General Characteristics
TK / TKS |
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| Length: | 2.6 m |
| Width: | 1.8 m |
| Height: | 1.3 m |
| Weight: | 2.4 / 2.6 t |
| Speed: | 46 / 40 km/h (road) |
| Range: | -- km (road) |
| Primary armament: | 7.92 mm wz.25 machinegun |
| Secondary armament: | -- |
| Power plant: | 40 / 46 HP (30 / 34 kW) |
| Crew: | 2 (Commander, driver) |
The TK (TK-3) and TKS were the Polish tankettes of the Second World War.
1 Production History
The tankette (small reconnaissance turretless tank) TK (also known as TK-3) was the Polish design, based upon an improved chasis of the British Carden-Loyd tankette. TK was produced since 1931. The TKS was an improved model with new hull and stronger engine. The armour of tankettes was up to 8 mm thick (10 mm in TKS). In 1939, there started a re-arming of the tankettes with 20 mm guns, but only about 24 were completed before the outbreak of the war.
1.1 Variants
- TK (TK-3) - tankette of 1931, about 280 built
- TKF - TK tankette with 46 hp (34 kW) engine, about 18 built
- TKS - improved model of 1933, about 260 built
- TKS with 20 mm gun - about 24 TKS fitted with 20 mm gun in 1939.
- C2P - light artillery tractor , not armoured, about 200 built.
Experimental models:
- TK-1, TK-2 - first prototypes
- TKD - light self propelled gun with 47 mm gun, 4 made.
- TKW - light reconnaissance tank with turret, 1 prototype.
- TK-3 with 20 mm gun - only one prototype with a modified hull was completed.
- TKS-D - light tank destroyer with 37mm Bofors anti-tank gun, 2 made
2 Combat history
The tankettes were the bulk of the Polish armoured forces before the Second World War. Because of their armament, they couldn't fight with German tanks, but their small size made them ideal for reconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for methods of gathering information about an enemy. It is often referred to as recce (British) or recon (American). The associated verb is reconnoiter reconnoitre in British English). Examples of reconnaissance include. They suffered heavy losses during the Polish September CampaignThe Polish September Campaign refers to the conquest of Poland by German and Soviet armies, and a small contingent of Slovak forces, in September 1939. The German plan was codenamed Fall Wei ("Fall Weiss" or "Case White") by the German Wehrmacht. This mil, being usually used as the only tanks available. Only a handful of tankettes armed with 20 mm guns could fight the enemy tanks.
World War II Polish tankettes
