tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50301452658619178452024-03-18T09:30:02.916-04:00Tank ArchivesThis blog is dedicated to bringing World War II era documents to the general public, with an overall focus on armoured warfare.
Questions? Requests? Comments? Email me at tankarchives@gmail.com or find me on Twitter @Tank_Archives.Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.comBlogger2806125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-46459156842337842772024-03-16T17:39:00.001-04:002024-03-16T17:39:07.310-04:00There are Always Two<p style="text-align: justify;">The tank was initially conceived as a mobile fortress; huge and slow. However, the army had to rein in their appetites from a 300 ton monster to just 28 tons. This didn’t mean that the idea of a mobile fortress died off. The mass of tanks continued to grow and the development of the K-Wagen clearly suggested that not only Lebedenko was thinking about Tsar-tanks. Only the prompt end of the First World War stopped these giants from reaching the battlefield. Although, the monstrous projects that were built by 1919 were about as useful as the rest of the Tsar family: a tank that doesn’t fight in addition to a bell that doesn’t ring and cannon that doesn’t shoot.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAA37MKzWGOjio4zBptPuqX3nOhQ7tK5YiC14lLl8J9PxtARzsO0KJQul9JDExno-VDlTcT9MZUZNfdBHOCmP0ekQH5s7-Al8_VUGjfcBc4KDRcMwvj5KASLsjibYzQWhCNzbbq_ijAlnlzr8ITCRaOUR6unI7Qrfq7iL421TptlcYu8wa1n5MwW6aZ6e/s1024/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1024" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAA37MKzWGOjio4zBptPuqX3nOhQ7tK5YiC14lLl8J9PxtARzsO0KJQul9JDExno-VDlTcT9MZUZNfdBHOCmP0ekQH5s7-Al8_VUGjfcBc4KDRcMwvj5KASLsjibYzQWhCNzbbq_ijAlnlzr8ITCRaOUR6unI7Qrfq7iL421TptlcYu8wa1n5MwW6aZ6e/w640-h452/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-39, the first Soviet "large" heavy tank. Thankfully, clearer minds prevailed.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">For obvious reasons, Soviet tank designers didn’t even think about a heavy breakthrough tank. Ironically, the most numerous tank in the Red Army at the time was the British Mark V that fit this role perfectly. The USSR began working on its own heavy tank in the early 1930s. It just so happened that they ended up with two designs over and over again for two decades. They choice was always made in favour of the lighter one, but it didn’t prevent work on the heavier one from moving forward.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwV5AS030pHHIoQjzrSMuZ0aPlJkoQgIs-qnOSdBJcUzPSYkmaHbcGAXvofN8IsmTDVG_VGp_UHs-tw6HwJQDuFjChQ3JQtrhjnyJIXuvdLj3CG9nkRfeE5S_ISabkCMUHWPKZYGPQmRavcjK0gKn3X3ZN-pn-dIrzLv18MDDaRAObpy3uxPsOZBAtOcH/s1024/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1024" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwV5AS030pHHIoQjzrSMuZ0aPlJkoQgIs-qnOSdBJcUzPSYkmaHbcGAXvofN8IsmTDVG_VGp_UHs-tw6HwJQDuFjChQ3JQtrhjnyJIXuvdLj3CG9nkRfeE5S_ISabkCMUHWPKZYGPQmRavcjK0gKn3X3ZN-pn-dIrzLv18MDDaRAObpy3uxPsOZBAtOcH/w640-h454/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The T-35 was the first "small" heavy tank, but everything is relative. In the end, it turned into a "large" one.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The Red Army’s system or armaments designated heavy tanks as Type B (Bolshoi - large). There were also maneuver (medium) tanks and small (light) tanks. This system was copied from the British, who were the trendsetters at the time. However, they did not succeed at creating a breakthrough tank and the role of medium tanks was carried out by overgrown light tanks. An analogue of the Soviet support tank was explored and rejected. Tankettes also found their own place. Other countries had their own ideas of what a medium or a heavy tank should look like.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UmO4ZCNxffTWEKkf3h2MmqEFled_AcBDslLX0Oj537CxI6m_PdbX0XOGr-RdgccerZqN7BJqiNVRR03lcMJUF30hHYwiWzs8b27UikEE66olGT8Fs6Qx7NM8EY5IG_64Z-dK38ZAPGvxWuJgjcTKKw4-vyoU4sEhGSOx3tLWSJQMPYmrn9cu_WvtqI03/s1024/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="1024" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UmO4ZCNxffTWEKkf3h2MmqEFled_AcBDslLX0Oj537CxI6m_PdbX0XOGr-RdgccerZqN7BJqiNVRR03lcMJUF30hHYwiWzs8b27UikEE66olGT8Fs6Qx7NM8EY5IG_64Z-dK38ZAPGvxWuJgjcTKKw4-vyoU4sEhGSOx3tLWSJQMPYmrn9cu_WvtqI03/w640-h310/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the potential replacements for the T-35. This tank weighed 59 tons. This project was not built.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">If one looks at what was happening in the UK and France, then the processes that took place in the Soviet tank industry will not look so surprising. The issue of light tanks inflating into medium ones was common at the time. Medium tanks also grew into heavy ones. For instance, the light <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/05/renault-nc-destined-for-export.html">Renault NC</a> morphed into the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/06/renault-d2-de-gaulles-workhorse.html">Char D2</a> which weighed 20 tons. It all started with a requirement for thicker armour and a radio operator. The situation with the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/12/char-b-on-frances-backburner.html">Char B</a> was even more interesting. It started out as a medium tank, but the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/02/char-b1-bis-general-estiennes-legacy.html">Char B1</a> that went into production was already a heavy. The French also preserved an artefact from the First World War: the Char 2C (FCM 2C). It was nearly useless, but the French kept it around and even tried to build a more modern one. Ten of these “Tsar-tanks” were periodically rolled out for exercises.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KstSo_kZG5NmchWT4aJ4TRcD7O6kaQB0e-222nbfikFuJ9V1SXPIqCnb1mOqukYtX0veWWkPdEnTu-vHE3jcoXn8wuih0FT1aejJKFiKM2HmkBb0vBGS37wqmTCZD6R9Mr3iox2PSJsdJRMgUJhDEo7ONhjk8NlhCTmRSPOFbX0Yec4g8KI6KdgkmzMJ/s1024/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1024" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KstSo_kZG5NmchWT4aJ4TRcD7O6kaQB0e-222nbfikFuJ9V1SXPIqCnb1mOqukYtX0veWWkPdEnTu-vHE3jcoXn8wuih0FT1aejJKFiKM2HmkBb0vBGS37wqmTCZD6R9Mr3iox2PSJsdJRMgUJhDEo7ONhjk8NlhCTmRSPOFbX0Yec4g8KI6KdgkmzMJ/w640-h450/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compared to the above, the SMK-1 was very reasonable.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">These demonstrations had an effect, as other nations looked at the Char 2C attentively. This included the Red Army. Just like the French, they wanted a 65 ton heavy tank. By 1933, this project grew to a mass of 90 tons. As for the maneuver tank, it grew into something unintelligible. While the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/01/overrated-soviet-medium-tank.html">T-28</a> looked somewhat like a maneuver tank in 1932, the tank that was put into production was nearly a heavy tank by weight, armour, and armament. There was now a new tank class: “powerful”. This class was introduced for the TG-1 tank developed by Eduard Grate, who set out to build a maneuver tank but ended up making a 25-ton tank instead of 18-19 tons. Further development of the powerful tank concept led to the T-35, which initially weighed 38 tons and then ballooned to 50.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBiMNvDbCuTPxOTcNjf0pbDLc2DLnyKNSicx3fmgovdtnma29A27MfSgOt7YiG0OcESZJVHU-Dh1PojZ-E7eG3I70XLLVWIo0K-xuRedB7RGEZuJBDYiS4pjvsUUrit6CvduGTDKJFqs_f4vRoQZX8BITwZ_rOJxphtIufw2bdEQlMpJPR1mdR0P-ROEV/s1024/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1024" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBiMNvDbCuTPxOTcNjf0pbDLc2DLnyKNSicx3fmgovdtnma29A27MfSgOt7YiG0OcESZJVHU-Dh1PojZ-E7eG3I70XLLVWIo0K-xuRedB7RGEZuJBDYiS4pjvsUUrit6CvduGTDKJFqs_f4vRoQZX8BITwZ_rOJxphtIufw2bdEQlMpJPR1mdR0P-ROEV/w640-h418/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the end, the KV-1 won as the lighter and more protected option. That didn't mean that the army gave up on a "large" heavy tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The T-35 took the place of the T-39, which was the correct solution. The latter (and to a lesser degree, the former) were perfect examples of Tsar-tanks that don’t fight. It is no wonder that the T-28 was used in heavy tank brigades alongside the T-35. The T-28 could meet the requirements for a 1930s breakthrough tank, but the T-35 could not. At the very least, the T-35 was 6 times cheaper than the T-39 and could serve in parades just as well. The Red Army ended up with two breakthrough tanks, one a little smaller, one a little larger. Of course, the army wanted an even larger tank, but their means were limited.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDeBJRfQypPMMOobllCrSToHh6q72Ehrn5__UAvlK-sDPuYP0-fIEpHOJaeBGe7aE5i05IPc_Sv0XG2yqBnzTO7L2NFbqGSm10cU_NEoMcmy9MEs6VIvVBlQh45dCbi8kEu_1gtYxiENoWJimZ7HkayTwzsGXtrs1-dP37nhyphenhyphen2HFfdUVC5MG4AoDCVzCQ/s1024/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1024" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDeBJRfQypPMMOobllCrSToHh6q72Ehrn5__UAvlK-sDPuYP0-fIEpHOJaeBGe7aE5i05IPc_Sv0XG2yqBnzTO7L2NFbqGSm10cU_NEoMcmy9MEs6VIvVBlQh45dCbi8kEu_1gtYxiENoWJimZ7HkayTwzsGXtrs1-dP37nhyphenhyphen2HFfdUVC5MG4AoDCVzCQ/w640-h446/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The T-220 tank was not born by accident. Having left the SMK-1 behind, the military wanted a new "large" heavy tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The proponents of a large breakthrough tank had their day. In 1938, it was decided to make one “large’ 55-57 ton tank to replace both the T-28 and T-35. This was the start of the T-100 and SMK tanks. However, the idea to build something lighter surfaced in December of 1938. Kirov factory’s SKB-2 began to work on the KV tank and factory #185 began to work on a tank called 050. This topic was designated “small tank with heavy armour”, although this “small tank” was expected to weigh 40 tons. While the 050 remained on paper, the Red Army accepted the KV into service since the large breakthrough tanks seemed quite questionable.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnFgVCjqmEbmWY_VUkkJhDsHI71F_DzIDQDdIamTXWyCscnHw7C5S3lG-ISiQ15boixzzpiEkJ4mhFGAVLsWAULKk9sfYsjwPmX1rC0ApZeGcgorfMlrOF6_vMxEefqNY3M3LI-HNFbBWTz1cFWMFiEmVH8Mb-9Ily-NwauYHaj6pmuEtCfOsVwRdrCqh/s1024/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnFgVCjqmEbmWY_VUkkJhDsHI71F_DzIDQDdIamTXWyCscnHw7C5S3lG-ISiQ15boixzzpiEkJ4mhFGAVLsWAULKk9sfYsjwPmX1rC0ApZeGcgorfMlrOF6_vMxEefqNY3M3LI-HNFbBWTz1cFWMFiEmVH8Mb-9Ily-NwauYHaj6pmuEtCfOsVwRdrCqh/w640-h466/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The KV-4 managed to catch up and even surpass not only the T-39, but also the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/10/pzkpfw-lowe-german-lion.html">German Löwe</a>. </td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The T-100 and SMK died in June of 1940. This was not the end, however, as work on a KV tank with a larger gun and thicker armour was already underway. The situation repeated itself by the end of 1940: you had the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/02/minor-modernization-t-150.html">T-150</a> in the role of a small breakthrough tank and <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/01/t-220-prototype-in-combat.html">T-220</a> in the role of the large breakthrough tank. The T-150 had issues, but putting it into production was a more realistic proposition. The tank was cancelled, but the concept managed to eke its way into production, as by the end of 1941 the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/07/big-gun-for-small-turret.html">KV-1 had a 76 mm ZIS-5 gun</a> and a <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/04/heavy-without-alternatives.html">weight of 50 tons</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0j_IJTk470wIzLAOpRMBHdr77gpWHYpiykZagQLaaxP2nvgwha_GebcBm0urmLltIVQpaZ6LOo6-XybANB_uAzCTr1xmrrplNg3eX_yibfo49daaAKxAlbcQ1rQGsnVL1A3q1I7jDqovwDe4n-L6mcJeXV3huizUiUYS2NA5c7EZi7dciwnZ9-RFrv1u/s1024/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1024" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0j_IJTk470wIzLAOpRMBHdr77gpWHYpiykZagQLaaxP2nvgwha_GebcBm0urmLltIVQpaZ6LOo6-XybANB_uAzCTr1xmrrplNg3eX_yibfo49daaAKxAlbcQ1rQGsnVL1A3q1I7jDqovwDe4n-L6mcJeXV3huizUiUYS2NA5c7EZi7dciwnZ9-RFrv1u/w640-h440/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The IS was the next among "small" heavy tanks, having proven itself in battle in 1944-45.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The T-150 was supposed to go into production under the name KV-3, but the famous intelligence report changed everything. The T-220 was reanimated as the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/02/kv-3-gaining-weight.html">KV-3 (T-223)</a> and even heavier tanks were conceived under the index <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/02/kv-4-at-edge-of-insanity.html">KV-4 and KV-5</a>. As a backup plan, the old KV-3 (improved variant called T-222) was going to be put into production at the Kirov factory as the KV-6. The end of this scheme is well known. All these plans remained on paper and the KV had to be made lighter, not heavier. After a year and a half of trying to make a real heavy tank out of the KV-13, the Red Army received first the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/07/an-is-in-hand.html">IS-85</a> and then the <a href="https://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2019/03/is-with-heavy-gun.html">IS-122</a>. The latter became the Red Army’s best heavy tank of the war, finally surpassing medium tanks in armament.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBS_sz6hJpBXurMue-Q7afuBsBnG3ciDdhLED5Qmuc_vTs61v6t33b8zYwWHpmfBQAAPyaGt57I9TXMxvafwypp4Eh6sV_u2SUFDDoIfiEy4FaLnAY1yq-bhBCEsd5AD6bs-h6jtnSq16zKmZoIpvREPW5KgpbpMpaWqUBgCuy2DtYt-qbKn5IOpWQrjE/s1024/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBS_sz6hJpBXurMue-Q7afuBsBnG3ciDdhLED5Qmuc_vTs61v6t33b8zYwWHpmfBQAAPyaGt57I9TXMxvafwypp4Eh6sV_u2SUFDDoIfiEy4FaLnAY1yq-bhBCEsd5AD6bs-h6jtnSq16zKmZoIpvREPW5KgpbpMpaWqUBgCuy2DtYt-qbKn5IOpWQrjE/w640-h428/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Object 701, the future IS-4. The project began at a weight of 54-55 tons and finished at 60.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Did anyone learn something this time around? Not a chance. Reports justifying 55-60 ton heavy tanks began appearing by September of 1943. In some cases, these tanks would weigh 80 tons or more. 55 tons was chosen as a reasonable limit and work on the Object 701 began. Thankfully, work on improving the IS-2 continued. Nevertheless, the USSR was once again working on a small heavy tank and a large heavy tank at the same time. Work on the former turned into the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/04/baby-is-3.html">Kirovets-1</a>, better known as the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/08/evolution-and-revolution.html">IS-3</a>. The army really wanted to put the Object 701 into production in the spring of 1945, but Vyachelav Malyshev knew how this story would end and insisted on the IS-3.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYmOjjgmWZkS6w6ulnWWZJy0TrGO2Uih8bY6zcIPURGq7fmDYffwmNsgXpCGSDQ01HfNqenHshH5F8wTXZO4_nOKgWAXsUwG4U5SAW8q_GD4AG-4DWis66mdh0YCc7VnAEBBuHH-3MMiJ2Pu87uuFxHmSWMGRP9YhnA-Q4qCEtSXzevLaGIDKaXVDfn5E/s1024/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1024" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYmOjjgmWZkS6w6ulnWWZJy0TrGO2Uih8bY6zcIPURGq7fmDYffwmNsgXpCGSDQ01HfNqenHshH5F8wTXZO4_nOKgWAXsUwG4U5SAW8q_GD4AG-4DWis66mdh0YCc7VnAEBBuHH-3MMiJ2Pu87uuFxHmSWMGRP9YhnA-Q4qCEtSXzevLaGIDKaXVDfn5E/w640-h452/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The IS-7 confidently crossed the 65 ton mark and approached 70 tons, which led to cancellation of the project.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The fact that Malyshev was right became obvious in 1946. The military managed to take the IS-3 out of production. The USSR lost its small heavy tank, but production of the large heavy tank never quite took off. 52 tanks were barely made in 1947. There was another choice between a large heavy tank and a really large one. The IS-4 looked outdated and its mass approached 60 tons. The <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/05/is-7-titan-late-for-war.html">new IS-7 tank</a> weighed “just” 65 tons. There was another even larger option with a 152 mm gun that weighed 100 tons. It is not known what kind of enemy this tank was supposed to fight.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WFkA0-xrUmst2rWstpUpclcMKFJ6xuWy41v6NMSOkSRzx-wknv0P8JggmrjVzcagS7p0S567rV235NBcKj3qtdG1goD6DmiQ8UZoDXbSDcEznSdhVxHYsVI4N0YRKVddc1Cm2jmJRHA_mFk7vu6KxbTr63JPtAWmS3485eJSogg4I73EAcbpf17daGRG/s1024/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="1024" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WFkA0-xrUmst2rWstpUpclcMKFJ6xuWy41v6NMSOkSRzx-wknv0P8JggmrjVzcagS7p0S567rV235NBcKj3qtdG1goD6DmiQ8UZoDXbSDcEznSdhVxHYsVI4N0YRKVddc1Cm2jmJRHA_mFk7vu6KxbTr63JPtAWmS3485eJSogg4I73EAcbpf17daGRG/w640-h280/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All that is known today about the Object 718. Your eyes do not deceive you, its estimated weight was 100 tons.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The government lost its patience in 1949. The “small heavy tank” was being built in minuscule amounts and had no reserve for modernization. The “large breakthrough tank” was excessively heavy and came with a price tag of nearly 3 million rubles apiece. Shockingly, the situation was resolved without repressions and executions. On February 18th, 1949, the interested parties decided that no tanks weighing more than 50 tons will be built. Work began on <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-last-soviet-heavyweight.html">another “small heavy tank”</a>. There were slightly heavier ones developed as well, but they were only a few tons heavier. There were no more 100-ton monsters.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2gNpmmbOfRJ0_deADePDYB-O0MfXXjMFmWwc4W3A3L_yFKO6BP5j_Af-G2FMT9gFUnkak-Eig-lXnDaRpJvLcoxWPeERjTPoAIMOEpyFj13VcflO6yKB3WOu7D4D_6Ov0RMiMUQzDVotj5Xarq2QHtWkFEMc3O76TAXDTrhE69O7DXKP5ptfThneyz-e/s1024/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1024" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2gNpmmbOfRJ0_deADePDYB-O0MfXXjMFmWwc4W3A3L_yFKO6BP5j_Af-G2FMT9gFUnkak-Eig-lXnDaRpJvLcoxWPeERjTPoAIMOEpyFj13VcflO6yKB3WOu7D4D_6Ov0RMiMUQzDVotj5Xarq2QHtWkFEMc3O76TAXDTrhE69O7DXKP5ptfThneyz-e/s320/12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "small" heavy tank emerged the victor once more in February of 1949, but for the last time. </td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">In conclusion, we must note that these “pairs” were not a unique phenomenon. Any country that could allow itself a large tank aimed to build one. They were not always called heavy. After witnessing the 60 ton “medium” tank called <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/03/amx-50-120-long-road-to-dead-end.html">AMX 50 B</a>, even the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/06/stillborn-maus.html">Maus</a> would feel lighter. At the same time, the French had a 30 ton medium tank. Compared to some historical projects, the massive tanks of the Warhammer 40k Imperial Guard don’t seem so implausible after all. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://dzen.ru/a/ZZf6skOOuwmHnwgM">Original article by Yuri Pasholok.</a></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-36154459292729583572024-02-29T19:12:00.003-05:002024-02-29T19:12:28.389-05:00Video: How the T-34 got an 85 mm gun<p>The T-34 tank was upgraded with an 85 mm gun in a new enlarged turret in 1944. The true story of how the new gun and turret ended up on a 4 year old chassis is an interesting and complicated one. Find out how it happened in my latest video.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZ83P7W45eg" width="640" youtube-src-id="xZ83P7W45eg"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-44497178305263639452024-02-27T15:12:00.002-05:002024-02-27T15:13:43.896-05:00Foreign Tanks in Winter<p style="text-align: justify;"> "Report on the tactical use of English made <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/12/lady-with-thick-skin.html">MK-2</a> and <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/11/british-tank-for-soviet-infantry.html">MK-3 tanks</a> as well as domestic <a href="http://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/07/t-60-small-tank-in-big-war.html">T-60 tanks</a> in combat</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. The 23rd Tank Brigade was engaged in nonstop fighting from December 16th to December 31st, 1941, and has experience in using MK-2, MK-3, and T-60 tanks in battle.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. Driving in a tank column made of MK-2, MK-3, and T-60 tanks on a road does not pose a problem if the road was previously used by horse-drawn transport. If the road was not used, the MK-2 and MK-3 can push their way through 40-45 cm deep snow losing speed (the MK-2 can drive well in 3rd gear, the MK-3 in 1st or 2nd gear). The T-60 can't drive in snow this deep without following a path made by horse-drawn transport or medium tanks. It is impossible to drive individual tank columns made only of T-60 tanks in snow this deep. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">There is no particular difficulty when tanks of these types drive on country roads, the specifics of their driving remain the same. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cross-country driving with icy slopes 20-25 degrees steep is difficult for MK-2 and MK-3 tanks due to a lack of grousers on tracks links. The T-60 needs to be towed up these slopes. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Off roads, in 40-45 cm deep snow, the mobility of MK-2 and MK-3 tanks decreases to:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">5-6 kph on level ground.