T-40 tank

T-40 amphibious scout tank
A normal T-40 rearmed with TNSh autocannon (foreground) and "T-40" T-60 (background) in the Kubinka Tank Museum.
Type	Amphibious light tank
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1941–46
Used by	Soviet Union
Wars	World War II
Production history
Produced	1940–41
No. built	962 (356 normal, 594 "T-40" T-60 and 12 "T-40" T-60-based rocket launchers)
Variants	BM-8-24 Katyusha, T-30/"T-40" T-60 light tank
Specifications ([1][2][3])
Mass	5.9 t (6.5 short tons)
Length	4.10 m (13.5 ft)
Width	2.33 m (7.6 ft)
Height	1.90 m (6.2 ft)
Crew	2
Armour	4–13 mm (0.16–0.51 in)
Main armament	12.7 mm (0.50 in) DShK machine gun
Secondary armament	7.62 mm (0.300 in) DT machine gun
Engine	GAZ-202 85 hp (63 kW)
Power/weight	12 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	450 km (280 mi)
Maximum speed	45 km/h (28 mph)

The T-40 amphibious scout tank was an amphibious light tank used by the Soviet Union during World War II. It was armed with one 12.7 mm (0.5 in) DShK machine gun. It was one of the few tanks that could cross an unfordable river without a bridge.

It was primarily intended to equip reconnaissance units. A land-based version of the T-40, the T-30/"T-40" T-60, was produced, although was later replaced by the "true" T-60. The T-60 was cheaper, simpler, better-armed, and could fulfill most of the same roles, so T-40 production was halted.

The vehicle served mainly in Operation Barbarossa and the defense of Moscow, and it was rarely seen after that point, although it was used in Soviet training schools until 1946. A total 12 examples of the type were later fitted with Katyusha rocket launchers, firing 82 mm unguided rockets from a 24-rail launcher.