Tuesday 23 April 2019

Armour Order

"To Washington
#7835
Sent: 9:00 August 7th, 1941
Copy 1

CC: comrade Stalin, comrade Molotov, comrade Mikoyan, 10th dept.

New York
Priority

We are in great need of armour plates for tanks. They are needed more than several important types of armament. I very much ask you to get the American embassy to send 127,700 tons of armoured plates, hardened and cleanly cut.
  • 75 mm thick, 6550x1500 mm: 30,000 tons
  • 45 mm thick, 5725x1560 mm: 45,000 tons
  • 37 mm 5075x1200 mm: 46,000 tons
  • 20 mm 1700x500 mm: 6700 tons.
The chemical composition is as follows:
  • 75 mm armour:
    • C: 0.26-0.32
    • Mn: 0.30-0.50
    • Si: 0.15-0.35
    • P: no more than 0.030
    • S: no more than 0.025
    • Cr: 2.3-2.7
    • Ni: 1.0-1.5
    • Mo: 0.30-0.40
  • 45 mm, 37 mm, and 20 mm armour:
    • C: 0.20-0.27
    • Mn: 1.1-1.5
    • Si: 1.20-1.60
    • P: no more than 0.030
    • S: no more than 0.025
    • Cr: 0.7-1.0
    • Ni: 1.2-1.5
    • Mo: 0.15-0.25
Shipments must start in September and complete in December of this year.

We are also in great need of instrumental steel. Arrange for shipment of 2000 tons of instrumental fast-cutting steel and 200 tons of hard alloy plates.

Stalin, Molotov, Mikoyan
4 copies
Received 2:20 August 7th."

RGASPI 558-11-385 pp.108-110

4 comments:

  1. Any word about how much was delivered?

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    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, no. Definitely some amount was, but looks like only thinner plates, no 75 mm. http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2015/09/american-steel.html

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    2. I figure that as heavy as armor is, any ship hauling armor would appear to be almost empty. Might be more practical to slip in some sheets of thin armor in ships packed with lighter vehicles such as trucks. Not to mention more practical.

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  2. The specifications for 45 mm, 37 mm, and 20 mm armour plates are similar to local 8S used in T-34s. Not surprising I guess.

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