Object 478

Object 478 () was a Soviet main battle tank prototype. It was developed by the KMDB of the Malyshev Factory and never put into full production.

Development history 
After the adoption of the T-80 tank, the Soviets started on improving its design. The work was done by two design bureaus; the KMDB of Malyshev Plant designed the "Object 478" prototype, and the design office of the LKZ designed the "Object 219" prototype. The Kharkov version of the modernized T-80 chassis involved equipping Object 219 with a 6TD-1 1000 horsepower diesel engine as well as installing a new combat compartment being developed for the modernization of the T-64A under the designation of Object 476. In 1976, this project was carried out on the machine, but further work on it was not continued as the main focus at the time was on the gas turbine engine. After the death of Defence Minister Dmitry Ustinov, the strength of the design bureau of the LKZ began to weaken and the Ministry of Defense started to think seriously about equipping the T-80 tanks with diesel engines. Work on equipping the T-80 tanks with diesel engines was carried out by several design offices. The Omsk Transport Engineering Design Bureau was tasked to equip the T-80 with the B-46-6 engine (this tank received the designation "Object 644"). KB-3 of the LKZ was also tasked to equip the T-80 with the 2B-16-2 engine, but both projects failed. At the same time, work was intensified on the creation of the Object 478 tank. In 1985, work began on the Object 478B. It was subsequently adopted into service under the name T-80UD.

Overview 
The Object 478 has a new cast turret, invented when creating the Object 476 tank. The chassis was borrowed from the "Object 219A" tank, but the engine was replaced with the 6TD-1 diesel. The main armament of the tank was the 125 mm 2А46М-1 smooth-bore tank gun with 42 rounds of ammunition. The gun was equipped with the "Vector-4" stabilizer; a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun with 1,500 rounds of ammunition . To combat air targets and light armored vehicles, the commander was also equipped with a 12.7 mm caliber turret-mounted NSV anti-aircraft heavy machine gun with 450 rounds of ammunition. In addition, Object 478 was equipped with the 9K112 "Cobra" (NATO reporting name: AT-8 Songster) guided weapon.

Variants 
 Object 478 - Basic Version
 Object 478M - A radically modified version with a 1,500 hp diesel engine 
 Object 478B - The T-80UD main battle tank

Survivors 
  - The only surviving example is located at the National Museum of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 in Kiev.

Gallery 
Object 478 in Museum of the Great Patriotic War, Kiev:

References

External links

 Object 478 (T-80UD Prototipe) Walkaround

Category:Cold War tanks of the Soviet Union
Category:Main battle tanks of the Cold War
Category:Main battle tanks of the Soviet Union
Category:Tanks with autoloaders
Category:Trial and research tanks of the Soviet Union
Category:History of the tank
Category:Abandoned military projects of the Soviet Union