1. ARMY TANKS AND TANK EQUIPMENT 2. EQUIPMENT OF MISCELLANEOUS UNITS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000400490004-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2013
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 9, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
bylaw.
C ?0 -N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
Poland
1, Army. Tanks
2. Equipment
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REPORT NO. 50X1
and Tank Equipment DATE DISTR.
of Miscellaneous Units
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
10
9 May 1955
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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Attached is
as received
LIBRARY SUBJECT AND AREA CODES (18)
3-02-0406 5/55
261.721
261.716
261.713
261.725
261.715
261.718
261.724
261.7211
261.721
261.717
26i .723
261.725
264.6(
5M
55m
55m
55m
5514
55m
514.3 55m
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COUNTRY Poland
SUBJECT 1. Army Tanks and Tank Equipment
2, Equipment of Miscellaneous Units
DATE OF INKAMATION 50:00
PLACE ACQUIRED
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
REPORT
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DATE DISTR. 28 mar 1955
NO. OF PAGES )
REFERENCES:
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Tanks, Tank Equipment, and Other Equipment of Polish Arm (
P-76
!. Lecturers at the OCS in Poznan stated that this vehicle was no longer 1n
production in the USSR. The OCS used the SU-76 only as a training aid in
order to conserve the other more modern armored standard ehicles such as
the T-340 JS-2, etc. two types of the SU-76, one conventional
and one mounted-On ,a standard T-34 chassis, the latter
was not a T- 4 6 tank i it had an o en fi
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3.
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.fj8-21 122-mm Heavy. Tank
on the JS-tank:
Three MG, DTMs 7.62 -mm, with 35 magazines of-ammunition.
One. NM., DShK 1247.imm? with a K87? sight and 1000 rounds of
Ammunition.
information relative to. the secondary arma-
Two SMG' s, 7.62-um PPS M1943.
Four pistols, TT Tokarevs 762-mm, MI933.
Twenty hand .grenades, F-1.
One Very pistol with 16 to 20 rounds of assorted colors.
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ReavY Tank
4.
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zary tzars** 5L-3tii E 15 -09) or ZegAn (SaganN '51-37, .S 15a49),
t4o,bth Nv, Tkritogt etatiened t
?eguiPPe with
500 J.54.4J hear*.
tankS,
44 An offieer lestUrer at the OCS told the eandidates turret of
500 the JS -3 would freeze if hit bY gunfire anywhere near the turret ring.
7. the reason the JS-3 heavy
tank was rarely, seen in Polish, armored units was because it was either
50)0 unserviceable due to some manufacturing defect or ,a _military secret.
S. data on the interior of the JS -3 heavy tanks:
Stowage of Ammunition
(1) Ammunition tor the 122-mm gun was stored bith in the turret
and h11. About 16 projectiles and four. or,:five cariridge,
eases were Stored at the rear of the turret along the tUrret
ring. Special receptacles, partially padded with rubbers
were. provided which protected the projectiles and cases from
damage and prevented their moving or shifting. The reason
for the difference in the number of projectiles and cartridges
stored in the turret was that the size of the eartridge case
,prehibited storing, more than four or five in the turret where-
as the projectiles were relatively small.
(2) Additional projectiles and cartridge cases were stored in metal
boxes on the floor of the tanks directly below the turret. To
prevent their moving or shifting, the metal boxes were secured
to the floor by metal screws. The spent cartridge _eases were
inserted into the box in order to keep the fighting compartment
free. No exact figures could be given by source relative to
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types and number of rounds carried in the JS-3 heavy tank.
b. Fuel Tanks
(1) There were four external and four internal fuel tanks on the a 3
tank. One of_ the external tanks and-one of the internal tanks
contained engine oil, whereas the other tanks contained diesel
fuel. Locationsof the internal tanks were as follows Two tanks
were in the hull, one on each side, at a point approximately where
the front track return roller was secured;., two tanks were in the
engine compartment and were positioned on both-sides of the engine.
Four external tanks were attached to the exterior of the tank, two
on each side, and visible.
