The T-80 was a Soviet
light tank
A light tank is a Tank classification, tank variant initially designed for rapid movements in and out of combat, to outmaneuver heavier tanks. It is smaller with thinner vehicle armour, armor and a less powerful tank gun, main gun, tailored for ...
developed during the final phase of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. It was a further development of the
T-70
The T-70 is a light tank used by the Red Army during World War II, replacing both the T-60 scout tank for reconnaissance and the T-50 light infantry tank for infantry support. The T-80 light tank was a more advanced version of the T-70 with ...
light tank, addressing its main shortcomings, particularly the one-man turret. The T-80 featured a two-man turret, enhanced armor, and other minor improvements. Despite these changes, it entered production too late in the war to see widespread use and was quickly overshadowed by the increasing reliance on
medium tank
A medium tank is a classification of tanks, particularly prevalent during World War II, which represented a compromise between the mobility oriented light tanks and the armour and armament oriented heavy tanks. A medium tank's classification ...
s like the
T-34-85
The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank from World War II. When introduced, its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was more powerful than many of its contemporaries, and its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against Anti-tank warfare, ...
.
Development
The T-80 was developed by the
Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) in 1943–1944. Its design aimed to improve upon the limitations of the T-70, especially its overburdened commander, who also served as the gunner. The T-80 introduced a two-man turret configuration, which allowed one crew member to focus solely on gunnery while the commander could manage battlefield awareness and coordination.
In addition to the improved crew layout, the T-80 was equipped with thicker armor and minor mechanical upgrades. It retained the same 45 mm 20K gun used in the T-70, which was already considered underpowered by 1945 standards.
Design
The T-80 was similar in layout to its predecessor but slightly larger. It had a crew of three: a driver, a commander/gunner, and a loader. The hull and turret were constructed from welded steel plates, offering maximum armor thickness of 45 mm.
Production and service
Only about 85 units of the T-80 were manufactured in 1945. By this time, the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...
was increasingly prioritizing the production of more heavily armed and armored
medium tank
A medium tank is a classification of tanks, particularly prevalent during World War II, which represented a compromise between the mobility oriented light tanks and the armour and armament oriented heavy tanks. A medium tank's classification ...
s such as the
T-34-85
The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank from World War II. When introduced, its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was more powerful than many of its contemporaries, and its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against Anti-tank warfare, ...
. As a result, the T-80 saw little to no combat use, and its production was quickly halted.
The vehicle was briefly used in training and testing roles before being phased out entirely. No known combat deployments were recorded.
Legacy
The T-80 marked the end of the Soviet Union’s light tank development during World War II. While it featured some design improvements, it was functionally obsolete by the time it was fielded. The emphasis on heavier, more versatile medium tanks rendered further light tank production unnecessary for the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...
's evolving tactics and strategic needs.
The "T-80" designation was later reused for the
T-80 main battle tank developed in the 1970s, which was a completely different and unrelated design.
See also
*
T-60
The T-60 scout tank was a light tank produced by the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1942. During this period, 6,292 units were built. The tank was designed to replace the obsolete T-38 amphibious scout tank and saw action during World War II.
The K ...
*
T-70
The T-70 is a light tank used by the Red Army during World War II, replacing both the T-60 scout tank for reconnaissance and the T-50 light infantry tank for infantry support. The T-80 light tank was a more advanced version of the T-70 with ...
*
T-34
The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank from World War II. When introduced, its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was more powerful than many of its contemporaries, and its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against Anti-tank warfare, ...
*
Soviet tanks of World War II
References
{{reflist
World War II light tanks
Light tanks of the Soviet Union
Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944
World War II tanks of the Soviet Union