During World War II, the Soviet Union made efforts to develop flying tanks to transport them quickly to their destinations, but tests showed poor effectiveness.
Throughout history, humans have invented many strange ways to attack, from Greek Fire in the Eastern Roman Empire to catapults launching plague-infected corpses at enemies in the 14th century. One such invention was the flying tank, conceived by the Soviet Union during World War II, but it existed only briefly.
Antonov A-40 Krylya Tanka Flying Tank. (Photo: Tempshill/Wikimedia Commons)
Tanks, even small ones, are heavy and bulky. Consequently, transporting them to the battlefield became a significant challenge. Driving a tank across long distances would make it vulnerable to enemy attacks. Therefore, the Soviet Union began experimenting with air transport methods.
They tested suspending the ultra-light T-27 tank underneath a bomber and then delivering it to airfields for deployment. However, the tank’s explosive power was not sufficient to justify the risks associated with using expensive aircraft. Other methods included using planes to drop tanks into water or releasing them from very low altitudes. Soldiers would parachute down and climb into the tanks, hoping the enemy wouldn’t arrive in time.
Later, during World War II, the Soviets came up with another idea: to attach tanks to gliders so they could dive into battle. This resulted in the creation of the Antonov A-40 Krylya Tanka, also known as the “winged tank.”
In 1940, designer Oleg Antonov attempted to create a gliding tank, essentially by attaching the wings of a biplane and a long tail to a small, lightweight tank. The idea was for the flying tank to be towed by a larger aircraft and then released. It would then glide down to the battlefield before jettisoning its wings and tail.
It took several years for a prototype of the flying tank to be developed and tested. “During flight tests, they had to remove munitions and most of the fuel to save weight. The idea was that when the tank’s turret turned, the driver would manipulate control sticks on the wings. They would simply move the gun left or right,” explained Jim Winchester, author of The History of Aviation: A Century of Powered Flight Day by Day.
In 1942, test pilot Sergei Anokhin sat in the tank while it was towed into the air by a Tupolev TB-3 bomber. However, it quickly became evident that this was not a good idea, as the drag from the flying tank was too great for the bomber. The tank was released early, but Anokhin managed to control it as it glided down and safely landed in a field, then drove back to base.
Although both Japan and Britain attempted to create their own versions of flying tanks, they too could not turn them into effective aerodynamic vehicles. Consequently, like the Soviets, they quickly abandoned the idea.
