CZK - VT-34 (vyprošťovací tank)

VT-34

In the years 1957 to 63 were produced over 300 rescue tanks VT-34, while 270 pieces were made retrospectively in the years 1960 - 63. (Production of T-34-85 ended in 1958)

Recovery tank VT-34 was the first special superstructure, which in Czechoslovakia was created on the chassis of the tank T-34-85. Up to the year 1958 to the wrecking and towing tanks only used wrecking tanks on the chassis kořistních machines Pz. In Panther (7 pcs) and tractors of tanks in the form of a modified chassis of tanks T-34-85 (2 pcs), Pz. In Panther (15 pieces) and Cromwell (52 pcs).

Unsatisfactory situation was addressed by developing a salvage tank VT-34 LIFT.
The prototype was created in 1957 and the first machines were to services delivered a year later. Production continued until 1963 with přetržkou in the years 58-60 and in total it was produced more than 300 machines. VT-34 was capable of extricating and evacuating the tank technique with the use of a winch with a thrust of 30 tons, possibly with the use of two pairs of double pulleys up to 120 tons.


Technical description:
Machine the bottom was taken from a tank T-34-85. With the T-34 had the same and the rear part of the hull, which was covering the engine compartment. The front part of the superstructure was new construction, was in her place for a drum of the main winch of the towing ropes and the jobs of two crew members.
The superstructure was formed by weldment of the armour plates that protect the crew from gunfire from light weapons and shrapnel grenades. On the ceiling of the superstructure were placed two entry hatches for the crew. On the right, above the place of the commander is set periscope. Behind them are two other hatches that allow access to the winch. The sides of these covers were the hatches that allowed access to mailboxes with the additional equipment of the tank.
The drum of the reel had a diameter of 1 090 mm in length 1 280 mm. The main steel cables of a length of 128 m and a diameter of 33 mm, it was rated at move 30 tons directly and through three pulleys up to 120 tons. The drum was driven through the auxiliary transmission from the crankshaft of the engine. The main winch is controlled from the driver's seat two paddles. Once handled by running the drum forward and backward and the other was controlled by the common clutch and brake drum. A third lever controlled gear coupling that connected the drive drum with the auxiliary transmission and the engine. The maximum pulling power of a simple rope was, as we know, 30 t, against exceeding this limit, the rope was equipped with a sensor strength, which signaled the crew to an immediate load of the rope. For guiding the rope into the axis of the vehicle, was at the end of the engine cover located so-called cross guide rollers. The consisted of two horizontal and two vertical pulleys. Before this cross was the cleaner of the rope.
The Tank is in the rear part of the folding blade-support, which ensures better stability and the embedding of the recovery tank when tensile forces above 30 t. Its width is 2 300 mm, for her lift and run is used a tow rope, which, with its end-eye caught in the notch of the blade. In the transport position was the blade secured by two turnbuckles and drawn the towing rope.
In the left rear part (in driving direction) was an auxiliary winch, used for handling with the main rope. Auxiliary reel was equipped with rope with a diameter of 8 mm and a length of 240 m. the Maximum pulling power by using this rope was 500 kg. After exceeding this value began to slip the clutch, transmitting torque from the main reel. For proper guidance of the rope of the auxiliary winch served the pulley located on the left rear part of the superstructure of the engine compartment. On the tank were on the outside, placed a variety of auxiliary equipment.
On the right fender behind the superstructure (in driving direction) was affixed box with a portable lamp and with the drum on the extension cable with a length of 240 m. The fenders were also two bars, which are connected to the "In" and serve to drag the immobile techniques. Additional equipment were the two pulleys with clamps, one eye, four hooks "C", and two jacks "Seguro" about carrying capacity of 25 t.
Drive unit formed a standard diesel, water-cooled engine V-2-34, later upgraded to V-2-34M. Volume vezeného fuel amounted to 530 l 350 l in internal tanks and 180 l in the two external tanks on the sides of the engine compartment.
The vehicle was armed with a light machine gun DTM caliber 7,62 mm, operating commander of the vehicle.


Recovery tanks VT-34 were included in the battalions of the technical security of tank and motorized rifle divisions.
Own production in Martin produced from 1960 to 1963 270 of these machines. Data on stocks in JANUARY, however talks about 285 pieces, it is thus clear that the VT-34 were in Martin also rebuilt from standard T-34-85, after their withdrawal of troops and keep it maintained in these states. Generally indicates that the VT-34 was produced over 300 pieces.
VT-34 neexportoval, has served as a model for Polish engineers in the development and production of self-recovery tank CW-34.

