TKS

Infobox Weapon
name=TK-3 / TKS


caption=TKS tankette
origin=POL
type=Tankette
is_vehicle=yes
service=
used_by=flagcountry|Poland
flagcountry|Estonia
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=Fabryka Samohodov P.Z. Ins.
unit_cost=
production_date=1931 - 1939
number= 575
variants=
weight=2.43/2.6 tonnes
length=2.58 m
width=1.78 m
height=1.32 m
crew=2 (commander, driver)
armour=4 – 10 mm
primary_armament=7.92 mm km wz.25 machine gun or 1x7.7mm Hotchkiss Machine Guns
2000 rounds
secondary_armament=
engine=Fiat petrol engine
engine_power=40/46 hp (30/34 kW)
transmission=
fuel_capacity=70+8 l
pw_ratio=17/18 hp/tonne
suspension=bogie
clearance=
vehicle_range=200 km (roads), 100 km (cross-country)
speed=46/40 km/h

The TK (TK-3) and TKS were Polish tankettes during the Second World War.

Design and development

The TK tankette was a Polish design produced from 1931 that was based upon an improved chassis of the British Carden Loyd tankette. The TKS was an improved model with a new hull and a more powerful engine. The armour of the TK was up to 8 mm thick (10 mm on the TKS). In 1939, re-arming of the tankettes with 20 mm guns began, but only about 24 were completed before the outbreak of World War II.

On 6 November 1934 Estonia purchased 6 vehicles from Poland, with the contract deal worth over 180,000 krones. The deal also included one additional tracked-lorry, and a motorcycle was given free as a bonus. [ [http://www.raamatukoi.ee/cgi-bin/raamat?79813
Estonian Armoured Machines. Tiit Noormets & Mati Õun. Tammiskilp 1999. Page 52] ]

Combat history

The 575 TK/TKS tankettes formed the bulk of the Polish armoured forces before the outbreak of war. They suffered heavy losses during the Invasion of Poland, often being the only armoured fighting vehicles available. Due to their light armament of a single machine gun, they stood no chance in combat against German tanks, except the Panzer I (also based on the Carden Loyd tankette), but their small size suited them for reconnaissance and infantry support. Only the handful of tankettes armed with 20 mm guns had a fighting chance against the enemy tanks; in one instance on 18 September 1939 a 20 mm gunned TKS commanded by sergeant Roman Orlik destroyed three German Panzer 35(t) tanks.

Gallery

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TKSImage:TK-3.jpg|TK-3Image:EST-Tanks-TSK.jpg|Estonian_TKS_tankettes_on_the_Republics_anniversary_parade_on_24th_of_February,_1925.Image:EST-TKS-2.jpg

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Variants

*TK (TK-3) - from 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 - unarmoured light artillery tractor, about 200 built.

Experimental models:
*TK-1, TK-2 - first prototypes
*TKD - light self propelled gun with 47 mm gun, four made.
*TKW - light reconnaissance tank with turret, one prototype made.
*TK-3 with 20 mm gun - only one prototype with a modified hull was completed.
*TKS-D - light tank destroyer with 37 mm Bofors anti-tank gun, two made

References

* Adam Jońca, Rajmund Szubiński, Jan Tarczyński Wrzesień 1939 Pojazdy Wojska Polskiego wyd. WKiŁ Warszawa 1990 ISBN 83-206-0847-3

External links

* [http://www.1939.pl/uzbrojenie/polskie/pojazdy/tk/index.html TKS tankette]
* [http://www.wwiivehicles.com/poland/tankettes/tk-tks.asp TK & TKS tankettes] wwiivehicles.com
* [http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pol/poltk.htm TK Tankette Series Small / Light Reconnaissance Tank] achtungpanzer.com