The Christie suspension is a suspension system developed by Walter Christie for his tank designs. It allowed considerably longer movement than conventional leaf spring systems then in common use, which allowed his tanks to have considerably greater cross-country speed and a lower profile. The system was first introduced on his M1928 design, and used on all of his designs until his death in 1942. Christie advocated the use of lightweight tanks with long range and high speed, designed to penetrate enemy lines and attack their inf ...

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Including:

Centurion tank - History Centurion tank - Variants
Centurion tank - UK variants Centurion tank - UK specialist variants Centurion tank - Non-UK variants
Centurion tank - Operators Centurion tank - Combat history

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The cruiser tank (also called cavalry tank or fast tank) was a British tank design concept of the inter-war period. This concept was the driving force behind several tank designs which saw action during the Second World War. Like the ships of the same name, cruiser tanks were fast and mobile, and were designed to operate independently of the slow-moving infantry and their heavier Infantry tanks. Once gaps had been punched in the enemy front by the infantry tanks, the cruisers were intended to penetrate to t ...

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PzKpfw II Ausf. L Lynx The Panzer II was a German tank used in World War II. Designed as a stopgap while other tanks were developed, it played an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns. By the end of 1942 it was largely removed from frontline service. Production of the tank itself had ceased by 1943, but its chassis was used for several other armoured vehicles. Panzer II - History. In 1934, delays in the design and production of ...

Including:

Panzer II - History Panzer II - Armor Panzer II - Armament Panzer II - Mobility Panzer II - Crew Panzer II - Variants
Panzer II - Limited production/development Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. A PzKpfw IIA Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. B PzKpfw IIB Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. C PzKpfw IIC Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. F PzKpfw IIF Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. D PzKpfw IID Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. E PzKpfw IIE Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. J PzKpfw IIJ Panzer II - Panzerkampfwagen II ohne Aufbau Panzer II - Panzer II Flamm Panzer II - 5 cm PaK 38 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Panzer II - 7.5 cm PaK 40 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Marder II Panzer II - Leichte Feldhaubitze 18 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Wespe Panzer II - Munitions Selbsfahrlafette auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Panzer II - Panzerkampfwagen II mit Schwimmkörper Panzer II - 7.62 cm PaK 36r auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. D Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. L PzKpfw IIL Luchs Panzer II - Limited production experiments and prototypes

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BT-5 command tank, with horseshoe antenna around the turret top The Bystrokhodniy Tank (Fast Tank), was a series of Soviet 'cavalry tanks' which were produced in large numbers between 1932 and 1941. They were lightly armoured, but reasonably well-armed for their time, and had much better mobility than other contemporary tank designs. The BT tanks were known by the nickname Betka from the acronym, ...

Including:

BT tank - Production History
BT tank - Variants BT tank - Specifications
BT tank - Combat History BT tank - Technical Legacy

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In 1931 two experimental M1930 Christie tanks without turrets, designated BT-1, were purchased from the U.S. and delivered to the Kharkov Komintern Locomotive Plant (KhPZ). Based on the Christie prototypes, three unarmed BT-2 prototypes were completed in October 1931 and mass production began in 1932. Most BT-2s were equipped with 37mm gun and one machine gun, but shortages of 37mm guns led to some early examples being fitted with three machine guns. The BT-3 a ...

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BT tank, BT tank - Production History, BT tank - Variants, BT tank - Specifications, BT tank - Combat History, BT tank - Technical Legacy

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Panzer II - Limited production/development. Not to be confused with the later Ausf. A (sole difference being capitalization of the letter A), the Ausf. a was the first limited production version of the Panzer II to be built, and was subdivided into three sub-variants. The Ausf. a/1 was first built with a cast idler wheel with rubber tyre, but this was replaced after ten production examples with a welded part. The Ausf. a/2 improved engine access issues. The Ausf. a/3 included improved suspension and engin ...