All of the above variations on the T-34 chassis you will find in the details on the adrese:https://www.tanxheaven.com/referencepictures.htm.

The VT-34 rescue tank is built on the T-34/85 chassis and is designed for rescuing stranded and towing damaged tanks.
The rescue can be carried out day and night in all weather conditions.

Main parts :
- Winch,
- winch bed,
- gears,
- spur,
- rope controller,
- sensor and tension indicator,
- guide pulley cross,
- winch control,
- rope cleaner,
- auxiliary winch,
- superstructure.

The winch is located in the winch compartment, which is identical to the fighting compartment of the T-34/85 tank. The winch drive is realized by the extension from the engine on the side of the manifold.
The placement of the towing rope on the winch drum with is done by a controller, which is driven by a roller chain from the winch drum.
The Alignment of the rope to the axis of the vehicle is carried out by a cross of the guide pulleys (rope guide), located at the rear of the vehicle. A rope cleaner is located on the cross of the guide pulleys.
The repositioning of the towing rope to the vehicle to be recovered is made possible by the cable of the auxiliary winch.
The tension in the towing rope shall be checked on the tension indicator scale in the driver's compartment. The strain gauge is located on the superstructure behind the winch. When the maximum pull of 30 t is reached, the ratchet located in the driver's compartment is activated.
Anchoring of the VT-34 during its work is done by a folded spur mounted on the rear part of the tank.
The winch is operated by two levers, located in the driver's compartment. The left one controls the reverse of the winch and the right one controls the winch brake.

The winch is assembled :
- Drum,
- the winch axle,
- gear and drive train inside the drum.

Armament :
- machine gun vz. DTM + 15 magazines ( 945 rounds ),
- machine gun - 1 pc ( 150 rounds ),
- hand grenades - 25 pcs,
- 2 kg smoke grenades ( ŠM-1 ) - 10 pcs.

Main technical data :
TTD of the tank are identical to the T-34/85 tank
Tank type : medium, tracked

Dimensions in mm:
Length : 7850
Width : 3000
Height : 2460 ( spur in transport position ) / 2025 ( spur lowered )
Gauge : 2450
Clearance : 400

Weight in kg : 31000
Fuel tank capacity in l :
- Main 407,
- reserve 180.
Range in km:
- on the road : 220,
- off-road : 160,
- rescue : 19.

Speeds in km/hr:
- 55 max,
- communications ( average ) - 30.

Crew : 2 men


Source : Tank-21-2 Vyslobodzovací tank VT-34 Technical description and use - prescription of the Czechoslovak Army, Prague, 1960

...

Pár nakresov zo jeraby.wz.cz

a našliel sa ešte jeden nákres z toho istého zdroja.

VT-34 somewhere in Košice in the past ... while it was equipped.

Tá istá VT-34 v časoch súčastných tiež niekde v Košiciach.

Some details of the rescue tank VT-34 - exhibit Military Museum in Svidník.


[img] https://galerie.valka.cz/data/444/medium/HPIM1026.JPG[/img ]


[img] https://galerie.valka.cz/data/444/medium/HPIM1027.JPG[/img ]


[img] https://galerie.valka.cz/data/444/medium/HPIM1028.JPG[/img ]


[img] https://galerie.valka.cz/data/444/medium/HPIM1029.JPG[/img ]


[img] https://galerie.valka.cz/data/444/medium/HPIM1030.JPG[/img ]
(© Norbert Mogyorósi)

Foceno v Železničním depu Ústí n/Labem .
Soukromý archiv.

VT-34 vo VHM Piešťany, vlastné foto 16.6.2007

VT-34 which is part of the private collection of the brothers Czudkových of the Castle.

source: private photo.

Několík other, more detailed views of the above described machine.

source: private photo .

VT-34 z ověřovací série (?) na mizerném snímku z konce padesátých let.

VT-34 Bratislava 2008
Jde o stroj čerstvě stažený odněkud ze SD. Stojí ještě ten jeden v Košicích



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VT-34 (ČSD?) při odstraňování neštěstí u Přelouče. Přesné datum neznám ( - je to zasláno ve složce nadepsané 70-80.léta )

Tak ještě jednou z Přelouče, ale současnost. Areál firmy zabývající se prodejem vojenské techniky v Přelouči. 6.2.2009

View of the cabin

Košice
Foceno 9.12.2006 při konané akci války.cz

VT-34 v akcii


Zdroj: ATOM 1978 č. 10

The rescue tank was used for the rescue and subsequent towing of stranded tanks and other combat vehicles. In the Czechoslovak army in the first post-war years, there were 7 Cromwell ARV rescue tanks and 13 Bergepanther trophy tanks, which were left on the territory of Czechoslovakia by the German army. Our army used Soviet T-34/85 tanks for these purposes. This situation was not sustainable in the long term. In the event of an army operation, 70-80 battle tanks would have to be allocated for the liberation work.