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">almost unusable on uneven ground, as confirmed in battle near the Radenki village.<br /></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;">T-60 tanks lose almost all mobility even on level ground and cannot be used in battle, as confirmed in battle near Vorobyevo village.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. When tanks operate away from paved roads, the main ways of supplying them with fuel and ammunition is as follows:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">If dirt roads covered in up to 15-20 cm of snow are available, ZIS-32 or GAZ-AA trucks with chains or spurs can be used.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">If there are no roads or if the snow cover is deeper, it's possible to transport supplies using horse-drawn sleds, as done while the 2nd Tank Battalion was operating separately near Smakhtino village.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Tanks with nonfunctional running gear placed in ambush can be supplied by hand-pulled sleds or by other tanks.</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">4. It is best to gather the tanks at the initial positions for an attack 1.5-2 hours before starting, as lengthy stops require the tanks to be warmed up every 1.5-2 hours, which can reveal their position and attract enemy artillery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. Moving through forests has an advantage, as the trees act as a natural defense from snow. The depth of snow banks in forests is much less than on roads or tracks in the open. Marches conducted by the 2nd Tank Battalion in forests were completed without issue, as the depth of snow cover was no more than 25-30 cm, compared to the 40-50 cm deep snow in the open on routes from Iskanskoye to Petrishevo, Petrishevo to Verkhovye, Verkhovye to Smakhtino.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">6. Practice in crossing the Oka river showed that the T-60 can cross 20 cm thick ice even if there are holes in the ice within 20 m of the router. An important factor in crossing rivers is the preparation of the slopes, as the opposite bank can be no more than 15-20 degrees steep. If the tank descends in zig-zags, it can go down a 30-35 degree slope.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">7. As a rule, the enemy's rear guard mines defilades and roads leading to villages, as discovered during the advance on Lgovo village and on the forest road near point 225.8 that's near the fork in the road near Titovo. Engineering reconnaissance is mandatory in order to mark the minefields, find a way around, and remove the mines if possible before tanks can be used.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">8. One of the way that crews stay warm when camping outside of settlements is a canvas tent with a metal oven. Each vehicle should be equipped with a tent and an oven. If those are not available, crews can warm up on the engine grille, which was done by the 2nd Tank Battalion. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">9. New types of tanks (T-60 and T-30) need to be prepared for battle by disassembling the gun breech and clearing it of thick grease, clearing the elevation and traverse mechanisms, and oiling the automatic mechanism.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before shooting, work the mechanism several times by hand without loading ammunition. Then load 11 shots into the drum to warm up the mechanism, and only then load the belt. Periodically clean fouling from the automatic mechanism and gas system to prevent jamming.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The guns on the MK-2 and MK-3 tanks work flawlessly, but the lack of HE shells prevents them from being used against enemy artillery. As for the machine guns, the belt jams often. To prevent this, it is desirable to have a roller on the right side to feed the belt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">10. The enemy had a negligible amount of tanks in the brigade's sector and generally fought from ambushes set up in forests or settlements. The enemy used tanks in the rear guards of retreating forces.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">11. Each settlement is transformed into a stronghold with anti-tank defenses. As a rule, the guns are dialled in on all the roads leading to the village. Until the guns are suppressed, it is impossible to use tanks that have low off-road mobility and must drive on roads in winter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tanks with good off-road mobility must drive around the roads. Before the tanks attack, reconnaissance must be conducted by the combined arms HQ to discover the enemy's anti-tank defenses. This is often not done, which leads to excessive loss of tanks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If the enemy is bound to roads, one way to use the tanks is to maneuver these tanks around them and set up tank ambushes, as was done by the 2nd Tank Battalion at Smakhtino. Tanks can also be used to cover the flanks of rifle units in the enemy rear, which was done on December 30th, 1941, when accompanying elements of the 5th Guards Rifle Division from Potapkino to Smakhtino.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">12. All tanks need to run the engine for 4-5 hours a day to warm up if tank heaters are not available. This consumes the following amount of fuel:</div><div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">MK-2 tanks: 100-120 L per day</li><li style="text-align: justify;">MK-3 tanks: 80-90 L per day</li><li style="text-align: justify;">T-60 tanks: 70-80 L per day</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;">13. Repairs were done in low temperatures (-25 to -30 degrees) in either settlements or in the field. As a rule, components were replaced whole in order to put the tanks back into action as soon as possible. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It takes a lot longer to repair tanks in the winter than in the summer. Repairs of English MK-2 and MK-3 tanks are complicated by the fact that there are no manuals and no experience in repairing them. The need to run the engine in order to warm up the tank quickly wears out English diesel engines. It is impossible for the engine to work reliably without heaters and antifreeze. The hoses, drain pipes, and radiators were insulated with felt. Diesel engines of English tanks worked flawlessly on domestic diesel fuel and M3S oil.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Commander of the 23rd Tank Brigade, Colonel Belov</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Military Commissar of the 23rd Tank Brigade, Regimental Commissar Gavrilov</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chief of Staff of the 23rd Tank Brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Klimenko"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=454988384">CAMD RF F.3102 Op.1 D.2 L.18-23</a></div><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-39715280487116411602024-02-04T16:18:00.002-05:002024-02-04T16:18:23.041-05:00Video: Not-so-Soviet Inventions<p style="text-align: justify;">We all know that Scotch was invented by a little old lady from Leningrad, but there were Soviet inventions that had foreign roots and not necessarily the ones you might think. Check out this video to see which of the Red Army's weapon originated abroad and which are surprisingly original.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/79mUskyAxxQ" width="560" youtube-src-id="79mUskyAxxQ"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-11506766438673559422024-01-25T16:56:00.000-05:002024-01-25T16:56:54.747-05:00Flame War<p style="text-align: justify;">A search for methods to combat tanks began as soon as the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/09/world-of-tanks-history-section-british.html">tanks themselves reached the battlefield</a>. <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/02/rifle-vs-tank.html">The first anti-tank rifles</a> and anti-tank cannons were already created during the First World War. They turned out to be quite bulky and could not be used by an individual to combat armoured vehicles. The Germans were the first to design improvised anti-tank grenades that could be used by one person. Bottles of incendiary fluid came later. They also turned up during the First World War, but then they were used for a very different purpose. These bottles were first used against armoured vehicles in Ethiopia and then in Spain. They were quite an effective weapon against first Italian CV 33 tankettes and then Republican T-26 tanks. The Japanese also used bottles filled with gasoline during the battles at Lake Hasan and Khalkhi-Gol. "Bottle artillery" proved its effectiveness once again.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhCUCcuh22If7RG4j12ApdDhGxfIuFbe52_Y12S-m6m9Zo2jPfT4R78bLYLcgKj9XoS3S6m-Ff9xoec-6lHpjlz_3KPx4xMbrv-mqvllQJPNzhY001gUbphGE_lvsx_vGtTnp-TLQm-FHHNxgC61MnJ66QUwK5x4ZVU3_4ta3DvHnyUODiwQlMNzBXe7B/s1024/1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1024" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhCUCcuh22If7RG4j12ApdDhGxfIuFbe52_Y12S-m6m9Zo2jPfT4R78bLYLcgKj9XoS3S6m-Ff9xoec-6lHpjlz_3KPx4xMbrv-mqvllQJPNzhY001gUbphGE_lvsx_vGtTnp-TLQm-FHHNxgC61MnJ66QUwK5x4ZVU3_4ta3DvHnyUODiwQlMNzBXe7B/w640-h481/1.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trials of Molotov cocktails against an A-34 tank, April 1940. The trials were not entirely successful.</td></tr></tbody></table><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: justify;">Bottles with incendiary fluid reached widespread use in the Winter War. The Finns used anti-tank grenades and bottles primarily against the engine deck. This is when the nickname "Molotov cocktail" became popular. The <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/07/two-turrets-from-leningrad.html">T-26</a> suffered against these weapons, as a successful hit led to the engine stalling and could even cause a fire. Special covers were developed for T-26 tanks that protected the air intakes on the engine deck, but hey appeared after the Winter War.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Experimental T-34 (A-34) tanks were also tested against "bottle artillery" in April of 1940. The trials were not entirely successful. Burning liquid managed to enter the engine compartment and cause damage. The issue of improving protection was raised, but the rush died down by 1941. As usual, a new wave of activity was only ignited by the start of another war.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpo1n3P_91dljkgxOyBmXi7o4oIl8dn_snLUGEMGz5LOK-O8Vcd-CozMqGzi0oVRL7lb-U6RSFQOZCoZ8tUZAzNQkA-B8GxCUwxMznvrfY9sv6HmCsjKOd4BILn9PEBmE16TdBteNyGbhYSjEdJg2QCnx2d_OMIjBFCOEb8J3H4EQr_cpO5l1bN4Nnk1O/s1024/2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1024" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpo1n3P_91dljkgxOyBmXi7o4oIl8dn_snLUGEMGz5LOK-O8Vcd-CozMqGzi0oVRL7lb-U6RSFQOZCoZ8tUZAzNQkA-B8GxCUwxMznvrfY9sv6HmCsjKOd4BILn9PEBmE16TdBteNyGbhYSjEdJg2QCnx2d_OMIjBFCOEb8J3H4EQr_cpO5l1bN4Nnk1O/w640-h478/2.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An illustration on using Molotov cocktails from the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/11/molotov-cocktails.html">field manual</a>, August 1941. A photo of the Nb.Fz. is inserted into the image.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Before the start of the Great Patriotic War, anti-tank artillery was expected to defeat any enemy armoured vehicles. The fact that this was a mistake became clear very quickly. Work on <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/01/anti-tank-rifle-manual.html">anti-tank rifles quickly began</a> and the RPG-40 grenade developed at GSKB-30 under the direction of M.I. Puzerev was accepted into service on July 7th, 1941. On the same day, Stalin signed GKO decree #43ss "On anti-tank incendiary grenades (bottles)". According to the degree, development of bottles with incendiary fluid would begin at NII-6 on July 10th. 120,000 bottles were expected to be produced daily. In reality, these bottles were already being assembled and used from the first days of the war and the decree merely expanded this process to an industrial scale. The issue of protecting Soviet tanks from this weapon was also raised. This was a serious issue, since the Winter War was not yet forgotten. Several institutions were tasked with developing protection, including the NIBT Proving Grounds.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPa4D8h28EvEq-1mK1txNR1EGKsJgiEPWwaqPztdYXxstTSkdDGYMrEDICle-kvar1-V3iuErztCkpfs_o4v7nGcn-BtRJ1TJJYzLkzxQGaXLbG36Pcy37D1PP_DjGauuy-3r6R1e4s0kN1uG95mNjI-QYQJfqhEypQklTcSZjpdj7QXEdqbO535n5Mpwq/s1024/3.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1024" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPa4D8h28EvEq-1mK1txNR1EGKsJgiEPWwaqPztdYXxstTSkdDGYMrEDICle-kvar1-V3iuErztCkpfs_o4v7nGcn-BtRJ1TJJYzLkzxQGaXLbG36Pcy37D1PP_DjGauuy-3r6R1e4s0kN1uG95mNjI-QYQJfqhEypQklTcSZjpdj7QXEdqbO535n5Mpwq/w640-h636/3.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were several proposals for different types of protection including special firefighting tanks and fire suppressing paint.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the institutions tasked with the development of this protection was the NKVD Central Scientific Research Institute of Firefighting (modern day NII of Firefighting). Having analyzed the task, the TsNIIPO NKVD gave several suggestions. Some of them were quite exotic, for instance the conversion of <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/05/the-last-of-stalins-robots.html">chemical tanks</a> into firefighting tanks. Using 5L chemical fire extinguishers was simpler. 2-3 fire extinguishers filled with foam could be carried in one tank. Other types of fire extinguishers and fireproof paint were also proposed. Special trials would determine which variant was the most effective.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vr1QDex4eiLVLH6zt0T3q8PD3vUPUaNxaYGkI13bpmokCnYa6CrfW8XKUSP8JkCB3rdM_Kq5GMmEMZ3ylpN5VanQJkFKu0WIHqwe-tMPcN6ME9Iu1dLtOhojbgYnmSJ_jA6JONvTFO5dkrB7NPIxJ9MPlFzIo0NQb2V6inF-jNbuAP7Jpu8kHjcJ5pON/s1024/4.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1024" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vr1QDex4eiLVLH6zt0T3q8PD3vUPUaNxaYGkI13bpmokCnYa6CrfW8XKUSP8JkCB3rdM_Kq5GMmEMZ3ylpN5VanQJkFKu0WIHqwe-tMPcN6ME9Iu1dLtOhojbgYnmSJ_jA6JONvTFO5dkrB7NPIxJ9MPlFzIo0NQb2V6inF-jNbuAP7Jpu8kHjcJ5pON/w640-h458/4.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Result of a bottle filled with #1 fluid hitting the front of a BT-7 tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">This issue was reviewed at a meeting attended by S.V. Kaftanov, a GKO science attaché. It was decided at the meeting to urgently test various firefighting methods. The due date was August 15th, 1941. The NIBT Proving Grounds was chosen as the location where methods developed by the TsNIIPO NKVD and Red Army Chemical Defense Academy would be tested. A BT-7 tank and the hull of a T-40 amphibious tank were chosen as targets. Tanks were attacked with bottles filled with #1 and KS fluid developed at NII-6. The BT-7 was hit with #1 fluid and the T-40 was hit with KS fluid. This separation was also meant to test different methods of putting out different types of flammable fluids. The design of the fire extinguishers was also different. The crew would begin to put out the fire 20 seconds after the bottle hit in ever case to let the fire spread. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhFgyEJvXd5Gi78EX6vH9t7LrMiwby6Myc1h_VZal-2Mkgq-vFv3c00iHpTNzBlSHBW9Fp2Xc8ulnFYehap2kOnVSq9OcC_dAVrht-bNHwvf82alhPzBxoMhhJA7NjbAWjrDPCbaXWpQqIxipFYF70E2SkJjLjjxTzpkNIRO1noN2cpyDHAsfrK52L4ql/s1024/5.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1024" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhFgyEJvXd5Gi78EX6vH9t7LrMiwby6Myc1h_VZal-2Mkgq-vFv3c00iHpTNzBlSHBW9Fp2Xc8ulnFYehap2kOnVSq9OcC_dAVrht-bNHwvf82alhPzBxoMhhJA7NjbAWjrDPCbaXWpQqIxipFYF70E2SkJjLjjxTzpkNIRO1noN2cpyDHAsfrK52L4ql/w640-h458/5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting out the fire with a tetrachloride fire extinguisher.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The BT-7 was tested first. To make the trials as realistic as possible, the engine was running. It took 45 seconds to put out the fire with a 2.5L tetrachloride fire extinguisher. 50% of the fire extinguisher's fluid was used up, shot both from the turret hatch and the pistol port. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It took 40 seconds to put out the fire with the 4L Bogatyr fire extinguisher. The operator was located outside of the tank. In this case, the fire extinguisher was fully expended. Throwing half-liter bottles filled with tetrachloride at the fire also put it out after 40 seconds. The best result was given by special ampoules developed by the Chemical Defense Academy, which put out the fire in 30 seconds when thrown out of the turret hatch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGFxVE5YhXYXBmrBL8PyMMNKgvzlI7bXLJUQN3scZjo_zLztC8GKGmqocU8e-T0F9vagzFPBDxmDMlwriPvOyx4LrAGFf3IBW_B7raF2w3-Auves1dK8qEWo6FVMgV7z2eHQGfrlW2bXBPG_PZDT2KObxwSPV5YWPFAMh8Z9p34_TrNUZ-OS3vFraPSEr/s1024/6.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1024" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGFxVE5YhXYXBmrBL8PyMMNKgvzlI7bXLJUQN3scZjo_zLztC8GKGmqocU8e-T0F9vagzFPBDxmDMlwriPvOyx4LrAGFf3IBW_B7raF2w3-Auves1dK8qEWo6FVMgV7z2eHQGfrlW2bXBPG_PZDT2KObxwSPV5YWPFAMh8Z9p34_TrNUZ-OS3vFraPSEr/w640-h460/6.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throwing tetrachloride ampoules.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The ampoules worked best in the second stage of the trials when the bottle with #1 fluid was thrown on the engine deck. Two ampoules put out the fire in 15 seconds. The fire did not even have time to enter the engine compartment. Bundles of carbon dioxide fire extinguishers used inside the tank and other types of fire extinguishers used outside did not work as well. The carbon dioxide fire extinguisher extinguished the fire in 75 seconds, but the fire entered the engine compartment and the engine stalled. The tetrachloride fire extinguisher took more time, 80 seconds. The engine also stalled from the burning fluid entering its compartment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWPHICcmLCuSA8IPxfaPM6CPnRtb_G5t30DSEGtKdWtsdU57lNX8yuSIABUjSBTCQHh4SOMrAS4snzUaMpv5HVgKPnSW2iMnUsB9fx5kPrMbdML8XfHf8IlVFjyoGIQbk5bxRT8QAx7tD1m8xcLr3C53Vd92_Exjra-nchVojTCsDD6LIIlYCHmEFjMFh/s1024/7.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWPHICcmLCuSA8IPxfaPM6CPnRtb_G5t30DSEGtKdWtsdU57lNX8yuSIABUjSBTCQHh4SOMrAS4snzUaMpv5HVgKPnSW2iMnUsB9fx5kPrMbdML8XfHf8IlVFjyoGIQbk5bxRT8QAx7tD1m8xcLr3C53Vd92_Exjra-nchVojTCsDD6LIIlYCHmEFjMFh/w640-h464/7.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting out the fire on the engine deck.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The KS fluid used against the T-40 tank hull was harder to extinguish. The Bogatyr fire extinguisher put out the fire in 70 seconds, but the fire ignited again afterwards. A copper sulfate mixture put out the fire in 135 seconds after 8 bottles with it were thrown. Thanks to the white phosphorous in the KS fluid, it reignited afterwards. An iron chloride compound took the same 135 seconds and 5 bottles to put out the fire. A calcium chloride compound took 115 seconds and 6 bottles. 4 bottles of Bentonite could put out the fire in 100 seconds, but only temporarily. Even after being hosed down with water three times, the white phosphorous continued to burn for a whole day. It seems that the NIBT Proving Grounds had a hunch about this when they allocated just a hull instead of a whole tank. The BT-7 would have simply burned out completely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvqpKkuyasuCrzvGpFc-jtgYU_LI5XMzEO8dDuyO_J3ADCXInUGZ-4uLsIc6LriwY7oVOasWJXdYd7Vs8MWmu970Ml_C8GFmVWohFaObnl0K_yOl18_qAs6Ej5ugj4B6FMBqp371G0yhYuXrfDsvs5afmC-3ISBswSlGIjEd5VQdYwKCI6hFBVDWSOujq/s1024/8.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1024" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvqpKkuyasuCrzvGpFc-jtgYU_LI5XMzEO8dDuyO_J3ADCXInUGZ-4uLsIc6LriwY7oVOasWJXdYd7Vs8MWmu970Ml_C8GFmVWohFaObnl0K_yOl18_qAs6Ej5ugj4B6FMBqp371G0yhYuXrfDsvs5afmC-3ISBswSlGIjEd5VQdYwKCI6hFBVDWSOujq/w640-h460/8.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting out KS fluid proved very difficult.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As a result of the trials, tetrachloride was chosen as the most effective means of fighting #1 fluid. Thin-walled bottles would be used instead of special ampoules. The copper sulfate compound was found to be the most effective against KS fluid, but with some nuances. The commission admitted that there was no universal method. The GABTU proposed to develop a rack of fire extinguishers and put it into production, but this never happened. September was a difficult time when there were few resources to spare for these side projects, plus it turned out that German tanks suffered from Molotov cocktails more than Soviet ones anyway. Protection from Molotov cocktails ended up on the long list of projects that were lost in the chaotic first months of the war.<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://dzen.ru/media/yuripasholok/tank-gorel-ego-tushili-6103db5e5fdf8305ffa3bbfd?utm_referer=dzen.ru">Original article by Yuri Pasholok.</a></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-80258749120469971752024-01-02T10:40:00.006-05:002024-01-02T10:41:28.127-05:00Video: Comparing the D-25T and 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71<p style="text-align: justify;">The IS-2 and King Tiger were equipped with some of the most powerful tank guns used in the Second World War, but which one of them takes the top prize? I compare the penetration power of these two legendary weapons in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FScZLjCNYc8">my latest video</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FScZLjCNYc8" width="640" youtube-src-id="FScZLjCNYc8"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-28235591438786624452023-12-31T18:42:00.001-05:002023-12-31T18:42:33.877-05:002023 in Review<p style="text-align: justify;">As Tank Archives nears the conclusion its eleventh year, I've decided to bring up the traditional year-end summary from the blog's birthday on February 28th to New Year's Eve. Without further ado, let's jump in to see what I've been up to for the last twelve months.