After the Second World War, the arms race has begun.Already in August 1945 dropped the first nuclear bomb.The radiation burnt hell inhabitants of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the superpowers began active development and production of nuclear weapons and the protection of it.What tasks were put before designers and scientists, we can only guess, but some projects have received a total fame.Some kinds of bombs, engineering, medicine has learned from the newspapers of fragmentary information.
New weapons
nuclear weapons has a large number of damaging factors, unique to him in the middle of the XX century were not.In addition to the explosion and the huge temperature occurring in the midst of transforming the metal and the water was still a blast, which hits the house and turns any equipment, radiation burns the eyes of the living, electromagnetic pulse burned out electronics, and penetrating radiation finishing off all that was still aliveeven many years later.
Neither walled bunkers or metal alloys or multimeter strata of the earth could not be reliably protected from the consequences of such a strike.
tanks not only not afraid of dirt
Tank - an armored machines with crawler chain, has a crew of 5 to 3 people.Good overcomes roads has weapons for destruction of machinery and manpower.As shown by the first tests, this kind of technology (especially if it was a heavy tank), the most resistant to a nuclear explosion.The thickness and weight of armor can withstand the explosive wave, partially protected from the electromagnetic pulse and radiation.The crew gets enough time to carry out the life of a combat mission.It sounds cruel, but the war posed problem often valued above human life.
number 279. The object and its history
In the USSR, it was very interesting to the development of military equipment, the Ministry has issued the necessary performance characteristics, and designers puzzled over this task.In 1956, the same scenario of the USSR Ministry of Defense has filed a new TTX tank.There were exhibited frame by weight of 50-60 tons and armament in the form of 130-mm guns.Quest received design bureau of the Leningrad Kirov Plant and Chelyabinsk tractor.While heavy Soviet tanks were represented by the following line: IP-2, IP-3, IS-4, T-10.None of them did not meet the requirements of the time.To oppose NATO tanks was nothing.Only the T-10 (after modification of T-10M) has become a worthy rival to the American M103 and the British "Conqueror".We know about several projects of the time, such as "Object 770", "Object 279", "Object 277".
Unlike other competitors in the main place heavy tank, "Object 279" was a completely new design, instead of refining and improving old ones.LS Trojans from the Leningrad Bureau led the work on the project 279. The facility was designed to conduct combat operations in the difficult terrain and the use of nuclear weapons.
Specifications "Object 279»
Tank "Object 279" had a standard layout with 11.5 cu.m under the armor and crew of 4 members.Armor for its time was the most perfect and does not break even at close range.The frontal armor was 192 mm, inclined at 60 degrees and had a corner tuck 45 degrees, so the thickness of armor reached half a meter.The housing consists of four massive components, the tower-molded in the shape of a hemisphere, flattened, had a uniform armor belt, reduced thickness reached 800 mm.It was a record level of protection without the combined booking.
On arms stood rifled cannon 130 mm M-65 and paired him KPVT.M-65 has been slit muzzle brake, ejector barrel blowing with compressed air.The armor-piercing tracer leaves such an instrument with a speed of 1000 m / s muzzle energy greater than 1.5 times the current 120-125 mm smoothbore gun, it was indeed a Soviet pilot supertank."Object 279" was also a cassette-loading semi-automatic, which brings the rate up to 5.7 shots per minute.Unfortunately, space for ammunition is low: only for 24 rounds and 300 rounds of ammunition for the machine gun.
systems of reference and fire control, as well as the usual sights and night were the most perfect in the production machines are only appeared in the late 60s.
heavy tank on the highway developed a speed of 50-55 km / h, and the range was 250-300 km.Chassis had no analogues.Instead of two tracks, this tank had four rollers distributed in such a way that virtually no clearance, the mass on the support area is so small that the possibility of landing on the ground is absent.
addition to armor, weapons and motor tank had the best system of protection against radiation, chemical and biological hazards.There were also fire-extinguishing systems and equipment termodymovaya.
Test "Object 279»
In 1959, tests were carried out of the tank under the code number 279. The object proved to be not the best way.They were identified deficiencies in the chassis.The car was sluggish, the rate drops sharply on cohesive soils.Repair and maintain such equipment is very difficult.It became clear that the "Object 279" will not work in the series, it was the most expensive and unaffordable project.His place had to take the "Object 277" or "Object 770".
End of the development of heavy tanks put Khrushchev when, after a demonstration of military equipment in 1960 forbade method for the armament of tanks heavier than 37 tons. But because of this, until the appearance of the T-80U experimental supertank "Object279 "was the most powerful in the world.Who it is the only surviving copy of the armored vehicles in the museum in Kubinka.
