"Report on experimental work at factory #183 for February of 1941
Work performed at workshop 500:
- Trials of two types of main clutches with a friction clutch for the fan. Tanks with these clutches drove for 400 km, after which trials stopped due to breakages of three pins on each. Presently, a new main clutch is being produced with an altered driving drum and a friction clutch for the fan. This type will be produced in mid-March of 1941.
- Trials of rigidly installed fans were performed. Positive results have not yet been achieved.
- Two variants of gearboxes with a reduced third gear were tested. Trials are complete and gave positive results.
- Trials of a gearbox with constantly meshed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears continue. The tank travelled for 3000 km. No gearbox defects have been observed.
- Two T-34 tanks are being used to test substitute materials, both in the transmission and running gear.
- New radios (KRSTB) were installed on two T-34 tanks and are being tested.
- Flamethrower trials continue. The following was discovered:
- The maximum range of the stream is 65 meters. In this case, there is enough fuel for 3-4 shots.
- A shorter stream has a range of 50 meters. In this case, one can make 8-10 shots. A special manually operated handle was used to make short streams. Pneumatic clearing of the hose was disabled.
- Leaking of fuel on the prototype has still not been fixed. Blueprints of a variant without these defect have been sent to production.
- Installation and stationary trials of A-7M heating equipment began. The heating system is based on a single pass boiler design and had a number of design defects, which led to the system not launching when installed on the tank.
Work performed at workshop 520:
- Blueprints for a model of a major modernized T-34 are delivered to production, the final layout is being developed, various components and assemblies are being developed.
- Work on minor modernizations of the T-34 tank is underway. Presently, blueprints for 31 out of 39 topics have been completed and delivered to production, 14 topics have been completed and sent to Mariupol. Blueprints for 8 topics have not yet been completed. Two of them are on the fan and track, which have not been successfully solved yet.
Composed by: GABTU Military Representative, Military Engineer 3rd Class, Baikov
Approved by: acting GABTU Regional Engineer, Captain Rusakov"
Transmissions and heaters. Name two things a tanker does not wish to break down in a cold Russian winter.
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