Советский ракетный танк ИТ-1: История и недостатки

Soviet missile tank/tank destroyer

The IT 1 (Истребитель танков–1 'Istrebitel tankov–1', lit. 'tank destroyer 1') was a Soviet Cold War missile tank based on the hull of the T 62. The tank fired specially designed 3M7 Drakon missiles from a pop up launcher. It saw a very limited service between 1968 and 1970. The large deadzone around the tank created by the missiles' minimum range combined with the limited amount of ammunition carried made it unpopular with the military. Also, the 520 kg of guidance equipment needed for the missile was impractical. Eventually, the tanks were converted into recovery vehicles. A turbine powered version was also developed named the IT 1T.

Object 150 entered production in 1968 with 220 units made between 1968 and 1970. Its purpose was to provide additional firepower to T 62 tanks. It was designated the IT 1 tank destroyer and issued to battalions at Belarus and Carpathian Military Districts, crewed by tank crews and artillery crews respectively. A variant of the IT 1 was made with a turbine engine, designated the IT 1T. In the time period it spent in active duty, it proved an unpopular vehicle. The low missile count did not sit well with the tank crews and the missiles had a dead zone of around 300–500 meters before the missiles could be guided. The IT 1 was also complicated to use and maintain compared to existing artillery vehicles, a fact that did not sit well with the artillery crews. Though the missile launcher was praised for its long range accuracy, the IT 1 did not sit well with the overall military situation and was discontinued sometime after its deployment in 1972. The remaining missile tanks in inventory were converted to recovery vehicles. Though the missile tanks concept failed, many more attempts were made to incorporate a missile system as a secondary armament onto Soviet tanks, succeeding with the usage of missiles in the 125 mm smoothbore guns on Soviet tanks past the T 64.

The IT 1 had a crew of three, a driver, gunner and commander. It was armed with a pop up missile launcher fitted into a low profile turret along with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with 2000 rounds of ammunition. Twelve 3M7 Drakon missiles were stored in an automatic loader and a further three were stored in an unarmoured box on the back of the turret. Every missile was stored in a storage container in the shape of a long rectangular box. Upon loading of a new missile, a hatch would open on the roof of the turret, with the missile being raised out of the turret by the autoloader. The storage container of the missile would then be jettisoned, allowing the 3M7 Drakon to extend its stabiliser fins, readying the weapon to be fired. The missile was radio command guided, using any one of seven frequencies and two codes. That prevented vehicles within a single unit interfering with each other. It was launched slightly upward, and at an angle to offset any wind drift during the first second of unguided flight. A tracer on the rear of the missile allowed the guidance system to track the missile and transmit radio commands to the missile. The commands were decoded by the missile and translated into deflection of the missiles fins. To ensure night combat capability, night vision equipment was provided, but substantially reduced the missile's range.