Image Source: Photo: Bravery2004
More than forty years ago, the USSR was working on a tank that could become the basis of domestic tank troops. We are talking about the Kharkov "Rebel" - Object 490A with a crew of three people.
Externally, this car had to be very different from the familiar T-64, T-72 and T-80. First of all, it is a low-profile turret with a long-barreled, more powerful 125-mm cannon compared to the serial ones.
Interestingly, the crew was located on the left side, there was a driver in the case. By the way, he had to control the tank using the steering wheel, next to him was a fuel tank for 1290 liters of diesel fuel.
Image Source: Photo: Bravery2004
In the tower, again to the left, the gunner-operator and the commander were sitting behind each other. They had at their disposal the most modern domestic sights at that time, television surveillance equipment. As a flaw, it can be noted that there was only one hatch for two fighters in the tower.
An automated loading system was installed on the right side, providing a high rate of fire. The chassis consisted of seven support rollers on each side. The engine initially had a power of 1000 hp, then it was planned to replace it with 1200 hp.
The tank had impressive armor even by modern standards, and later, perhaps, it would have been strengthened with dynamic protection.
Image Source: Photo: Bravery2004
A running model and a prototype were built. The tests confirmed the correctness of the chosen solutions, but in the end they began to make an even more powerful tank armed with a 152-mm cannon.
