Military
This WWII Soviet Tank Laid the Foundation For Russia's Modern Tank Program
rusm / iStock via Getty Images
Published: July 30, 2024 10:50 am
24/7 Wall St. Insights:
The Soviet Union’s T-34 tanks won an impressive victory in Kursk
The T-54 and T-55 were some of the most mass-produced tanks ever
The T-14 Armata is the next generation of Russian tank
Also: Discover the next Nvidia
In the years between World War I and World War II, the Soviet Union began its development of armored fighting vehicles, also known as tanks. Although the first few iterations by the Soviets were not successful, these would lay the groundwork for a storied tank program that has lasted more than a century.
One of the first major breakthroughs in Soviet tanks was the T-34 which would be a game-changer. It gained notoriety in World War II, particularly at the Battle of Kursk in 1943, where large numbers of T-34s helped defeat the German forces. (These are the most important events of World War II: a timeline. )
Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the history of Russian tanks. To identify every Russian-made tank, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of tanks from Military Factory. We listed the tanks in chronological order. We included supplemental information from Military Factory regarding the type of tank, armament, manufacturer, top speed, and number manufactured. We excluded prototypes, projects and tanks with limited production runs.
After World War II, the Soviet Union continued developing the generation of tanks with new models like the T-54 and T-55 which would become some of the most widely produced tanks ever. These were followed by even more advanced models which would continue to build on the successes of the past.
In recent years, the Russian Federation has pushed out new models like the T-14 Armata which has seen service in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. They are designed to be even more effective on the battlefield, incorporating advanced armor, powerful guns, and cutting-edge electronics. (Which countries support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. )
Here is a look at every Russian tank ever:
Why Are We Covering This?
Kichigin / iStock via Getty Images
Russia’s historical and current tank developments reflect its status as a major military power. Russian tanks have not only been pivotal in wars but also a tool of diplomatic influence, shaping Russia’s standing on the world stage through both their physical might and strategic deployment.
ChrisO / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Light tank
Year introduced: 1931
Manufacturer(s): Bolshevik Works / GAZ
Armament: 7.62mm machine gun
Top speed: 26 mph
Weight: 3 tons
Type: Light tank
Year introduced: 1931
Manufacturer(s): Factory No. 174 / Stalingrad Tractor Factory
Armament: 45mm main gun, 7.62mm machine gun, 12.7mm machine gun
Top speed: 17 mph
Weight: 10.4 tons
Type: Light tank
Year introduced: 1934
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 45mm main gun, 7.62mm machine gun
Top speed: 32 mph
Weight: 15 tons
Type: Light tank
Year introduced: 1937
Manufacturer(s): Factory No. 37
Armament: 7.62mm machine gun
Top speed: 25 mph
Weight: 4 tons
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Heavy tank
Year introduced: 1939
Manufacturer(s): Kirov Factory
Armament: 76.2mm main gun, 7.62mm machine guns
Top speed: 22 mph
Weight: 49.6 tons
Type: Medium tank
Year introduced: 1940
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 85mm D-5T / ZiS-S-53 main gun, 7.62mm DT MG coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm DT machine gun
Top speed: 32 mph
Weight: 30.9 tons
Type: Light tank
Year introduced: 1941
Manufacturer(s): Factory No. 37 / Factory No. 38 / GAZ
Armament: 20mm TNSh L/82.4 main gun, 7.62mm machine gun
Top speed: 27 mph
Weight: 6.4 tons
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Light tank
Year introduced: 1942
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 45mm 20K main gun, 7.62mm machine gun
Top speed: 28 mph
Weight: 14 tons
David Merrett / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Heavy tank
Year introduced: 1943
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 122mm D25-T main gun, 12.7mm DShK heavy machine gun, 7.62mm machine guns
Top speed: 23 mph
Weight: 56.2 tons
Type: Medium tank
Year introduced: 1944
Manufacturer(s): Factory No. 75
Armament: 85mm D-5T main gun, 7.62mm machine guns
Top speed: 32 mph
Weight: 35.2 tons
Andrew Milligan sumo / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Heavy tank
Year introduced: 1945
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 122mm D-25T main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm machine guns
Top speed: 25 mph
Weight: 50.5 tons
Type: Medium tank
Year introduced: 1949
