TKS

Last updated
TK-3 / TKS
TKS P1010141 2.jpg
TKS tankette
Type Tankette
Place of originFlag of Poland.svg  Poland
Production history
Manufacturer Fabryka Samochodów PZInż.
Produced1931–1939
No. built575
Specifications
Mass2.43/2.6 tonnes (2.39/2.56 long tons; 2.68/2.87 short tons)
Length2.58 metres (8 ft 6 in)
Width1.78 metres (5 ft 10 in)
Height1.32 metres (4 ft 4 in)
Crew2 (commander, driver)

Armor 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in)
Main
armament
7.92 mm Ckm wz.25 Hotchkiss machine gun
2000 rounds
EngineFord A / Polski FIAT-122 petrol engine
40/46 hp (30/34 kW)
Power/weight17/18 hp/tonne (13/13 kW/tonne)
Suspension Bogie suspension
Fuel capacity70+8 l
Operational
range
200 km (120 mi) (roads),
100 km (62 mi) (cross-country)
Maximum speed 40–46 km/h (25–29 mph)

The TK (TK-3) and TKS were Polish tankettes developed during the 1930s and used in the Second World War.

Contents

Design and development

The TK (also known as the TK-3) tankette was a Polish design produced from 1931 based on the chassis of the British Carden Loyd tankette, with an improved hull and more powerful engine, and armour up to 8 mm (0.31 in) thick (10 mm or 0.39 in on the TKS). In 1939, up-arming of the tankettes with nkm wz. 38 FK 20 mm (0.79 in) autocannons began, but only 24 of these were completed before the outbreak of World War II.

On 6 November 1934 Estonia purchased 6 vehicles from Poland, with the contract deal worth over 180,000 krones. The deal also included one additional tracked-lorry, and a motorcycle was given free as a bonus. [1] After the Soviet Union occupied Estonia, these vehicles were put into service with the Red Army.[ citation needed ]

Combat history

TK prototype nr. 6007 in its final form with roof hatches open. According to the TK-3 standard (it might be a rebuilt TK-2). Note a horizontal angle of MG fire and two side observation hatches, present in early series TK-3 only. Tankietka TK-3 z otwartymi wlazami (1-W-1659-5).jpg
TK prototype nr. 6007 in its final form with roof hatches open. According to the TK-3 standard (it might be a rebuilt TK-2). Note a horizontal angle of MG fire and two side observation hatches, present in early series TK-3 only.

575 TK/TKS tankettes formed the bulk of the Polish armoured forces before the outbreak of war. They suffered heavy losses during the invasion of Poland, often being the only armoured fighting vehicles available. Their small size suited them for reconnaissance and infantry support, but with their light armament of a single machine gun they stood no chance in combat against German tanks, except against the Panzer I.

The handful of tankettes armed with 20 mm guns were more effective against enemy tanks; in one instance on 18 September 1939 a 20 mm gunned TKS commanded by Podchorąży [2] (officer cadet) Roman Orlik destroyed two German Panzer 35(t) tanks and a Panzer IV ausf B tank which was commanded by Victor IV Albrecht von Ratibor. [3] [4]

After the conquest of Poland, captured tankettes were used by the German army in various support roles, mostly for training, security duties or as artillery tractors. Many captured tankettes were also used by the Luftwaffe for airfield security and snowplowing. [5] Some were later sold to the puppet state of Croatia. In spring 1941, the National Police received 18 TK-3 tankettes, some with the 20mm gun, while in summer 1941 the Army received 18 TKS, 4 of them being sent to the Ustashe Militia. [6]

A smaller Polish force retreated to (then neutral) Hungary from the German and Soviet troops occupying Poland. This mixed formation had 30 tracked vehicles, of which 15-20 were TKS (contemporary sources did not officially distinguish between TK-3 and TKS). These vehicles were used for training in tank driving and machine gun handling drills. By the end of the war, they were worn out due to the lack of spare parts, so there is no trace of them after early 1944. The crew was able to travel to England with the help of the Hungarian government during 1940. [7]

Variants

TK-3 tankettes during field exercises, 1938. Manewry jesienne na Wolyniu.jpg
TK-3 tankettes during field exercises, 1938.

Experimental models:

The TKS prototype nr. 1160 - note the TK-3 suspension, Ckm wz.30 (Browning) machine gun, a high muffler and lack of a periscope TKS-prototyp.jpg
The TKS prototype nr. 1160 - note the TK-3 suspension, Ckm wz.30 (Browning) machine gun, a high muffler and lack of a periscope

List of registration numbers

A list of registration numbers (might be incomplete):

Users

Surviving TK-series tankettes

TKS tankette in the Polish Army Museum Polisharmymuseum6 DSC1353.JPG
TKS tankette in the Polish Army Museum
TKS tankette in Kubinka Tank Museum TK-S Tankette (37784463982).jpg
TKS tankette in Kubinka Tank Museum

There are only two fully operational TKS tankettes and one TK-3 surviving. All of them were reconstructed from wrecks in the first decade of 21st century, using non-original parts.

The other survivors are not in working order.

Comparable vehicles

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References

  1. Eesti soomusmasinad : soomusautod ja tankid 1918-1940 / Tiit Noormets, Mati Õun Tallinn : Tammiskilp, 1999 Page 52 ISBN   9985-60-692-2
  2. Podchorąży can be also translated as Sub--Warrant Officer
  3. "EDMUND ROMAN. NAJLEPSZY POLSKI PANCERNIAK W II WOJNIE ŚWIATOWEJ". Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  4. Janusz Magnuski: Orlik hits the first in "Za Wolność i Lud" No. 20/1978, p. 15
  5. Panzers in Finland - Kari Kuusala
  6. Mahé, Yann (April 2011). "Le Blindorama : La Croatie, 1941 - 1945". Batailles & Blindés (in French). No. 42. Caraktère. pp. 4–7. ISSN   1765-0828.
  7. Bonhard, Attila; Sárhidai, Gyula; Winkler, László (1992). A Magyar Királyi Honvédség Fegyverzete [Weapons of the Royal Hungarian Defense Forces] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Zrínyi Katonai Kiadó. pp. 104–107. ISBN 963-327-182-7.
  8. "Polish tankettes TK (TK-3) and TKS". derela.pl. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. Axworthy, p. 33

Bibliography