T-10 tank

T-10 Heavy Tank
T-10M at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Kyiv
Type	Heavy tank
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1954–1996 (sources vary)
Used by	Soviet Union Russia South Ossetia
Wars	Cold War Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
Production history
Designer	Jozef Kotin
Designed	1949–53
Manufacturer	Factory 185, Factory 174
Produced	1954–66
No. built	1,439
Specifications
Mass	52 tonnes
Length	7.41 m, 9.87 m over gun
Width	3.56 m
Height	2.43 m
Crew	4 (Commander/Radio Operator, Gunner, Loader, Driver)
Armour	Turret: T-10, A/B: 203 mm@24° to 129 mm@57° T-10M: 230 mm@24° to 137 mm@57° Upper Glacis: 120 mm@55°&40° compound angle 273 mm LoS Lower Glacis: 120 mm@50° 186 mm LoS Upper Side: 80 mm@62° + 30 mm@30° 205 mm LoS Lower Side: 80 mm@10° Rear: 60 mm Mantlet: 252 mm
Main armament	122 mm D-25TA gun T-10M: 122 mm M-62-T2 gun
Secondary armament	2 × 12.7 DShKM machine gun T-10M: 2 x 14.5 KPVT heavy machine gun
Engine	39-l 12-cyl. diesel model V-2-5 700 hp (522 kW) T-10M: 750 hp (559 kW)
Power/weight	13 hp/tonne
Suspension	Torsion-bar
Operational range	250 km/150 miles
Maximum speed	42 km/h (26 mph) T-10M: 50 km/h (31 mph)

The T-10 (also known as Object 730 or IS-8) was a Soviet heavy tank of the Cold War, the final development of the IS tank series. During development, it was called Object 730. It was accepted into production in 1953 as the IS-8 (Iosif Stalin, Russian form of Joseph Stalin), but due to the political climate in the wake of Stalin's death in 1953, it was renamed T-10.^[1]

The biggest differences from its direct ancestor, the IS-3, were a longer hull, seven pairs of road wheels instead of six, a larger turret mounting a new gun with fume extractor, an improved diesel engine, and increased armour. General performance was similar, although the T-10 could carry more ammunition, from 28 rounds to 30 rounds.

T-10s (like the IS tanks they replaced) were deployed in independent tank regiments belonging to armies, and independent tank battalions belonging to divisions. These independent tank units could be attached to mechanized units, to support infantry operations and perform breakthroughs.