Kharkiv model V-2

V-2
The V-92 is the latest derivative of the V-2 family of engines, used on several Russian tanks and other military vehicles.
Overview
ManufacturerKharkov Locomotive Factory
DesignerKonstantin Chelpan
Production
  • V-2: 1939 - late 1940s
  • V-11: 1939 - late 1940s
  • V-12: 1945 - late 1940s
  • V-54: 1947 - late 1960s
  • V-55: 1958 - early 1980s
  • V-46: 1973-present
  • V-84: 1978-present
  • V-92: 1992-present
Layout
ConfigurationV-12
Displacement38.8 L (2,370 cu in)
Cylinder bore150 mm (5.9 in)
Piston stroke
  • 180 mm (7.1 in) left group
  • 186 mm (7.3 in) right group
Compression ratio15:1 right cyl. bank; 15.8:1 left cyl. bank (from flywheel end)
Combustion
Fuel typeDiesel
Output
Power output460–700 hp (340–520 kW)
Torque output220 kgf⋅m (2,157 N⋅m; 1,591 lbf⋅ft)
Dimensions
Dry weight2,210 lb (1,000 kg)
Another view of the engine
Close up view on cylinder

The Kharkiv model V-2 (Russian: В-2) is a Soviet and Russian family of diesel tank V-12 engines, the V angle at 60°, with dual overhead camshafts per bank, four valves per cylinder opened by bucket-style followers and direct fuel injection. Designed at the Kharkiv Locomotive Factory by Konstantin Chelpan and his team, it is found in the BT-7M (BT-8), T-34, KV, IS and IS-10 (T-10) tanks, and by extension, the vehicles based on them, such as the SU-85 and SU-100 tank destroyers based on the T-34 and the ISU-122 and ISU-152 self-propelled guns based on the IS-2. Throughout its production life, output ranged from roughly 450–700 hp (340–520 kW).

Successive variants of the V-2 have been used in multiple Soviet and Russian vehicles ever since. Derivatives of the V-2 remain in production, with the T-90A tank, Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled gun and BMPT Terminator armoured support vehicle equipped with a 1,000-hp V92S2, while the latest T-72B3 and T-90M tanks feature an upgraded 1,130-hp V-92S2F. Licensed production additionally continues in several countries.

History of development and production

The V-2 was in development from 1931 until 1939 by the design team of the diesel department of the Kharkiv Locomotive Works, first under the leadership of Konstantin Chelpan, a prominent Soviet engineer of Greek background, who was arrested and executed in 1938, during the infamous Greek Operation of NKVD. Work was passed down to his deputy for project work, Yakov Efimovich Vikhman, and Ivan Yakovlevich Trashutin, his deputy for experimental and production work, who completed development of the engine in 1939.

Serial production for the V-2 begun on September 1, 1939. The Red Army adopted the V-2 engine in the same year in three modifications: the V-2 (500 hp; 370 kW), the V-2K (600 hp; 450 kW) for the KV line of tanks and the V-2V (375 hp; 280 kW).

Near the end of the 20th century, the V-2 was fitted with more modern modifications by the chief designer of the head design bureau for the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, Vladimir Ivanovich Butov.

Description

The engine was made of aluminium with a closed water-cooling system. It included a water jacket of the cylinder blocks, radiators, a water pump, a centrifugal fan, a T-valve with steam and air valves, and piping. The cooling system capacity was 90–95 liters. The radiators were connected to the surrounding air via an air valve. The T-valve, leading to both radiators, was designed for filling the cooling system with coolant.

Variants

Manufacturers

The V-2 equipped T-34 was the most-produced tank of the Second World War, as well as the second most-produced tank of all time (after the T-54/T-55, equipped with the upgraded V-54 and V-55).

Before the 2nd World War, it was produced only at Engine Plant No. 75 (a branch of the Kharkov Locomotive Plant), the contractors were KhTZ, Chelyabinsk and Kirov (Leningrad) plants.

After the start of the war, it was produced at the Stalingrad Tractor Plant and in Sverdlovsk at Plant No. 76. In October 1941, Plant No. 75 was evacuated to Chelyabinsk to the ChTZ site. The Kirov plant also moved there. All of them were united into a huge Tankograd. This plant became the main manufacturer of the V-2 during the war (about 50 thousand engines, including engines produced in Kharkov). Later, in 1942, production of the V-2 was also mastered at plant No. 77 in Barnaul.

As of 2022, production of derivatives of the V-2 engine continues at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, Barnaultransmash and the Ural Diesel Engine Plant.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Виктор Березкин [Viktor Berezkin]. "В-2: путь в серию". alexfiles99.narod.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  2. ↑ Hughes, Matthew; Mann, Chris (1999). The T-34 Russian Battle Tank. Wisconsin, United States: MBI Publishing Company. p. 34. ISBN 9780760307014.