Vz. 59 Dravec (Czechoslovakia, Tier-8, MT, Premium)
In the late 1950s, Czechoslovakia initiated the development of a medium tank that would combine sufficient firepower, a low profile, good driving characteristics, high speed and rate of fire. As a result, the Dravec project had an unusual layout.
The fighting compartment was supposed to be located in the rear of the tank, the gun in the swinging part of the turret with shells fed by an automatic loader. The engine and transmission in the front of the vehicle provided additional protection for the crew, and the torsion bar suspension ensured a fairly smooth ride at high speed. At the same time, mass production of many complex components of the tank’s design had not yet been mastered, and its cost would have been very high. The production of vehicles with a classic layout was considered more promising, and all work on the project was curtailed.
