NI
Reproduction NI-1 at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War
TypeImprovised fighting vehicle
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service1941
Used bySoviet Union
WarsWorld War II
Production history
Designed1941
ManufacturerJanuary Uprising Mechanical Plant (Odessa)[1]
Produced1941
No. built69
Specifications
Mass7000 kg
Length4.3m
Width7.5m
Height3m
Crew2–3
Engine1MA
44 hp
Operational
range
140 km
Maximum speed 7 kph

The NI tank also known as the Odessa tank (/ˈniː/; Russian: Танк НИ tank NI, abbr. На испуг, Na ispug, literally "for fright"), was a Soviet improvised fighting vehicle, based on an STZ-3 agricultural tractor, manufactured in Odessa during the Siege of Odessa in World War II.[1][2]

Development

NI-1 Diagram: 1 — armoured hull, 2 — side armour, 3 — engine compartment, 4 — turret, 5 — fenders, 6 — track armour, 7 — machine gun armour, 8 — DShK machine gun, 9 — hook, 10 — toolbox, 11 — exhaust pipe, 12 — chassis beams, 13 — chassis front, 14 — tow hitch, 15 — idler, 16 — support roller, 17 — driving wheel, 18 — roller, 19 — DT machine gun

At the beginning of the war between the Axis and the Soviet Union, a majority of the factories were evacuated, including most of the equipment from the January Uprising Factory. There was machinery left and it was decided that it would be used to service battle-damaged tanks arriving from the front.[1][3]

When the army fighting on the outskirts of Odessa (the city defences held out for seventy-two days before the army pulled back) started experiencing shortages in tanks, the workers from the factory decided to build a fighting vehicle of their own design. Aided by the workers from other factories, the workers of the January Uprising factory built a large metal box and mounted it on the tractor. Also added was a traversable turret with either a mountain gun or a large-calibre machine gun. The armour was a sandwich of thin naval steel or boiler plate and wood or rubber sheeting to improve protection against small arms. The resulting machine was one of the many different improvised fighting vehicles developed during the war; however it was unlike any other fighting vehicle of the time due to its sizeable production and loud noise when it moved.[4]

Armament was varied to whatever was on hand during the siege. The first model produced used a modified T-26 tank turret, with a Degtyaryov machine gun in place of the 37mm gun that the T-26 carried. It's possible that turrets from the T-37A tank and T-38 tank were used, but these might have been improvised turrets instead, or modified from the original due to the placement of the side viewport in comparison to the standard turret. Photos exist of improvised turrets being mounted. One source states that 37mm mountain guns and 45mm anti-tank guns were fitted as acquired.[5][6]

Production history

During the siege of Odessa, a total of 69 NI tanks were produced.[7] These then fought during the siege against the Axis forces in support of Soviet troops.

Combat use

68 NI tanks (all but one) were captured by the Axis-aligned Romanians by the end of the siege,[8] with 14 still being on hand as of 1 November 1942.[9]

See also

Tanks of comparable role, performance, and era

References

  1. 1 2 3 Н. И. Крылов. Не померкнет никогда. М., Воениздат, 1984. стр.107-109
  2. ↑ https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_NI_Odessa_tank.php
  3. ↑ https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=947
  4. ↑ https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=947#specifications
  5. ↑ https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_NI_Odessa_tank.php
  6. ↑ https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=947#specifications
  7. ↑ Тыл советских вооружённых сил в Великой Отечественной войне 1941-1945 гг. // колл. авт., под ред. генерала армии С. К. Куркоткина. М., Воениздат, 1977. стр.438
  8. ↑ Ștefănescu 2020, p. 314.
  9. ↑ Mark Axworthy, Cornel I. Scafeș, Cristian Crăciunoiu, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945, Arms and Armour, 1995, p. 220
  • Ștefănescu, Alexandru V. (2020). În umbra marelui Reich: Tehnica de luptă a armatei române pe Frontul de Est (1941–1944) [In the Shadow of the Great Reich: Battle Technique of the Romanian Army on the Eastern Front (1941–1944)] (in Romanian). Târgoviște, Romania: Cetatea de Scaun. ISBN 9786065375055.
  • Tekhnika Molodezhi (1979). "Odesskiy Tank". Retrieved December 30, 2005. (in Russian)
  • Zaloga, Steven J., James Grandsen (1984). Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two, p. 142. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-606-8.
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