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 100mm D-10TG main gun, 7.62mm SG MT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm bow-mounted machine gun
Top speed: 30 mph
Weight: 39.7 tons
Type: Amphibious light tank
Year introduced: 1952
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 76.2mm main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun
Top speed: 27 mph
Weight: 16.1 tons
Ferran Cornellà / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Heavy tank
Year introduced: 1953
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 122mm D-74 main gun, 14.5mm KPV machine guns, 12.7mm DShK anti-aircraft machine gun
Top speed: 26 mph
Weight: 57.3 tons
Stocktrek Images/Andrew Chittock / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
Type: Medium tank
Year introduced: 1958
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 100mm D-10 rifled main gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun
Top speed: 31 mph
Weight: 44.6 tons
Type: Medium tank
Year introduced: 1961
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 115mm smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm DShKM anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun
Top speed: 28 mph
Weight: 45.7 tons
Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
Year introduced: 1966
Manufacturer(s): Volgograd Tractor Plant
Armament: 73mm 2A28 smoothbore cannon, 9M14M anti-tank guided missiles
Top speed: 50 mph
Weight: 8.3 tons
Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
Year introduced: 1966
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT bow-mounted machine gun
Top speed: 40 mph
Weight: 13.8 tons
Type: Main battle tank
Year introduced: 1966
Manufacturer(s): Malyshev Factory
Armament: 125mm D-81 smoothbore main gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun
Top speed: 43 mph
Weight: 43 tons
deyanarobova / iStock via Getty Images
Type: Main battle tank
Year introduced: 1972
Manufacturer(s): State Factories
Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
Top speed: 42 mph
Weight: 50.7 tons
Type: Main battle tank
Year introduced: 1976
Manufacturer(s): Omsk Transmash / Malyshev / LKZ
Armament: 125mm main gun, 12.7mm air defense machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
Top speed: 43 mph
Weight: 50.7 tons
Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
Year introduced: 1982
Manufacturer(s): Kurgan Machine Construction Plant
Armament: 30mm 2A42 main gun, 7.62 PKTM coaxial machine gun, 9M113 Konkurs mssile launcher, smoke dischargers
Top speed: 40 mph
Weight: 16.1 tons
Нацгвардія України / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Amphibious light tank
Year introduced: 1985
Manufacturer(s): Volgograd Tractor Plant
Armament: 30mm 2A42 cannon, ATGM missile launcher, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT bow-mounted machine gun
Top speed: 50 mph
Weight: 12.7 tons
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Light tank
Year introduced: 1987
Manufacturer(s): Kurgan Machine Construction Plant
Armament: 100mm 2A70 rifled main gun, 30mm 2A72 coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
Top speed: 43 mph
Weight: 20.6 tons
Mike1979 Russia / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Amphibious light tank
Year introduced: 1990
Manufacturer(s): Volgograd Tractor Plant
Armament: 30mm cannon, 7.62 machine gun, AT-4 ATGW launcher, 5.45mm machine gun, 40mm grenade launcher, smoke dischargers
Top speed: 44 mph
Weight: 14.6 tons
rusm / iStock via Getty Images
Type: Main battle tank
Year introduced: 1995
Manufacturer(s): Uralvagonzavod
Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade discharges
Top speed: 40 mph
Weight: 51.3 tons
Пользователь / Wikimedia Commons
Type: Light infantry fighting vehicle
Year introduced: 2005
Manufacturer(s): Volgograd Tractor Plant
Armament: 100mm main gun, 30mm cannon, AT-5 Spandrel anti-tank guided missile launcher, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 40mm automatic grenade launcher, 5.45mm general purpose machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
Top speed: 43 mph
Weight: 15 tons
Type: Light tank
Year introduced: 2007
Manufacturer(s): Volgograd Tractor Plant
Armament: 125mm 2A75 main gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
Top speed: 43 mph
Weight: 19.8 tons
Type: Multirole tracked armored vehicle
Year introduced: 2013
Manufacturer(s): Uralvagonzavod
Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm coaxial machine gun, 57mm automatic grenade launcher
Top speed: 50 mph
Weight: 55.1 tons
rusm / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Type: Main battle tank
Year introduced: 2016
Manufacturer(s): Uralvagonzavod
Armament: 125mm 2A82 smoothbore main gun, 30mm autocannon, 12.7mm heavy machine gun, 7.62mm machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
Top speed: 50 mph
Weight: 48 tons
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team .