The Kremlin-backed Taran project was aimed at bringing nukes to the front line and even included plans for mobile nuclear rocket launchers.
However, its deadliest weapon was to be a unit of armoured tanks each capable of firing three devastating missiles according to leaked military documents.
The war machines were to be based on the T-64 tank chassis, however it's turret was to be equipped with an innovative missile-firing rocket gun.
The tactical nuke itself was said to have a calibre of 300mm and a launch weight of 150 kg with a deadly yield of 0.3 kilotons – which could create a TEN MILE firestorm.
It was hoped each missile would have a staggering range of around 12 kilometres (eight miles).
However, the rocket projectiles lacked any sort of guidance – and it's predicted they would have been accurate "within a hundred yards."
The fearsome Taran tank was also ready to carry up to 12 guided traditional missiles alongside its nuclear projectiles, reports national.interest.org.
The designers wanted it to be able to fight alongside regular tanks to "mop up" the enemy after firing its nuclear salvo.
However, by the 1970s the project was shelved as military experts predicted the days of battlefield combat were on their way out.
Last week we told how Soviet cold war engineers developed a giant submarine to transport TANKS into battle, top secret plans reveal.
The deadly machine – called the P2 – was ten times bigger than its counterparts and was aimed at changing the face of combat.
The incredible mega-sub, designed in 1949, was to be the pride of megalomaniac Joseph Stalin's navy and would be built using Nazi technology.
Submarine expert H I Sutton said the P2 would have been the most advanced submarine fielded by any country at the time.
“The submarine was massive for the time,” he said “with sixteen torpedo tubes in three separate torpedo rooms (two forward, one aft), all with reloads.
"This compared to ten on US Navy fleet submarines of this time, and just four on later US nuclear-powered attack submarines.”
Source: Read Full Article