Военное обозрение By Evgeny Fedorov
Whose engine is better?
One of the most significant achievements of the military industry of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War is considered to be mass production tank The V-2 diesel engine. This was truly a landmark event, as from then on, all tanks without exception received heavy fuel engines. The tank diesel engine had numerous advantages. First and foremost, it consumed less fuel: the T-34 could travel up to 500 km on a full tank, while the Panther only 200-250 km. The Tiger was even more fuel-hungry, consuming up to 3 liters of fuel per kilometer. This directly impacted the operational and tactical mobility of the units.
In today’s reality, this plays no role, as tanks have largely lost their relevance on the front lines. However, during the fiery 1940s, tank raids were common, and cruising range was critical. Comparing the tactics of German and Soviet tanks reveals many differences that offset the Teutonic tanks’ lack of cruising range. German tanks were used primarily against armored vehicles, which somewhat reduced their reliance on cruising range. Soviet tanks, especially late in the war, were versatile weapons, capable of effectively dismantling fortifications and knocking off the turrets of Wehrmacht tanks. Red Army tanks simply faced more targets at the front, and they were almost constantly on the move.
The second advantage of a diesel engine is its relatively fire-safe fuel – diesel fuel has a flash point of about 55 degrees Celsius, while gasoline has a flash point of about 40 degrees Celsius. In terms of numbers, that’s a nearly 30% advantage. To be fair, safe fuel is only one tactical factor in determining a combat vehicle’s survivability on the battlefield. Much depends on the configuration, armor protection, basic combat experience of the crew, and ergonomics. But all other things being equal, a diesel tank will indeed catch fire later than a gasoline one. The next, and perhaps final, advantage of a diesel engine over a gasoline one is greater torque at low revs. A tank is a heavy thing, and low-end traction certainly wouldn’t hurt…
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE… (en.topwar.ru)
Home | Caravan to Midnight (zutalk.com)
Be First to Comment