Saturday 10 January 2015

Kirov Factory Experiments, 1937

"Tanks

1. Development of a project and working blueprints for a tank destroyer on the T-28 chassis with 4 turrets, each with a DK 12.7 mm machinegun, and one turret with a 45 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm DT machinegun.
Work begins in the 1st quarter, will end in the 2nd quarter of 1937.
SKB-2 chief comrade Efimov is responsible for the project. Cost in 1937: 70,000 rubles.

2. Development of a project and working blueprints for a breakthrough tank with the following armament: one 76.2 mm turret with limited traverse, two turrets with 45 mm guns and DK machineguns, commander's cupola with all-round vision.
Work begins in the first quarter, will end in the 4th quarter of 1937.
SKB-2 chief comrade Efimov is responsible for the project. Required funds: 350,000 rubles.
Armour will be 60 mm thick, cemented. The hull and turret will have sloped armour. The mass of the tank will be 40 tons. The engine will be an 800 hp diesel, provided by ABTU. The speed will be 40 kph. Fuel range: 350-450 km.

Factory director (signature)."

The first vehicle is, of course, hilarious, but the second is much more reasonable. One 76 mm gun, two 45 mm guns, 60 mm of sloped armour: some of you may have recognized the SMK breakthrough tank. The tank lost one turret when Stalin inspected the design, and another in the process of making the "budget" KV that ended up winning the role of the Red Army's heavy tank after a trial by fire in Finland. Looks like the tank's history reaches as far back as 1936.

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