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8sPwsgAKl2yebx00hd8CwUN4L8opOqRzrDY1EePFquCaSkwKZkxffD_5AyixF8oZyuX07WUVb8FY293QAxCLjQEoKg3rvyCDadVLn9KqMVgZVWyjOpxEK1v6e92couP3G9p_DErF-3AmxUl9rBwIg65LgEFNa9_rLSFybaSctqopcf8Kuywhnp6lrbQi/s1200/134678786_222579299457647_7192523896364247599_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1200" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8sPwsgAKl2yebx00hd8CwUN4L8opOqRzrDY1EePFquCaSkwKZkxffD_5AyixF8oZyuX07WUVb8FY293QAxCLjQEoKg3rvyCDadVLn9KqMVgZVWyjOpxEK1v6e92couP3G9p_DErF-3AmxUl9rBwIg65LgEFNa9_rLSFybaSctqopcf8Kuywhnp6lrbQi/w640-h446/134678786_222579299457647_7192523896364247599_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: justify;">You may have noticed that there are fewer and fewer articles going up on this blog. I'm not getting tired of writing, in fact, in 2023 I've written more than ever! Earlier this year, I published my third book through Military History Visualized's new publisher: Military History Group. The book itself is a resounding success, with very positive reviews from notable figures in the military history world, including <a href="https://www.facebook.com/steven.zaloga.3/posts/pfbid037rFtYN1kvnHVp2cVieCTBCoeDiN7WmZ2AZyCNx5QqhJ9tqKEf7FJenD3WckEqAGpl">Steven Zaloga</a> and <a href="https://www.portal-militaergeschichte.de/toeppel_zu_samsonov_IS_2">Dr. Roman Töppel</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to my third book, I handed in three new manuscripts this year, which naturally reduced the amount of time I have to dedicate to this blog. While this should give my fans plenty of new material for 2024, the amount research required to write at this rate takes a toll. However, with two more projects in flight, 2025 is bound to be a fruitful year for publications as well.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfnAeiB6fFLDtIzQMjmGmsh92YhvKEepsoY-N36hEF6hyr7kw0Bt47O8-743ugoW94zyy-xgHeHJJDDddkC8dKG8dhl6oiOAtstZTnWF_vUCAEI5F5Kt7KGO2ZgczH_Ney8CP7tvnvb4mcOW6CYJ6HsiQaNUymgvR1EOBjMDgyGaDNFbnvLD3rkIrp_VQ/s3669/covers_IS-2_compressed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="3669" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfnAeiB6fFLDtIzQMjmGmsh92YhvKEepsoY-N36hEF6hyr7kw0Bt47O8-743ugoW94zyy-xgHeHJJDDddkC8dKG8dhl6oiOAtstZTnWF_vUCAEI5F5Kt7KGO2ZgczH_Ney8CP7tvnvb4mcOW6CYJ6HsiQaNUymgvR1EOBjMDgyGaDNFbnvLD3rkIrp_VQ/w640-h446/covers_IS-2_compressed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In case you missed it, my latest book came out earlier this year. <a href="http://is-2-tank.com/">Grab a copy!</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, the blog is far from my only presence on the internet. My presence on Twitter is still growing. With a new 8000 followers this year, <a href="https://twitter.com/Tank_Archives">Tank_Archives</a> reached a respectable 40,000 earlier this year. Although the popularity of Twitter in general seems to be waning rapidly, neither Mastodon, Threads, or Instagram have proven to be suitable replacements, so there is no plan to jump ship quiet yet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My second largest platform, Facebook, also hit a milestone. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TankArchivesBlog">TankArchivesBlog</a> hit 10,000 followers. It's a promising platform, but it might be a while before I catch up to Twitter in sheer numbers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, Youtube is showing a bit of promise. I dusted off my account after a fairly anemic 2022, to great results. In addition to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TankArchives">my own channel</a>, I kicked off the year with a stream alongside <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRgkdcLyfpE">The Chieftain</a> and also appeared in a few videos on Military History Visualized addressing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdoc_kGNiL8">the IS-2's weight</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDtmDym0E20">crew training</a>, the reasons behind <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gckp4qBug-Y">the birth and death of the KV-2</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX9NFglygPU&pp=ygUvbWlsaXRhcnkgaGlzdG9yeSBub3QgdmlzdWFsaXplZCBpcy0yIHdhciBoYW1tZXI%3D">why the KV series was a dead end</a> and a new family of heavy tanks had to rise to replace it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, my presence isn't just expanding online. I had the opportunity to spend some time with (and in!) not one but two T-34-85 tanks, one at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdNBAkpC3Dw">Aquino Tank Weekend</a> and one at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYnKJIQIFWo">Capel Military Show</a>. That's only a small part of my reenacting exploits, and you can check out the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/191st_rifle_division/">191st Rifle Division</a> on Instagram to see what I get up to when I trade my padded tanker's helmet for a steel infantry one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's it for this year's highlights. Here's to making many more in 2024!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-80198518555938987712023-12-21T00:25:00.000-05:002023-12-21T00:25:08.148-05:00British Tanks in 1943<p style="text-align: justify;"> "Report on use of foreign <a href="http://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/12/lady-with-thick-skin.html">MK-2 <i>[Matilda]</i></a> and <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/11/british-tank-for-soviet-infantry.html">MK-3 <i>[Valentine]</i></a> tanks in combat</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. General characteristics</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since the brigade was created on March 25th, 1942, it was armed with MK-2 and MK-3 tanks. The latter showed themselves well in battle as infantry support tanks in all sorts of battles. There were also cases of using them to combat enemy tanks (<a href="https://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-last-of-threes.html">Pz.Kpfw.III</a>, <a href="https://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2019/06/from-support-tank-to-lead-role.html">Pz.Kpfw.IV</a>) at close ranges (200-600 meters), especially from ambush in defensive fighting.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The off-road mobility and maneuverability of the MK-2 and MK-3 tanks is insufficient compared to the T-34 in all types and periods of battle. The MK-2 tank in particular is not very mobile even on even terrain. In cases where it needs to turn 360 degrees, its turning radius is 15 meters. The tracks often fall off on sharp turns. The limit of the slopes it can climb or descend in winter, rainy, or damp weather is 15-18 degrees. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The dimensions of the MK-3 tank allow it to get up close to the enemy using terrain features as cover and take them by surprise. In winter, the depth of the snow conceals it from enemy fire. MK-2 and MK-3 tanks have a clearance of 420 mm with a ground pressure of 0.60 <i>[kg/cm</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #4d5156;"><i>²]</i> </span></span>when the tracks are submerged by 100 mm. In the winter, they can drive through 50-60 cm deep snow, which allows them to drive on country roads and off-road. If anti-tank obstacles need to be crossed, they can cross a 0.75 m tall wall, ford a one meter deep stream, cross an anti-tank trench <i>[figure missing]</i> wide. In the winter they can handle 18 degree slopes, in the summer and in dry weather they can handle 30 degree slopes.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. Armament of MK-2 and MK-3 tanks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The MK-2 and MK-3 tanks cannot combat German Pz.Kpfw.IV, <a href="http://www.tankarchives.ca/2019/05/none-more-frightening-than-cat.html">Tiger</a>, and <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2018/03/heavy-trophy.html">Panther</a> tanks, as the 40 mm gun's armour piercing shot does not penetrate the aforementioned tanks even at close ranges commonly encountered on the battlefield. The 40 mm gun does not have HE shells, which makes it impossible to destroy enemy personnel, firing positions, machine guns, mortars, and light fortifications.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The ammunition capacity is 60 rounds, but it's possible to stow 110-120 rounds, which lets the tank fight for a long time. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The gun is flawless in battle, but there were cases of temporary malfunctions: failure to extract due to dirt in the extraction mechanism.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Besa 7.92 mm coaxial machine gun showed itself well in battle. It is reliable and robust even if firing for a long time. The tank carries 13 belts of 250 rounds each, but can fit 18 belts.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The 50 mm mortar installed to the right in the turret can fire British HE shells at a range of 350-400 meters or smoke bombs at a range of 75 meters. <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/04/local-procurement.html">Domestic HE shells</a> can be fired at a range of 550-650 meters at enemy personnel hiding behind terrain features, but there are cases where the tail fins are torn off and the jam must first be cleared.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. Engine and transmission.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The diesel engine in MK-2 and MK-3 tanks is reliable in operation, but there is an issue with the compressor if the tank driver is inexperienced. Sharp changes in engine RPM can break the compressor mesh.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the winter, both the engine and compressor need to be filled with alcohol so that the valves don't freeze. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The gearbox in the MK-2 and MK-3 becomes fouled with oil and slips, particularly the MK-2. Sharp turns result in tearing of the driven gear teeth. If spare parts are available, this takes up to a day and a half to repair.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. Running gear</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The MK-2 tank has a deficiency in its running gear. The gap between the side of the tank and spaced armour gets filled with dirt and the wheels do not rotate. The track slides on them instead, which consumes a lot of engine power and results in lower driving and maneuvering speed. After driving like this for 15-20 km the tracks will chew up the wheels and the latter require replacement.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The MK-3 tank does not have this defect. The running gear is more robust, but there are cases of rapid wear of the rubber tires, after which they need to be replaced. The idlers of the MK-2 and MK-3 tanks are weak. The bolts holding the tensioning mechanism can break even with a very soft blow.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the winter, the track links have issues. There were cases of track links bursting at temperatures of -20 degrees, especially on the MK-2. This impedes with their ability to carry out combat tasks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The design of the track and its links often prevent the tank from crossing slopes as low as 15 degrees. Traction needs to be improved.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After a 400-500 km drive, all bearings of the running gear wear out and need to be replaced. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If the spaced armour of the MK-2 tank becomes bent when hit by shells, the tracks can jam.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The MK-3 (Valentin) tank is easy to repair in the field if spare parts are available. Sometimes the parts kits don't have the necessary parts, in which case repairs are done by taking parts from written off, knocked out, or burned out tanks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Conclusions:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The MK-3 tank is a reliable tank in all types and periods of fighting, with only one major drawback: the armament. It is desirable to have a larger caliber gun that fires both AP and HE shells.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The MK-2 has much lower qualities than the MK-3 tank. It has the same weak armament that does not allow to match the enemy's modern weapons on the battlefield. The 76 mm gun has no AP shells, and the 76 mm HE shells are slow (350 m/s) and have short range (600-700 m). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The MK-2 and MK-3 tanks can be used on secondary areas of the front where enemy tanks are not expected. In case a tank battle can be anticipated, they should fight from ambush and at short ranges.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Signed, commission members <i>[signatures]</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Approved: Assistant Chief of Staff of Armoured and Motorized Forces of the 7th Guards Army, Guards Major Golikov<br />November 4th, 1943"</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=454862777">CAMD RF F.341 Op.5330 D.31 L.230-232</a></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-86457229399838637162023-12-01T16:48:00.002-05:002023-12-01T16:48:29.987-05:00Video: Did Lend Lease Tanks Save Moscow?<p>Foreign tanks began arriving in the USSR in October of 1941 and reached the front lines a few weeks after. Were these tanks pivotal to saving Moscow from the Germans? Find out in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjAeVwAflMY">my latest video</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zjAeVwAflMY" width="480" youtube-src-id="zjAeVwAflMY"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-35894015494484966272023-11-24T12:41:00.000-05:002023-11-24T12:41:08.546-05:00African Pz.Kpfw.III<p style="text-align: justify;">The heavy <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/03/panthers-ins-and-outs.html">Panthers</a> and <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/10/tiger-killers.html">Tigers</a> are the best known of Germany's tanks. The lion's share of discussions of armoured vehicles in the Second World War is dedicated to them, even though lighter tanks carried the Panzerwaffe through the majority of the war. The Pz.Kpfw.III tank proved itself to be a worthy opponent in the first half of the war. At the same time, it remained a mystery for the British for a number of years until the first trophies began arriving from North Africa in 1941-42. This is what the British learned from these studies.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Third time's the charm</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/01/pzkpfwiii-ausf-christie-german-style.html">Pz.Kpfw.III</a> medium tank was posed as Germany's main tank from the early days of the Nazis' reign, but development was slow. Only 120 tanks were in the field by the start of the Second World War and 381 by the beginning of the Battle of France. Serious losses among them prove that they were actively used and the British Expeditionary Force couldn't have avoided meeting them on the battlefield. However, even if a tank of this type was captured there was no opportunity to study it or send it back to Britain. The speed of the German offensive forced the British to abandon even their own tanks on the continent.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu5Adi65NNQgs-twjtvBgHLU7njp8-JR1VeekH_2nuMWxtulj72_u5J7OTbW_c6o6Xi_CygraYRRECY9X9vVUPb7zrEKXxbZYMGwnGMcan1V6C0uf4itH2shIFVB3kiVpYVrJE7qTccsdXXGN2gRMLo-j7Z9lVCJn8ZCynQrC7y-VtREtQZMRYot9XVMw/s928/0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="928" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu5Adi65NNQgs-twjtvBgHLU7njp8-JR1VeekH_2nuMWxtulj72_u5J7OTbW_c6o6Xi_CygraYRRECY9X9vVUPb7zrEKXxbZYMGwnGMcan1V6C0uf4itH2shIFVB3kiVpYVrJE7qTccsdXXGN2gRMLo-j7Z9lVCJn8ZCynQrC7y-VtREtQZMRYot9XVMw/w640-h330/0.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A column of Pz.Kpfw.III tanks in France prepares to move out. The British did not gather any detailed information on these vehicles in 1940.</td></tr></tbody></table><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: justify;">There was some basic information available. The British knew that the tank weighed 18 tons and was armed with a 37 mm gun. Its armour was 30 mm thick, but there were no details about its layout. The British guessed that this armour was the same all-around. It was also know that early Pz.Kpfw.III tanks had <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/01/pzkpfwiii-ausf-b-d.html">different types of suspensions</a>. There was enough information to at least draw posters of the "Medium-light Pz.Kw.III tank and command tank" for the School of Tank Technology.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The British met the Pz.Kpfw.III tank again in Greece in 1941. The situation in France repeated itself. Little information was obtained about the Pz.Kpfw.III. There was some news of a 21 ton tank armed with the Czech 47 mm gun. The British considered it a further development of the "Type III 18-ton tank". Perhaps this was distorted information about the <a href="https://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2018/11/three-in-transition.html">Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.G</a> tank that indeed had a more powerful gun and began to approach 21 tons in weight. The real caliber of this gun, 50 mm, was discovered later. The British also learned that the German began to <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/03/extra-protection.html">up-armour their tanks</a> with 32 mm thick plates. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The start of fighting in North Africa resulted in a torrent of new information. The first Pz.Kpfw.III tanks arrived there in March of 1941. These were 80 tanks from the 5th Light Division, mostly Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.G. The new German tanks clashed with the 2nd Armoured Division on March 31st. The German advance was very successful at first, but stalled at Tobruk. The British were pushed back even further, but these were battles, rather than a one-sided rout. In these conditions it was much easier to obtain information.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A report on the performance of the Pz.Kpfw.III tank in Africa written in the 5th Tank Regiment was soon captured, translated, and studied. The British found out that German tanks were ill-suited for long marches in the desert. The tanks had to drive at night at a speed of 18 kph in order to avoid overheating the running gear. The large swings in temperature had a negative impact on the lifespan of the rubber rims, which broke up after 400 km of driving. The engines also performed badly in the desert. Out of the regiment's 65 Pz.Kpfw.III, 44 experienced engine trouble during marches. Their air filters were helpless against fine desert dust. Sand also made its way into tanks and ruined their mechanisms.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVe4y4gPQUUrPwvP7v8LV1tQqdJe6M4b8wZwR1mwHr_Cx-0CzLRv3jiGcGSeDDYtWGJcuxRWJUV_B_H5wjYoy5J06ah8R6C5atr7WhG0mxsJoKz5yqU1k_rrctBIacPC2t73_zgludmI2OGeRIROp7jAMWthJM2A946V-scNrYQ6grRUcHSzqRAMXC_mE/s928/002-e7155bc08db90f1f519c44daae0da578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="928" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVe4y4gPQUUrPwvP7v8LV1tQqdJe6M4b8wZwR1mwHr_Cx-0CzLRv3jiGcGSeDDYtWGJcuxRWJUV_B_H5wjYoy5J06ah8R6C5atr7WhG0mxsJoKz5yqU1k_rrctBIacPC2t73_zgludmI2OGeRIROp7jAMWthJM2A946V-scNrYQ6grRUcHSzqRAMXC_mE/w640-h384/002-e7155bc08db90f1f519c44daae0da578.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British soldiers examine a captured Pz.Kpfw.III tank in North Africa. May 2nd, 1941.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A Pz.Kpfw.III tank knocked out as a result of a 2-pounder hit to the engine compartment was captured and studied by May 9th. As a result of a fire, its clearance sank from the nominal 305 mm to 229 mm. A dent from a <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/10/the-british-way-boys-and-piat.html">Boys rifle</a> bullet was found in the 30 mm thick armour. This tank was one of the latest models with a 50 mm main gun, "<i>7.91 mm Spandau"</i> machine gun, and 30 mm applique armour plates. The British found a lot of common with the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/01/warspot-article-second-fiddle.html">Pz.Kpfw.IV</a>: the engine, gearbox, turret traverse mechanism, and final drives. Only four crewmen were counted. The British expected the commander to perform the duties of the gunner.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The side hatch and its hinges were extracted for a penetration trial held on July 11th. The hatch door was 31.5 mm thick. The armour was homogenous, 363 BHN on the outside and 352 BHN on the inside. The hatch door was shot up after being examined in a lab. The Boys anti-tank rifle was ineffective. Four hits only left dents with bulges on the opposite side, even though one of the bullets hit an area weakened by a weld seam.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQFprV3mC-Q0qVKvEDZ3jb8vHEwrx1gFTEh2HAgkrWXPMODQTg8BqGm4pNlv1vhPDHkBNZgYbVg-0Nf_Az0kwWzykT2JxbfD_KY3TO_h8da49wKtNVdHE8xXMCGjyabwpBy95qYeu1AebY7nfzIyJzbdHYGB0eDeoddUhha-INdrRKOg1hC7-74Zpzjry/s785/hull%20door.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="749" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQFprV3mC-Q0qVKvEDZ3jb8vHEwrx1gFTEh2HAgkrWXPMODQTg8BqGm4pNlv1vhPDHkBNZgYbVg-0Nf_Az0kwWzykT2JxbfD_KY3TO_h8da49wKtNVdHE8xXMCGjyabwpBy95qYeu1AebY7nfzIyJzbdHYGB0eDeoddUhha-INdrRKOg1hC7-74Zpzjry/w610-h640/hull%20door.png" width="610" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diagram of the hatch door used in the penetration trials. Bullets #5 and #9 managed to damage the bolts, but could not knock off the hinges.