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Buryan

USSR·Heavy Tank·HT break

One area of post-war research was studying crew ergonomics and the optimal crew size. The "NIR 1476" project (unofficially named "Buryan") was developed based on the obtained data. It aimed to translate the results of the anthropometric research into tank design. With a conventional layout, a spacious turret, and two loaders, the vehicle offered a high rate of fire; however, a weight of 55 tons, the turret's increased side projection, and the absence of a driver's hatch made it unwieldy. Reinforcement of the sloped hull front further increased the weight, and the only suitable engine for the tank (the 6TD) only existed as a design project at the time. The development was not successful as the engineers were unable to combine the weight and dimensions, armor, and anthropometrics. In addition, by the late 1950s, layouts with autoloaders had come into existence, making it possible to reduce the crew size and decrease the weight and frontal projection as well as increase the fire rate.