In Box Review of STC Start 1/35th Scale
Soviet Light Swimming Tank T-40, 1940
Kit no ZV0040
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
HISTORY:
The T-40 amphibious scout tank was an amphibious light tank used by the Soviet Union during World War II.
Amphibious capability was important to the Red Arny, as evidenced by the production of over 1,500 amphibious tanks in the 1930s. The T-40 was intended to replace the aging T-37 and T-38 tank light amphibians. It was a superior design, but due to the pressures of war the Soviets favored the production of simpler tank designs, and only a small number of T-40s were built.
The T-40 was an improvement over the T-37 and T-38 in several respects. The coil-spring suspension of the T-38 was replaced by a modern torsion-bar suspension with four pairs of road wheels. The boat-shaped hull was entirely welded, in contrast to the riveted hulls of the T-37 and T-38. The welded, conical turret shape improved protection, although the armor was still very thin. Armament was a 12.7mm DShk heavy machine gun, a much more potent weapon than the 7.62mm DT machine gun mounted on the T-38.
Water propulsion was via a small propeller mounted at the rear of the hull. The propeller was set into an indent in the hull rear, and was thus better protected than the exposed propeller of the T-38. Buoyancy was provided by the large boat-shaped hull.
The T-40 entered production just prior to the outbreak of war, and was intended to equip reconnaissance units. As the need for large numbers of tanks became critical, a secondary non-amphibious variant was designed on the T-40 chassis. This design became the T-60. The T-60 was simpler, cheaper, better armed, and could fulfill most of the same roles. Under the stress of war, production of the T-40 was halted in favor of the T-60. Thus only 222 T-40s were issued, compared to over 6,000 T-60s.
The last batch of T-40s built had BM-8-24 Katyusha rocket racks mounted instead of turrets. This version provided a mobile mount for a 24-rail multiple-launch rocket system, firing 82mm unguided rockets.
The T-40 was widely photographed at the time of Operation Barbarossa and also during the defence of Moscow. The type was very rarely seen after the end of 1941. Some T-40 remained in service as late 1946 in school units.
THE KIT:
This kit came in a Shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a T-40 about to enter a river. Some action is going on because there are four spouts of water in the river due to machine gun fire. The tank is overall soviet green.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The box contains 4 dark green parts trees in a cello bag. There are no decals, clear parts or crew figures.
The largest olive drab tree of parts, letter A, fits tightly, in all directions, to the 4 walls of the kit tray. It holds: the hull bottom tub, the hull top and link and length type tread parts (36 parts).
The T-40 amphibious scout tank was an amphibious light tank used by the Soviet Union during World War II.
Amphibious capability was important to the Red Arny, as evidenced by the production of over 1,500 amphibious tanks in the 1930s. The T-40 was intended to replace the aging T-37 and T-38 tank light amphibians. It was a superior design, but due to the pressures of war the Soviets favored the production of simpler tank designs, and only a small number of T-40s were built.
The T-40 was an improvement over the T-37 and T-38 in several respects. The coil-spring suspension of the T-38 was replaced by a modern torsion-bar suspension with four pairs of road wheels. The boat-shaped hull was entirely welded, in contrast to the riveted hulls of the T-37 and T-38. The welded, conical turret shape improved protection, although the armor was still very thin. Armament was a 12.7mm DShk heavy machine gun, a much more potent weapon than the 7.62mm DT machine gun mounted on the T-38.
Water propulsion was via a small propeller mounted at the rear of the hull. The propeller was set into an indent in the hull rear, and was thus better protected than the exposed propeller of the T-38. Buoyancy was provided by the large boat-shaped hull.
The T-40 entered production just prior to the outbreak of war, and was intended to equip reconnaissance units. As the need for large numbers of tanks became critical, a secondary non-amphibious variant was designed on the T-40 chassis. This design became the T-60. The T-60 was simpler, cheaper, better armed, and could fulfill most of the same roles. Under the stress of war, production of the T-40 was halted in favor of the T-60. Thus only 222 T-40s were issued, compared to over 6,000 T-60s.
The last batch of T-40s built had BM-8-24 Katyusha rocket racks mounted instead of turrets. This version provided a mobile mount for a 24-rail multiple-launch rocket system, firing 82mm unguided rockets.
The T-40 was widely photographed at the time of Operation Barbarossa and also during the defence of Moscow. The type was very rarely seen after the end of 1941. Some T-40 remained in service as late 1946 in school units.
THE KIT:
This kit came in a Shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a T-40 about to enter a river. Some action is going on because there are four spouts of water in the river due to machine gun fire. The tank is overall soviet green.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The box contains 4 dark green parts trees in a cello bag. There are no decals, clear parts or crew figures.
The largest olive drab tree of parts, letter A, fits tightly, in all directions, to the 4 walls of the kit tray. It holds: the hull bottom tub, the hull top and link and length type tread parts (36 parts).
Long and narrow olive drab letter B tree holds: road wheels, the turret bottom, the 7.62mm machine-gun, a shovel, a storage bin, drive sprockets, return rollers, a horn, a propeller (which is excess) etc. (28 parts) Some flash appears on one of the drive sprockets.
Long and narrow olive drab letter C tree holds: more road wheels, the turret top and hatch door, rudders (no used on this kit), final transfer covers, headlights, tow hooks, short exhaust pipe etc. (33 parts).
Small olive drab letter D tree holds the 20mm cannon, a mantle piece and a letter L shaped panel (3 parts)
Except for the letter D trees this kit shares the same trees that are in the STC Start kit of the T-30, which is not amphibious and has a cover in it to cover up the rear compartment where the propeller is. The decal is identical as far as the markings, but this sheet is all white where the one in the T-30 kit is yellow.
One item to note: if you seek them out all of the production Soviet light tanks are now available in 1/35 scale in styrene (the T-26 series were "infantry escort tanks" and the BT tanks were "fast tanks" and so are not included here):
Otherwise it is an easy build and a good beginner project. It is out of production now for close to 20 years and I don’t know if any can be found any more.
- 'Russkiy Reno' (Renault FT) - RPM, soon Italeri
- T-18 (MS-1) Model 1927 - AER
- T-37A - LF Fort
- T-38/T-38M - Cooperativa
- T-40/T-30/T-40S - START, Maquette
- T-50 – Techmod
- T-60 - Techmod
- T-70 - Techmod, Miniart
- T-80 - Miniart
- PT-76 Model 1951 - Trumpeter
- PT-76 Model 1958 - Trumpeter, Eastern Express
- PT-76B Model 1961 – Trumpeter
Otherwise it is an easy build and a good beginner project. It is out of production now for close to 20 years and I don’t know if any can be found any more.
Kit was courtesy of my wallet years ago.