rolled armour plates. Thickness – front: 16mm (vertical plates) – 8mm (horizontal plates), sides and rear – 16mm, top – 8mm, bottom – 6mm.

The turret:
appeared in two variants. The first was octagonal, polygonal, riveted of rolled armour plates, thickness 16mm. The second was round one, developed by Berliet works (also called Girod turret), welded of curved armour belt 22mm thick, and cast top 16mm thick. The weapon mounting was also 16mm thick in this variant. Each turret could be armed with a gun or MG.

Crew: – two (driver and commander/ gunner). The tank was not equipped with a radio. The commanding was carried out with the color flags.

Weight (MG tank / gun tank): 6,500 / 6,700 kg
Length / with tail: 4.1 / 5 m
Width: 1.47 m
Height: 2.14 m
Track width: 340 mm
Distance between tracks’ middles: 1.35 m
Ground clearance: 0.4 m
Max. road speed: 7.8 km/h (4.9 mph) (with small-link tracks somewhat higher)
Power to weight: 5.8 HP/t
Range on road: up to 65 km
Ground pressure: 0.44 – 0.49 kg/cm2
Fuel consumption on road: about 146 litres /100 km

Camouflage:
In the beginning of the service, the Polish FT-17 were still in the French camouflage schemes, with irregular, “torn” patches of 3 or 4 colors. In the late twenties numerous vehicles (especially FT-17 CWS) were apparently dark green.

Between about 1932 and 1936 a camouflage scheme was used, called the “Japanese” camouflage. It consisted of patches of yellowish sand, olive green and light blue-gray, separated with thin black stripes; blue-gray being the lightest shade (traditional publications commonly quoted dark brown colour instead of blue-gray)

Since 1936-37, the tanks were painted in a standard camouflage scheme of three colours: greyish sand and dark brown (sepia) over brown-green (a base color). The patches were airbrushed, with soft transitions, their shapes were horizontal mainly. There was not any standard pattern of patches. The interior was painted in sand.

Images:
http://tinyurl.com/n2s3eth
http://tinyurl.com/lxsue2l
http://tinyurl.com/n3aktfg

Sources:
“Do Broni” nr 2-3/2009.
“Do Broni” nr 1/2009.
“Nowa Technika Wojskowa” 8,9/97
http://derela.republika.pl/ft17pl.htm
http://www.1939.pl/uzbrojenie/polskie/pojazdy/ft17/
http://www.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~bolas/main/uzbrojenie/czolgi/ft17.htm

Renault FT wz32:

The first real common tank of Polish Army was a renault FT17.

We have tested it’s modernized version’s like the Renault FT Kegresse-Hinstin M26/27 and NC27.

In 1924, 6 radio command tanks Renault TSF were bought in France. They were based upon FT-17 hull, fitted with a radio in a big superstructure in a place of a turret. They were not armed. Also, in 1929-1930, some of newer Renault tank designs were bought. They were 5 tanks Renault M26/27 and 1 tank Renault NC-27 (publications often quote 24 tanks NC-27, but only one was bought in fact). M26/27 was an unsuccessful development of FT-17, with the same hull and armament, fitted with a new track mechanism with Kegresse rubber tracks (they were proposed to the French Army under the designation NC-2, but were not accepted; instead, a batch was sold to Yugoslavia, where they served as M.28). Renault NC-27 was a further development of FT-17, with a redesigned hull and new chassis, but a turret with gun or MG armament remained similar (they were proposed to the French Army under the designation NC-1; its further development led to the French D1 tank).

In the thirties, the obsolete radio tanks TSF were scheduled to be rebuild to combat tanks, replacing the superstructure with a turret. A new turret with a coxial 37mm gun and MG was developed by the Polish in this purpose, but it is not clear, if these tanks were eventually rebuilt using these turrets (it is rather doubtful, as no photos are known). There were also tested some modernization projects of regular FT-17 tanks, including changes in hull shape and engine cooling system (FT-17 “Hanus”), suspension (from Vickers E tank) and new turrets, mentioned above, but none were accepted.