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Firing the 13.2 mm Hotchkiss gun brought some success. The last of three hits achieved a complete penetration. The British deemed the quality of German armour to be lower their own. The hinges and bulletproof bolts that held them were fired upon separately. The bolts managed to withstand hits from armour piercing rifle bullets. A Boys rifle bullet smashed one bolt, but the hinge did not come off. The Hotchkiss gun also destroyed a bolt, but did not break off the hinge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Study of Pz.Kpfw.III armour continued until December of 1941. The quality was generally similar to that of British I.T.80 steel, but some samples were considerably worse. For instance, the 15 mm BESA could not score complete penetrations against one 31.5 mm thick hatch door at even 100 yards (91 m) but incomplete penetrations were scored from as far as 430 yards (393 m). Three other 31.2 mm thick plates could be penetrated fully at 150 yards (137 m). The 16 mm thick engine compartment roof could be penetrated at an angle of 35 degrees with a rifle bullet from 35 yards (32 m) and a Boys rifle from 100 yards.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The armour could not withstand trials against more serious weapons. Two hits from 2-pounder AP shot at a velocity corresponding to a range of 1100 yards shattered a 31.2 mm thick plate installed at an angle of 20 degrees in two pieces. The larger piece was reinstalled and fired at with APC shot at the same velocity. The first shot penetrated the plate, the second shattered it again. The upper portion was placed at a 30 degree angle, but another APC shot shattered it into four pieces. There was no point in firing any longer and the shards were passed off to scientists. They confirmed what was already obvious: German armour was too brittle. The quality of welding was also poor. Weld seams cracked under fire and components that were welded on broke off.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Gi1io7PsR0yPXd1Z4E048zKF2IQ1XHwQ8LcrJDn9p_MnYBM-zEJ6jHCQBgNOFwOOQ8t95Mq_jcYnRBuvJM8nzTcAXIs-7elcJCmLirF75DHaFmj0GN5-hrmHQH4qK31Fysj0Nm97dqHfvw4_7B-eR9n9igJosd96k-KtVXvluD0lpjSUTItSv5NNVRPD/s1282/armour-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1282" height="517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Gi1io7PsR0yPXd1Z4E048zKF2IQ1XHwQ8LcrJDn9p_MnYBM-zEJ6jHCQBgNOFwOOQ8t95Mq_jcYnRBuvJM8nzTcAXIs-7elcJCmLirF75DHaFmj0GN5-hrmHQH4qK31Fysj0Nm97dqHfvw4_7B-eR9n9igJosd96k-KtVXvluD0lpjSUTItSv5NNVRPD/w640-h517/armour-2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armour of Pz.Kpfw.III tanks first encountered in North Africa (left) and types discovered later (right).</td></tr></tbody></table><br />One tank was shipped to the UK for trials. It was examined by a commission from the AEC (Associated Equipment Company) in June of 1942. The tank's top speed was established to be 25 mph (40 kph). <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tank suffered some damage either during the mobility trials or before that. When the tank was given to the chemists in October, it was missing the inspection hatch door in the engine compartment bulkhead, machine gun along with the ball mount, and the turret ventilation fan. All of these components had to be replaced in order to test chemical weapons on the specimen. This was quite important, since no German tank was made available for chemical weapons trials previously. A ventilation fan was taken from a <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/06/first-among-equals.html">Churchill tank</a>, a new door was made, and the machine gun mount was simply welded shut. Trials showed that the Pz.Kpfw.III was very poorly protected from anti-tank chemical weapons. Lethal amounts of poisonous substances entered the tank during an attack and lingered there even with the engine and ventilation fan running.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thicker armour</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The impressive results against tanks with 30 mm thick armour weren't relevant for long, as the Germans had an upgrade ready. Some Pz.Kpfw.III tanks began arriving with applique armour nominally 30 mm thick welded to the front. The plate was surface hardened with an outer hardness of 740 BHN and inner hardness of just 460. 2-pounder shot could penetrate this armour when they hit it, but could not penetrate the main armour behind it. There was only one saving grace: after one or two shots the applique armour fell into pieces or broke off. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPvrP6XUd_4KKKQMOF58d6IY8pzxqMoFdbLh3pPZZZLRHrh5v_9uCxJNJKLmkCAgH8TNbqvkOB79-kNzeKSLY9-dQFYAnEW1TsmNUKZGq-9TmHzsdfa6wMfPZkWTZyIACJ4BXkIf7C1JeXzjmBRir_Lak3_HXbeHOiIBK9yUBDpwo8u3v809ivIDb7atO/s2140/identification.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2140" data-original-width="1433" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPvrP6XUd_4KKKQMOF58d6IY8pzxqMoFdbLh3pPZZZLRHrh5v_9uCxJNJKLmkCAgH8TNbqvkOB79-kNzeKSLY9-dQFYAnEW1TsmNUKZGq-9TmHzsdfa6wMfPZkWTZyIACJ4BXkIf7C1JeXzjmBRir_Lak3_HXbeHOiIBK9yUBDpwo8u3v809ivIDb7atO/w428-h640/identification.png" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pz.Kpfw.III changed its looks quickly as various improvements were introduced.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">New 6-pounder guns could penetrate this armour at a range of 500-600 yards (457-549 m). American 37 mm guns could do it from 200-300 yards (183-274 m). American 75 mm semi-AP shells could penetrate the armour from 400-500 yards (366-457 m). A hit from such a large shell could also burst the main seams of the tank. M61 capped armour piercing shells could penetrate the armour at a range of over 1000 yards (914 m). The sides remained vulnerable at longer ranges.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were also tanks with much softer applique armour, just 540 BHN. The British theorized that this was not an official measure, but a field modification performed in local workshops. The quality of these upgrades was very inconsistent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/11/the-last-of-threes.html">Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J</a> tanks with 50 mm thick front armour were spotted in January of 1942. The British called these "Mark III New Type". Laboratory analysis of captured vehicles showed that this armour was also surface hardened, but not as much as before. The hardness of the outer side was 530 BHN and the inner side was 375. This armour no longer shattered when hit with 2-pounder shot. On the contrary, British shot fell apart into pieces when hitting it, leaving just a small dent. Penetration could only be achieved at close range. Regular AP shot penetrated the front from 100 yards (91 m), shattering in the process. Improved shot with a higher muzzle velocity penetrated from 300 yards (274 m) leaving a jagged hole 45 mm in diameter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuoqTtgj7knQvs-AaY9_-Sz3rT5UAUXdH4v9qbuvk01roJGaFt1aRlduiiy-WSlgUgTSnDSyQ_KqMxWoSURon71m1qOBGKoAU3XG4ZwzPDnL7TjI8mKj5_WnbBYIWYNWnZNDMPVy4i7EYI2gsn9OIvgvCgHRseRQSGwHZItpjOuXRZdzNmfOLWoNiMurz/s928/006-77b92f2d854048e1fd9907678776d2a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="928" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuoqTtgj7knQvs-AaY9_-Sz3rT5UAUXdH4v9qbuvk01roJGaFt1aRlduiiy-WSlgUgTSnDSyQ_KqMxWoSURon71m1qOBGKoAU3XG4ZwzPDnL7TjI8mKj5_WnbBYIWYNWnZNDMPVy4i7EYI2gsn9OIvgvCgHRseRQSGwHZItpjOuXRZdzNmfOLWoNiMurz/w640-h384/006-77b92f2d854048e1fd9907678776d2a5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J tank captured by Australians at Tel el Eisa near El Alamein, summer 1942. This tank has even more additional armour.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Laboratory analysis showed that if the shot could penetrate the shallow hard outer layer then it could effortlessly go through the rest of the plate, which was much softer. Testers estimated that penetration with ordinary shot could be reached from 200 yards (183 meters) and from 400 yards (366 m) with improved shot. Higher quality American 37 mm shot could penetrate from 600 yards (549 m). 6-pounder shot penetrated this armour from 800-900 yards (732-823 m), shattering in the process. The American 75 mm gun managed to penetrate the front at a range of up to 700 yards (640 m) with semi-AP and 1700 yards (1554 m) with proper AP. The performance of the armour was considered to be high when it came to defeating uncapped shot, but worse than British I.T.80 armour against APC shot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tank was also shot up from the air with 20 mm AP Mk.III shells from the Hispano aircraft gun. Three shots out of 16 that hit penetrated the side in the first pass, 9 out of 26 in the second, and 14 out of 28 in the fourth. On the third pass the pilot attacked the tank from the front, but didn't score any hits. The shells that penetrated dealt a lot of damage. The turret side hatch was jammed, the shells that penetrated the roof destroyed the ammunition bins, and the fuel tank was penetrated, which could have caused a fire.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7FNllP9ap93d8CKrRaL2h806MzIt_r-Y9zW2bWgr70QtjKCVMdkWFLciD5GFhKgmxBzkyBpNmul0-jrn7PcFPax7CLW8SXXh2zesryZ4KKPLEXe6MnDl1e0uz-sMCP1aYxpJCxa6YQ7YEli3mLr9hJy54XB5T7ytfmFUjpnSFtPPjOj8pV5n4pf1XCCs/s3138/hispano%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1875" data-original-width="3138" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7FNllP9ap93d8CKrRaL2h806MzIt_r-Y9zW2bWgr70QtjKCVMdkWFLciD5GFhKgmxBzkyBpNmul0-jrn7PcFPax7CLW8SXXh2zesryZ4KKPLEXe6MnDl1e0uz-sMCP1aYxpJCxa6YQ7YEli3mLr9hJy54XB5T7ytfmFUjpnSFtPPjOj8pV5n4pf1XCCs/w640-h382/hispano%202.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hull of the Pz.Kpfw.III tank after being hit by the 20 mm Hispano autocannon. This was the main weapon of British ground attack planes.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Analysis carried out at the American lab at the Watertown arsenal gave similar results to what the British found. The armour studied by the Americans was a bit softer: 331-388 BHN on the inner side and about 600 BHN on the outside. Like the British, the Americans judge the depth of the hardening to be insufficient. 37 mm M80 shot penetrated it easily, let alone M51 capped shot. The armour itself and its weld seams cracked easily.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The same was true for the 16 mm thick homogeneous roof when tested against 20 mm shells. This unsatisfactory performance under fire was a surprise, as the steel was rich in alloys and could have performed a lot better. The quality of the armour was worse than that of American armour of the same thickness. This was not just the fault of one bad batch. Judging by the paint on the armour, the samples were not only taken from different tanks, but also from different theaters of war.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsUusmC1TtReuFDP3VbSH1RowsTiKgV8CoV0O5LkARrBNhYMYl-16srcEuPkYbxmkwdePl_DGeB0_v_2w_0Iav0DOWAcAC_7mlAfb3F21LHbIoGLvFCe5rTuRQgS6W0bOzkTykG4zTx8ReeDr5RtvAoIBmWtJdzlUdpdBwPRu-_QxYOEbp7es1mVfy2mR/s2421/2018-04-10%2010_11%20PM%20Office%20Lens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1507" data-original-width="2421" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsUusmC1TtReuFDP3VbSH1RowsTiKgV8CoV0O5LkARrBNhYMYl-16srcEuPkYbxmkwdePl_DGeB0_v_2w_0Iav0DOWAcAC_7mlAfb3F21LHbIoGLvFCe5rTuRQgS6W0bOzkTykG4zTx8ReeDr5RtvAoIBmWtJdzlUdpdBwPRu-_QxYOEbp7es1mVfy2mR/w640-h398/2018-04-10%2010_11%20PM%20Office%20Lens.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Stuart tank passes a burning Pz.Kpfw.III. Even the American 37 mm gun could penetrate the tank's armour.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This brittleness showed itself on the battlefield. Cracks, shattering, and ragged penetrations were common when disabled German vehicles were inspected. On one tank, the gun mantlet was shattered completed by a hit from a 6-pounder or 75 mm shell. The face of the turret also cracked.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Close encounter</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The British finally captured a more or less intact Pz.Kpfw.III tank in February of 1942. Unfortunately, it was unsuitable for mobility trials, as after 1600 km of driving the engine was very worn. The tank's top speed was measured at just 26 kph. The British didn't blame just the sand for the tank's condition. By their calculations, the Pz.Kpfw.III had two tons of modernization reserve when they first encountered it. The upgrade to a 50 mm gun and thicker armour ate it all up and then some. The German tradition of loading their vehicles with sandbags and spare track links for protection didn't help.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Study of the tank showed many cracks all over its hull. It seemed that the tank was previously knocked out, evacuated, and repaired. A penetration in the side was welded up, causing more cracks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3-w6HywwyzuY_Rutgo_JCGapZlo_opY6YCT_ecG15np5L8M68ktWz7NxK-UPYeSWQ-LFyAhcJmk0UUYH3LcNMJaiLZzLwAPfsxl42d5FnNBlvcgUMYVTDiRmjl_FhzxRdRLCkPH1wMep0por4Xr6MGl_ZEYJKF_9lkD644kFyum0LbiXf8drzZm02d7U/s928/009-7937987ae2d19ed7fda7ec0356ef4a70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="928" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3-w6HywwyzuY_Rutgo_JCGapZlo_opY6YCT_ecG15np5L8M68ktWz7NxK-UPYeSWQ-LFyAhcJmk0UUYH3LcNMJaiLZzLwAPfsxl42d5FnNBlvcgUMYVTDiRmjl_FhzxRdRLCkPH1wMep0por4Xr6MGl_ZEYJKF_9lkD644kFyum0LbiXf8drzZm02d7U/w640-h384/009-7937987ae2d19ed7fda7ec0356ef4a70.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A demolished Pz.Kpfw.III. In the open desert, it was often easier to demolish an enemy tank than try to recover it for study.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The British counted 89 rounds in the ammunition racks. The shells themselves were interesting, as the 50 mm shell carried 16 grams of HE. The British considered that this was done to make the shell burst after penetration. Brittle British shot that shattered in the process of passing through armour didn't need any help. Further study showed that the red-hot splinters could ignite ammunition if they struck an ammo rack. As a result of this study, the British started to protect their ammo racks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The subcailber armour piercing shot was more interesting. The British previously encountered it only <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/11/devourer-of-tungsten.html">squeezerbore weapons</a>. Without a squeeze bore, the British considered the shot's ballistics to be "hopelessly poor" and did not consider it to be superior to an ordinary shot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The quality of the telescopic sight was judged to be high, but it could not be used at the same time as a gun shoulder stock, a popular solution on British tanks for elevation. The German gun had geared elevation with a spring mechanism for balance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ammunition racks did not impress the British. The sliding lids easily gathered sand and jammed. It was also difficult to retrieve the rounds from their slots. Some tanks were found with a great deal of ammunition outside of their racks stored loose on the floor. In this case, a single tank could carry up to 178 rounds of ammunition, mostly armour piercing. The British estimated that the 5 cm KwK penetrated 56 mm of armour at 500 yards (457 m) at 30 degrees and 68 mm at normal, with 47 and 58 mm respectively at 1000 yards (914 m). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cAPfboSHIwnUaaQ6wRq8lxwaKSn29J1M_cr7NdOpHBHKInTrx9BfGjc_Z2svM3YlF0rUd3j125L3gtFxghhEWWdv84saBaO8Ba44S22DYChHJ2WwGuf1CbWgsYHgnxEnPsIWHc80K8kwl7irKoRK9CUwqOFppyjDT04fDLgcfxpYKJY9MLpsvJ4XqYHZ/s928/011-8a676cd8cf2df20843709659c39fe0bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="928" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cAPfboSHIwnUaaQ6wRq8lxwaKSn29J1M_cr7NdOpHBHKInTrx9BfGjc_Z2svM3YlF0rUd3j125L3gtFxghhEWWdv84saBaO8Ba44S22DYChHJ2WwGuf1CbWgsYHgnxEnPsIWHc80K8kwl7irKoRK9CUwqOFppyjDT04fDLgcfxpYKJY9MLpsvJ4XqYHZ/w640-h384/011-8a676cd8cf2df20843709659c39fe0bb.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was no shortage of captured Pz.Kpfw.III after victory at El Alamein, but by then the British were more interested in other German tanks.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Pz.Kpfw.III's cupola was also not very interesting. It was considered to be a big target, but its exit hatch was too small. The periscopes were too slow to switch between and the field of vision of 70 degrees was insufficient.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In general, the study of British documents reveals that the "light-medium" tank had its share of drawbacks. At the same time, it should not be underestimated. The Pz.Kpfw.III was a dangerous opponent with a weapon that could defeat nearly every contemporary British AFV at long range, and it was only with the arrival of American medium tanks with long 75 mm guns that British tankers could fight the Pz.Kpfw.III with relative impunity. However, the war was far from over, and the German tank continued to evolve.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This article was originally published on Warspot.ru.</div><div><p></p></div></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-43859218027815547982023-11-06T08:52:00.000-05:002023-11-06T08:52:14.019-05:00IS-2 in Combat<p style="text-align: justify;"> "To the Commander of Artillery of the 5th Guards Tank Army</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In carrying out your order, I present materials on experience of using IS-122 heavy tanks.<br /></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">During fording of water obstacles.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Use of concentrated volley fire of IS-122 tanks (company and regiment).</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Examples of use of IS-122 heavy tanks in offensive combat.</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">1. IS-122 heavy tanks serve as support for medium tanks. During crossings, they support the medium tanks with their fire and cross the water after them.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For example: the regiment was subordinate to the commander of the 31st Tank Brigade to achieve a penetration of the enemy defenses including crossing the river Dang. When the crossing was being constructed, the heavy tanks supported the construction of the crossing, then the medium tanks as they crossed, and then crossed themselves.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When entering a breakthrough at the river Upina, the medium tanks could not cross due to powerful artillery fire and enemy tank ambushes. IS-122 heavy tanks came up to the river and destroyed the enemy positions that were impeding the advance of medium tanks with their fire. The medium tanks crossed the river and IS-122 heavy tanks crossed after them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. The power of heavy tanks comes from their powerful weapons. They can conduct aimed concentrated fire at one or several targets with a company or a regiment at a range of 2.5-3 km. When concentrated fire was conducted, the results were not bad. For example:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In combat in East Prussia, tanks and infantry could not take the village Schmauch over the course of a day. After two companies of heavy tanks fired over the course of 40 minutes, the village was taken easily and the enemy suffered heavy losses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another case: Near Schnola 5 heavy tanks opened concentrated fire against 2 artillery batteries and 6-7 enemy tanks concentrated around the batteries. The concentrated fire lasted for 5 minutes. The heavy tanks expended 40 shells, destroying 2 guns, knocking out 3 guns and 4 tanks, killing up to 35 soldiers and officers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. A characteristic and educational example of heavy IS-122 tanks in offensive combat:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the Memel operation, on October 7th, 1944, the regiment was at the head of the corps' forces right behind the vanguard, supporting its advance with fire and tracks, while simultaneously protecting against counterattacks from the south.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Crossing the river Upina, the regiment met with powerful resistance. The regimental commander decided to circle around 20 km to the south. A reconnaissance unit reported that they met no resistance during the detour. When the regiment entered the breakthrough along the scouted route, it came across the Lukni settlement, which the enemy turned into another stronghold, taking favourable positions beyond the river.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having met resistance at this second stronghold, the entire vanguard went around along swampy-forested terrain with the aim of encircling the enemy from the south and cut off their retreat. The enemy was blocked from retreating from the Upina and Lukni strongholds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Feeling that they were being outmaneuvered, the enemy pulled tanks and SPGs out of the strongholds and began to retreat in a hurry along dirt roads while the infantry fled into the surrounding forests in small groups that did not pose a significant threat. Continuing its advance, the regiment reached the river Minia and covered the crossing of medium tanks. Subsequently, the regiment crossed the border with Germany and reached the Baltic Sea, cutting off the retreat of the Baltic group.