In practice, The T-70 proved a competent gunnery platform against the lighter tanks of the Germans and Italians. It was capable of knocking out medium-class tanks as well but this proved more elusive as German tank development evolved in the middle and latter years of the war. One of the biggest detriments of the T-70's original design was that the commander needed to manage the tactical situation, the driver, the gun and his own reloading - taking his attention away from key developments during critical times. Its light armor protection became readily apparent as the war progressed as did the small-caliber main gun (the mighty Soviet 76mm eventually proved the accepted standard for the Red Army).
Beginning in September of 1942, production of the base T-70 moved to the "T-70M", a modernized and improved form with revised running gear and a reduced ammunition load (down to 70 projectiles). The T-70M would become the most-produced Soviet light tank of World War 2 and help to strengthen ranks reduced through general attrition - particularly the heavy losses incurred in the initial German assault of 1941.
However, by the latter part of 1942, even the newer T-70M was quickly becoming an outmoded product and this led to the development of the short-lived "T-80" .The T-80 represented a slightly evolved form of the T-70M though with a two-man turret (now a complete crew of three) to reduce the commander's workload and increased armor protection. However, the improvements were slight as only 120 examples of the type were produced due to a general decline of the light tank category as a whole, now given up in favor of more potent medium and heavy designs available or coming online. The T-80, therefore, became the last Soviet-produced light tank of World War 2 - serving alongside their T-70 counterparts into 1945.
When the T-70 had met its fate on the then-modern battlefield, the chassis served an extended role as carrier for the SU-76 series self-propelled gun (SPGs) mounting the potent 76mm gun in a new fixed superstructure. To accommodate the added weight and new role, the hull was lengthened and widened while an additional pair of road wheels was added. The SU-76 entered service in 1942 and was produced in an astounding 14,292 examples. The late-war ZSU-37 tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft gun platform followed suit, being built upon the existing chassis of the T-70 Light Tank and existing in 75 total examples, only a few of these available by war's end.
T-70 tanks were regularly fielded side-by-side with T-34 Medium Tanks and SU-76 SPGs and also utilized in the fast reconnaissance role attached to other mechanized forces. In all, production of T-70 tanks reached 8,226 examples including all mentioned variants, production running until 1943. At least 53 were fielded by Poland and a further 10 by Czechoslovakia. As with other Soviet tank developments of World War 2, the T-70 was retained in various trial forms that included the T-90 self-propelled ant-aircraft gun (SPAAG) platform of 1942.
The last T-70 tanks remained in active service until 1948.
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