World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe T-28 tanks were among the world's first medium tanks, having entered production at the Kirov Plant in Leningrad, Russia in Aug 1933, about two years after the first prototype was completed. The design was also the world's first to feature a radio as standard factory equipment. Each T-28 medium tank had one large turret housing a 76.2-millimeter gun and two small turrets housing 7.62-millimeter machine guns. They first saw combat during the German-Soviet joint invasion of Poland, then they were used in the Winter War against Finland. During these actions it was discovered that the T-28 medium tanks lacked adequate armor, thus orders were immediately given to increase the forward hull plating thickness from 50 millimeters to 80 millimeters; the side and rear armor were also increased to 40 millimeters. When German invaded the Soviet Union, the Red Army had 411 T-28 medium tanks in operational status, a great many of which were destroyed, disabled, broke down, or abandoned during the first two months of the war. Production ceased in 1941 as Leningrad became surrounded by German forces; between 1933 and 1941, 503 T-28 medium tanks were built.

ww2dbaseIn 1935, Turkey purchased two T-28 medium tanks; they were assigned to either the Turkish 1st Tank Regiment or the Turkish 2nd Cavalry Division. During the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, one T-28 medium tank was given to the Spanish Republican forces.

ww2dbaseDuring the war, Finnish forces captured two T-28 medium tanks during the Winter war and an additional five in the Continuation War; several of them were pressed into service briefly. Hungary captured one in the summer of 1941, and it was similarly pressed into service. The Germans captured a number of them, and at least one was pressed into service under the designation Panzerkampfwagen T-28 746(r).

T-28 Timeline

SPECIFICATIONS

T-28

Machinery	One Mikulin M-17 12-cylinder engine rated at 500hp
Suspension	Twin bogies with plunger springs
Armament	1x76.2mm kt28 gun (70 rounds), 3x 4x or 5x7.62mm DT machine guns (8,000 rounds)
Armor	30mm, later upgraded to 40-80mm
Crew	6
Length	7.44 m
Width	2.87 m
Height	2.82 m
Weight	28.0 t
Speed	37 km/h
Range	220 km

Photographs

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2.  C. Peter Chen says:
21 Sep 2011 04:07:14 AM

Thanks, the typographical error has been fixed!