7TP

The 7TP was the Polish light tank of the Second World War.

Table of contents

1 Production History 1.1 Variants 2 Combat History

Production History

The 7TP was the Polish developement of the British Vickers 6-ton (Mk.E) tank licence. The main new features of 7TP were: better, more reliable and powerful diesel engine, very good 37 mm anti-tank gun and a bit thicker armour (in front, 17 mm instead of 13 mm), together with many minor modifications and additions (like Gundlach tank periscope, different air conditioning system and a radio). Only 132 tanks were produced since 1935 until the outbreak of the war (+4 iron prototypes).

Variants

• 24 tanks - early twin turret variant armed with 2 machineguns only, later converted to the single turret variant.
• 108 tanks - basic single turret variant, armed with the 37 mm gun.

All 7TP tanks took part in combat in the Polish September Campaign in 1939, used in two light tank battalions (the 1st and the 2nd) and in Warsaw Defence units. The gun of 7TP could destroy each of the German tanks of 1939, including Panzer IV, but its armour was too weak.

Note: twin and single turret variants had no specific designations. In some books they are designated with abbreviations: "dw." and "jw.", but they weren't official names. The name: "7TPjw" is not correct.

See also: List of tanks

External link

• 7TP history