"5. For further development and improvement of medium tanks, allow NKTP and factory #183 to build two prototypes of the T-44 tank by September 1st of this year, with the following tactical-technical characteristics.
- Mass: no more than 32 tons
- Armour
- Side: 60 mm
- Front: 60-75 mm
- Rear:
- Rolled: 60 mm
- Cast: 75 mm
- Turret (cast): 80-85 mm
- The turret has a commander's cupola.
- Speed:
- Highway: 45-50 kph
- Off-road: 20-25 kph
- Armament:
- One 76.2 mm gun
- Two coaxial machineguns
- Ammunition:
- 76.2 mm shells: 60-65
- DT rounds: 2000-2500
- Crew: 4 (commander and radio operator, loader, gunner, driver).
- Engine
- At less than 30 tons: V2-34 engine, 500 hp
- At more than 20 tons: V2-K engine, 600 hp
- Fuel range: 250-300 km on a highway.
- Suspension: torsion bar.
Confirm the rest of the requirements with NKTP and GABTU
6. NKTP (comrade Malyshev) and factory #183 director (comrade Maksarev) must perform trials of the tank with GABTU before October 10th and report to GOKO by October 10th.
7. The People's Commissariat of Finance must issue 5 million rubles to the NKTP from the Council of Commissars reserves to build and test experimental T-44 tanks and 5-speed gearboxes, as well as awards to exceptional workers."
However, it seems that Stalin was not quite ready to give up on the T-34. His trademark red pencil drew a big fat line across anything that had to do with the T-44 in this decree.
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