Object 279 early

It was supposed to expand the joint work of OKBT LKZ and VNII-100 on the project of a new experimental heavy tank proposed by L.S. Troyanov. Conducting full-scale studies on this tank made it possible to get an answer to the question of the appropriateness of using a new chassis in promising tank building, as well as the use of such combat vehicles as special for operations in some specific areas of the country (Far North, deserts, etc.). ..

The general idea of ​​a new layout scheme of a heavy cross-country tank was presented by L.S. Troyanov back in 1947-1948. in the preliminary design of the tank "Object 726". In this project, the overall width of the machine allowed by the conditions of railway transportation was used to accommodate a low four-track mover. The project noted: “Using the entire width of the envelope to transfer normal loads to the ground and the presence of four identical leading track tracks allowed to place the required number of track rollers (with a small load on the roller) and reduce not only a purely normative indicator, average specific ground pressure, but and the actual specific pressure, which deforms the track and determines the depth of immersion of the tracks. Almost the entire bottom was blocked from the bottom by the tracks,

Small loads on the skating rink and a large number of them, increasing throughput and reducing the forces of resistance to movement on soft soils, at the same time contribute to an increase in ride smoothness when driving at high speeds. The presence of four tracks increases the survivability of tanks. In case of combat defeats of one of the independent tracks, two middle or middle and extreme neonotomous sides, the machine can continue to move and maintain controllability. Longitudinal beams, passing along the symmetry axes of the right and left pairs of tracks, make it possible to mount a low chassis on them, which is not achieved with the usual installation of suspensions on the body. The beams impart rigidity to the bottom and serve as a tank to accommodate the entire fuel supply, which has been completely removed from the hull to eliminate fires.

The hull is placed on top, above the low chassis, occupying again the entire permissible width of the envelope, and not its part, due to which it is possible to carry out a wide fighting compartment over its entire height, which is located between the tracks in existing heavy tanks, occupying only the remaining part, usually not exceeding half the total width. There is the possibility of placing an increased stock of ammunition in places accessible for the charging and the implementation of automation of the loading process to increase the rate of fire. With a large body width, the required volume is obtained at a significantly lower height, which gives a gain in booking and reduces the overall height of the car.

Reservation of the tower is also improved, since the tower can be without a tail niche, usually used to place ammunition, due to the small capacity of the hull. The presence of a tail niche significantly increases the silhouette of the most striking upper part of the machine. The capacity of the wide hull allows you to place the entire stock of ammunition in a less affected and more protected place, eliminating the tail niche of the tower. "

It should be noted that as early as 1948, a working model of the tank with a four-track mover in a scale of 1:10, controlled by wire, was completed. In addition to turns and overcoming a number of obstacles (ditches, grooves, rises, etc.), the model demonstrated the possibility of self-digging on light soils by communicating to two middle caterpillars the direction of movement opposite to the movement of the extreme caterpillars.

To check the cross-country ability and agility by the end of 1952, as a result of the joint work of VNII-100 and OKBT LKZ, they made an experimental four-track machine equipped with the necessary measuring instruments. At the same time, it was planned to draw up a real base for creating a heavy cross-country tank and other special tracked vehicles based on it (artillery tractors, self-propelled artillery installations, heavy-duty transporters, engineering vehicles) intended for use in difficult terrain, for example, in swamps, snow and other

In 1953, comparative tests of an experimental four-tracked vehicle and serial tanks ( T-54 and T-10 ) were held, which showed its clear advantage in mobility. The new chassis made it possible to create a heavy off-road tank with a simultaneous increase in the main indicators that determined its combat qualities. Draft studies of such a machine, carried out in accordance with the TTT project for a promising heavy tank, as well as the mock-ups of its various options, were presented to the Ministry of Transport and Heavy Engineering in March, June and November 1953.

In order to ensure high traffic of other types of vehicles on the instructions of the Deputy Minister Yu.E. Maksarev VNII-100 completed projects of a heavy artillery tractor of high cross-country ability and a light floating armored personnel carrier with a special four-track chassis. These projects, with all the necessary explanatory materials, were also sent to the Ministry of Transport and Heavy Engineering.

In early 1954, VNII-100 began to develop a conceptual design of a heavy tank according to a completely new layout using a four-track chassis, which provided a sharp increase in cross-country ability and a significant increase in the size of the fighting compartment. However, due to the lack of harmonized and approved TTT for the design of such a combat vehicle, these works acquired an abstract character. Until the end of 1954, the Institute completed only the justification of the parameters laid down in the design of the tank and continued testing the four-track experimental vehicle to study the patency, agility and resistance to movement of such a chassis in various conditions. At the same time, the machine was loaded up to 88 tons.

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The following are consensus errors or inconsistencies which have been identified with the configuration of the vehicle in question and conflict with information available on the public record. The causes for these divergences in the game are normally not disclosed and may be rooted in game balance.

* The model in-game was known as Object 726 and it had had no direct connection to the actual Object 279. Although the design information and testing results from the Object 726 project was used as a basis for the development of the Object 279.

• The actual Object 279 was developed from 1957-59 and one surviving example can still befound at Kubinka Tank Museum. The object 279 has a more disk-like hull with 269mm of maximum armour thickness, with effective armour easily surpassing 400mm.

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