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Commander of the 14th Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiment, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Litvin"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=154005803">CAMD RF F.332 Op.4948 D.440 L.51-52</a></div><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-1369498702926284862023-10-29T20:07:00.003-04:002023-10-29T20:07:23.409-04:00Video: Can an IS-2 hit a target at long range?<p style="text-align: justify;">The IS-2's can penetrate the Panther's armour at effectively any range, but can it hit? In my latest video, I take a look at the theoretical and practical precision of the IS-2's 122 mm D-25T gun to see if it could hit a Panther-sized target at long ranges.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yahQSiCCXFE" width="480" youtube-src-id="yahQSiCCXFE"></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-3345515924688000312023-10-24T09:24:00.002-04:002023-10-24T09:25:31.195-04:00Roof for the SU-76M<p style="text-align: justify;">A number of questionable publications on the SU-76 created the idea that the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/04/su-12-ill-fated-spg.html">SU-12 (SU-76)</a> initially had a roof over the fighting compartment, but it was later removed, never to return. This is far from the truth. The SU-12 prototype and a large number of production vehicles had no roof initially. Stalin personally demanded that a roof be installed on every vehicle starting with the first one, but this was only put into practice in the second half of March 1943. The claim that roofs were removed on the front lines is not supported by photographic evidence. Vehicles without roofs always have their headlights and other stowage in different positions, same as the prototype. The roof was also present on the SU-15 prototype, although the improved <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/07/the-red-armys-most-numerous-spg.html">SU-15M (SU-76M)</a> didn't have it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrQ9SJZxWVaGyI_EQqVBz1vIL0Vi55Tb_Iu_Lm9NGhiqgRhKKd2-vGX3e9SCwDxUnkbWWUtR_R9flamYwe0IK5s8X1B7TnyGjnjhcIqoNxD5airaty5CzBrF1cJqRJXiiM7iGHiLS3KJ7Oq5wqRJbtL9ICzXI3Yf-MXNZjxG68uCr5FP5T7an9mIF-Q/s1024/1.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrQ9SJZxWVaGyI_EQqVBz1vIL0Vi55Tb_Iu_Lm9NGhiqgRhKKd2-vGX3e9SCwDxUnkbWWUtR_R9flamYwe0IK5s8X1B7TnyGjnjhcIqoNxD5airaty5CzBrF1cJqRJXiiM7iGHiLS3KJ7Oq5wqRJbtL9ICzXI3Yf-MXNZjxG68uCr5FP5T7an9mIF-Q/w640-h464/1.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SU-76M with a rigid roof developed at factory #40 in the summer of 1944.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>The cause for the disappearing roof is simple. The SU-12 had a number of defects, in part due to an overloaded chassis. The SU-15 chassis could handle the weight of the roof, but the NKTP and GBTU decided to cut a few hundred kilos just to be safe. The production SU-15M not only had no roof, but also trimmed sides and rear. The SU-15 weighed 11.2 tons and the SU-15M weighed 10.5. It seemed that everyone should be satisfied with this since there were no problems with weight or ventilation, but <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/08/temperamental-columbina.html">complaints began to come in</a> at the end of 1943. It turned out that bullets and shell splinters can come from above as well and a roof was needed to keep them out. Some SPG regiments built their own improvised roofs. This added extra weight, but everyone wanted to live.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRPj7pOpJ3DEgMqffVibEk2nGvlXa7ljNBMFdR0KMHNP_rNzbZR81Szhuf-xYDgd37j-VmHo-Cbtr9k0jLpLq4emtxQ8T2yaFemdgqu-LChK_hHFSBBUBWOfQYv9nh-0LSZX8ujUOaPPwldjiLB9ofD-EukvIiA7Xhl1NW1wHlqnrR2BlWagY1a1piQ/s1024/2.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1024" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRPj7pOpJ3DEgMqffVibEk2nGvlXa7ljNBMFdR0KMHNP_rNzbZR81Szhuf-xYDgd37j-VmHo-Cbtr9k0jLpLq4emtxQ8T2yaFemdgqu-LChK_hHFSBBUBWOfQYv9nh-0LSZX8ujUOaPPwldjiLB9ofD-EukvIiA7Xhl1NW1wHlqnrR2BlWagY1a1piQ/w640-h462/2.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A firing port for a DT machine gun was added on the right side of the front plate instead of a commander's vision port.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The GBTU's SPG branch looked at these front line improvisations without enthusiasm. The increasing mass threatened to reduce the lifespan of the running gear and the transmission. However, the amount of complaints and front line modifications forced the start of official experiments on installing a roof on the SU-15M. The first such project was completed in the summer of 1944 by the Molotov GAZ factory. It was installed on the experimental <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2019/05/light-spgs-with-big-guns.html">SU-57</a>. The design was very simple, just a plain roof with periscopes. The situation with fumes was acceptable while the rear hatch was open. This was unacceptable in combat, since the open hatch ran the risk of catching a grenade. With a closed hatch and engine turned off the conditions inside were uncomfortable. In any case, further experiments with roofs were not conducted in Gorky. <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/01/the-final-su-76.html">Later SPGs built at GAZ</a> had a raised rear, but no roof. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgVOTKWVfvGaurtC_kVB8QqR9OLa3JZtE2pu9Ovhw6mMro6TwO-lVuoTlDJR2pzo4VE_WRkS23tqefufI4odzcr5NvCE2i8uaH2CFAhOXZsyLbHFmYq5o8NwnI4kov1YmhNkX02pZOvtAm7vO2wiZMi5xI1dhRYTnsInxAj6V7jODVVyfZQHxKgQCjA/s1024/3.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1024" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgVOTKWVfvGaurtC_kVB8QqR9OLa3JZtE2pu9Ovhw6mMro6TwO-lVuoTlDJR2pzo4VE_WRkS23tqefufI4odzcr5NvCE2i8uaH2CFAhOXZsyLbHFmYq5o8NwnI4kov1YmhNkX02pZOvtAm7vO2wiZMi5xI1dhRYTnsInxAj6V7jODVVyfZQHxKgQCjA/w640-h460/3.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The same port but without an observation slit was introduced in the left of the casemate.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The situation with the SU-15M changed in the summer of 1944. Until then, factory #38 in Kirov was the lead developer of this vehicle, but it was sent to Kharkov to shore up factory #75. Instead of working on the SU-15M and other light SPGs, M.N. Schukin's team moved to working on the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/01/intermediate-tank.html">T-44</a> and artillery tractors. Work on the SU-15M moved to factory #40. Factory #40 gradually became the lead developer of light SPGs. The first project of the factory design bureau led by N.A. Popov was the improvement of the SU-15M's fighting compartment. Work was headed in two directions. One is a topic for another article, but this one will focus on the variant with a roof. Work began in the summer of 1944 and the vehicle was tested at the NIBT Proving Grounds in October of 1944.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9KAk09gx3mWErUgaoFcE2LpyZXoLMuzJ0lQPTt97z0gajy1a91VcR3t2h6ejlsdHwrkmeNer9-Xgn3JXoFEo0tWYQ_p19EunTnbqb4LXOMd3CfblZMhAMdYdwd34ENu-BDp_cx1kZTKQAj9UZnP6JMrQf-irLRZxpNv2ZIyYI6xRRjtFZWf_XgCmhw/s1024/4.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9KAk09gx3mWErUgaoFcE2LpyZXoLMuzJ0lQPTt97z0gajy1a91VcR3t2h6ejlsdHwrkmeNer9-Xgn3JXoFEo0tWYQ_p19EunTnbqb4LXOMd3CfblZMhAMdYdwd34ENu-BDp_cx1kZTKQAj9UZnP6JMrQf-irLRZxpNv2ZIyYI6xRRjtFZWf_XgCmhw/w640-h472/4.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The same port was added on the right.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A production SU-76M was taken and altered. The roof was composed from two 4 mm thick steel plates: a top one and a rear one. This reduced the volume and therefore weight, but also the size of the fighting compartment. The rear door was enlarged to 820x630 mm. Two hatches in the roof were made for the crew and one for the PG-1 panoramic sight. Firing ports in the sides, rear, and front were also changed. They could now support the installation of a DT machine gun. The front DT machine gun port replaced the commander's vision device. An observation slit was added above it. Due to the altered layout of the fighting compartment, the commander and loader got separate seats instead of a shared bench, the PPSh rack and magazine rack were moved (the amount of magazines was reduced to 12 drums). A spring servo mechanism was added to the controls, which reduced the amount of effort required to drive the SPG. Two MK-IV periscopes were added to the roof in order to compensate for the decreased visibility.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZElRfDPECEKJRZhjECzabSpL-7D-BFtnkF5NqMgk1DOzpjRduLFODD1vMBAf86a1Cokv5HNB4QVv3cC0QvoIDE-LV1xyPQV8bBQNQSnrNVLOPJZdOYQYQ-DY1Iew43r6FkDgBeDyg7zZY5cIjYyGIIY8L7RXxvMFNWZD6dmHBsQjAL0KMd3L3hE_Q-A/s1024/5.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZElRfDPECEKJRZhjECzabSpL-7D-BFtnkF5NqMgk1DOzpjRduLFODD1vMBAf86a1Cokv5HNB4QVv3cC0QvoIDE-LV1xyPQV8bBQNQSnrNVLOPJZdOYQYQ-DY1Iew43r6FkDgBeDyg7zZY5cIjYyGIIY8L7RXxvMFNWZD6dmHBsQjAL0KMd3L3hE_Q-A/w640-h464/5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firing ports were also present in the rear. The sloped rear section of the roof can be seen.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The list of changes seems long, but the mass grew to only 10.68 tons, meaning that the alterations added less than 200 kg of weight. There was a key omission. The roof introduced an issue with ventilation. While the SU-12 at least had an open port for the panoramic sight, the SU-76M did not. One MV-12 fan would have been enough to clear the fumes, but factory #40 didn't install one. This was one of the key reasons for the vehicle's failure. The NIBT Proving Grounds checked the fumes first. With the engine shut off and hatches closed, the crew was feeling symptoms of partial CO poisoning after just 15 shots. Measurements showed that the concentration of fumes reached 0.31 mg/L, higher than the acceptable level of 0.2 mg/L. This factor alone meant that work on a fully closed fighting compartment was over.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLTq38VyeGhPONFFm0DXyXBOlSdrotqh7O4eRxKHwHAZSHKyIbdC75TiITogejAJgTEx8_0CH10DOhfYyW0Maz8yGnOevWNa6Sb4fUHmrPE_82WrkoN72mltZzCZJgpiO5v5FdbM9PtjUYHmV2YOrrqifDBhBGd4osDbkZuqBhf4JNvSl4q3r3DkBug/s1024/6.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1024" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLTq38VyeGhPONFFm0DXyXBOlSdrotqh7O4eRxKHwHAZSHKyIbdC75TiITogejAJgTEx8_0CH10DOhfYyW0Maz8yGnOevWNa6Sb4fUHmrPE_82WrkoN72mltZzCZJgpiO5v5FdbM9PtjUYHmV2YOrrqifDBhBGd4osDbkZuqBhf4JNvSl4q3r3DkBug/w640-h482/6.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roof from above. The design was simple, but not successful. The biggest issues were concentration of fumes and poor visibility.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This was not even the only problem. Studies showed that the addition of just two MK-IV periscopes do not solve the issue of visibility. The vehicle had large blind spots and no way to look backwards at all. The NIBT Proving Grounds suggested installing a commander's cupola instead of the commander's hatch. The firing port in the front near the commander's seat also had issues, since it could obscure the sight at certain aiming angles.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKyONgzfaWkeVru0wnBZE1j8ksMtoJ-OTNHbhsF7p0vKIcbFlnclJZl3X5P9ikZkRuQPw81T6Kuzl7OlsUXRqWDNRPwp-mU96fD_-I02OggjCX9RvVZS9yaaV0DR00DKSUhuhUWr2XUF9NSsh_lQRRTj6DXYpNTYeUWaK6ZiIzqc0CxCd796dNN4Dig/s1024/7.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1024" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKyONgzfaWkeVru0wnBZE1j8ksMtoJ-OTNHbhsF7p0vKIcbFlnclJZl3X5P9ikZkRuQPw81T6Kuzl7OlsUXRqWDNRPwp-mU96fD_-I02OggjCX9RvVZS9yaaV0DR00DKSUhuhUWr2XUF9NSsh_lQRRTj6DXYpNTYeUWaK6ZiIzqc0CxCd796dNN4Dig/w640-h586/7.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observation from the SU-76M with a roof. 1 indicates the commander's vision slit in the front of the casemate, 2 indicates the commander's periscope, 3 indicates the gunner's periscope.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Due to poor ventilation and insufficient vision the NIBT Proving Grounds couldn't recommend the introduction of a closed fighting compartment. The second backup variant of the SU-76M went into production. After some reworking, the SU-76M with raised sides went into production in April of 1945. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://dzen.ru/media/yuripasholok/mytiscenskaia-krysha-dlia-su76m-5f7c0357952c3b370ed76290">Original article by Yuri Pasholok.</a></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-42681146825581348622023-10-06T14:45:00.000-04:002023-10-06T14:45:34.319-04:00Americans in Africa<p style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/03/american-generals-in-king-georges-court.html">trials of the American Medium Tank M3 in Great Britain</a> gave mixed results. On one hand, the tank had no shortage of design defects. On the other hand, there was nothing else to choose from. The Americans refused to build British tanks under license and Britain's own factories could not meet its army's needs. However, British tanks were far from perfect themselves, and the American tank still had tough armour and a powerful 75 mm gun that outperformed both the British 2-pounder and 3" howitzer. As a result, the American tanks were sent to Africa to prove themselves in battle.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Eye of the hurricane</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The North African front stood still after the British retreated to Gazala in February of 1942. This pause allowed to train crews for the new tanks. Small number of Grant tanks began arriving in North Africa back in late 1941, but now shipments really picked up. 666 vehicles of this type were in theater by the end of March.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-MfvX-nN7XyryKf6ZvFpl2jBkGU8HgCLnXeQXGQHbkfB-VFrT4R8NM54u1AhxKB0UUY4Id8MmP5JtyOyxak52FFZFmlljXO5qmqM9_Glf00N5q-8_pLiwg75jR1kBlufCi67FM4Wd3_iWiW26bbslAmd-PtRo0piOyxsNNcM2aCS2b2esFJMKf8oEv0y/s1388/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1388" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-MfvX-nN7XyryKf6ZvFpl2jBkGU8HgCLnXeQXGQHbkfB-VFrT4R8NM54u1AhxKB0UUY4Id8MmP5JtyOyxak52FFZFmlljXO5qmqM9_Glf00N5q-8_pLiwg75jR1kBlufCi67FM4Wd3_iWiW26bbslAmd-PtRo0piOyxsNNcM2aCS2b2esFJMKf8oEv0y/w640-h468/1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An American instructor demonstrates the new tanks to British tankers.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Issues with ammunition began immediately. There were warehouses of WWI era 75 mm rounds in Egypt that could be fired from the American gun, with caveats. It was not entirely safe to fire this ammunition from the tank gun, but there was no other choice. The fuses of these rounds permitted ricochet firing, which American-made rounds did not. The British found 90,000 old French fuses and sent them to Egypt to improve American ammunition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There were also issues with AP rounds. The M72 shot had no cap and shattered when it hit surface hardened German armour. The 75 mm M2 gun could only penetrate the front armour of the <a href="https://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2018/11/three-in-transition.html">Pz.Kpfw.III</a> tank from 500 yards (450 meters), while experimental M61 capped shot could penetrate the same 30 mm of armour at a slope of 20 degrees from a range of over 1000 yards (914 m). This ammunition was not yet available in large quantities. One temporary solution was reusing captured German shells. A German 75 mm shell with a trimmed driving band was compatible with the M2 gun. In trials, it could penetrate the armour of the Pz.Kpfw.III from the same distance as the M61, but it had considerably greater beyond armour effects. A German shell burst after penetrating the tank's armour and would no doubt have killed the crew, while the American shot simply fell into the driver's seat intact.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The 7th Armoured Division hosted its own trials of the Grant's gun. A knocked out Valentine tank served as the target. The tankers opened fire from 1600 yards (1460 m) at an angle of 20 degrees. Two shots hit the side of the tank. Both penetrated. One shot remained intact, a small piece cracked off the second one. Firing at a Pz.Kpfw.III tank from the same range yielded no results. A second attempt from 1300 yards (1188 m) also proved fruitless. Firing at a <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/04/second-fiddle.html">Pz.Kpfw.IV tank with applique armour</a> from 800 yards (730 m) was also ineffective, but the applique armour deformed and fell off after the second hit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Grant's sights were also criticized. Just like the testers back in Great Britain, the North African tankers didn't like the fact that the sight settings were impossible to lock in and they were easily knocked off. The sight also vibrated when the engine was running, which made the gunner's job very difficult. The tank was also not equipped with any indirect fire sights. Crews improvised by cutting markings into the elevation flywheel or installing a clinometer. A procedure was established for indirect fire missions, including firing with the aid of an artillery observer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSoP7jpgROV4cpbzxlEIluKEskwiKJTYqzKD8N0p0vBx0-OGDh_PV6UVqIPiOzhgEBsr1JMgBAep7mSbj_NY3CG3iFPUFO0fxIugUm2N4taTsOvrSwAabj0sSKdAZ8C4J79KvlJCTmaK0UODsF3PZEBs0sAXdKppqEjrOgCcSB71Y_fi35fMbb4jAaTAl/s800/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="777" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSoP7jpgROV4cpbzxlEIluKEskwiKJTYqzKD8N0p0vBx0-OGDh_PV6UVqIPiOzhgEBsr1JMgBAep7mSbj_NY3CG3iFPUFO0fxIugUm2N4taTsOvrSwAabj0sSKdAZ8C4J79KvlJCTmaK0UODsF3PZEBs0sAXdKppqEjrOgCcSB71Y_fi35fMbb4jAaTAl/w622-h640/3.jpg" width="622" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grant crews at rest.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There was another problem with the 75 mm gun. While a vane showed the commander where the 37 mm gun was pointing, it was impossible to tell what he hull gunner could see. The commanders also had to involve the driver in the firing procedure, since the hull gun only aimed within a 28 degree arc. This reduced the mobility of fire. Bad sights also made it impossible to get the guns on target without the aid of a commander's binoculars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Thanks to the stabilizer, the 37 mm gun could be fired while driving on good terrain at a speed of 12-15 mph (19-24 kph), but in mud the tank waddled side to side. Removable grousers didn't help. They were difficult to install and quickly fell off when driving. The 75 mm gun was much more difficult to use than the 37 mm gun in any conditions, but the tankers still liked it more than the British 3" howitzer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzDdhFhICh7_nyC7egOxEA-cJbGfpVALUHGoe03_B8zuavJV3_ffTmhWrM1SfwDxZfzG8IEZ7ELTb0tAg7IeA4TEXUQ8smr0qjcvOFmG9BDGBeO8p08Iqx9WP2o-7Q50cMgbthVyiw2TOOc_6R4-YiU1VbqGbu0BFcR_yr4VUbES2GvNsWIt8Rb_3kMMW/s800/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="800" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzDdhFhICh7_nyC7egOxEA-cJbGfpVALUHGoe03_B8zuavJV3_ffTmhWrM1SfwDxZfzG8IEZ7ELTb0tAg7IeA4TEXUQ8smr0qjcvOFmG9BDGBeO8p08Iqx9WP2o-7Q50cMgbthVyiw2TOOc_6R4-YiU1VbqGbu0BFcR_yr4VUbES2GvNsWIt8Rb_3kMMW/w640-h510/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grant tank on a Diamond tank transporter. The tank's poor reliability meant that this was a common scene.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The American tanks were poorly suited for driving in the desert in general. The air filters took in too much sand, as a result of which the engines could be disabled after as little as 25 hours of operation. Manufacturing and assembly defects didn't help. Even in ideal conditions, R-975 engines had a lifespan of about 100 hours at this point. The engines also lacked power. Tankers complained that the tanks drive too slowly. There were also complaints about the tracks. They were too narrow and wore out too quickly. The track pads wore down and the tracks themselves stretched out, after which the would fall off the running gear. Sand also got into the fuel system and controls, leading to increased wear. To make matters worse, the tow cables were too weak to pull the disabled tanks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Sand storm</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The new tanks were issued to active units in May of 1942. the 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions were the first to receive Grant tanks. The tanks served alongside <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/07/light-tank-m3-americas-first-thousand.html">Stuarts</a>. For example, the 4th Armoured Brigade of the 7th Armoured Division had 20 Stuarts and 24 Grants in each regiment. The 3rd Royal Tank Regiment was an exception, as it had only 16 Stuarts and 19 Grants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was the 3rd RTR that first took these tanks into battle at 07:30 on May 27th, 1942. They took part in a counterattack against Pz.Kpfw.III and IV tanks of the 8th Tank Regiment of the German 15th Tank Division at Bir Hakeim. The fears about ineffective 75 mm shells proved unfounded. The Grants could dispatch the German medium tanks at a range of about 1000 yards (914 meters). However, the Grants turned out to be vulnerable themselves despite their thick armour, and the Germans had a numerical advantage. The 3rd RTR had just 5 Grants and 8 Stuarts left and was forced to retreat. The 8th Hussars from the 7th Armoured fought with about the same success. The regiment reported 30 destroyed enemy tanks, but themselves were left with just two Grants. The 5th RTR had more luck and their losses were relatively small.