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Panzer II, Panzer II - History, Panzer II - Armor, Panzer II - Armament, Panzer II - Mobility, Panzer II - Crew, Panzer II - Variants, Panzer II - Limited production/development, Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. A PzKpfw IIA, Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. B PzKpfw IIB, Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. C PzKpfw IIC, Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. F PzKpfw IIF, Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. D PzKpfw IID, Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. E PzKpfw IIE, Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. J PzKpfw IIJ, Panzer II - Panzerkampfwagen II ohne Aufbau, Panzer II - Panzer II Flamm, Panzer II - 5 cm PaK 38 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II, Panzer II - 7.5 cm PaK 40 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Marder II, Panzer II - Leichte Feldhaubitze 18 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Wespe, Panzer II - Munitions Selbsfahrlafette auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II, Panzer II - Panzerkampfwagen II mit Schwimmkörper, Panzer II - 7.62 cm PaK 36r auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. D, Panzer II - Panzer II Ausf. L PzKpfw IIL Luchs, Panzer II - Limited production experiments and prototypes

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The T-35 was developed by the OKMO design bureau of the Bolshevik Factory, which began work on a heavy tank in 1930. Two teams developed separate designs. The team headed by German engineer Grotte worked on the 100-ton four-turreted TG-5 tank, armed with a 107mm naval gun, using pneumatic servo-controls and pneumatic suspension. This project was later cancelled. The concept of large, multi-turreted breakthrough tanks was favored by several European Armies in the 1920s and 1930s. Designs existed in Britain, France, and Germany for such vehicles. The second OKMO team, headed by N. Tsiets, worked on a tank i ...

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T-35, T-35 - Production history, T-35 - Combat history, T-35 - Variants

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65 Cruiser Mk III - Variants. ...

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Cruiser Mk III, Cruiser Mk III - Production History, Cruiser Mk III - Variants, Cruiser Mk III - Combat History

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During World War II, the tank reached new heights of capability and sophistication. The early tanks of Nazi Germany were technologically inferior to many of their opponents' tanks in the areas of armour and firepower. It was in their tactical employment that German tanks dominated all rivals early in the war. German doctrine stressed the use of combined-arms involving mobile infantry and air support, and, after its surprising success during the execution of Fall Gelb, the tactic of the Blitzkrieg (lightning warfare). This doctrine required t ...

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History of the tank, History of the tank - Early vehicles in warfare, History of the tank - World War I: dawn of the tank, History of the tank - Between the wars, History of the tank - World War II, History of the tank - Nazi Germany, History of the tank - United Kingdom, History of the tank - Soviet Union, History of the tank - The United States, History of the tank - The Cold War, History of the tank - Entering the twenty-first century, History of the tank - Media

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In 1943, the Department of Tank Design was asked to produce a new design for a heavy cruiser tank that under the designation A41. After a series of fairly marginal designs in the A series in the past, and after facing the dreaded German 88 mm gun, the War Office asked for a major overhaul, demanding increased durability, reliability, a maximum weight of 40 tons, and the ability to withstand a dir ...

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Centurion tank, Centurion tank - History, Centurion tank - Variants, Centurion tank - UK variants, Centurion tank - UK specialist variants, Centurion tank - Non-UK variants, Centurion tank - Operators, Centurion tank - Combat history

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The first Mark E was built in 1928 by a design team that included the famed tank designers John Carden and Vivian Loyd. The hull was made of riveted steel plates, 1 inch (25 mm) thick at the front and over most of the turrets, and about 3/4 inch (19 mm) thick on the rear of the hull. The power was provided by an Armstrong-Siddeley Puma engine of 80-95 horsepower (60-70 kW) (depending on the version), which gave i ...

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Vickers 6-Ton, Vickers 6-Ton - History, Vickers 6-Ton - Versions, Vickers 6-Ton - External link:

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All suspensions use springs to absorb impacts and dampers (or shock absorbers) to control spring motions. A number of different types of each have been used: Suspension vehicle - Springs. Leaf spring - AKA Hotchkiss, Cart, or semi-elliptical spring Torsion beam suspension Coil spring Rubber bushing Air spring < ...

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Suspension vehicle, Suspension vehicle - Springs and dampers, Suspension vehicle - Springs, Suspension vehicle - Dampers or shock absorbers, Suspension vehicle - Suspension types, Suspension vehicle - Dependent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Independent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Armoured fighting vehicle suspension

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Germany, constrained by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, was not allowed to produce tanks of any kind and only a few armoured cars. In 1926 an unofficial program of tank construction was initiated by Von Seeckt, the commander of the Reichswehr. Built by Rheinmetall-Borsig the first grosstraktor ("big tractor") was similar to the existing British Mk II medium tank, 20 tons with a 75 mm gun. This, and other designs, were tested with Soviet co-operation at a tank school in the Russian Urals. In Germany proper dummy tanks wer ...

