MS Tank

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MS / T-18 The MS tank prototype was completed in May 1927 and entered series production the same year at the Leningrad Bolshevik plant. It entered service with the Red Army in 1929 as the T-18. The T 18 was the tank with which Russian industry moved towards mass tank production, with some 962 in service with the Red Army by 1931. Later modifications were designated MS-2 and MS-3, though the generic T-18 designation was used for all models. The original T-18 M-1927 featured a small turret without a bustle and was powered by a 35hp T-18 engine, giving the tank a reasonable speed (in comparison with the KS) of 22km/hour and a maximum range of 120km. In 1929 the tank was provided with a larger turret with bustle (originally planned to have a 37mm gun), a new engine developing 40hp, and new tracks with grousers. DT machine guns replaced the Federov weapons mounted on earlier models. In 1937 the T-18 underwent a further modernisation programme at Zavod No37 in Moscow, resulting in the T-18M, powered by a GAZ M1 engine developing 50hp with a gearbox taken from the T-38 and featuring a reconfigured engine deck and hull rear. In 1938 a number of T-18’s were transferred to border regions of Russia and were armed with a 45mm tank gun as an expediency measure, some of these tanks taking part in the opening stages of the “Great Patriotic War”. Around 70 serviceable T-18's were also converted with 45mm guns for mobile use. The T-18 initially saw action in the conflict in Manchuria in November 1929. In 1938 all T-18's were placed in long-term reserve storage. A small number of T-18’s survive today, most of which are incorrectly restored. Several feature replacement tracks, consisting of PT-76 tracks cut in half. Model Id: 2020 Manufacture: Factory 185 Kirov, Saint Petersburg, Saint Petersburg and Novgorod Region, Russia (Sole manufacturer 1927-31) 1) Kubinka NIIBT Research Collection - Soviet Vehicles, Kubinka, Russia Number of Photos: 1 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 344 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: This tank is in full running order and is occasionally displayed at Kubinka open days. It is believed that it may also be the third MS that was previously on display at the Central Armed Forces Museum.

2) Fort IX Czerniaków, Mokotów, Poland Number of Photos: 0 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 2227 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification:

3) Snegiri Museum of Military History, Lenino, Russia Number of Photos: 0 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 2357 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: