TKS

TK-3 / TKS
TKS tankette
Type	Tankette
Place of origin	Poland
Production history
Manufacturer	Fabryka Samochodów PZInż.
Produced	1931 - 1939
No. built	575
Specifications
Weight	2.43/2.6 tonnes
Length	2.58 metres (8 ft 6 in)
Width	1.78 metres (5 ft 10 in)
Height	1.32 metres (4 ft 4 in)
Crew	2 (commander, driver)
Armor	4 – 10 mm
Main armament	7.92 mm km wz.25 (Hotchkiss) machine gun 2000 rounds
Engine	Ford A / Polski FIAT-122 petrol engine 40/46 hp (30/34 kW)
Power/weight	17/18 hp/tonne
Suspension	Bogie suspension
Fuel capacity	70+8 l
Operational range	200 kilometres (120 mi) (roads), 100 kilometres (62 mi) (cross-country)
Speed	46–40 kilometres per hour (29–25 mph)

The TK (TK-3) and TKS were Polish tankettes during the Second World War.

The TK (also known as the TK-3) tankette was a Polish design produced from 1931 based on the chassis of the British Carden Loyd tankette, with an improved hull and more powerful engine, and armour up to 8 mm thick (10 mm on the TKS). In 1939, up-arming of the tankettes with Nkm wz.38 FK 20 mm machine guns began, but only 24 of these were completed before the outbreak of World War II.

On 6 November 1934 Estonia purchased 6 vehicles from Poland, with the contract deal worth over 180,000 krones. The deal also included one additional tracked-lorry, and a motorcycle was given free as a bonus. After the Soviet Union occupied Estonia, these vehicles were put into service with the Red Army.

The 575 TK/TKS tankettes formed the bulk of the Polish armoured forces before the outbreak of war. They suffered heavy losses during the Invasion of Poland, often being the only armoured fighting vehicles available. Due to their light armament of a single machine gun, they stood no chance in combat against German tanks, except against the Panzer I, but their small size suited them for reconnaissance and infantry support. Only the handful of tankettes armed with 20 mm guns were effective against enemy tanks; in one instance on 18 September 1939 a 20 mm gunned TKS commanded by Podchorazy (Officer Candidate SFC) Roman Orlik destroyed three German Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) tanks.