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaledEMIKz5ppi52zyca3OD4iTrOqYHEu9v7iyNkVpCOvke3h4uQf24nFfV85Lq02zoCiVeRxgb3YP6QObfNU-EhNATF_NFZesc06F7seVhU4SGNbufj9byjLobhAgjk8Iehp6e9i0E76w0Jrc8sDsTefQUS5tSREfYHE9_0Ol7y1G0xjl2h5PJ5RxjwQ/s960/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="960" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaledEMIKz5ppi52zyca3OD4iTrOqYHEu9v7iyNkVpCOvke3h4uQf24nFfV85Lq02zoCiVeRxgb3YP6QObfNU-EhNATF_NFZesc06F7seVhU4SGNbufj9byjLobhAgjk8Iehp6e9i0E76w0Jrc8sDsTefQUS5tSREfYHE9_0Ol7y1G0xjl2h5PJ5RxjwQ/w640-h466/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A destroyed Grant tank in Libya. The turret was blown off by an ammunition explosion.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A torrent of feedback followed the Grant's debut. It turned out that its reliability hardly improved since the spring. Engine troubles turned into an epidemic. The oil expenditure sharply rose after 400 miles (646 km) of driving, after which the engine quickly became completely useless. Problems were reported with the magneto, starters, air intakes, and electrical wiring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The volute springs began to break down after 300 miles (482 km) of driving. The British tried many tricks to extend their lifespan, but nothing helped. There were issues with other components, both due to production and design defects. Tankers also complained that the bogeys were easily damaged in battle and the tracks were easy to sever, especially when firing at the front of the tank.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQK1ynfZAVIIxIqKhqy1KiSLHn9rjhG87_0ipcnJFSyT3xLhl_B6t_wzsmL9xZ4oxWfkTqXcwqyNNG_FTKyHgeiVZkOnLlale-gpfXqV4nFBtAvfN2xBKCzcKLkdM9GeIzPspdouNz1X6iA6BXriKDf8LLPphNqCEI2o_UJTcGeAOxQxJHLJ0_Bny3r2x/s950/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="950" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQK1ynfZAVIIxIqKhqy1KiSLHn9rjhG87_0ipcnJFSyT3xLhl_B6t_wzsmL9xZ4oxWfkTqXcwqyNNG_FTKyHgeiVZkOnLlale-gpfXqV4nFBtAvfN2xBKCzcKLkdM9GeIzPspdouNz1X6iA6BXriKDf8LLPphNqCEI2o_UJTcGeAOxQxJHLJ0_Bny3r2x/w640-h398/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A German poses in front of a Grant tank with a destroyed suspension bogey.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">New issues with the guns surfaced. The gun overheated when firing quickly and the semiautomatic mechanism stopped working after 10-15 shots. The breech jammed and cracks were found in some breech blocks. Firing pins also broke often. Armourers had no spares and improvised as best as they could, making replacements out of available materials. The ammunition was also criticized. A portion of 75 mm rounds arriving in North Africa had 23 oz of propelland instead of the required 32 ounces. Defective ammunition had to be reloaded in field workshops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Complains about sights continued to come in. Crews reported heavy losses among commanders, who had no choice but to stick their head out of the hatch in order to see anything at all. This didn't mean that the tankers preferred the Lee and its commander's cupola. The cupola was cramped and uncomfortable, in addition to making the already large vehicle even taller. Crews didn't trust the observation devices, as they were easily penetrated and broke from the impact of enemy shells against the tank's armour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk653DQ4ppwErtV0rciIsHB7MT0yciiZwA4Vc58qFawdV6HLEgmXZ8d1UYME1lmOkCeXRtC7RGWriz_-FQLLakwwTlwPX5coB_XQWDwsZgHXcR1BxgqrtSnHMr8_DQ9nrfFVM0M_HplgtcR_yh2GhVMf_uC6-Aw-F-GDmFaE1lcU5JaAqWqrn-k0q1oRa4/s1080/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1080" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk653DQ4ppwErtV0rciIsHB7MT0yciiZwA4Vc58qFawdV6HLEgmXZ8d1UYME1lmOkCeXRtC7RGWriz_-FQLLakwwTlwPX5coB_XQWDwsZgHXcR1BxgqrtSnHMr8_DQ9nrfFVM0M_HplgtcR_yh2GhVMf_uC6-Aw-F-GDmFaE1lcU5JaAqWqrn-k0q1oRa4/w640-h420/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British crew and their Grant tank. A desert camouflage pattern is applied.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The armour itself was much better received. The 50 mm gun of the Pz.Kpfw.III tank that easily defeated the Crusader at long ranges was ineffective against the Grant. There were tanks that even withstood 75 or 88 mm shell hits. There were weak spots, however, as the driver's hatch was easy to knock into the tank on a direct hit. Crews tried welding the hatch in place, but drivers complained that driving using the observation device in the hatch alone was unbearable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There were also complaints about the rivets. The rivet heads popped off when hit with such a speed that there were casualties among the crews. The 37 and 75 mm gun mounts were also easy to jam with bullets or shell splinters. Splash could also pass through cracks, harming the crew. However, these complaints did not outweigh the value of the armour and on the balance it was found to be good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9TbAgvBVDg9K4GlO-NOckqMCoes33NUsnhc0V5DD-LhswbCvH4EAWIeqq5CColyqDYdUqcyNEhFhofbSYuuAEkaQMVfQ_o_CWeonBMnJ4g8n26uxU9IHBT-rK7IAlb0c5zDuNOvKKxmblz1ueat7igeVxPgYB62to42V2-TysSTufP-G9MoC8CvHxsWS/s800/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="800" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9TbAgvBVDg9K4GlO-NOckqMCoes33NUsnhc0V5DD-LhswbCvH4EAWIeqq5CColyqDYdUqcyNEhFhofbSYuuAEkaQMVfQ_o_CWeonBMnJ4g8n26uxU9IHBT-rK7IAlb0c5zDuNOvKKxmblz1ueat7igeVxPgYB62to42V2-TysSTufP-G9MoC8CvHxsWS/w640-h460/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burning Grant tank. Like Shermans, the Grants burned easily when penetrated.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The issue with <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/05/shermans-african-debut.html">high rates of burning</a> observed on the Sherman also affected the Grant. The odds of a fire or ammunition detonation after penetration were high, as 37 mm rounds were located along the walls of the turret basket and were easily hit by shell splinters. There was no attempt to protect them, as they were too vulnerably placed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Rain in the desert</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Despite the many aforementioned defects, the Grants were considered to be quite combat effective by August. Compared to British vehicles, the Grant's reliability problems were not so serious. Despite the issues with the semiautomatic mechanism and sights, the 75 mm M2 gun was a powerful weapon. Field workshops did what they could with the buggy mechanisms. The love for the 75 mm gun could be seen in a tendency to try and fit as much 75 mm ammunition into the tank as possible, even at the expense of 37 mm rounds. Officially, the tankers were supposed to carry 81 75 mm rounds and 80 37 mm rounds, in addition to 700 .45 ACP rounds for their Thompson SMGs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQT__03HNyPsHyW93GMMnmB-S2WO-JxUg2z_e9EG5lqGuc-qsx2h-vkv8II9q2_EU2cp-6Z2pYTC5WRQoDH-zcHH7sU-Q_3Hua-iDBRzUGynGcPBmV2TPaF8l_a17F6fFRRCKMfIisVzfhU-8nmUYkGjhHFHzckbJeqo5Qm3LVtC7D525U6uQytaaAHpyb/s1024/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1024" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQT__03HNyPsHyW93GMMnmB-S2WO-JxUg2z_e9EG5lqGuc-qsx2h-vkv8II9q2_EU2cp-6Z2pYTC5WRQoDH-zcHH7sU-Q_3Hua-iDBRzUGynGcPBmV2TPaF8l_a17F6fFRRCKMfIisVzfhU-8nmUYkGjhHFHzckbJeqo5Qm3LVtC7D525U6uQytaaAHpyb/w640-h462/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A commander's Grant tank disguised as a Sherman.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The reliability gradually improved. Grant tanks with their engines governed to 2100 RPM ran through 900 mile (1448 km) long trials without breakdowns, although oil expenditure was still high. Tankers also adapted the automotive components to their needs. The gearbox synchronizer and hydraulic power steering were disposed of, as they gave more trouble than they were worth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Grant remained in service even after the Sherman took the front line role. Removing the weapons and trimming down the crew left a lot of space inside, making it a comfortable command tank. The turret basket was cut off, since otherwise it would be impossible to use the side hatches with the turret locked forward. The commander received a new comfortable seat which could be folded if he needed to stand up and look out of the hatch. Some of these tanks were disguised as Shermans as to not stand out among their younger brothers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHsIlLnNz2c1slEAO92Qi4Zsn4dV31CCOphsGphtzpDB2kVQy-z4-kwMCpmnVo-N85eF4x5D_5u7UT316R-zr14oHnP1Xg8UD_8c0y75j2-HQnMx_uHtWQvFydo4_-utoOE5xwU8A5K1NwIp0qEfmGBYs5CG_kJJ5t3DHZsGR3gJ2-bEWjB2cMFZgeozR/s4000/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHsIlLnNz2c1slEAO92Qi4Zsn4dV31CCOphsGphtzpDB2kVQy-z4-kwMCpmnVo-N85eF4x5D_5u7UT316R-zr14oHnP1Xg8UD_8c0y75j2-HQnMx_uHtWQvFydo4_-utoOE5xwU8A5K1NwIp0qEfmGBYs5CG_kJJ5t3DHZsGR3gJ2-bEWjB2cMFZgeozR/w640-h480/9.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An M3 command tank, Musée des Blindés, Saumur. The 37 mm and 75 mm guns are fake and the 75 mm gun mount was replaced with another hatch.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Many armoured vehicle enthusiasts laugh at the Medium Tank M3. Indeed, the tank had its problems, both visible (high silhouette, inconvenient location of the main gun) and not (poor vision, low lifespan of the engine and suspension). Moving from a handful of hand-assembled prototypes to mass production always causes issues, and the Americans learned about this first hand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">At the same time, it's hard to say that the more experienced British tank builders were faring any better. The Crusader began to crumble into pieces after 500 miles (800 km) of driving and its thin armour could not even hold a hit from a 50 mm gun. The Matilda was better under fire, but its engine and running gear were limited to 400 miles of driving. Both tanks were armed with 2-pounder guns that could not defeat the front armour of the latest German tanks. Even the American 37 mm gun surpassed the British 2-pounder in penetration, while the 75 mm gun was comparable to the 6-pounder. The latter was only installed in a handful of British tanks by the end of 1942, while Grants were already on the front line in large numbers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2Lhqgrv44rM6FCprNingwoCoJbHQF67_OwUDdR6JEaMjLktjp4wlVwx5lo7iVDkVKkSUynNegDxZpVM_yztiIOQXrsO9fX4h244DmlWZjpfRxs1Fpd7_GG4vxL8n5QIjVQNt0hBX_Z18MIB68s9Aic3rRTEqf6TkG60aPZK0uTwF7uS2hG0MTkzWDPuX/s928/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="726" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2Lhqgrv44rM6FCprNingwoCoJbHQF67_OwUDdR6JEaMjLktjp4wlVwx5lo7iVDkVKkSUynNegDxZpVM_yztiIOQXrsO9fX4h244DmlWZjpfRxs1Fpd7_GG4vxL8n5QIjVQNt0hBX_Z18MIB68s9Aic3rRTEqf6TkG60aPZK0uTwF7uS2hG0MTkzWDPuX/w500-h640/10.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the end, the Lee and Grant proved themselves to their crews.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Medium Tank M3 appeared on the front lines at just the right time. The British lost Tobruk and Mersa Matruh in the summer of 1942, stopping Rommel at El Alamein. Shermans, Churchills, and other new tanks only arrived in the fall, while the humble M3 shouldered the weight of holding up the North African front.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://warspot.ru/17910-amerikantsy-v-afrike">Original article on Warspot.ru.</a></div><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-59885397098400972772023-09-25T09:27:00.000-04:002023-09-25T09:27:13.569-04:00Two Tanks In One<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>A story of what a Main Battle Tank is and how it came to be.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Tanks evolved considerably over the course of over 100 years of service. The first tanks were built to break through enemy fortifications, but still ended up being much smaller than the landships that H.G. Wells dreamed of. Nevertheless, the effect they had was considerable. All armies of the world wanted to have their own tanks, but not all managed to create one. A tank only seems simple, but in reality is quite a complicated fighting machine that requires a powerful industry to produce. Far fewer nations managed to build their own tanks than their own aircraft. In addition, like any weapon individual tanks quickly became obsolete. It is only in the last few decades that tank development slowed down from its breakneck pace. Tanks remain one of the key types of vehicles on the battlefield. There have been many attempts to write them off as a relic of the past, but practice shows that this time has not yet come.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9z3pJ0OnYWt0stJYeyJjN8An3yIxU5HU73a34dXTa4PCfU-bDpqNTfB9VdwspdyD2hgLMgAtuuhdQm6eOtcbMIGScsteH2aR89VJPB3TEgJuhpORyEEfbuC-Ls70vr63vDm8yQlx4PZwQ9f7FdOTTLSLzjo4sjhjAvHkH5tUK3bsRT0KL3r6TJcoUw/s1024/1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9z3pJ0OnYWt0stJYeyJjN8An3yIxU5HU73a34dXTa4PCfU-bDpqNTfB9VdwspdyD2hgLMgAtuuhdQm6eOtcbMIGScsteH2aR89VJPB3TEgJuhpORyEEfbuC-Ls70vr63vDm8yQlx4PZwQ9f7FdOTTLSLzjo4sjhjAvHkH5tUK3bsRT0KL3r6TJcoUw/w640-h424/1.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-72, the most numerous Main Battle Tank. These tanks were developed in the late 1960s but continue to serve and will do so for decades to come.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>Initially tanks had no classification, they were just tanks. Light and medium tanks turned up later, and existing tanks were reclassified as heavies. The classes of tanks settled by the end of the First World War. Even though other classes such as tankettes or cavalry tanks (or rather armoured cars, since cavalry was not allowed to have tanks) turned up later, the trinity of light/medium/heavy tanks held on through the Second World War and even after. Heavy tanks died off, but nature abhors a vacuum. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIn3NE97In-FP3UeYP4uoTFEdwY7YiFBqlVOwLrVmr1W3EdeBAkcPWVqDGQsPywjGStsrmYNfjH0SnrD1Rvm6HTbtAZmGY6g0dKkKzcz7wQ6QbPTuoTiU8s5t9yLAN8ZLFeD43YMmIwtDiUN_3CB5VxJL11Ql8oak9O1az7PjBx4yzx77XfqCzWYuKQ/s1024/2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1024" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIn3NE97In-FP3UeYP4uoTFEdwY7YiFBqlVOwLrVmr1W3EdeBAkcPWVqDGQsPywjGStsrmYNfjH0SnrD1Rvm6HTbtAZmGY6g0dKkKzcz7wQ6QbPTuoTiU8s5t9yLAN8ZLFeD43YMmIwtDiUN_3CB5VxJL11Ql8oak9O1az7PjBx4yzx77XfqCzWYuKQ/w640-h454/2.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first tanks were just tanks. Classification by weight only came around later.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The most common type of tank used today is not always correctly classified. This is the Main Battle Tank, a concept that appeared in the 1960s as a result of evolution of concepts from the late 1950s. These tanks replaced medium and heavy tanks in production, combining their best qualities. Let us discuss how these tanks came to be and why.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLKY5wa2ziNu8Mt0kmWCMgfRvfyqX41TL5IUpjVqYdL1CY2-VKG5b6DcIp0BJaq2EzzP7_guai-LRS0wy_r7Z92k_VxJTMMGjmbuoXI0oDWhcq9aHfjzIK8z1Yr_lYtj_ZkEiYyDCuTSra9gghVOe5KpYepqo4_hiw9LA2wln9RoqRR_gDmjB7USY7g/s1024/3.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLKY5wa2ziNu8Mt0kmWCMgfRvfyqX41TL5IUpjVqYdL1CY2-VKG5b6DcIp0BJaq2EzzP7_guai-LRS0wy_r7Z92k_VxJTMMGjmbuoXI0oDWhcq9aHfjzIK8z1Yr_lYtj_ZkEiYyDCuTSra9gghVOe5KpYepqo4_hiw9LA2wln9RoqRR_gDmjB7USY7g/w640-h472/3.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An attempt at creating a main tank was made in the 1920s. Medium tanks were not as slow and expensive as heavies, but also more effective than lights. It is no accident that British <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/03/medium-tank-mki-first-of-maneuver-tanks.html">Medium Tanks Mk.I</a>, <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/12/medium-tank-mkii-interbellum-long-liver.html">Mk.II</a> and <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/01/medium-tank-mkiii-britains-cerberus.html">Mk.III</a> were their most numerous tanks of the 1920s, but they were ill-suited for the role of a main tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">As mentioned above, the classification of tanks settled by the end of the First World War. The first heavy tanks were means of breaking through heavy enemy defenses. As practice showed, they had many drawbacks. Their armour quickly became insufficient and their mobility was too low. The light tanks first realized by the French had one main advantage: numbers. The <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/12/the-first-classic-tank.html">Renault FT</a> was not much more maneuverable than heavy tanks of the time and had considerably poorer firepower. It is not surprising that General Estienne, the main ideologue behind French tank building, became disillusioned in this tank. Next, the British came up with a medium tank. The Schneider CA 1 is often called a medium, but it just ended up in that weight class. The Medium Mark A was a completely different story. It was initially created for maneuver operations. The British were the first to see success with this type of vehicle. It is not surprising the Colonel John Fuller, the Chief of Staff of the Royal Tank Corps, placed his bet on medium tanks. At the same time, he did not abandon heavy breakthrough tanks. The end of the war made it more difficult to develop new types of armoured vehicles, but the first attempt to build a universal tank was nevertheless made in the interwar years.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5T7jNuo_f4y0hKCyWv3vqi3HiradEL5GYPEqHJdobYoStlEvOheBqeSy3P18HUME4E97dyQfQojOqGNMMy-0UP2VwEdx4pdGIxHKi8Q3W0lsp3ueGMw142KWsjoG7_LuppUBj9l2VC2L89m8m75jsYJgbhdGGr8K3MHnXQ0g-cvvP_sNxPzLUr_nIQ/s1024/4.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5T7jNuo_f4y0hKCyWv3vqi3HiradEL5GYPEqHJdobYoStlEvOheBqeSy3P18HUME4E97dyQfQojOqGNMMy-0UP2VwEdx4pdGIxHKi8Q3W0lsp3ueGMw142KWsjoG7_LuppUBj9l2VC2L89m8m75jsYJgbhdGGr8K3MHnXQ0g-cvvP_sNxPzLUr_nIQ/w640-h424/4.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/12/char-b-difficult-beginning.html">Char B</a>, the first attempt to create something close to a Main Battle Tank. General Estienne saw the Char B as the main tank on the battlefield, with the armour and armament of a heavy tank but mobility close to a contemporary medium tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Those who try to classify the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/05/the-english-panther.html">Centurion</a>, <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/02/a-german-cat-in-king-georges-court.html">Panther</a>, or T-62 as a Main Battle Tank must remember what an MBT actually is. The concept combines properties of heavy and medium tanks in one vehicle. None of the three aforementioned tanks aimed at replacing heavy tanks. Meanwhile, attempts to replace the heavy tank class were made in the 1920s. One can say that General Estienne was the father of the Main Battle Tank. His Char B was the first universal tank. Estienne expected that this tank would replace light and medium tanks. Heavy tanks were not mentioned, since France gave up on heavy tanks due to their cost. The result was a universal assault tank with a gun in the hull and machine guns in the cupola. It was only later that the Char B began to evolve and turned into a heavy tank <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/12/char-b-on-frances-backburner.html">by the time it was accepted into service</a>. Initially, the tank was supposed to take the role that the <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/06/renault-d2-de-gaulles-workhorse.html">Char D2</a> ended up filling.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQWTlKcdAvtnLGJbhbtr5iybd9YFaDap9difbkTp3sgB5YxU0_tUPkbwJWCD7ITVOyqTGeuMCJz7SseYAb13dlplIE6D2MnxnX-BfZmDeCJ66kq8_o6u5ZbjVslAEkjaB2TmsFl7NaIFn-JYRM2vkix2gcOqoymUTDYST5Hhmqfg967MldUSRT_8t0A/s1024/5.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQWTlKcdAvtnLGJbhbtr5iybd9YFaDap9difbkTp3sgB5YxU0_tUPkbwJWCD7ITVOyqTGeuMCJz7SseYAb13dlplIE6D2MnxnX-BfZmDeCJ66kq8_o6u5ZbjVslAEkjaB2TmsFl7NaIFn-JYRM2vkix2gcOqoymUTDYST5Hhmqfg967MldUSRT_8t0A/w640-h480/5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The result of the "battle tank" program. Instead of a medium tank with the armour of a heavy, France ended up with a heavy tank with the armour and armament of a medium. The biggest problem was that the <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/02/char-b1-bis-general-estiennes-legacy.html">Char B1 bis</a> was astronomically expensive and produced in tiny numbers, unable to replace medium tanks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Further development is a whole different story, but the fact remains that the French were the first to develop the concept of a Main Battle Tank. This project was a failure, since the Char B1 bis ended up as a heavy tank and French command wanted light and medium tanks in addition to 20-ton "armoured cars" like the <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-best-french-pre-war-tank.html">SOMUA S 35</a>. Despite their efforts, the French settled in the classic light/medium/heavy categories like other armies in the world. However, most armies only managed to succeed in the light tank class or develop something on the cusp of two categories. For instance, the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/01/overrated-soviet-medium-tank.html">Soviet T-28</a> was developed as a medium maneuver tank, but ended up treated as a breakthrough tank. Light tanks made up the majority of every armoured force at the start of the Second World War and medium tanks only came to replace them after.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf_8VA6v07qBV1Oh5Zo8JcLbqIrt6kjTi7-5KHDY7NbYSPZ_BDvRY3V2T70qpEmvLTcUbm5pcyf9eE9OKtBNbqgiwB1j5gnmCAMzhnroNgjG_ukDT73n5KJXN1377HuCsty6G_8B1KZ_P8Tp-1kCuytMW7OJkuZrmRJLuR0wTMI7ORp1B6nO3HdIx6A/s1024/6.