Strategy War
After the Second World War and the fighting tactics of the general strategy of the war much changed.It became clear that the development of modern fortifications break competently delivered defenses can only be a lot of blood.The history of Soviet tanks and weapons clearly it shows.The Soviet Union had a few army sapper, who was converted in a short time any piece of land in the area impassable.A striking example was the Leningrad.From the history of breakthrough Brusilovsky only stands out for its efficiency and relatively small losses.Soviet troops in Finland surprised everyone, in severe weather conditions, when drifts above the head, under the snow swamp, and a cold, the food is transformed into stone, they still was pressed defense.After these events, to break the fortifications has been launched production of special concrete-piercing shells.
advent of nuclear weapons has changed tactics.They began to appear the idea that not necessarily break through the defense equipment or manpower.The largest concentration of protective structures explodes nuclear device, resulting in a breakthrough rush troops to chemical protection means.Supertank "Object 279" came in handy for such purposes.The logic is clear, but at that time the country did not have enough experience in dealing with nuclear energy.
nuclear tests
nuclear testing began with reset States bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.America has shown its strength and challenge.The Soviet Union could not respond.After the war, he established a number of institutions dealing with the creation of a nuclear bomb.Central to this issue was Kurchatov.It was thanks to him that the Soviet Union was its nuclear shield and developed infrastructure for the use of nuclear energy.America has ceased to be a leader on this issue, and a possible third world war was only a cold.
Totskiy landfill
Perhaps the most terrible nuclear weapons tests were carried out in the USSR on Totsky range 14 September 1954 In the early 50s the United States during the military exercises conducted their testing of nuclear weapons, and the political leadership of the union has decided to follow suit.Perhaps already had an idea about a Soviet pilot supertank."Object 279" - only one known to us.
Initially, scientists were going to spend at Kapustin Yar, but Totskiy safety parameters was higher.The exercises were called "Snowball", and led them by Marshal Georgy Zhukov.Spring has begun large-scale preparations for them, and includes the evacuation of residents of nearby villages.
on the teachings of observers arrived from different countries and from the Union marshals war Rokossovsky, Malinovsky, Konev, Baghramyan, Vasilevsky, Tymoshenko, Budyonny, Voroshilov.There was also Defence Minister Bulganin and, of course, the first secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Nikita Khrushchev.
At the landfill was built a whole city in its different points left live animals to them and then learn about the consequences of a nuclear explosion.Evil tongues say that there were prisoners sentenced to death.Around the makeshift city located defensive fortifications and their border troops waited in the wings.
Pilots drop bombs, received awards and early calling.What awaited the soldiers?After the explosion, the troops rushed to the affected area.At the time, considered to be the main factor affecting the shock wave, and special protection from radiation in humans was not.
at the landfill were all kinds of ground equipment: cargo, artillery, machine maintenance and, of course, the Soviet tanks.Also took part 45 thousand. Soldiers.Most of them died in the next 10-15 years.On the doctrine of imposed "top secret."By 2004, of the participants in the Orenburg region survived 378 people.
During the exercises the wind changed its direction and brought a cloud in the direction of the city.The effects of radiation in varying degrees have been residents of the seven districts of the Orenburg region.What are the implications of this is done in the Soviet Union, it is anyone's guess, but this test is not stopped, and after a year and a half received an order for a new tank - "Object 279".
Unrealized projects
Unfortunately, heavy tank "Object 279" was only a draft and the museum exhibit.In general, many of these projects.The famous game World of Tanks has made many of them are well-known.For example, the German Maus, the heaviest tank of the Second World War.It was created two instances, neither participated in the battles, but could budge only one of them.Now the Russian Museum is Maus, assembled from parts fit two tanks.
Such projects capture the imagination, they are very ambitious, in violation of accepted principles, but a high cost, or simply unviable machines condemn them to the existence of the museum.However, they do their job, based on them create new and better option.
plot for postapokalipsisa
Throughout the now famous and international cycle of books "Metro 2033" The presence of various military equipment, "Tigers", "Wolves", the T-95, BTR-82 and even the car tank support "Terminator".Supertank "Object-279" optimally fit into the criteria postapokalipsichesky world, he has a unique system throughput and protection against radiation.It is only a matter of time, of the writers who include in the story such zest, and in fact "Object 279" just one.
Modern technology
Modern armored necessarily have protection against radiation and chemical exposure.If there is no filter, the minimum provided for sealing the interior.Full protection will raise several times the cost of equipment.Everyone understands that the masks, tablets antirada, UGC, thicker armor and sealing salon in real combat conditions only prolong the life of the crew, but will hide from the consequences.But when behind Russia and nowhere to retreat, and that's enough.
