Overview
Object 1015 represented experimental Soviet tank development in the late 1950s exploring alternatives to conventional tank design. Part of broader programs investigating advanced armor configurations, fire control systems, and automotive solutions, Object 1015 contributed technical insights informing later production vehicles despite never reaching series manufacturing.
Development context
Late 1950s Soviet armor development occurred during doctrinal transition from heavy tanks to universal main battle tanks. Multiple design bureaus pursued competing concepts balancing firepower, protection, and mobility. Object 1015 explored specific technical solutions addressing identified deficiencies in then-current T-54/T-55 designs.
Limited documentation survives regarding Object 1015's specific configuration and trial results. The project appears to have been cancelled during prototype or early testing phases, with promising technologies possibly transferred to other concurrent programs that did reach production.
Technical approaches
Experimental programs of this era typically investigated:
Advanced armor: Composite armor concepts, improved cast/welded steel configurations, spaced armor arrangements.
Fire control: Stabilized gun mounts, optical rangefinders, ballistic computers improving first-hit probability.
Automotive: Higher power-to-weight ratios, improved suspension systems, enhanced cross-country mobility.
Crew efficiency: Improved crew ergonomics, better sight systems, reduced crew fatigue during sustained operations.
Related development programs
Object 1015 existed within broader research efforts:
Object 140: T-54 replacement exploring 100mm smoothbore armament and improved armor.
Object 165: Alternative medium tank development with different design philosophy.
Object 166: Ultimately becoming T-62 with 115mm smoothbore gun.
Object 430: Morozov Bureau's parallel development leading to T-64 lineage.
Historical significance
While Object 1015 itself never entered production, experimental programs contributed to Soviet armor evolution:
Technology maturation: Testing concepts under development for future implementation.
Risk reduction: Identifying technical challenges before committing to series production.
Knowledge base: Building engineering expertise informing subsequent successful designs.
Competitive pressure: Multiple competing programs driving innovation across design bureaus.
Documentation limitations
Detailed specifications and trial results for Object 1015 remain classified or undisclosed. Available information derives from:
Secondary sources: General references to experimental programs without detailed technical data.
Museum holdings: Possible prototype components in restricted military museums.
Design bureau archives: Internal documentation potentially accessible to researchers with appropriate clearances.
Related projects
GBTU Index (/guide/army/index_gbtu.shtml): Overview of Soviet armor classification and Object number system.
Tank Development (/guide/army/ta/): Evolution of Soviet/Russian main battle tanks.
Object 1015 reference maintained for completeness in documenting Soviet experimental programs, acknowledging limited available technical details.