The question of choosing an engine for a tank has always been actively relevant in the domestic tank industry. If the history of the B-46, 5TDF, GTD-1000 engines for Soviet tanks in the 60s and 70s is at least a little disclosed in a number of publications and on the Internet, then the issues of the late 80s are covered very little and one-sidedly, then there was a question of choosing two-stroke 6TD and four-stroke X-shaped 2B-12 engines . A few pages from N.K. Ryazantsev's book "Motors and Destinies. About time and about yourself" on this issue.
It seemed to us that all the problems in tank engine building had been solved: the type of engine was selected, its serial production was underway, the production of T-80UD tanks with this engine was organized, the 6TD type engine was used in promising developments. But subsequent events have shown that we needlessly calmed down.
On June 30, 1989, a collegium of the USSR Ministry of Defense was held under the chairmanship of D. T. Yazov, to which heads and leading specialists of the Ministries of Defense and Aviation Industry, tractor and agricultural Engineering, Gosplan, and the Central Committee of the CPSU were invited.
The topic of the board was again the question of the prospects for the development of tank engine building. And again, as on May 17, 1985, the speaker was the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces for Armament, Colonel-General Pavel Ivanovich Bazhenov. But if at the previous board P.I. Bazhenov proved that there is no alternative to the 6TD engine and it should replace the GTD at the Malyshev plant, then at this board his speech was absolutely the opposite the 6TD engine has a high level of forcing, is unreliable, has no prospects for development. Although the plant produced the T-80UD, it recommended it only for the modernization of the T-64. A promising engine in his opinion was the 2V-12 CHTZ, which was developed using the B-2 technology.
His speech was unexpected for many, for example, the head of the GBTU, Colonel-General Galkin, said: "P.I. Bazhenov in his statement set the wrong tone. We have established design bureaus and factories that work on the instructions of the Ministry of Defense. And there is no 2B-12 engine yet."
A.A. Galkin's speech was supported by Deputy Minister of Defense Industry M.A. Zakharov: "We have clarity on engines. The preparation of the production of the 6TD-1 engine has been completed. Its release is organized. The MVI of the 6TD-2 engine was carried out. There is an engine for a promising tank. To evaluate the 2B-12 engine, it is necessary to test at least 20 engines in the tank."
After the speech of V.I. Butov and N.S. Popov, I was given the floor. Before the meeting, we heard rumors that P.I. Bazhenov would make a revisionist speech. But we didn't know its contents. Therefore, two versions of my speech were prepared:
the first is loyal in case of a neutral report, the second is a sharp response to the speaker in case of his apostasy from the previous ideology. After the announcement of my speech, General Director V.V. Pivovarov, who was sitting in front of me, turned around and said: "Karpovich, speak according to the second option."
In my speech, I said that, justifying the need for the 6TD engine for the Soviet Army, I will use the arguments that you, Comrade. Bazhenov, at the previous board: engines with a capacity of 1000, 1200, 1500 hp have been developed: operational experience has shown that the 6TD-1 engine is reliable, maintainable; it is advisable to install the 6TD-1 engine in the T-80U tank. On this basis, a decree was issued on the organization of the production of the 6TD-1 engine. Today you refuted this and said the opposite. So when were you sincere and when were you telling the truth?
If every three or four years the customer changes his beliefs to the opposite, then our business meetings will turn into a discussion club.
Summing up the results of the board, Defense Minister D.T. Yazov noted that he was not afraid of the presence of three types of engines in tanks, there are much more of them in aviation. Speaking about the choice of engine type , he noted: "We talk a lot, but we don't do much. I've been talking about 2B-12 for years, but still haven't decided where to make it? We have complete clarity on GTD and 6TD."
Now it is not important to give an assessment, but you need to figure out the appropriate type of engine, both for the tank and other branches of the armed forces. The interests of all branches of the armed forces should be reflected. That's what we should be doing."
After the end of the board and stormy discussions, I stayed in the hall and continued the conversation with A.A. Galkin and his entourage. At that time, someone came up to me and took me by the shoulders. Looking back, I saw that D.T. Yazov was standing behind, smiling in a friendly way, he said: - I agree with your performance. You don't have to worry - we won't let Kharkiv offend. I sincerely thanked the Minister for understanding the essence of the situation. After this historical board, P.I. Bazhenov did not come to Kharkov anymore, did not meet him at meetings and in Moscow. He quietly retired.
But the passion for choosing the type of engine did not stop there, on July 24-26, 1989, O.D. Baklanov, Chairman of the National Security and Defense Council, visited Kharkiv. The meeting was attended by the heads of the Ministry of Defense Industry B.M. Belousov, M.A. Zakharov, V.A. Anishchenko, Head of GBTU A.A. Galkin, chief tank designers N.S. Popov, N.A. Shomin, Deputy Chief Designer of the T-72 tank N.A. Molodnyakov, chief engine designers A.A. Sarkisov, V.I. Butov, heads of institutes E.K. Potemkin, N.I. Trotsky, representatives of party bodies V.D. Kryuchkov, Ya.Ya. Gordienko V.P. Mysnichenko, Yu.N. Sverdlov, plant managers V.V. Pivovarov, SI. Miroshnichenko, etc.
At the meeting, the issue of further improvement of tanks was considered. In his opening speech, O.D. Baklanov for the first time announced the limitation of funding for defense programs.
…..
Then each chief designer of the tank and engine reported on the directions of modernization. The chief designer N.S. Popov believed that the 2B-12 engine should be installed in the T-80U tank and its production should be organized in Nizhny Tagil.
Deputy Chief Designer N.A. Molodnyakov reported that two stages of modernization of the T-72 tank are envisaged: the first is the installation of the B84-1 engine, the second is the installation of the 2B-12 engine.
The chief designer of ChTZ V.I. Butov said that a family of type 2B engines is being created. The engines in 6 and 16-cylinder versions have passed acceptance tests. Six engines were manufactured in a twelve-cylinder version - 2B-12, three of which are installed in the T-72 tank, their operating time is 110-190 hours. In his opinion, it is necessary to decide which engine to give priority to - 6TD or 2B-12?
It seems to me that he got the right answer from the head of GBTU A.A. Galkin: "The 6TD and 2B-12 engines are at different stages of development. The engine has been mass-produced since 1968 and is installed in the T-80UD tank. The 2B-12 engine has not passed any types of official tests, there is no decree on its production."
…..
More than 15 years have passed since the board and the meeting chaired by O. D. Baklanov in Kharkiv. Today is 2006. The Soviet Union collapsed. We were on the other side of the border with our 6TD engine and did not interfere with the development of the 2B-12 engine. But even now this engine is not installed in the T-80U tank, there are no serial samples of T-72 tanks with these engines. The "grandfather" B-2 continues to serve the Urals. This once again confirms the previously stated thesis that the creation of a tank engine is a very complex, time-consuming and expensive process. And it is absolutely unacceptable if politics interferes with technology.
oldmachinepress.com
argun-kazakhstan.com