Use in the thirties:
In 1930-36, the Polish Army had the biggest number of its Renault tanks:

Polish FT-17
Polish FT-17 on manoeuvres in the 20′s.
112 light tanks Renault FT-17 (numbers: 1001-1112)
6 radio tanks Renault TSF (numbers: 2001-2006)
27 training tanks Renault FT-17 CWS (nos: 3001-3027)
5 tanks Renault M26/27
24 tanks Renault NC-27 (in fact, 1 tank, the rest might be FT-17s)
174 tanks in total

Renault FT wz.32
“…suspension (from Vickers E tank) and new double weapon turrets.”

Construction begun in October 1932, with Renault M26/27 being used as basis instead of FT model, due to least amount of modifications required. Special care was taken not to modify Vickers suspension components (it was a set of spare parts – not mounted on an actual tanks). Because of this limitation, the original English side gear covers, suspension bogies and truck supporting wheels were fixed to holes existing in experimental tank’s hull, using purpose built, cast steel mounting brackets. English drive wheels were installed in the back of the hull; torque was transmitted to wheels using special sleeves mounted on the rear axis. As mentioned before, the tank was supposed to be equipped with a “double weapon” turret, which was designed simultaneously:

Double Weapon Turret wz.29
Was Developed in the Design Office Armoured Wibi (Biuro Konstrukcyjne Broni Pancernej WIBI).
The project was created in 1929, the first prototype in 1930.
Turret was octagonal, guns: 37mm Puteaux cannon and Hothkiss wz.29 machine gun
were placed in opposite sides.
After practical testing the model was rejected in 1931.
It was too cramped interior and was impossible to conduct simultaneous fire from both weapons.
None of photographs of this tower have been preserved.
Based on the descriptions, we can suppose it looked like in the Soviet Union Russkij Reno:
http://www.panzernet.net/tankist/fotky/tanky/reno/001.jpg
http://www.panzernet.net/tankist/fotky/tanky/reno/004.jpg

Coaxial Weapon Turret wz.32
In 1932, a new model was constructed.
New yoke for the 37mm Puteaux cannon and Hothkiss wz.30 machine gun was constructed.
The yoke was made of molded armored plate 20mm thick.
It give a possibility of guiding weapons in two axes, and allowed for observation of the target with two telescopes.
Yoke with double weapons was mounted in the front oriel of the turret.
Turret have an inner diameter of 1000 mm and a height of 700 mm.
Armor thickness as the original Renault turret but weighed about 14 kg more.
The top plate was closed with hatch cover of “special construction” (?), on both hatch sides was planed to place two Gundlach reverse Periscopes and sleeves for Słupski signal Flags.
In the year of 1936. turret was considered successful project, six such towers were commissioned in Starachowice Plant (Zakłady Starachowickie ) for modernization of Renault FT TSF.
It is known one photograph of this tower taken during it’s tests, being mounted on one of polish Renault (FT) Kegresse-Hinstin M26/27 (Renault wz.29), photage comes from collection of J.Magnuski gallery:
http://tinyurl.com/ngz6lgg

In 1933 WD (Warsztat Doświadczalny Biura Badań Technicznych Broni Pancernych przy PzInż.) finalized works on tank modifications; in the same time “Ursus” Plant manufactured turret casts with new weapon mantlet and Factory of Jenike Brothers prepared the turret rotation mechanism. The turrets final assembly was carried out in Locomotive Factory in Warsaw. Between 1933 and 34 the tank went through intensive testing. Unfortunately the results achieved were unsatisfactory, with maximum speed “squeezed out” of the machine topping 13km/h and whole endeavor deemed inefficient. Other notable issues identified were excessive fuel consumption and engine overheating. After over annual testing project was considered not very effective and dropped.

One known photo of it:
http://www.odkrywca.pl/forum_pics/picsforum6/renault_wz32.jpg

Mass: 7,2t
Crew; 2 people,
Dimensions; lenght – 4,5m, wide – 2,15m, high – 2,04m, ground Clarence – 0,4m,
Armed; 1 canon 37mm Puteaux i 1 km 7,92mm wz 30,
Targeting and observation accessory: 2 observing binoculars, 2 Gundlach reverse periscopes, 2 observation slot

Armor – riveted rolled steel plates of thickness: hull front 18mm; bottom and up 5mm, turret; front, side and back 16mm.