(2) The capacity or dimensions of the fuel tanks could not be given
by source. However, he stated that the tank could travel from
250 to 300 km without Awing the exterior fuel tanks.
(5) The exterior fuel tanks were filled by removing a threaded cap,
which was located at the top center of the tank. A funnel with a
fine mesh screen was used when filling the tank. The threaded
? cap was secured to the fuel tank by a small chain to prevent its
loss.
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the external fuel tanks were not jettisoned
tut were removed and stored at an assembly area prior to engaging
in combat. This point was brought out several times during his.
OCS training and he added that all armored troops were instructed
along these lines.
0. Steering and Turret
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the steering mechanism employed in the
JS-5 was the controlled differential type. Steering controls con-
sisted of two levers, each lever controlling a track. The t nk
was maneuvered by braking one track.
(2) The steering levers, gear shift and accelerator were located in
the same position as in" the JS-2 heavy tank.
(5) The turret could be traversed both manually and electrically. The
turret motor was located on the left side of the turret wall.
(4) Power traversing controls consisted of a round knurled wheel,
measuring approximately eight centimeters in diameter. This
'wheel was located on the turret wall, to the left of the gun.
Both the tank commander and the gunner used the same control wheel.
Over-riding controls for the tank commander were not provided. The
control wheel was calibrated and was turned right or left to tra-
verse the turret. According to source, the turret traversed fas-
ter the control wheel was turned further .right Or ,leftfroo
the. teroHpointo which indicated the existence of a.rheostat.
d. Other Features
(1) A rectangular or circular escape hatch was located on the floor
of the tank, and positioned slightly to the right and rear of the
tank driver's seat. The turret was dome shaped and did not have
? &turret basket. Tank commander's and gunner's seats revolved
with the turret. Both of these seats were on the left side of the
gun.
CONFIiENTIAL
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(2) Ammunition drums for the DTM, 7.62-mm MG were stored in the
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T-34/100 Tank
a. In overall ?appearance the T-34/100 tank was very similar to the
500 T-34/85 medium tank.
50X1 the T-34/100 was slightly lower and had a wider turret than the
T-34/85.
b. The turret and sides of this tank appeared to have a greater slope,
and the armor had a much smoother finish.
c.
Suspension was of the conventional T-34 type with no modifications
noted.
d. Primary armament consisted of a 100-mm gun of an unknown type and
50X1 manufacture. the tube was somewhat longer and
heavier than the 85-mm gun. A muzzle brake was not employed. How-
ever, a.reinforcing ring was present at the muzzle end of the tube.
e. Secondary armament consisted of three MGs, DTM, 7.82-mm, mounted as
follows:
One MG Coaxially with the main armament.
One MG in front of the hull.
One MG extending through the turret at the rear.
f. In addition to the MG's, the tank carried two PPS SMG,6, 7.62-mm,
M1943; one Very pistol; and 25 F-1 hand grenades.
The turret was controlled electrically and had a separate motor for
this purpose. ?The turret could also be controlled manually,
,114 To accommodate the lirger caliber gun, a heavier or "beefed-up"
50m recoil mechanism was used
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The tank engine was deerribed
installed in the T-34/85 tank. Th
was the addition_of,a model
lieu of the model NK-1 employed on
tank.
as the same as 4-he engine
only modification
NK-10 high, pressure oil pump in
the engine of the T-34/85 medium
armor thickness
thought it to be the same as the T-34/85.
The crew of the new tank consisted of five men: the tank commander,
driver-mechanic, assistant driver-mechanic gunner, and loader.
T-34/100 tanks
were to be isgued only to separate tank battalions of the Polish
Army. However, since the turret and recoil mechanism of the T-34/100
tank was weak and could not absorb the strain of the heavier caliber
_gun (100-mm), the T-34/00 tanks would not be produced in quantity
until these deficiencies were corrected.
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T-34 Medium Tank (Polish Manufacture)3
10. first tank in the summer of 1953 at an officer's tank
50X1 emote ration given by the 16th Mecz Div at Czarne for the purpose of
50X1 orienting officers of various branches of the service with new.equip-
ment_in the Polish Army, this tank
50X1 had been manufactured by the Joseph Stalin Foundry (Huta Imienia jozefa
50X1 Stalina at Labedy (N 50-20, E 18-37).
