The name falls under the mids Soviet classification that categorised tanks into "Small," "Main," and "Maneuverable", the "Malyi Soprovozhdeniya" means Small Escort. Please notice that according to the Soviet nomenclature of that time, the MS-1 wasn't light tank but small support escort tank. In May and June , a three-year plan for tank production was developed, based on a concept of a breakthrough of the km frontline that is defended by two foe's infantry divisions.
However, the council members noticed a number of serious problems with the tank, like heavy weight prohibiting truck transport , low speed, and weak armament. The original mm Hochkiss or Puteaux guns did not provide accurate fire beyond a distance of metres.
Sormovo-built siblings also known as the "Russian Renault" were mentioned as "having unsatisfactory workmanship, having insufficient armament, and being too expensive. The Italian FIAT was considered a more suitable prototype due to its lower weight and its higher speed. Shukalov was launched in mid The first prototype was built in the Bolshevik Factory and was delivered for testing in March This vehicle received the "T" index.
Compared with the "Russian Renault," it had less size, less weight, less cost, and higher speed. Nevertheless, it still had a bunch of serious problems, so a number of parts and mechanisms were recommended for improvement. One more roadwheel was added to the suspension, and some of the details of the engine and of the transmission were altered.
Because of its unsatisfactory powertrain performance, A. Mikulin one of the leading tank engine designers had to relocate to the factory to work there. A new tank was built by mid-May, and after a brief road test near Leningrad, it was sent to Moscow probably May for final testing and for approval under the index "Small Support Tank Model MS-1 T The armament was not ready yet, and therefore a mock-up gun was installed.