Engine – gasoline carburetor engine, four stroke, inline, four cylinders, Renault, max power 42KM, with 1500rpm./min. water cooled.

Fuel – gasoline, tank capacity 120l, fuel consumption. 150l/100km.

Drivetrain – main clutch, mechanical gearbox, four forward gears and one reverse, steering mechanism – the clutch side, the side gears.

Suspension – blocked in a trolleys of two wheels with rubber bandages, flat leaf spring suspension, four supporting rollers, drive wheel in back of hull, front hull tension whell, track wide 230mm, scale 92mm, length of the abutment 2700mm, spacing of tracks 1755mm.

Performance – power unit 5,8 KM/t, max speed up to 13km/h, range on the road 80km.
Overcoming obstacles – contact pressure of 0.4 kg/cm2, slope 450, trenches with a width of 185cm.

Sources…
“Do Broni” nr 2-3/2009.
“Do Broni” nr 1/2009.
“Nowa Technika Wojskowa” 9/97

Creation of The TKW tankette:

After creation of TK-3, commenced to look for opportunities of increase its firepower, and for modifications that would enable more effective conducting of gun fire. The result of this works, conducted since 1933, was light reconnaissance tankette TKW, which was constructed in 1934. Alongside with English Vickers 2,5 t it is the only tank with a weight not exceeding 2.5 tonnes with has the armament placed in an independent tower. Construction was based on the TK-3 tankette, and the idea came from the British light reconnaissance tank Vickers Mark I (based on tankette Carden Lloyd Mark VI).

At first it was decided to build 6 experimental TKW tankettes. The prototype was converted from the TK tankette nr. 1164 (of the first series, made of mild iron plates) in the end of 1932 or early 1933., some of them with tower modified by addition of oriel at the front, which increase the space inside the turret. Trials conducted with prototypes showed a large amount of defects, including a cramped interior of the rotating tower, and a complete lack of communication between crew members, who have not seen each other (with a lack of internal communication this was a problem). In February 1935 the TKW design was abandoned and a production of further 5 tanks was canceled, but vehicle itself wasn’t scrapped. It was used to test various construction ideas. It was evident, that a bigger tank was needed to fulfill reconnaissance tasks, that could be fitted with a turret without such problems and carry more adequate armament.
In that period, the works upon bigger and more capable reconnaissance tank 4TP started.

The TKW prototype was given to the Armoured Weapons Technical Research Bureau (BBT Br.Panc.). In February 1935 it was used for testing new rubber and metal tracks of mjr. Stefan Kardaszewicz design, but they appeared a failure (during trials it had the older turret again). Later the prototype was broken to parts. The newer turret was most probably utilized in the PZInż.130 amphibious tank prototype.
It is possible that new designs of gun yoke was also tested on it. Probably TKW tankette, was rebuilt to the TKS tankette and enrolled for service in the field units.

construction of the TKW tankette:
The TKW construction was based upon the TK-3 chassis. Its combat compartment was lower, and there was a small turret above the commander, armed with a standard 7.92 mm water-cooled wz.30 Browning machine gun in universal ball mounting with a telescopic sight. Turret armour was 8 mm, sides were riveted to a frame, it had a hatch on the roof and in a rear curved plate. A driver’s head was protected with a big box hood, fitted with a reversible tank periscope for all-around observation (invented in Poland, by Rudolf Gundlach), a two-part observation hatch in front and an access hatch on the top. The commander had vision slots only in his turret. However, trials in October 1933 revealed turret faults, like: lack of space, bad stability of gun mounting, poor observation, and especially poor ventilation. As a result, the second improved turret was developed in 1934, with a lengthened box-like front part, and ventilation slots under the hatch on the top, armed with a standard 7.92 mm air-cooled wz.25 Hotchkiss machine gun mounted in an universal ball mounting.
Further field trials in summer 1934 showed, that this design was not successful at all. Its right side was overloaded and the crew members could not communicate with each other, while turret rotation and crew observation possibilities were limited. The driver’s hood limited turret rotation to 306°, while the turret limited driver’s field of view. Firing to the left side of the vehicle required rotation of whole tankette, but of course to a lesser extent than it had been before in the TK-3. In other directions turret rotated smoothly.
On the left side at the driver was mounted searchlight, while behind him was placed the yoke for the RKM wz. 28 used to conduct AA fire.
It was a slight improvement, as so far the RKM wz.28 yoke was located on the right side of the vehicle.
Tower armor was reinforced to 20 mm (Information provided by some sources speaking of strengthening the whole vehicle armor to 20mm are Erroneous. The tankette would then have problems with driving off, as the engine wasn’t changed). Front armor shape was also changed.

