The "Venic" AG-TD-64 (Assault Gun Tank Destroyer 1064) The Venic began as merely a concept, as all technology does. The niche of a designated assault gun and tank hunter was yet to be filled in a more effective way. While the TMT-62 70mm hull mounted cannon did have some compacity for AT purposes, it's slow muzzle velocity really limited it strictly to only stationary fortifications and targets as well as lightly armored tanks and vehicles, it had up to 40mm of armor penetration. It's turret cannon, that being the 42mm, was built with the purpose of combating enemy armor but has since been steadily outclassed by any targets with armor thicker than 50mm and even then, it was unreliable. Designing and eventually production began for the Venic, using the altered and up-armored hull of the TMT as a base. The upper front plate would be pushed back considerably to open up space in the middle of the tank for the engine. The layout of the tank would be changed entirely to consolidate the size of the 78mm cannon, leaning towards a rear mounted gun configuration rather than the center mounted turret layout the TMT had. From front to back, the driver would lie in his own compartment in the very front with the engine and transmission directly behind and below him respectively. The entire back of the tank behind the engine would be reserved for the rest of the crew, leaving plenty of space for the 78mm and the loader, gunner, and commander/radioman. Heavily modified TMT 6 cylinder engine Top speed of 17.3 MPH, 9.8 MPH in reverse. 1x 78mm cannon imbedded into the hull, -7.8 to 25 degree vertical traverse and virtually no horizontal traverse. Around 95mm worth of penetration. Crew of 4 consisting of the driver, gunner and loader for the 78mm, and commander/radioman. Armor up to 55mm towards the front, 55mm on the mantlet, 35mm to the sides, and 25mm to the back. Tank dimensions: 15' 9'' feet long, 7' 5'' feet wide, 7' 6'' feet tall. Weight of about 18.19 long tons (with ammunition, crew, and other supplies equipped onto the body). 42 shells worth of ammunition in the crew compartment.
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