Tsar Tank Bashny.Net

This is the largest ever built tanks called "tank Lebedenco", "King-tank" (it has financed the creation of Tsar Nicholas II), "Bat" (vampire bat). This 40-ton machine was invented in 1914 by engineer Lebedenko. Its big wheels reach 9 meters in diameter. The designers hoped that the combination of large and small wheels allow the tank to cross any obstacle. In the first test a small wheel bogged down in a ditch, and the engine did not cope with this simple obstacle.





In the development of a private laboratory Lebedenko attended N. Zhukovsky and his nephews, Stechkin and AA Mikulin. Two engines "Maybee" were to provide the speed of movement of the killer machines - 17 km / h. It was planned to supply these tanks to the front first, all the calculations were carried out, and a wooden model, which the inventors have demonstrated Nicholas II. It made an impression on him, and the king allocates 210,000 rubles for the further work on the tank. At the end of July 1915 it was made part of the body and began the assembly. Production was located 60 km from Moscow. Weight exceeded settlement tank and a half times, as was used in the production of thicker metal. High Commission in August 1915, arrived to take the prototype. Originally selected engines proved to be too thin, the tank did not pass the test. Mikulin and Stechkin developing new engines and repeated tests carried out in 1916. But tests found out that the size of the tank makes it too vulnerable to the enemy. Financing and, consequently, work on the tank shall be suspended.
After the revolution in 1923, understands the tank for scrap. This neudavshasya attempt in the history of tank development to this day remains the largest tank - Tsar Tank



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