Chassis:
on each side of the vehicle there were four road wheels, rubber rimmed, blocked in two two-wheel bogies, sprung with a pair of semi-elliptical leaf springs in each bogie. Bogies were moving up and down in runners of a suspension frame, and were sprung with a main semi-elliptical leaf spring, fixed centrally to the hull side (it was the main improvement over the Carden-Loyd suspension). A sprocket wheel was in front. At the rear there was an idler wheel, mounted on a suspension frame, with a tension adjustment mechanism. On each side there were 4 return rollers, mounted on an upper frame.

Tracks: metal, single-pin: TK-3 – width 140 mm, pitch 45 mm

Hull:
was of armour plates, screwed to a frame. A major part of the hull was taken by a common combat compartment, containing also an engine and transmission. A driver’s seat was on the left, a commander/gunner’s seat on the right. The seats were separated with the engine and a gearbox before it. In front part of the hull there were drive gears with a differential mechanism, under two service hatches. Behind a driver there was a vertical water radiator with a fan behind it, under a rear housing. Behind a commander there was a fuel tank and, in a rear, a battery (under a right rear service hatch). A cooling air was drawn through a radiator from a crew compartment and, in need, from a small bottom hatch before the radiator. The air came out by a grill in a left rear service hatch. Under this hatch there was a shaft for emergency starting the engine by crank (the crank was carried in a battery compartment).

Armour
Armour of rolled plates, thickness (thicker plates were vertical):
Front 6 – 8mm
Sides 8mm
Rear 6 – 8mm
Top 3 – 4mm
Bottom 4 – 7mm
Turret 20mm

Armament:
7,92 mm Browning wz. 30 (in first variant of the tower – smaller one)
7,92 mm Browning wz. 30 or 7.92mm Hotchkiss wz. 25 (in second variant of the tower – bigger one, with front Orin and ball gun yoke)
7,92 mm rkm wz. 28 ( there was a pivot anti-aircraft mount for the wz.28 MG. It could be used only from the outside of a parked vehicle.)

Apart from the gun, 2.5 kg of explosives were carried.

Engine:
petrol, inline, 4-stroke, water-cooled:
Ford A – 4-cylinder, 40 HP at 2200 rpm, capacity 3285 cm³

Transmission:
multi-disc dry main clutch; mechanical gearbox – 3 gears forward, 1 reverse.
Differential steering mechanism with band brakes; side drives.
Turns were made by braking one track, using a steering wheel, connected with brakes.

Fuel tank:
60l

TKW tankette – data:
Mass – 2,8 – 3 t
Crew – 2 soldiers.

Dimension – length 258 cm, wide 178 cm, high 160 cm, ground clearance 30 cm.
Armament – MG 7,92 mm Browning wz. 30 or a MG 7,92 mm Hothkiss wz. 25

Armour of rolled riveted plates, thickness: Front 6 – 8mm, Sides 8mm, Rear 6 – 8mm, Top 3 – 4mm, Bottom 4 – 7mm, Turret 20mm

Engine – gasoline, inline, 4-stroke, water-cooled Ford A – 4-cylinder, 40 HP at 2200 rpm, capacity 3285 cm³

Fuel – gasoline
Power relay voltage – 6V
Max speed – 46 km/h
range on the road – 200 km
range in the terrain – 100 km

painting
Polish Vehicles in the testing phase were in sand color, and in this color were the TKW tankettes.
in trials time they could also have been painted in camouflage colors.