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Tanks 1919-1939, Tanks 1919-1939 - United Kingdom, Tanks 1919-1939 - France, Tanks 1919-1939 - Soviet Union, Tanks 1919-1939 - References, Tanks 1919-1939 - Germany, Tanks 1919-1939 - Japan, Tanks 1919-1939 - United States

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T-34 - Revolutionary design. "We had nothing comparable" —Friedrich von Mellenthin (1956) In the 1930s, the most numerous Soviet tanks were the T-26 light tank and the BT series of fast tanks. The T-26 was a slow-moving infantry tank, designed to keep pace with soldiers on the ground. The BT tanks were cavalry tanks, very fast-moving light tanks, designed to fight other tanks b ...

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T-34, T-34 - Production history, T-34 - Revolutionary design, T-34 - Establishing and maintaining production, T-34 - Evolutionary development, T-34 - Cost-effectiveness, T-34 - Variants, T-34 - Table of tank models, T-34 - Combat history, T-34 - Combat effectiveness, T-34 - Importance

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T-34 - Revolutionary design. "We had nothing comparable" —Friedrich von Mellenthin (1956) In the 1930s, the most numerous Soviet tanks were the T-26 light tank and the BT series of fast tanks. The T-26 was a slow-moving infantry tank, designed to keep pace with soldiers on the ground. The BT tanks were cavalry tanks, very fast-moving light tanks, designed to fight other tanks b ...

See also:

T-34, T-34 - Production history, T-34 - Revolutionary design, T-34 - Establishing and maintaining production, T-34 - Evolutionary development, T-34 - Cost-effectiveness, T-34 - Variants, T-34 - Soviet medium tank models of WWII, T-34 - Combat history, T-34 - Combat effectiveness, T-34 - Importance

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All suspensions use springs to absorb impacts and dampers (or shock absorbers) to control spring motions. A number of different types of each have been used: Suspension vehicle - Springs. Leaf spring - AKA Hotchkiss, Cart, or semi-elliptical spring Torsion beam suspension Coil spring Rubber bushing Air spring < ...

See also:

Suspension vehicle, Suspension vehicle - Springs and dampers, Suspension vehicle - Springs, Suspension vehicle - Dampers or shock absorbers, Suspension vehicle - Suspension types, Suspension vehicle - Dependent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Independent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Armoured fighting vehicle suspension, Suspension vehicle - See Also

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The variety of independent systems is greater and includes: Swing axle MacPherson strut/Chapman strut A arm or wishbone suspension multi-link suspension semi-trailing arm suspension ...

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Suspension vehicle, Suspension vehicle - Springs and dampers, Suspension vehicle - Springs, Suspension vehicle - Dampers or shock absorbers, Suspension vehicle - Suspension types, Suspension vehicle - Dependent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Independent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Armoured fighting vehicle suspension

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Suspension systems can be broadly classified into two subgroups - dependent and independent. These terms refer to the ability of opposite wheels to move independently of each other. A dependent suspension normally has a live axle (a simple beam or 'cart' axle) that holds wheels parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axle. When the camber of one wheel changes, the camber of the opposite wheel changes in the same way. An independent suspension allows wheels to rise and fall on their own without affecting th ...

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Suspension vehicle, Suspension vehicle - Springs and dampers, Suspension vehicle - Springs, Suspension vehicle - Dampers or shock absorbers, Suspension vehicle - Suspension types, Suspension vehicle - Dependent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Independent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Armoured fighting vehicle suspension

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Dependent systems may be differentiated by the system of linkages used to locate them, both longitudinally and transversely. Often both functions are combined in a set of linkages. Examples of location linkages include: Trailing arms Satchell link Panhard rod Watts linkage Inboard WOBLink Mumford linkage leaf springs used for location (transverse or longitudinal) In a front engine rear drive vehicle, dependent rear suspension is either "live axle ...

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Suspension vehicle, Suspension vehicle - Springs and dampers, Suspension vehicle - Springs, Suspension vehicle - Dampers or shock absorbers, Suspension vehicle - Suspension types, Suspension vehicle - Dependent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Independent suspensions, Suspension vehicle - Armoured fighting vehicle suspension

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