"Award Order
- Name: Stepanov, Konstantin Ivanovich
- Rank: Junior Lieutenant
- Position, unit: tank commander, 1st Tank Battalion, 233rd Dnestr Tank Brigade, 5th Motorized Corps
is nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. - Year of birth: 1922
- Nationality: Russian
- Party affiliation: none
- Participation in the civil war, subsequent actions in defense of the USSR, and the Patriotic War: 2nd Ukrainian Front since March 10th, 1944
- Wounds or concussions in the Patriotic War: none
- In the RKKA since: 1941
- Recruited by: Bezhbulyak recruitment office, Bashkir ASSR
- Previous awards: none
Brief and specific description of heroism: during battle between August 21st and 30th, 1944, he demonstrated courage, heroism, and bravery. In battles for Vaneshti village, while surrounded, he maintained his composure and calmly eliminated enemy soldiers and vehicles. His tank destroyed 2 PzIV tanks, 4 AT guns, 2 mortar batteries, and more than a company of enemy soldiers and officers.
In subsequent battles in the Kamineshty village region on August 24th, he was among the first to engage the enemy group, destroying 12 vehicles with infantry and ammunition, and 40 carts wtih ammunition.
His tank travelled 1500 miles and is still fully functional.
For demonstrated courage, heroism, and bravery, he is worthy of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union."
CAMD RF 33-793756-45
Seems that the battalion commander didn't deem it too necessary to write down what kind of tank he was driving, but the use of miles gives it away. The 223rd Tank Brigade was indeed using Sherman tanks.
How about some USSR armor test on M4A2?
ReplyDelete"His tank travelled 1500 miles and is still fully functional."
ReplyDeleteSo? All tanks travelled big miles on the East Front and their is nothing about servicing or breakdowns of his tank. Typically all tanks stayed in service until they were put out of action by the enemy.