DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE SOVIET T-62

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72-00337R000100020022-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2001
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: March 2, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2001/11/15 ':' DIA-RDP72-00337R000100020022-2
2 March 1970
MEMORANDUM
Design, Development, Production, and
Deployment of the Soviet T-62 .
1. The Soviet T-62 medium tank was developed
in the late 1950's as a response to the then latest
NATO tank, the US M-60. The T-62 reflects standard
Soviet design practices of the post World War II
period and does not depart significantly from pre-
vious models. The T-62 is similar to the other
contemporary Soviet medium tanks--T-54 and T-55--in
armor, protection, mobility, performance and con-
struction, differing principally in its heavier gun.
2. Little is known of the development of the"
T-62, which evidently entered production in 1961.
Since the T-62 is not a radical departure from pre-
ceding-designs and uses many components from the
T-54 and T-55, other Soviet experience suggests that
it probably took only about 2-4 years to develop,
compared to at least six years for a totally new
model.
3. The T-62 is believed to be produced at only
one of-the three operating Soviet tank plants, the
.other two producing the T-55 medium tank. Current
production is probably about 1,000 per year, a level
reached in 1963. It is estimated that some 7,500
..T-62s were produced by the end of 1969, or about 20
percent of the total Soviet tank inventory.
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4. Estimated annual production is as follows:
Annual
Production-
Cumulative
Production
1961
200
200
1-962
600
800
1963.
950
1750
1964
950
2700
1965
950
3650
1966
950
4600
1967
950
5550
1968
950
6500
1969
950
7450
5. The Soviets probably will continue to produce
the T-62, or a slightly modified version, at least
through the mid-1970s. The T-55 is likely to be
phased out of production soon with full productive
capacity devoted to the T-62. By 1979, the Soviet
tank inventory should consist of roughly two-thirds
T-62s and one-third T-54s or T-55s.
6. The T-62 originally appeared to have the
mission of backing up the more common T-54 and T-55
Soviet battle tanks--principally by providing anti-tank
support. Early statements by Soviet authorities seemed
to support this role, and the Soviets first introduced
only one regiment (90 tanks) of T-62s per tank division.
However, by 1966, T-62s were observed in the motorized
rifle divisions, and by 1968 at least two Soviet tank
divisions were fully equipped with T-62s. The increased
deployment probably indicates that the Soviets now see
the T-62 as a standard battle tank, not limited to a
special role.
7. Attached is a summary of T-62 characteristics.
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T-62 MEDIUM TANK
Main armament _115 mm smoothbore gun
Weight 40.2 tons
Speed 30 mph
Cruising range 216 miles
Crew 4
Developed from T-55. Distinguishable from
T-54/55 series by spacing of road wheels, larger,
more circular turret, longer hull, and 115 mm
smoothbore gun with bore evacuator mounted in
middle of tube. The 115 mm smoothbore gun has
an almost 50 percent greater muzzle velocity than
the 100 nm rifled gun of the T-54 and T-55 with
a comparable increase in anti-armor effectiveness.
The muzzle velocity is roughly equivalent to that
of the 105 mm gun on the US M-60.
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