50X1 the Polish medium tank was designated as a T-34/45 or
8-0X1 and was an improved version of the Soviet T-34/85 medium tank.
50X1 the tank to have an 85-mm gun. The lecturer read its
arac.ca from a notebooks and
its characteristics, capabilities and periormance were similar to the
T-34/85 medium tank produced by the USSR. From a distance of 50 m,
the Polish version appeared to be like a typical Soviet T-34/85 medi-
um tank..
11. The following differences between the Polish model and the Soviet model
were noted
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a. Exterior armor finish was much smoother on the
b. The Polish model had two smoke canisters mounted at the rear of
the. tank. The canisters had a capacity of about 20 liters and
could be electrically ignited and dropped by the tank crew. litIori
ignition, they reacted as large smoke pots and created a smoke
screen, under which the tank could safely avoid enemy gunfire and
escape
c. The Polish model had locking bands and retaining springs, which
were secured in place at the end of the track pins, and served to
prevent the track pins from coming loose and throwing a tank track.
d. The Polish model came equipped with additional track shoes, which
were estimated to be approximately one-third the width of the reg-
ular track. These extra track shoes could be attached to every
other track section whenever the occasion arose to cross swampy or
extremely soft ground. This reportedly increased the tank's flo-
tational characteristics:
e.
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The Polish model had a modified transmission, which.provided an
additional gear or forward speed. The gear enabled the tank to
travel at a minimum of two kilometers per hour and negotiate turns
at this speed. Thus, with the increase in torque, the gear allowed
the tank to cross extremely rough and/or swampy terrain and still
fire while moving.
f. The turret was operated manually and electrically, with the tank
commander haviug_over-riding controls over the gunner. The tank
-commander's periscope had a sighting scope incorporated in its
mechanism. This sight enabled the tank commander to aim the gun
with about 80% of the accuracy of the genners telesoope. This
enabled the tank commander to indicate a target readily for the
gunner who could make the finer adjustments needed on his own
5M0 sight.
50X1 the periscope was of tubular design rather than the
conventional box design found on US armored vehicles.
g. The Polish model of the T-34/85 contained a new type of direct
? sighting telescope of Soviet design which desig-
50:00 nated as a TSh-17. (See paragraph 12 for details
concerning this telescope.)
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h. Secondary armament consisted of two DTM 7.62-mm MO's (mounted in
the same manner as on a Soviet T-34/85 medium tank); two PPS
7."62-mm SMG's model 19433 one Very pistol with 16 to 25 rounds of
assorted colors; and 25 F-1 hand grenades. One MG was equipped
with-the standard PPU-8T sight.
considering the apparent duplication of the models
and the absence of any major modifications, it-was very likely that
the Soviets had furnished the blueprints and perhaps the necessary
equipment to produce these tanks at Labedy.
New Type Direct Sighting Telescope, Model TSh-174
the Teh-17 telescope was gradually rIplacing the
TSh-15 telescope on the JS-2 122-mm heavy tank, the 122-*m and 152-mm
SP guns, and the medium tank being produced at Labedy.
similar
adjust.
in general appearance the new telescope was very
but that it was more, versatile and simpler to
to the I8h.-4.5
information on the T6h-t17:
a. Gharacteristioss
Power of Magnification 2X (estimated)
Overall length 80 to 90 cm
Overall Weight About 17 kg
Field of View Unknown
Optical System _Believed to be generally the same
as that used_in the TSh-15 with
the exception of the type and
location of the reticle.
Filters None
Reticle Light Yes
Eyeguard Made of soft rubber) with a
rubberized head rest.
b. 'Reticle
(1). A new type of reticle pattern was used which had graduations
for HE (fragmentary), two types of AP ammunition (AT and HVAP)?
and a graduated scale on the right side of the reticle for use
with the DTM 7.62-mm MG. (See page 9 for a memory sketch of
the reticle pattern.)
