OKB Grigorov V72032 Soviet Light Tank T-50, Factory No. 174 Chkalov 1941-42

The first prototypes of the T-50 light tank were made in 1941. In the same year, mass production started, which, however, ended in 1942 with the production of only about 60-70 copies. The T-50 tank was powered by a 300hp W-4 engine. Its main armament was a 45 mm tank gun (mounted in a rotating turret), and its auxiliary armament was two 7.62 mm DT machine guns. The T-50 tank was created as a successor to another light tank of the Red Army - the T-26. Work on it began as a result of the disastrous experiences that the Soviets gained in the Winter War with Finland in 1939-1940. The designers of the new car used many solutions and ideas from the T-34 medium tank, e.g. sloped frontal armor. Due to the small mass production, the T-50 tank was used to a marginal extent during the war with the Third Reich. He fought mainly in the Leningrad region, where the Soviet troops also lost all vehicles of this type. Single copies were used by Germany and Finland.