Starting from 1928, they designed a series of light tanks [MKⅰ~ MKⅳ] for the British army, and also produced corresponding export models. The basic characteristics of these models are that every two load-bearing wheels are a group, suspended by leaf springs or spiral springs, the engine is located on the right side of the car body, the tank has only two occupants, and most models are only armed with machine guns. Among them, the export type is called Vic Skalden-Lloyd four-ton light tank, which is divided into M 1933, M 1934, M 1935, M 1936 and M 1937.
This export model is made in Belgium and numbered T- 15. It was purchased by the Netherlands to arm the Dutch East Indian colonial army. In addition, Latvia, Lithuania, Siam [Thailand], Argentina and Switzerland all bought it, and later equipped the model made in Latvia with 30 mm guns. These cars have also been developed into dual-purpose water vehicles or provide traction services for artillery. The last two British tanks designed by Carden and Lloyd, MK.ⅴ and MK.ⅵ, have three crew members.
In the early 1930s, Poland could only make some poor adzuki bean tanks [developed from the ultra-light tanks of Carden-Lloyd]. However, Poland's weapons development plan requires the development of a light reconnaissance tank with a rotating turret and sufficient firepower, and the Polish army is prepared to replace the existing ultra-light vehicles with this new tank in the near future.
So, in September of 1932, Carden and Lloyd's four-ton tank, amphibious tank and crawler trailer went to Poland to demonstrate. As feedback, Colonel Kosakovschi, the head of Polish engineering department, decided to buy five four-ton tanks and an amphibious tank for further demonstration in May 1933. However, due to lack of funds, the contract finally fell through. But the Polish government did need and decided to own such a new type of tank.
In 1935, the Polish Armored Weapons Testing Center ordered the Polish Ministry of Engineering to design this four-ton reconnaissance tank and an amphibious tank. Hobic, the head of the engineering department, is responsible for designing these two tanks.
1936 12 16, the reconnaissance tank design is completed, and the brand-new polish design based on Carden-Lloyd concept is full of advanced vitality. These advanced designs include torsion bar suspension system and telescopic periscope, and the engine is also completely Polish.
1937 65438+ 10 Poland started 1937 ~ 1042 armored weapons development plan. According to the plan, the Polish army is going to replace the ultralight tanks with new reconnaissance tanks and number them "4TP". Poland plans to build 480 4TP tanks to equip 18 armored reconnaissance company and four independent motorized brigades of infantry division (similar to the early motorized brigades). The latter plans to own 1 4TP armored company and 1kloc-0/0TP armored company.
1937 On August 5th, a prototype reconnaissance tank named "PZIn. 140" was delivered to the Polish military. The prototype is driven by a PZIn.425 gasoline engine (6 cylinders, 95 horsepower). A 300-liter fuel tank is installed at the rear of the car body, with dry dual-disc clutch and mechanical transmission and four front wheels. The driving wheel is in the front and the inducer is in the back. There are four rubber-coated load-bearing wheels on both sides of the car body, each of which is mounted on a torsion bar and has a hydraulic shock absorber (see note). Two rollers on each side support a single-pin track with a width of 260mm (each track has 87 track shoes).
The body of the prototype car is riveted by armor plates, the occupants are located in the left-hand war room, and the engine is located on the right-hand side of the car body. The driver's seat is placed in the front of the war room, and the transmission mechanism is on his right. A single-leaf hatch can be opened in front of the driver and lowered to the front armor. There is also an observation port on this hatch, and the driver can observe through a slit on it. In addition, the driver can also use an advanced design-telescopic periscope to observe (designed by Kundera).
A single rotating turret (located on the left side of the central axis of the car body) is installed in the battle room, and the captain's seat is located in the turret. The rear of the turret is equipped with a Shuang Ye valve, and the top is also equipped with a hatch. The conductor must turn the turret manually, and he also has a retractable periscope. The design team also plans to install a radio station in the production model for vehicle contact.
The car body is riveted with rolled armor. Body thickness is 8 ~ 17mm at the front, 13mm at the side,/kloc-0 ~13mm at the rear, 4 ~ 8mm at the bottom and 5mm at the top. Turret thickness: front, side 13mm, top 5 ~ 6mm. This kind of protection was also good in the tanks of the same class at that time. I believe that the prototype used conventional armored steel instead of low carbon steel.
Polish 4TP light reconnaissance tank