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1024" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf_8VA6v07qBV1Oh5Zo8JcLbqIrt6kjTi7-5KHDY7NbYSPZ_BDvRY3V2T70qpEmvLTcUbm5pcyf9eE9OKtBNbqgiwB1j5gnmCAMzhnroNgjG_ukDT73n5KJXN1377HuCsty6G_8B1KZ_P8Tp-1kCuytMW7OJkuZrmRJLuR0wTMI7ORp1B6nO3HdIx6A/w640-h562/6.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite conspiracy theories, the KV-13 tank that appeared in 1942 was developed as a heavy tank. No one was trying to replace the T-34.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Medium tanks were only used in force in May of 1940, after which it turned out that light tanks were no longer entirely suitable for the missions required of them. This took a while to sink in. A year later, the first wave of Soviet T-34 tanks was ground down relatively quickly and the tanks were only used en masse by the fall of 1941. Even though inexperience of Soviet tankers prevented them from using the tank to its full potential, the T-34 became a very big problem for the Germans. On the other side of the front line, medium tanks became the undisputed leaders in the Germany army by the start of Operation Barbarossa. The same thing happened in the American and British armies some time later. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Red Army was the first to obtain a truly mass produced heavy tank: the KV-1. However, the tank had a problem typical for vehicles of its class: overloading. This became clear in the winter of 1941-42 when the mobility of the KV-1 turned out to be significant lower than that of the T-34. An idea of lightening the tank was raised, leading to two projects: the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/03/kv-1s-from-temporary-to-permanent.html">KV-1S</a> and <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/12/unlucky-kv.html">KV-13</a>. The latter is often called a "medium tank with heavy armour", which is incorrect. This was a heavy tank, but with the mass and mobility of a medium. It followed some of the concepts of a Main Battle Tank, but it was not an MBT. An MBT has to replace multiple classes of vehicles, and while the KV-13 was aiming to replace the KV-1, it was not a replacement for the T-34. The armament was also insufficient for a heavy tank at the time. The 76 mm ZIS-5 was no longer entirely satisfactory, but development of an 85 mm gun was impeded by various organizational and conceptional problems.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM232DBti9yRWiFYceyssxjG3VVLUVD8vixwEQ89SwS0LS7LJ9ahT0K79lt16EHKf2h1tuAPaWW9LUw09qAVCkRrGQZNyY8hXn-ahV0qrdQi7H2eAKy29kCPjjrcXRBHnhEgKOoBTrep7ek6Fq_fgm3plKBJOUtLZuTjjYA9iqFitlFR9f_bIujYkNQ/s1024/7.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1024" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM232DBti9yRWiFYceyssxjG3VVLUVD8vixwEQ89SwS0LS7LJ9ahT0K79lt16EHKf2h1tuAPaWW9LUw09qAVCkRrGQZNyY8hXn-ahV0qrdQi7H2eAKy29kCPjjrcXRBHnhEgKOoBTrep7ek6Fq_fgm3plKBJOUtLZuTjjYA9iqFitlFR9f_bIujYkNQ/w640-h380/7.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Panther is sometimes classified as a heavy tank due to its weight, but it was a medium. The Panther was never a Main Battle Tank, since production of the Tiger continued in parallel.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Panther was also never a Main Battle Tank. To start, the tank was never included in the TO&E of Heavy Tank Battalions. There were no plans to replace the Tiger with a lighter vehicle <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/11/the-third-reichs-last-tanks.html">even in early 1945</a>. The Panther was not a match for the role of an MBT even conceptually. One can often hear the claim that it had the armour and armament of a heavy tank. However, it's not that simple. Paradoxically, the Panther and Tiger are tanks from different generations. The Panther's contemporary heavy tank is the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/04/on-way-to-king-tiger.html">VK 45.02 (H)</a>, which later turned into the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/12/all-kings-horses.html">Tiger Ausf.B</a>. The Panther's armour and armament were no match for this tank. There were attempts to increase the Panther's armour and firepower, but they were unsuccessful.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNds1Kg5vDcDUxueV_fcJh89QnbamVjSo_MBppZBkpF-fUDxR26s1gERuXxzGJyQ9YkdnTWjf3FfOnGhEh3XP-woZx_5YC0sYbbT9S19aWm4VGcUTOrqNPEnHFpIBYt-3LXZTGcimKsAGRKqw98utmR8Tu8_jrwRyPO8-D-W7OQ4XLXIs0xkUd6fLvxg/s1024/8.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="1024" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNds1Kg5vDcDUxueV_fcJh89QnbamVjSo_MBppZBkpF-fUDxR26s1gERuXxzGJyQ9YkdnTWjf3FfOnGhEh3XP-woZx_5YC0sYbbT9S19aWm4VGcUTOrqNPEnHFpIBYt-3LXZTGcimKsAGRKqw98utmR8Tu8_jrwRyPO8-D-W7OQ4XLXIs0xkUd6fLvxg/w640-h404/8.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Centurion is often classified as an MBT, but that is incorrect. It was intended to be a heavy cruiser tank, with its mass quickly growing from 40 to 50 tons. Its development did not stop work on heavy tanks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Neither the concept nor the characteristics of the Panther tank match the requirements of a Main Battle Tank. This is an overgrown medium tank that grew fat enough to weigh as much as a heavy. There is no shortage of this phenomenon. The <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/06/long-awaited-success.html">M26 Pershing</a> is a classic example. The tank was created as a medium, but managed to spend some time classified as a heavy. It earned this designation purely due to its weight. The armour and armament were insufficient for this title, which is why there were numerous experiments to install <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/10/just-add-armour.html">thicker armour</a> or <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/05/pershing-with-long-hand.html">a more powerful gun</a>. These experiments ended with nothing, since the chassis did not have the capacity to carry the extra weight. The existence of the Pershing did not preclude the Americans from continuing work on heavy tanks. These tanks surpassed the Pershing both in armour and armament, meaning that the Pershing once again fails one of the main requirements for the role of a Main Battle Tank. The Centurion is in the same boat. The Cruiser Tank A41 was initially intended to replace the Cromwell. The tank's protection was also far from that of a heavy tank, as even the Centurion Mk.3 had scarcely more armour than a Panther.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxY_muWb4uLzpaofkAbxWEzc-JfsBrWDnyMVYHUOVjNIVNp09DFCOfQf698zlvw-ZCcx0TTGPqSlXnShUAUah4tEtOINrkcpyDyhz6szu4poINEc7Euvxqx0DtMEUtdh8DgMYtKh8VJtn4t64ba3EIKeby9fPb62qcJ6_yMHKOoCZYvRG0J8mVDSRNQ/s1024/9.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="1024" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxY_muWb4uLzpaofkAbxWEzc-JfsBrWDnyMVYHUOVjNIVNp09DFCOfQf698zlvw-ZCcx0TTGPqSlXnShUAUah4tEtOINrkcpyDyhz6szu4poINEc7Euvxqx0DtMEUtdh8DgMYtKh8VJtn4t64ba3EIKeby9fPb62qcJ6_yMHKOoCZYvRG0J8mVDSRNQ/w640-h432/9.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attempts to make a heavy tank from the Pershing ended badly every time. This was a medium tank that was pushed to its weight limit.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">At the same time, one needs to quell fantasies regarding the IS-7. Its mass, armament, and armour are often compared to those of modern MBTs. It is quite silly to compare armour of modern tanks with those of the 1940s. Real life does not work like War Thunder or World of Tanks. The IS-7 was created to withstand fire from the 128 mm KwK 44 L/55 gun used on the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/07/superheavy-trophy.html">Maus</a>. Modern MBTs use 120-125 mm smoothbore guns firing either HEAT or long rod penetrators, in addition to ATGMs. The muzzle velocity of the 125 mm 2A46 gun is nearly twice as high as the muzzle velocity of WW2 era tank guns. Composite armour is required to resist weapons like these. Imagine what would happen to an IS-7 and its conventional steel armour. The armament is also in question. Even the M-65 gun created 10 years later has considerably better characteristics. The 130 mm S-70 certainly can deal considerable damage to a modern tank, but there are no illusions about how competitive it is. The mass of modern MBTs is also a necessary evil, if anything. For instance, the prototype of the Leopard 2 weighed 50.5 tons, the first production tank weighed 55 tons, and modern Leopard 2 tanks weigh 65 tons and continue to grow. This weight gain is not a desirable characteristic of the Main Battle Tank class, but a significant problem. As for the reputation of the IS-7 as a future-proof super tank, get ready to be disappointed. The military rejected the Object 260 since its weight exceeded the acceptable limit but its characteristics were still unsatisfactory. Prototype #3 that stands in Kubinka today was not even put to trial. A production IS-7 tank would have been very different.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rPv-MmjcJa7M9edPvcUE4Areq9Jx7hEscWn1ApVx-GSY-B5fXkKX54qxBZ-YaFoOsXVp2KdVo4LXFUWzIwW8a74uN9ExGV4MUDR3eVlKMk5QCO8WeK7HlpZzxR4l3vMW74LO5tNFX34Ik23fNkpSYj61Ft52G8cVp8O2Z9AZcE1q9_xVafOORzjvSw/s1024/10.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1024" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rPv-MmjcJa7M9edPvcUE4Areq9Jx7hEscWn1ApVx-GSY-B5fXkKX54qxBZ-YaFoOsXVp2KdVo4LXFUWzIwW8a74uN9ExGV4MUDR3eVlKMk5QCO8WeK7HlpZzxR4l3vMW74LO5tNFX34Ik23fNkpSYj61Ft52G8cVp8O2Z9AZcE1q9_xVafOORzjvSw/w640-h568/10.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the status of IS-7 trials in 1948. The tank was 3 tons heavier than expected and the cost of a pilot tank exceeded 3 million rubles.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Then there's the most important thing: production. One can't simply take a tank and put it into mass production. It would take effort to replace the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/12/herald-of-revolution.html">T-54</a> with the IS-7, and no one was willing to expend this effort. The advantage of the Main Battle Tank is that it can be as numerous as a medium tank and not much more expensive. The number of heavy tanks could never compete with medium ones, but the price... a T-54 tank cost 588-635 thousand rubles in 1948 with the cost declining year over year. The IS-4 cost 795,000 rubles. The IS-7 would cost 3 million rubles even according to the most conservative estimates, and likely even more. The result was the a tank that looks pretty on paper, but has a number of design flaws, an outrageous price tag, and a number of unsolved issues such as transportation and evacuation. This is why the IS-7 was dropped and the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2015/11/the-last-soviet-heavyweight.html">50 ton Object 730</a> was put into production. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD9HNDajgLvbkTBgy2Mwa38oljU7pNe-SzYtcHaOZwhUmcpZj-m_vmVTH74hixwk8mBdlWvIALm2oqJjUFpJlqzJ-E9Gpwjzgx10qYuQY52vPc1sDJpzV-VeJr8G-KJWVPZJT7vfQIgSaNtQpHHKrWw3j2GS8RQ9Ery5k6H1BG0qsHCMUIiJE7ta_9A/s1024/11.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1024" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD9HNDajgLvbkTBgy2Mwa38oljU7pNe-SzYtcHaOZwhUmcpZj-m_vmVTH74hixwk8mBdlWvIALm2oqJjUFpJlqzJ-E9Gpwjzgx10qYuQY52vPc1sDJpzV-VeJr8G-KJWVPZJT7vfQIgSaNtQpHHKrWw3j2GS8RQ9Ery5k6H1BG0qsHCMUIiJE7ta_9A/w640-h402/11.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FV4201 or Chieftain, the first tank called a Main Battle Tank. It fully meets this classification: its armament and front armour matched that of contemporary heavy tanks, but mobility and weight matched those of medium tanks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So who made the Main Battle Tank? The British did. This was a lengthy process and not one that gave fruit immediately. It became clear by 1946 that the Cruiser and Infantry divisions were pointless, and work began on the first universal tank. The FV201 was supposed to replace both Infantry and Cruiser tanks. The first attempt was not successful. The FV201 was marginal at best and the Centurion Mk.3 did not need replacing anyway. The FV201 evolved into the FV214 or Conqueror. The tank went into production in 1954, but the result was disappointing. The tank was too heavy and not exceptionally reliable. Meanwhile, the Centurion's star was starting to set. The chassis was becoming overloaded. As a result, the FV4201 was developed. This was the first tank to be designated a Main Battle Tank. The 45 ton tank was equipped with a 120 mm rifled gun, the mobility was expected to be no worse than a Centurion's, and the front armour was equivalent to a contemporary heavy tank. The project evolved into the 53 ton Chieftain, which was just 1-2 tons more than a Centurion Mk.10, but the armour was better, the armament was on par with heavy tanks, and the top speed was higher. The Main Battle Tank was born.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7s5eQnl6d1Rq7dz1DR_3ibQGD5-QdoHPHm6vroTIZTdWXbKjbmt5d3aynqDmZVGP3b_04JKDkfeK_asV8PfMSgbEJDjHPgBPjLCbJl24lExqV06mw8Plv_a8zF4he17q3HIa18IbrFEAaB0b0IuFPwa5TYX1PtR_5yBvWTU_ndAIrrvjnTvvx2HbzpA/s1024/12.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1024" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7s5eQnl6d1Rq7dz1DR_3ibQGD5-QdoHPHm6vroTIZTdWXbKjbmt5d3aynqDmZVGP3b_04JKDkfeK_asV8PfMSgbEJDjHPgBPjLCbJl24lExqV06mw8Plv_a8zF4he17q3HIa18IbrFEAaB0b0IuFPwa5TYX1PtR_5yBvWTU_ndAIrrvjnTvvx2HbzpA/w640-h418/12.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MBT 70, the German-American approach.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The USSR and USA approached the Main Battle Tank concept differently. Attempts to create a new generation of medium and heavy tanks continued into the late 1950s. The result was an unpleasant situation. The USSR found out about the American M60 tank with a 105 mm L7 gun. This was not a Main Battle Tank (the Americans cleverly dropped weight classifications in 1949, giving only the gun caliber) but it was still going to be a very problematic vehicle for the Soviet Army. Try as it might, it could not mass produce a heavy tank. There were no more than 200 T-10s built per year. This gave birth to the idea of a Main Battle Tank. This was not the T-62, which was a tank destroyer that complemented the missile-armed IT-1. The first true Soviet MBT was the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/04/balls-of-soviet-tanks.html">Object 434 (T-64A)</a> accepted into service with the Soviet Army on May 20th, 1968. This was a true Main Battle Tank and the first in a whole family of Soviet MBTs.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHZJRR0EsNcj3abyMpNGBS75DYkGBNw7qRz1DkYd0N0BUgm0_4kqYu2Q6dBLBZW8Kt5Z4QNarfjc8qe3njp7aK7ElKjc1elXL8CvhwuTl2xHOZXV4wLcIr4mNp2h7TaplhIN3_cGVukQVC7kLcoFWbs-xxxdy_TPYx5gEzPko5UYGCbMlXLGAT5UDEw/s1200/13.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1200" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHZJRR0EsNcj3abyMpNGBS75DYkGBNw7qRz1DkYd0N0BUgm0_4kqYu2Q6dBLBZW8Kt5Z4QNarfjc8qe3njp7aK7ElKjc1elXL8CvhwuTl2xHOZXV4wLcIr4mNp2h7TaplhIN3_cGVukQVC7kLcoFWbs-xxxdy_TPYx5gEzPko5UYGCbMlXLGAT5UDEw/w640-h396/13.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-64A, the first Soviet MBT.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Some tanks like the Leopard 1 and AMX-30 were promoted into MBTs, but this is a stretch. The Leopard 1 and AMX-30 were medium tanks, with worse armour and armament than MBTs. The first German and American MBT was the MBT 70/Kpz.70, work on which began in 1963. This was their first tank to fully meet the requirements of an MBT. With a weight of 40 tons, it had powerful armour and armament. The result was something completely different, but 15 years later the results were obvious. The Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams are still in service and became trendsetters among Main Battle Tanks. The Soviet MBT concept also evolved to be an influential force. Both concepts have their advantages and drawbacks and continue to evolve.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://dzen.ru/media/yuripasholok/sovmescenie-dvuh-tankov-v-odnom-60bdd00977f4f3143e926eb2">Original article by Yuri Pasholok.</a></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-44228788440861573112023-09-19T13:28:00.002-04:002023-09-19T13:28:04.812-04:00Smokescreens in the 31st Tank Corps<p style="text-align: justify;">"Report on the use of smokescreen by the 31st Tank Corps in January of 1945</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A. Preparation of tank and SPG crews to use neutral smokescreens in battle</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Strong attention to the use of smokescreens was paid during training of all types of forces in the corps. Personnel of tanks, SPGs, and motorized rifle units was taught the rules of using smoke equipment and its tactical-technical data.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The following topics were practices during tactical training exercises held in November-December 1944:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">The use of the RDG and DSh smoke bombs by a single tank or SPG to conceal its maneuver in combat.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The use of smoke launchers by infantry and tanks to signal aircraft.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Deployment of a tank battalion under the cover of a smokescreen set by an advance force.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Attack by a tank battalion through a corridor in the smokescreen created by MDSh bombs lit by flanking tanks as cover from anti-tank gun fire.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Concealing anti-tank obstacles in front of a defending rifle battalion with smoke to make crossing them more difficult.<span><a name='more'></a></span></li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">All tactical training exercises in use of smoke were completed with great enthusiasm and attracted the attention of all the corps' officers. In order to promote the use of smoke, officers of the 100th TBr and 367th Guards Heavy SAP presented their experience in using smoke in previous battles. Their presentations at the officers' meetings were attended with great interest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before battle on January 10th, 1945, all tanks and SPGs were equipped with smoke launchers. Tank smoke bomb launchers present on tanks and SU-85 SPGs were loaded with MDSh bombs. Missing electric fuses were manufactured from white flares using a method proposed by the Chief of the Chemical Service of the 100th TBr, Senior Lieutenant Chernikov. The electric fuses made this way gave excellent results.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Each motorized rifle company had a squad with 25 RDG and 10 DSh smoke bombs for setting smokescreens. All air signal posts were equipped with smoke bombs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">B. Combat use of smokescreens</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Use of smokescreens on the march</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">a) A column from the 3rd Tank Battalion, 237th Tank Brigade, was conducting a march on January 20th, 1945. The column was attacked by four enemy Ju-87 aircraft near Lubetsko. Horse carts from the 287th Rifle Division were on the same road. The first strafing run was unsuccessful, and the aircraft returned for another run. This time, 13 tanks lit smoke bombs on orders from the commander of the 3rd Tank Battalion Captain Borisov. By the time the aircraft came in for a second run, the tanks and carts were covered in smoke. The enemy aircraft did not drop bombs on the second run and departed. The column stopped, as the tankers were afraid of crushing the carts. Once the smoke cleared, the column moved on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">b) The 1st and 4th SU-152 batteries (9 vehicles) moved from Janów to Częstochowa and were attacked by three Messerschmidt aircraft north-east of Częstochowa. The commander of the 1st battery Guards Captain Okhrey gave the order to cover the battery's SPGs in smoke. The crews threw 3-5 smoke grenades on the engine deck. The enemy ceased their attack and the batteries arrived in their target region without losses. The vehicles did not stop movement while generating smoke.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Use of smokescreens to cover crossings</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">a) On January 14th, 1945, the 1442nd SAP received the order to cross the river Nida and capture Zakrzów jointly with the 242nd Tank Brigade. The crossing over the river Nida near Kovla was under fire from enemy anti-tank artillery and tanks located in the forest west of Zakrzów and on the eastern outskirts of Zakrzów. On orders from regiment commander Guards Colonel Rasdektayev, the crossing was covered in smoke. To achieve this, a smoke launching point was chosen south-west of Kovla. The wind blew from the south-west at a force of 3. The wave of smoke covered the crossing and protected it from aimed anti-tank gun fire. The crossing was completed in 30 minutes. 11 MDSh bombs were used.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">b) Four batteries of the 367th Guards Heavy SAP were crossing the river Nida on January 14th, 1945. The crossing near Kovla was under enemy tank and anti-tank gun fire. On orders from battery commanders, the regiment crossed the river under the cover of smoke. Every tank lit smoke bombs upon exiting cover (the tanks stood between the houses in Kovla), creating a moving smokescreen. The smoke that gathered over the water prevented the enemy tanks and artillery from aiming. The regiment crossed without losses. 100 DSh and 1 MDSh smoke bombs were used. The wind came from the south-west at a speed of 2.5-3 m/s.