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(2)
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only one adting knob, which was located
at the eyepiece end of the telescope. The adjusting knob,
when turned, mc)Jed the center line in the reticle up or down.
(Note: it seemed that there
were two reticles, one having the various scales and tic marks
and the other having only a horizontal line.
?
The reticle was located in the center of the telescope in an
assembly described as an "Aiming Angle Box". The
purpose of this box was to provide a means of adjusting the
reticle to coincide with the optical axis of the sight and the
axis of the, gun tube.
(4) For adjustment purposes, the gun tube was first bore sighted,
using a standard muzzle bore sight, on targets 25 and 800 m
distart. The telescope and the gun were then zeroed by adjust-
ing the reticle pattern onto corresponding points of the tar-
get The reticle was adjusted by using three keys, one which
Measured seven millimeters and the other two slightly larger
In size. These keys were permanently attached near the tel-
escope by small chains in order to prevent their loss.
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Urldentified New Tae of 5MG5
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15.
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17.
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18.
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saw about 12 SMO's of o type which never encountered before.
these weapons were identical to the Soviet 7.62-mm,
SMG, PPS M1943, except that a wooden stock was used in place of the
usual metal folding stock.
from its
Polish-like letter and serial numbers located on the receiver, deemed
to be of Polish manufacture. No other stamps or marks were noted
several soldiers equipped with these SMG's while on
guard duty at the Military Technical Academy in Warsaw. No' further in-
formation.
Equipment of Miscellaneous Units
with the exception of the 7.62-mm TTTokarev
Pistol manufactured or assembled in Poland, all of the weapons, equip-
ment, vehicles, and motorcycles had been produced in
the USSR subsequent to WW II.
19.. During the spring of 1953, the 41st Armd Arty Regt at Czarne received
six unused JS-2 heavy tanks but gave about seven used JS-2 heavy tanks
50X1 to an unidentified heavy tank battalion which had just been activated
at or near Czarne.
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20. During 1951, the 9th Ind Med Tk Regt ex-
changed all but three or four of their 76-mm SP guns for an unknown
number of T-34/85 medium tanks, JS-2 heavy tanks ,and 122-mm SP guns.
The three or four 76-mm SP guns which were kept were utilized only for
thew arrived by rail
and that the tags attached to the tanks contained Cyrillic writing,
which led him to believe that they came from the USSR.
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50:00 practical instruction purpo7es. n order to conserve the newly ex-
50)0 changed tank-and SP guns.
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Comments
Since the information on other armored vehicles
such as the SU-76, SU-85, SU-100, SU-122 03-;5S), JSU-152, T34/76,
T34/850 T-34/100, .144.2 and JS-3 was well-known and published in avail-
able references PAWthat information- was obtained which did not Cor-
respond with DA Pamphlet30-3-1-and other locally available references.
All information on items of new equipment is .given
herein.. All ammunition amounts 11.4vem in this repOrt represent.
standard Units of fire.
2. Information available does not indicate that the Soviet T-34/85
50X1 medium tank and JS-2 heavy tank had a gyro-stabilizer.
50X1 the-gum of the medium tank was normally fired from short halts
50:00 u hat the gun could 41t fired when the tank,was movincslowly. The
gun of the JS-2 heavy tank was fired only during short halts or from a
standing position.
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3.
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5,
This T/34 tank is the only vehicle mentioned in this report
was of Poligh manufacture. All other vehicles he believed
to be of Soviet manufacture.
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Information , avai*ble indiCates the TSh-17 to be the standard
Soviet sight employed in the JS-2 eind:.Y$-3 heavy tanks. A point of
interest is the fact ,.that sketch of the reticle pattern closely
resembles that of the TSh-19 sight.
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/81
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Reticle Pattern. of Direct Bighting Telescope,
Teh-17
- ? UPON
+war
'
mmlom
Ina' 11
...mamma a 00
- 7eyo
ISO
--Sao
"to o
200
4o 36 32 28 24 2o A; 8 4
50X1
41. 8 12 2. 24 20 32 54 4
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