Prototype of the Soviet heavy tank called Obyekt 279 (Object 279) was taken out of storage to get its engines running once again, most likely for an upcoming public military event. This unique main battle tank was developed in the 1950s but never finished.
The distinctive feature of this combat vehicle is the hull shape resembling a stereotypical UFO and four caterpillar tracks at once. The idea to have this many tracks was to ensure good off-road capability, which is especially important since the total combat weight of the machine is almost 60 tons. However, we must note that the time and place where this footage was filmed is not verified. There were reports dated March 2022 saying russians took an Object 279 for a ride.
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There's only one known prototype ever created of this tank, which is usually displayed at the Kubinka Tank Museum. The specimen in the video above must be this very tank.
Interestingly, Object 279 is not nearly close to being an iconic tank for the russian military, so the reasons for showing off this archaic equipment on the move are not entirely clear. The vehicle might have needed an overhaul just to get the engine started, if it was there in the first place. And besides, why it was painted pink — compared to its traditional green attire as exhibited at the museum.
If we take a look at the specifications of Object 279, we can find answers to why this tank was not accepted into service 60 years ago.
The main problem was that despite the concept of a four-tracked powertrain seemed original and it even turned out half a ton less heavy than the undercarriage beneath the T-10 heavy tank, in practice, this design solution made Object 279 far less maneuverable than the classic tanks. Moreover, the chassis with four tracks was more difficult to maintain in the field.
Object 279 specifications, briefly: combat weight of 59.2 tons, according to tech documents; crew is four people; armament consists of a 130mm gun with 24 rounds of ammunition in stock and a 14.5mm machine gun, 300 cartridges in the magazine. Mobility: moving on the road, the operational range is 250 km with a maximum speed of 55 km/h.
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