Thursday 12 March 2015

Heroic Driver

We've seen a pretty good driver recently who drove a T-34 for 308 hours. He was good, but not great. True greatness apparently lies in the realm of 370 engine-hours and 2700 kilometers without a breakdown.

"Award Order
  1. Name: Perederiy, Iosif Antonovich
  2. Rank: Guards Starshina
  3. Position and unit: Mechanic-driver of a T-34-85 tank in the 1st Tank Battalion of the 66th Guards Tank Vapniyaraka, Order of the Red Banner, Order of Suvorov 2nd class Brigade
  4. Year of birth: 1913
  5. Nationality: Ukrainian
  6. Party affiliation: VKP(b) member since 1944
  7. Participation in the Civil War or subsequent combat in defense of the USSR and patriotic war: Western Front from July to August 1941, South-Western Front from January to March 1942, Central Front from August to December of 1942, 1-2nd Ukrainian Front from January 1944 to June 1944, 1st Belorussian Front since July 20th, 1944.
  8. Wounds or concussions: three light wounds in 1941-1942.
  9. In RKKA since: May 25th, 1941.
  10. Commissioned at: Kanev recruiting station.
  11. Prior awards: Order of Glory 3rd class, April 8th, 1944. Order of the Red Banner, August 14th, 1944.
Brief and specific summary of heroism: comrade Perederiy, a mechanic-driver, fought in the Great Patriotic War since July of 1941, as a mechanic-driver since January 20th of 1944. In this role, comrade Perederiy demonstrated his skill in maintaining his vehicle and extending its lifespan. From January 27th, 1944 to June 20th, 1944, as a part of the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts, comrade Perederiy drove without emergency stops and breakdowns through rasputitsa and mud. Through impassable routes, he drove his vehicle for 2700 km over 370 engine-hours with an engine rated for 200 engine-hours. In battle, he and his crew dealt significant damage to the enemy. In the Western direction, from January 15th to February 2nd, 1945, his tank #392 surpassed its warranty period under the loving care of its mechanic, travelling 1680 kilometers over 310 engine-hours with no emergency stops or breakdowns. The crew of comrade Perederiy's tank destroyed two PzIV tanks, up to 20 cars with military supplies, a German column of 30 carts, captured 20 Germans, destroyed 10 Panzerfaust tank destroyers, and up to 100 soldiers and officers. Comrade Perederiy's fearsome fighting machine knew no obstacles in his skilful hands.

Conclusions: for success in protecting his vehicle and extending its lifespan, heroism in battle, and loving and scrupulous treatment of technology, comrade Perederiy is worthy of the highest government award: the title of Hero of the Soviet Union."

CAMD RF 33-793756-36

4 comments:

  1. Its a really massive shame there are no big budget war movies of Soviet heroism during the war.
    Most of them are made in USSR there are rarely any made in post-Soviet era.

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  2. So the engine in a T34/85 was supposed to last 200 hours? That's not bad for WW2 era stuff.

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  3. So the engine in a T34/85 was supposed to last 200 hours? That's not bad for WW2 era stuff.

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    Replies
    1. New ones were supposed to last 225 hours, refurbs for 200 hours, IIRC.

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