Comparative Testing

"Brief technical report on the development of protection against subcaliber and HEAT shells

1. Resistance of the T-34's hull against HEAT shells
During the course of the war, the German army obtained new types of shells: subcaliber and HEAT. Trials of 75 mm German and 76 mm domestic HEAT shells against a T-34 hull showed the following:

Tank component	At angle	Resistance of component
		75 mm German HEAT	76 mm domestic HEAT
Front plates	0	No penetration	No penetration
Lower side	90	Penetration	Penetration
Lower side	60	No penetration	Penetration
Upper side	90	No penetration	Penetration
Rear	180	No penetration	No penetration
Turret	90	No penetration	Penetration

The table shows that domestic HEAT shells have superior penetration compared to German HEAT shells, as those can only penetrate the lower side of the tank, and at angles close to normal. A special feature of these shells is that due to their HE component, they do not lose penetration at a distance, meaning that the T-34 can be penetrated from a significant range. As for the HE effect, it is somewhat greater than the effect of regular HE shells.

When the shell hits the side of the tank near the overtrack hull or the suspension, they are destroyed. If the lower part of the turret is hit, the roof of the hull is dented or destroyed. When the rear is hit, hatches, exhaust pipe shields, bolts are torn off.

The 75 mm German HEAT shell is not effective against the T-34's armour. These shells are only a serious threat to the sides of the tank at any range.

2. Resistance of the T-34's hull against subcaliber shells

Trials of the T-34 hull showed that its various components in various positions relative to the shooter can be penetrated from the following distances:

Tank part	Shell caliber	Range in meters at the following angle
		90	80	70	60	50	40	30
Lower side	50 mm 37 mm	1260 380	1155 360	980 310	775 200	530 10	250 No penetration	No penetration No penetration
Upper side	50 mm 37 mm	530 15	495 No penetration	420	300	115	No penetration
Turret	50 mm	690	660	565	410	205	No penetration

The table shows that the T-34 is weakly protected from subcaliber shells, as important components can be penetrated from significant distances at relatively sharp angles, which limits the area of maneuver in relation to the enemy. Only the front of the hull is impervious to subcaliber shells and, to a lesser degree, the rear, penetrable at a range of 360 meters.

To compare with regular sharp-tipped German armour piercing shells, the 50 mm shell can penetrate the side from normal at a range of 900-1000 meters, and the 37 mm shell at 150 meters."

RGASPI 644-2-115