In 1951, a decision was taken to develop its own recovery vehicle, which was to use the chassis and hull of the T-34/85 medium tank. In the rear part of the hull it was envisaged to mount a folding spur, a blade for anchoring the tank during salvage work. The winch was to be built into the fighting compartment of the hull of the T-34 tank, so that it would be protected from gunfire. In December 1952, the ČKD Sokolovo plant in Prague was designated as the main designer of the rescue tank project under the codename VÝTAH. During the work on the project, several partial modifications were made. The pull on the winch rope was reduced from the original 60 t to 30 t. Almost a year later, the plant presented the final design of the tank, which was approved. The prototype tank itself was completed on 30 June 1954. At the beginning of August the prototype underwent factory inspection tests in the Doksy area. The control tests were carried out from 10 to 15 January 1955 in the Strašice area. The prototype performed 22 medium and 15 heavy actions and passed. Nevertheless, partial deficiencies of the cone reversing gear drive and the flexible coupling had to be corrected. Between April and the end of July 1955, the VT-34 prototype was subjected to military trials at the Mimoň Military Training Area. After passing them, modifications of the vehicle height, superstructure, protection of the winch mechanism against dust and modification of the winch drive, which was to be started also while the engine was running, were proposed. The additional tests did not begin until May 1957, so that the researcher had sufficient time to correct the deficiencies found during the military tests, without revealing more binding deficiencies. Their results showed that the extrication tank could release a vehicle when pulling on a rope up to 20t in 15 minutes and up to 90t in 50 minutes.


The liberation tank was introduced into the armament of the Czechoslovak army as VT-34 in 1958. In the same year, the ČKD Sokolovo plant produced a five-piece verification series. Serial production or conversion of combat T-34/85 to VT-34 was carried out in 1959-1963 at the J. V. Stalin in Martin, where a total of 285 units were produced. All-military divisions and mobilization repair battalions had sufficient numbers of these tanks, which allowed to scrap the original war production vehicles. VT-34s were used in the army until the mid-1970s, when they were gradually replaced by the more modern VT-55A. A smaller number of VT-34s were taken over by the Department of Transportation for train sets to deal with railway accidents.


The VT-34's extrication equipment consisted of a winch, winch bed, gears, spurs, rope stowage, tension sensor and indicator, cross guide pulleys, winch control, rope cleaner, auxiliary winch and superstructure.The total amount of fuel, diesel fuel, was 530 litres, which allowed a driving range of 350 km on roads or an extrication operation of 30 working hours. The tank had a 7.62 mm calibre DTM machine gun and a 7.62 mm calibre submachine gun.



Source : Mgr. Jozef Rodák, VHÚ - VHM Piešt'any - Múz. Department Svidník - "Project ELEVATOR" Obrana No.10 monthly magazine of the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic


Photo : G. Baško

Poznámku kolegy Loskillerose: "VT-34 niekde v Košiciach v časoch minulých ..." si dovolím co pamětník upřesnit: Takto zaparkovaný vyprošťovací tank stával v devadesátých letech minulého století v areálu železniční stanice Košice - Hlavní nádraží v blízkosti trati směřující do Rožňavy.


Díky za krásnou vzpomínku.


P.S.
Má někdo zdokumentovánu verzi VT-34, vzniklou rekonstrukcí samohybky SU-85 (100) ?

Pro Jiřího Tintěru: na výše zmíněné adrese: http://www.tanxheaven.com/referencepictures.htm si můžeš podniknout nostalgický "Walk Around".


Ale teď vážně.
Fotky vyprošťovací SU mám ale pouze ze služby v NDR a PLR, není mi známo, že by nějaká sloužila u nás v ČSLA. Písemné informace jsou i z SSSR, ale to by patřilo spíš jinam a tak to přidám do Nezařazených, DEU a časem snad do samostatné stati věnované T-34.
V nezařazených a DEU jsou pod názvy:
POL - WPT-34 (vůz technické pomoci) foto "WPT-34 SU 00"
GDR (DDR) SU-85/100T (vyprošťovací vozidlo na podvozku SU)

As the author of the photos labeled as "VT-34 from Košice in times past or present" (originals on tanxheaven.com) for completeness I would like to mention that this VT is still standing in the area of the railway station in Košice between the big and small station and I took photos of it last year (2004). The black and white photos are from 1996-97.

Video s VT-34 při vyprošťování T-34
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnhIdMj-Rp8