Photography:
http://tinyurl.com/pwxnlwf
http://tinyurl.com/qzkv2ul
http://tinyurl.com/ndovaa5
http://tinyurl.com/ne9kstp
http://tinyurl.com/qcxwng7
http://tinyurl.com/omhgo49

Sources:
http://www.dobroni.pl/rekonstrukcje,tankietka-tkw,12708
Tank Power vol. LXXXII: 321 – Tankietki TK-3 / TK-S, 1939
Janusz Magnuski, Andrzej Kiński, “Tankietka TKW” w: Poligon nr 3/2006

Contrary to 1/35 RPM plastic kit, the TKW was not meant to be fitted with 20 mm cannon wz. 38 model A (FK-A). When the FK-A was manufactured, the TKW program had been abandoned for a long time.
Besides, it would be difficult to fit this cannon into the existing small turret. There were no designations: “TKW I”, “TKW II” as well.

Guidelines of the Committee for Armament and Equipment of the Ministry of Military Affairs (KSUS), regarding the concept of medium tank were included in the resolution undertaken after the meetings of 10 and 11 January 1937r., Soon after the passing in January 8-9 armored expansion program till the year of 1942r.:
Weight of the vehicle suppose to be close to 16 tonnes, the overall system was to be patterned on the United Kingdom multi-turreted tank A6 (Vickers 16 toner) of the late 20′s and repeated in the Soviet T-28.
Its characteristic feature was the placement of main armament – 75 mm cannon wz. 1897 – in the main tower and two machine guns in two smaller, single person auxiliary turrets in front of vehicle.
The drive was to be an diesel engine with 320 hp or more.
Those were the:

KSUST I – 22t
KSUST II – 25t
BBT Br. Panc. – first variant 23t
BBT Br. Panc. – second variant 25t

The fifth tank concept from the resolution of KSUS armored weapons expansion program for 1942
Was the:

BS PZInż 25t (known also as HABICH tank)

Office BS PZInż of engineer Habich was invited to studies in order to ensure adequate competition for the remaining project offices.

The work, initiated at the beginning of 1939, directed by the Head of Special Vehicles Bureau (BS PZInż), engineer Edward Habich, which is also the main designer of the tank.

Habich withdrew from the concept of muliturreted tank.
According to his project tank hull was to be as low as possible and wide, with inclined front and side plates.
In front plate of the thickness up to 60 mm (side and rear panels have a thickness of 40 mm) was placed yoke for machine gun operated by gunner occupying the seat next to the driver.
In an equally low, large tower (originally made of welded rolled plates, and ultimately cast) – with two hatches for the crew was to be mounted major equipment in the form of a cannon coupled with a machine gun.

The original assumptions were about 40-47 mm caliber cannon ( include 47 mm anti-tank cannon. constructed by Wacław Stetkiewicz).
Then about a new weapon caliber 60 mm, but very quickly, because in the spring of 1939, an engineer Tadeusz Tanski involved in the design of the tank, proposed to use as the main armament of the French 75 mm AA cannon wz.1922/1924.
These guns were purchased by the Navy Command in the amount of 14 units, accounted equipment 1st and 2nd Marine squadrons Flak Artillery. At that time they were already obsolete and not suitable for intercepting modern combat aircraft.
Due to the good ballistic performance well lent it self to combat enemy tanks, and even their fragmentation-high explosive projectile had sufficient effectiveness to destroy typical field fortifications.
Habich approved Tański proposal, simultaneously commissioning appropriate gun adaptations to allow it’s montage in tank turret.
Supplement for tank armament had to be third machine gun, designed for AA defense, placed on a special rotating basis over the commander hatch.

For this new tank Department of Engines in PZInż., Headed by Eng. Zdzisław Rytel, worked out in cooperation Eng. Jan Werner, a special V-12-cylinder engine in two versions:
gasoline carburetor 300 hp (according to other data had to be 8-cylinder)
diesel with direct injection 250 hp.
In view of protracted work on the prototype of the Polish power unit was planned to use of the German power units namely the Maybach engine, with a capacity of 221 kW (300 hp). Information about this engines has already been received during construction of 10TP and 14TP prototypes (ie in 1938) and started talking about to purchase it. One Maybach HR108 engine was eventually bough Through diplomacy with the help of the Swedish embassy, while Diplomatic Talks conducted with the Maybach company negotiating purchase of the HL108R with semi-automatic gear boxes and the HL120 engines (used eg in tanks Panzer III) were dragged by the German side and were not finalized until the outbreak of war.

The chassis of the proposed tank called to apply six rubber-tyred wheels with diameter of 700 mm, Suspended on individual wishbones and combined by two with one common resilient element, which was a flat Leaf spring (similar in shape to the LT vz38), Leaf spring were provided on the outside of the hull.
The upper branch of the track were sustain on four rubber-tyred wheels of a much smaller diameter.

Was Ordered a single copy of the prototype tank (the details of this contract remain unknown due to lack of surviving documents), which was to be delivered to the trial.
Preliminary orders were submitted for certain parts of tank as armor plates of the hull and suspension components, some of them will eventually been produced and delivered to URSUS factory before the war outbreak.
Until the outbreak of the war, PZInż. been able to perform only a wooden mock-up of the tank in 1:1 scale.

Despite years of research, polish historians could not find any photographs or drawings (with the exception of the suspension schema similar to the suspension LT vz38, given by Habich to Piotr Zarzycki), on the basis of which can be reliably reconstructed the appearance of this version of the Polish medium tank.

Known reconstructions of its appearance base on the memoirs of engineer Habich.
With were Given to the public by Polish historians A. Jońca and P. Zarzycki.

In connection with the fact that P.Zarzycki is working on a book describing Polish armored prototypes from the 30′s, Not all the information on 25t BS PZInż can be disclosed by these gentlemen’s for public use…

First from the left:
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8065/ra6z.jpg

Specifications:
Hull Armour 60-40-40mm
Turret Armour up to 55mm
Guns: 40mm , 47mm, 55 or 60mm, 75mm naval flak canon
Engines of 300HP
Inclined plates

sources:
Nowa Technika Wojskowa nr 9/2006
http://www.dobroni.pl/rekonstrukcje,czolg-sredni,12750

The problem to equip the Polish Army with medium tank of its own design and being produced by the domestic industry, was raised for the first time in the mid-20th of the twentieth century. Was determined during this time that due to the field conditions of eastern parts of Europe and the projected mass character of armed clashes, medium tank should have a specific construction, different from the well-known medium tanks built in the West. Formulation of those theoretical grounds, were mainly based of course on the current political and military situation, as well as on the available experience of the First World War, and Polish-Soviet War.

Since the beginning work’s were directed towards tank of design similar to Soviet muli-turreted tanks T-28.

It should be noted that in addition to the multi-turret design, the chassis is also very similar. Had both projects penetrate? Does any one stole someone ideas?

For a medium tank assumed to consider vehicle of weigh up to 20 tons, fast, relatively well armored and armed.

It was to be a kind of multi-purpose vehicle, versatile, designed not only to support the infantry and light tanks, but also to perform the tasks of an operational nature and overcoming the enemy defensive positions.

Over the next decade the issue of constructing medium tank stalled. There was no such possibility to pattern the abroad designs, and attempts to build even lighter tanks of our own design completely failed. Still lacked both specialists with relevant experience and industry able to master the complex production technology for as a specific motor vehicle, which was the tank at all.

Guidelines of the Committee for Armament and Equipment of the Ministry of Military Affairs (KSUS), regarding the concept of medium tank were included in the resolution undertaken after the meetings of 10 and 11 January 1937r., Soon after the passing in January 8-9 armored expansion program till the year of 1942r.:

Weight of the vehicle suppose to be close to 16 tonnes, the overall system was to be patterned on the United Kingdom multi-turreted tank A6 (Vickers 16 toner) of the late 20′s and repeated in the Soviet T-28.

