T-24 tank

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The T-24 was a Soviet medium tank designed in 1930 and built in 1931 at KhPZ in Kharkov. About 24 tanks were produced, and none saw combat. It was the first tank made at KhPZ, a factory that would later produce the successful BT, T-34, and T-54 families. The T-24 was meant to fill the gap between light and heavy tanks and competed with the Tank Grotte-1 (TG-1), which Soviet designers later called the T-22.

Armament and design: the T-24 carried a 45 mm Model 32 gun as its main weapon, plus three 7.62 mm DT machine guns (one in the hull, one in the turret, and one in a small turret atop the main turret). It had armor of 8–20 mm, a 250 hp gasoline engine, and a top speed of about 25 km/h. Its suspension design would later be used for early Soviet artillery tractors.

Why it failed: engine and transmission reliability problems and overall manufacturing complexity led to cancellation after limited production. Some tanks were kept for training and parade use. The project, however, gave KhPZ valuable production and design experience that helped the later success of the BT and T-34 programs.

Key facts
- Type: Soviet medium tank
- Crew: 5
- Weight: 18.5 tonnes
- Dimensions: Length 6.50 m; Width 3.00 m; Height 2.81 m
- Armor: 8–20 mm
- Armament: 45 mm Model 32 gun; three 7.62 mm DT machine guns
- Engine: 250 hp
- Speed: 25 km/h
- Range: 140 km
- Produced: about 24 in 1931; none saw combat