Its characteristic feature was the placement of main armament – 75 mm cannon wz. 1897 – in the main tower and two machine guns in two smaller, single person auxiliary turrets in front of vehicle.
The drive was to be an diesel engine with 320 hp or more.

Preliminary studies, started soon in the Armored Forces Command, based on the resolution of KSUS, soon led to the conclusion that with required thickness of armor and weaponry and the desired performance of traction, weight of vehicle will exceed the specified weight limit and will reach 23-25 tons. In October 1937, after the grant by the Second Vice-Minister of Military Affairs on September 23 of 25 000 dollars loan, Department of Design and Construction Office of Armored Forces Technical Research (BBT Br. Panc.), Headed by Maj. Rudolf Gundlach, has developed its own preliminary draft of a medium tank, which was differ slightly mainly in terms of weaponry, from the original targets of KSUS, but was based on the same hull. Mentioned different armament was to be Bofors 40 mm automatic mainly based on construction of anti aircraft gun, complementary armament was mounted in the fuselage 81 mm mortar, and 3 machine guns.

In comparison to the original KSUS project, main drive has to be either one gasoline carburetor engine with a power of 500 hp or two with the power of 300 hp.

This Design, together with the conclusions was included in the rapport of the Armored Command “Justification Sheet medium tank proposed by BBT Br. Panc.” December 4, 1937 and has to be present at the next incoming meeting of KSUS.

According to those adjusted requirements also KSUS did developed two concepts of medium tank (called variant I and II). At the same arming requirements, it was characterized by mass of 22t (variant I with armor of 35mm) or 25t (variant II with 50-mm armor).

The first tank was to be powered by a diesel engine with a power of 320 hp, while second one with two Carburetor gasoline engine of 300 hp or a single carburetor gasoline engine of 600-hp.
As a result, he had to develop speed of 45 km/h on the road and 25km/h in terrain, despite it’s thicker armor and more weight.

As a result of the confrontation of both concepts, in 1938 become created in BBT Br. Panc., another, one could say a compromise design of a medium tank. It was expected that his weight will be 23 tons, the armor will have a thickness of 50 mm, weapons will be an automatic 40 mm cannon or a 75 mm field gun/howitzer of special design and 3 machine guns.

It was considered whether it should be field cannon wz.1897 or a new design of howitzer, which were suppose to provide greater versatility of tank armament. However finally, the howitzer was abandoned just like a Schneider cannon, who had a significant size and a low rate of fire. The BBT Br. Panc was led for this decision by obtaining information about short-barreled 75mm Bofors gun, which was so small and light that was possible to mount it in turret with a coaxial 40mm automatic gun for that Abandoned a machine gun in tower. Design in this form has been approved by KSUS for realization in BBT Br. Panc. where also commissioned the construction of a prototype. During that year worked among others to design construction of turret rotation mechanism and a very complex mechanical guidance system for targeting artillery weapons – short-barreled 75mm cannon with coaxial 40 mm automatic cannon, as well as to choice of the gear box and the technological process for production of rolled armor plates of 50 mm thickness. Also started to negotiate over the purchase of the German Maybach “Zeppelin” engine with a power of 550 hp, which was in the final editing requirements. Talks on this matter – without visible progress – stretched so much that the completion date of the tank prototype and start of its production was planned for late 1940.

22t KSUST ver. I
First variant of the KSUST project assumed identical construction scheme as the project BBTBPanc. Acording to the drawings had to be equipped with a 75 mm Schneider cannon wz.1897. Because 75 mm Guns in Poland is wasn’t produced (although planned) it appears to be the best choice. This variant assumed engine of 320 hp. The crew consisted of 6 people.

Drive: Engine 320 hp
Length: 730 cm
Height: 200 cm
Width: 260 cm

http://i42.tinypic.com/29zsjk7.png

25t KSUST ver. II
Second variant of the KSUST project also assumed three turret system. He had a slightly lower rear part of the chassis. It had to be Propel with a very large drive unit consisting of two engines of 300 hp each. The mass of the tank was assumed at 25 tonnes. On the roads tank had to reach 45 km / h, and in the area of 25 km / h Armor, as in earlier projects had be 50 mm. Again armed with 3 CKM’s and one 75 mm cannon wz.37. The crew consisted of 6 people. Both versions were to be powered by petrol engines.

Propulsion: Engine 2 x 300 HP
Length: 730 cm
Height: 200 cm
Width: 260 cm
Combat Weight: 25 tons
Speed on the road: 45 km / h
Speed in the area: 25 km / h

http://i44.tinypic.com/2du9hj4.png

23t and 25t BBTBPanc.
Three turreted tank, weighing 23 tons. The project provided three towers in the tank. The main tower with 65 – 75 mm gun (according to J. Magnuski the 40mm Bofors Pom-Pom AA gun with coaxial mounted CKM and hull mounted mortar 81 mm) and one heavy machine gun with two smaller turrets fited on the front of the vehicle, each with 1 ckm. The crew of this project was to be 7 people, the speed of the tank to 40km / h, armor up to 50mm. The tank has a powerful engine of 500 hp or 2×300 hp motors.

Drive: Engine 500 hp or 2 x 300 HP
Length: 730 cm
Height: 263 cm
Width: 260 cm

http://i39.tinypic.com/2lb043.png

sources:
Nowa Technika Wojskowa nr 9/2006

An “→” vehicles family were molded to one (having in mind WG is gone introduce the hull’s as modules), otherwise even a best candidate in it’s tier will break down due to lack of modules for it…
Of course those can be seen as individual tank’s for branch without changeable hulls, than “→” is equal to”,”

I tier
Poland had Renault FT17, like many other countries after WWI. Copying it 1:1 would be senseless so there are two options:
• Type “M” — Renault FT modified in Poland, vehicle had name “Hanuś” (reg. no. 3027)
• Renault M26/27 wz.32 — one of five Renault M26/27 Kegresse Histin delivered to Poland was upgraded with Vickers mk.E chasis, and Double weapon turrets (IMHO the best candidate for Polish T1 so far…)

II tier
• LT — TK-3 → TK-S tankettes with 20 mm machine guns (one prototype of TK-S was armed with 37mm Puteaux SA 18 gun)
• MT — Vickers mk.E Type B (with polish modification’s) → 7TP single turret → 7TP wz.39 (there were no 9TP, just modification of 7TP)
• TD — TK-3 with 37 mm “Pocisk” gun → TK-SD
• SPG — TK-D

III tier
• LT — 4TP (PZInż.140, PZInż.180)
• MT — 10TP → 14TP
• TD — PZInż.160
• SPG — Sexton II (PFUK)

IV tier
• LT — M5 Stuart (PFUK), Covenanter (PFUK)
• MT — 22t KSUST I → >20t KSUST II → 23t BBT Br.Panc. (1x40mm + 1x81mm + 3×7.62mm) → 25t BBT Br.Panc (1x75mm + 3×7.62)
• HT — N/A
• TD — SU-76 (PFSU)
• SPG — N/A

V tier
• LT — Crusader (PFUK)
• MT — 25t BS PZInż, M4 Sherman (PFUK), T-34/76 (PFSU)
• HT — Churchill I (PFUK)
• TD — SU-85 (PFSU), Archer (PFUK)
• SPG — N/A

VI tier
• LT — N/A
• MT — T-34/85 license production with minor Polish modifications, Cromwell (PFUK)
• HT — N/A
• TD — SU-100 (PFSU), Achilles II (PFUK)
• SPG — N/A

VII tier
• LT — N/A
• MT — A30 Challenger (PFUK)
• HT — IS-2m (PFSU)
• TD — SU-152 (PFSU)
• SPG — N/A

VIII tier
• MT — N/A
• HT — IS-3 two vehicles delivered after WWII to Poland
• TD — ISU-152 (PFSU)
• SPG — N/A

IX tier
• MT — T-54 → T-55 license production with minor Polish modifications
• HT — N/A
• TD — N/A
• SPG — N/A

X tier
• MT — N/A
• HT — N/A
• TD — N/A
• SPG — N/A

TKW and German vehicles captured by polish forces not included IMHO those suppose to be seen as premium’s.

u mad ? / trollface