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Use of smokescreens to recover knocked out tanks from the battlefield</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On January 13th, 1945, three tanks from the 1st tank battalion of the 237th Tank Brigade were knocked out by enemy mines. To save the tanks from complete destruction by enemy anti-tank artillery, they had to be quickly evacuated. Powerful submachine gun and mortar fire prevented the repair crews from reaching the tank. A decision was made to evacuate the tanks under the cover of smoke. Five DSh and 15 RDG were deployed from each knocked out tank. 17 DSh and 50 RDG were used in total. Under the cover of the smokescreen, the evacuation vehicles and workers could approach the tanks. Three knocked out tanks were successfully recovered without any casualties among the workers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Use of smokescreens on the battlefield by individual vehicles</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">a) 1st battery from the 367th Guards Heavy SAP was given the order to support the 100th TBr with fire near Gross Sterlitz. The positions that the SPGs were ordered to fire from were under enemy fire. The battery commander Guards Captain Okhrey decided to send two SU-152s to the enemy flank. A smokescreen was used to hide this maneuver. One MDSh bomb was lit and dropped from the SPG. Under its cover, two SU-152s flanked the enemy and allowed for the completion of the objective.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">b) On January 20th, 1945, Lieutenant Fursov's crew (237th TBr) came under heavy fire near Lubecko. The crew dropped 4 RDG and 2 smoke bombs from the evacuation hatch. The resulting smokescreen concealed the tank. The enemy stopped firing and the tank continued to carry out their objective.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">c) On January 25th, 1945, near Gross Sterlitz, Guards Lieutenant Avdeev's crew (237th TBr) came under fire from enemy aircraft. Guards Lieutenant Avdeev threw two RDG bombs with black smoke onto the tank's engine deck. The enemy aircraft noticed the black smoke rising from the tank and ceased its attack.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Conclusions:</div><div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">The use of smokescreens extends a tank's lifespan on the battlefield.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Despite a widespread use of smoke bombs in training, the use of smoke in battle is not yet widespread.</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">Chief of the Chemical Service of the 31st Tank Corps, Engineer-Major Shumakov</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">February 24th, 1945"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=451348525">CAMD RF F.3421 Op.1 D.36 L.253-255</a></div><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-4537913822616712722023-09-18T09:16:00.000-04:002023-09-18T09:16:29.185-04:00Copper Horns<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">The need for communications equipment in armoured vehicles became clear soon after their creation. Semaphores and signal flags were just a half measure. It was necessary to equip tanks with radios, but the road to equipping even a part of them was a long one. The modern system with a radio in the turret and a whip antenna was also far from the initial norm. There were many alternative visions of how a tank radio antenna should look.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJHoeOByv_nlHb8jaesy6fo7ejQJZY0M9FLB5d04dxC92ExVRskkLzMpXpfP8ytdD_I13siTJBwGq2muyfDrbA1uzjj_AqNLWWtlGDl06SN9R9VfHDi__x96HWjlkdFjKusBgypj5cTlPb3UV_ljNWK8JMFgCfM0B4XqU49NzM7KQuzELUKE-DkxQ5A/s1024/antenna-1.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1024" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJHoeOByv_nlHb8jaesy6fo7ejQJZY0M9FLB5d04dxC92ExVRskkLzMpXpfP8ytdD_I13siTJBwGq2muyfDrbA1uzjj_AqNLWWtlGDl06SN9R9VfHDi__x96HWjlkdFjKusBgypj5cTlPb3UV_ljNWK8JMFgCfM0B4XqU49NzM7KQuzELUKE-DkxQ5A/w640-h452/antenna-1.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rail antenna was a characteristic feature of Soviet tanks in the 1930s.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rail antennas became one of the characteristic features of Soviet tanks in the interwar years. "Horns" around the turret became a calling card of this generation of tanks. Few people stop to consider where such a strange antenna came from and how it works, especially since their age was brief. They were no longer used by Soviet industry after 1939, as opposed to the nation that came up with them originally.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A present from the Germans</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Red Army began to think about placing radios into tanks in the late 1920s. Initially, things were not going well. There were some experiments, but no mass production. There was no shortage of ambitions, as <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/04/t-18-mass-produced-answer-to-chamberlain.html">MS-1 tanks</a> from the third and fourth production batch came with a large rear bustle. The bustle was also supposed to hold an antenna with the evocative name of "tank mushroom". However, the MS-1 did not get a radio in production. To be fair, most tanks of the 1920s were just as "deaf". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQfmhQvdVuvd1WbaleEpSHOTBpioqrsfdGCxaOvc4eJpdEZhbi1nHHxXyECi7rjJLDvnJVk9iQwt5PcHAVPsJjWb1sa0CDlfk6l4rRNUKuY5kjmF7EREvfUTI1FDvv6kSVHFYP4jVglZFVO421o3WIDGbov-6abafnDnUUFX8r75VPTZcWY2c25OJBg/s1024/antenna-2.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQfmhQvdVuvd1WbaleEpSHOTBpioqrsfdGCxaOvc4eJpdEZhbi1nHHxXyECi7rjJLDvnJVk9iQwt5PcHAVPsJjWb1sa0CDlfk6l4rRNUKuY5kjmF7EREvfUTI1FDvv6kSVHFYP4jVglZFVO421o3WIDGbov-6abafnDnUUFX8r75VPTZcWY2c25OJBg/w640-h472/antenna-2.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rail antenna of the Grosstraktor tank. This design migrated to the Pz.Bef.Wg. in a slightly different form.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Frequently help with problems came from abroad. The issue of equipping tanks with radios was raised in different nations in the late 1920s. For example, the French introduced a separate radio operator, turning the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/05/renault-nc-destined-for-export.html">Renault NC</a> into the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/06/renault-d1-ft-on-steroids.html">Char D</a>. The first radio-equipped tanks built during the First World War had whip antennas. The French were also pioneers here. However, the Char D1 had a rail antenna. This design was not very antenna-like. It seems to have not worked well, since French tanks returned to whip antennas afterwards. However, rail antennas were used by other nations, including the Germans. After starting a secret tank program in the late 1920s, they quickly arrived at the idea of equipping all tanks with radios. This is why the light tank initially called Kleintraktor evolved from a two-man tank into a four-man one. In addition to a commander/loader, a radio operator was added like on the Char D.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQSQdOBz6x1DkII0tNDH_nzvbOqwRvgu_u2WxPoEx0FS1FLPP45JJjcO7Dl9l1jEeJ4KUMjWe5htS7DbZzsXTGM5a1H7uUDXRtBI3dBK5-73qm6Te71u0XGSDv1C6OH151B796EkCjP2rwTv27u7LqYttPfeltBq91wIuYU9tX4jSd2-uYr5jaTpf5w/s1024/antenna-3.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1024" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQSQdOBz6x1DkII0tNDH_nzvbOqwRvgu_u2WxPoEx0FS1FLPP45JJjcO7Dl9l1jEeJ4KUMjWe5htS7DbZzsXTGM5a1H7uUDXRtBI3dBK5-73qm6Te71u0XGSDv1C6OH151B796EkCjP2rwTv27u7LqYttPfeltBq91wIuYU9tX4jSd2-uYr5jaTpf5w/w640-h454/antenna-3.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TEKO was mostly used to test the Leichttraktor's radio equipment. Both the radio and the antenna were criticized.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first German tanks to arrive in the USSR were the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2019/11/first-try-at-medium-tank.html">Grosstraktor</a> medium tanks built by Daimler-Benz, Rheinmetall, and Krupp. Two prototypes of two different kinds of <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/06/rheinmetalls-fighting-tractor.html">Leichttraktor</a> arrived in 1930. All of these tanks had radios and rail antennas. The design was quite different than what the French did on the Char D. The German rail antenna was indeed similar to a handrail. They were attached to the fenders, bending around the back of the hull. The antenna was made up of a copper pipe that was held up on composite epoxy rods. This was done since composite epoxy materials are dielectrics. It's no coincidence that composite epoxy materials are used to make circuit boards.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsf_wTv17FfT0AHdeIMRt_Ib1WCBebZBrErLBRCiAUG07Noygi_tG_Bb4RPD71tnKR64MXgZaKQuOz6HCK6YbcQfJh4u7YvkRM1LSmkPVMbJ6qFHHbhBsaLKdGKWo3u1lIebkFTFOUMSYCygA8iiS_7vwBNKZ6hq7MMU_ZUHRFjKfPuZzKGF44UuKeA/s1024/antenna-4.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1024" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsf_wTv17FfT0AHdeIMRt_Ib1WCBebZBrErLBRCiAUG07Noygi_tG_Bb4RPD71tnKR64MXgZaKQuOz6HCK6YbcQfJh4u7YvkRM1LSmkPVMbJ6qFHHbhBsaLKdGKWo3u1lIebkFTFOUMSYCygA8iiS_7vwBNKZ6hq7MMU_ZUHRFjKfPuZzKGF44UuKeA/w640-h418/antenna-4.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rheinmetall turret for the Nb.Fz. tank. Unlike Krupp's turret, this one also used a rail antenna.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Experiments that started in 1930 showed a number of drawbacks both in the German radios and their antennas. The issues were gradually resolved and all changes were carefully noted by the Soviet hosts. This saved time and avoided the same issues in the future. For instance, the idea of a spring shock absorber for radios was copied from the Germans. The rail antennas were also analyzed. The German antenna holders were unreliable and the antenna vibrated. The antenna was also often used as a handrail, which resulted in the body bending. The position was also poor, since it easily caught on trees. As a result, the design changed many times.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ37GGPMl3QmE7au8JxNO45OBDvdQm6PriNVc1QhWVz1bQ0Dt7frwDxZC82L4WfRhTtvVs3aalWzEdaYFwgdVPnI7Ok4D9XNnDYgDDgaG_wz5K1gsuNeceqpKphNzYU-lKKPn-mBVyt0SXqenHG057IEssJmWfeHE1q7qQp6tMX0qtS-P8F7OpsSKkg/s1024/antenna-5.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ37GGPMl3QmE7au8JxNO45OBDvdQm6PriNVc1QhWVz1bQ0Dt7frwDxZC82L4WfRhTtvVs3aalWzEdaYFwgdVPnI7Ok4D9XNnDYgDDgaG_wz5K1gsuNeceqpKphNzYU-lKKPn-mBVyt0SXqenHG057IEssJmWfeHE1q7qQp6tMX0qtS-P8F7OpsSKkg/w640-h360/antenna-5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rail antenna was used on Pz.Bef.Wg. command tanks until 1942.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the key mistakes made by German engineers was the placement of the antenna on the fenders. They were not as rigid as the hull, which caused vibrations. It seems that the testers came to this conclusion, also working on the holders in parallel. The Germans did not discard the idea of rail antennas quickly. The first experimental Nb.Fz. tank had a rail antenna on the turret. The design of the antenna changed a lot. The holders started to look a lot like Soviet ones. This was the result of convergent evolution, since the USSR didn't see a Nb.Fz. until 1939. Either way, by the mid-1930s the Germans focused on whip antennas attached to the side of the hull.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbhvIU3-R9a8crziX7SFp4ZKDOb5S_VOczgowDHdunMvm48YT9hFhjS2GeHZoEHlCYdFTJom0kXgZNlwRsuNBn2OSDG5S6J1SLgtA6PEbaj0HWbNx7VAmv3mjNJXd6gqIYXng2vgZYZ8O3r2kd3XR3KcNWfYHQhbi93U800PPtI6f0NnWcWu_-vKOIw/s1200/antenna-6.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbhvIU3-R9a8crziX7SFp4ZKDOb5S_VOczgowDHdunMvm48YT9hFhjS2GeHZoEHlCYdFTJom0kXgZNlwRsuNBn2OSDG5S6J1SLgtA6PEbaj0HWbNx7VAmv3mjNJXd6gqIYXng2vgZYZ8O3r2kd3XR3KcNWfYHQhbi93U800PPtI6f0NnWcWu_-vKOIw/w640-h426/antenna-6.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rail antenna restored at the Vadim Zadorozhniy Technical Museum. This is a good restoration, but the antenna and its holders were not painted.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rail antennas held on to German tanks for some time. Their last refuge was the Pz.Bef.Wg., a commander's tank on the chassis of the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/11/three-in-transition.html">Pz.Kpfw.III tank</a>. Rail antennas were installed on them up until early 1942. They can also be seen on a series of other wheeled and tracked commander's vehicles. They were used in parallel with whip antennas. The holders were improved, but the overall layout was similar to what was used on the Grosstraktor with the wire entering the tank through a port. There was a simple reason for why this kind of antenna disappeared. A tank with "horns" was very easy to see. The Germans were already complaining about this during the Polish Campaign. The whip antenna was much more practical, plus German tankers had the tendency to use the rail as a handrail or a seat. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Japanese and the French also used rail antennas to some degree, but the Red Army was their biggest user.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Radio rails, Soviet style</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Soviet field trip for German tanks ended in 1932. Until then, most of the radio experiments were performed on the Leichttraktor. As mentioned above, German experience was widely used in Soviet tank building. Both German and Soviet experience went into designing a new type of tank radio in 1931. The 71-TK tank radio was finished in 1932. An improved 72-TK radio was also built and installed in the PT-1 experimental tank. This was the first Soviet tank with a new generation radio.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEejPV0yBBcz-oz_JRgbI9juWvznJUwzT2i0zSvbpSLo7RdDqlrOBF7INQqwyxB_5nu5plQ82-ywsm62yrG-S_uQ8AVfPbXj_leznI45WpQL2ALB0hloYWojNEh2TzmSFR1mRpL9JGyUPI9PcaEDCBnWudxC8Oy8JkKucnNkiWQR59KCT_HGPkZtBOA/s1024/antenna-7.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEejPV0yBBcz-oz_JRgbI9juWvznJUwzT2i0zSvbpSLo7RdDqlrOBF7INQqwyxB_5nu5plQ82-ywsm62yrG-S_uQ8AVfPbXj_leznI45WpQL2ALB0hloYWojNEh2TzmSFR1mRpL9JGyUPI9PcaEDCBnWudxC8Oy8JkKucnNkiWQR59KCT_HGPkZtBOA/w640-h472/antenna-7.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PT-1, the first Soviet tank with a rail antenna. A German design was taken as the starting point.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some people consider the PT-1 an amphibious BT tank. This can only be done out of a misunderstanding of what N.A. Astrov was trying to build. The initial requirements clearly considered the PT-1 to be an analogue to the Grosstraktor, down to the placement of the commander in the hull. The rail antenna was also taken from there. Its drawbacks were already known, and so there were many improvements. For starters, the antenna was attached to the sides of the hull instead of the fenders, which improved rigidity. The holders were also different. The antenna also entered the hull in a different manner.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JD5aq9ZxDsvomrxgj3mXSYjJSeHQP0bdIglT3osb5tfeIRP_9a2dkhkDa7E8H2LvjhFGHNUkzGWOfLyGmhtYjnwcp-OoMfTm06BQvLUfFHQ2-xyugTsPYNkFXWrvc8GXi4wxfBzL8PqeTYNbIdQ4L41_dLfZ9ZY1rY9K6DgSptpXA4YtB3n2CLmtnw/s1024/antenna-8.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JD5aq9ZxDsvomrxgj3mXSYjJSeHQP0bdIglT3osb5tfeIRP_9a2dkhkDa7E8H2LvjhFGHNUkzGWOfLyGmhtYjnwcp-OoMfTm06BQvLUfFHQ2-xyugTsPYNkFXWrvc8GXi4wxfBzL8PqeTYNbIdQ4L41_dLfZ9ZY1rY9K6DgSptpXA4YtB3n2CLmtnw/w640-h480/antenna-8.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A similar rail antenna was used on the T-29-4.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The hull antenna as shown on the PT-1 did not go away immediately. It migrated to the tank's successors: the PT-1A and <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2019/09/the-golden-standard.html">T-29</a>. Trials showed that this was a poor place to put an antenna. The same problems as on German tanks came up, particularly the vulnerability to damage. The T-29-4 lost its hull antenna during trials and the T-29-5 already had a rail antenna on the turret.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0Pl9MfuCTmhyfkQCu52CDCwFiSEaKfy4gsOKZKa0MQ0ycVCgJA1bNfLR1bDefyUO8ym83yV6fyFPO0Ih_9P0ZcO5cJsADJYXi23MaQKawRODQUuPcOQ_8dEGpKAdDK8wrIkc6yeykRpCbw4Vmnz0VrD1TSOfOLUfMb4tD8zCBIuqCmCSIilsB7gkUw/s1024/antenna-9.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="1024" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0Pl9MfuCTmhyfkQCu52CDCwFiSEaKfy4gsOKZKa0MQ0ycVCgJA1bNfLR1bDefyUO8ym83yV6fyFPO0Ih_9P0ZcO5cJsADJYXi23MaQKawRODQUuPcOQ_8dEGpKAdDK8wrIkc6yeykRpCbw4Vmnz0VrD1TSOfOLUfMb4tD8zCBIuqCmCSIilsB7gkUw/w640-h402/antenna-9.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two-turreted T-26 tank had a rail antenna attached to the fenders. Note that Pertinax covers are already installed.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The T-26 tank also had a rail antenna on the hull at the start. The first tanks of this type appeared in 1933. In the case of the two-turret tank, there was simply nowhere else to place it. Only a few <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/07/two-turrets-from-leningrad.html">two-turreted T-26 tanks</a> with radios were built, but there was enough time for an evolutionary step forward. Pertinax FR-2 covers were added that protected the antenna holders from moisture and dirt. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH4F5Ie7InpvLzB5Z7_prPC0o1nJ0I_eAZG6uDsJcZO4DQ8UutQmSq7YXnIyXixkks0tfoBvbOwUdp32KJxACp4ugOOwBT7rQrKfubzvXqD4-ts3UDlIQa2xa4pPrb_viyhkeYk2YbwZzzs6stQOhDCVSc0hTTvuVhRS2JEca1sYWVeFxcERBmbPnEQ/s1024/antenna-10.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="1024" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH4F5Ie7InpvLzB5Z7_prPC0o1nJ0I_eAZG6uDsJcZO4DQ8UutQmSq7YXnIyXixkks0tfoBvbOwUdp32KJxACp4ugOOwBT7rQrKfubzvXqD4-ts3UDlIQa2xa4pPrb_viyhkeYk2YbwZzzs6stQOhDCVSc0hTTvuVhRS2JEca1sYWVeFxcERBmbPnEQ/w640-h412/antenna-10.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radio-equipped T-37A tanks on parade. Note that the antenna on the rear vehicle is dented. This was a frequent occurrence.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The use of a rail antenna on the hull of amphibious T-37 tanks was also a necessary measure. Like the T-26, it was attached to the fenders, but unlike the T-26 these antennas were very common. 640 T-37/T-37A tanks were built with radios. The antennas were very inconvenient, which is why they are often bent in photographs. They were often used as handrails with predictable consequences.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6KqoOPI9C1OsvgvRnVhVnIBB9Gz15uJ9iVj_ow58P9WwxHDhabjKMs2T5yAwKXveHYjyO7YIIDMPiPSXiQwMZ-vm1y9P2hacEFEJ1yvYU34mqFLbLVH1i1CxPmyMh6aIx84tniNHvI1eDnJNV02wp0rWPwOBQAAf0oCwc5xpJoBsEhRSjMGZY76PaA/s1024/antenna-11.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="1024" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6KqoOPI9C1OsvgvRnVhVnIBB9Gz15uJ9iVj_ow58P9WwxHDhabjKMs2T5yAwKXveHYjyO7YIIDMPiPSXiQwMZ-vm1y9P2hacEFEJ1yvYU34mqFLbLVH1i1CxPmyMh6aIx84tniNHvI1eDnJNV02wp0rWPwOBQAAf0oCwc5xpJoBsEhRSjMGZY76PaA/w640-h404/antenna-11.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical Soviet rail antenna.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Soviet rail antenna took its classical shape towards the end of 1933. Factory #174, or rather the OKMO (experimental design bureau) was the main driving force of this process. They were the creators of the "horns" that later showed up on the T-26, BT, T-28, and T-35. All of these designs were about the same since they had the same authors. The antennas went into production in 1934 and never changed significantly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bVaSXbeT0GVqmw0djd0Nwc6BiFvOOyioQlI1kbM-gMHQY7gxnK8jJZMfVBcBY5fo4--nY24tPf5mFqg6rOeQiVg7S-1YJ2WMNiysszSiMB0QJBIkMaW929BqQ1OSiqq3V7XLMjw9eFqmwoNNWAJIk5FMd2PX_fzzhTK1chlLzNeP_x80BBtvXbL-0A/s1200/antenna-12.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bVaSXbeT0GVqmw0djd0Nwc6BiFvOOyioQlI1kbM-gMHQY7gxnK8jJZMfVBcBY5fo4--nY24tPf5mFqg6rOeQiVg7S-1YJ2WMNiysszSiMB0QJBIkMaW929BqQ1OSiqq3V7XLMjw9eFqmwoNNWAJIk5FMd2PX_fzzhTK1chlLzNeP_x80BBtvXbL-0A/w640-h426/antenna-12.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Composite epoxy rods with Pertinax covers.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The classical Soviet rail antenna was different from the German one. Instead of the hull, it was attached to the turret. Metallic foundations were welded to the perimeter of the turret (6 for the T-26 and BT, 8 for the T-28 and T-35). They were attached at an angle of about 45 degrees, which made the design more robust. Composite epoxy rods were used to hold up the antenna.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xgSpSP7fdcPwI0_PbNaYu2grmd_R0VqyhK12wozFOJvmetAHkRkXIxpYlmKhd0PDhuArcvBA7SsSEE4D7hmdZSCtMRG4TKloted0VXS21ek9rdOAdIKujRW1BsTE-rbRA5TCt1pR6FWRMBbfihWM0mP23NFKrTv215743tL8sxCWqIlHibrmeMgq1w/s1200/antenna-13.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xgSpSP7fdcPwI0_PbNaYu2grmd_R0VqyhK12wozFOJvmetAHkRkXIxpYlmKhd0PDhuArcvBA7SsSEE4D7hmdZSCtMRG4TKloted0VXS21ek9rdOAdIKujRW1BsTE-rbRA5TCt1pR6FWRMBbfihWM0mP23NFKrTv215743tL8sxCWqIlHibrmeMgq1w/w640-h426/antenna-13.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rail antenna restored with the use of original parts at the Museum of National Military History.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The method of attaching the antenna was also different from the German one. The body of the antenna (either a copper rod or a copper tube) was affixed differently. A Pertinax "skirt" was added underneath. Even the Nb.Fz. and Pz.Bef.Wg. did not have such good antenna mounts. A copper pipe was attached to the body of the antenna that then led to an antenna port on the turret roof. This was more reliable than the wire used by the Germans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0puAKk_OobmbjciZkOyaXeykx9iLLmxGN3Ag3XmRFN1JW4DbZ7EG04hRSwuukUcjBftkEjOOcv8dzuW2EJhadBhm1njm2rXWLLFMBYgjebwYfsL4MXWOg9qMSfkPQkyaJfo-71VGay9ryOmwDCLiZ7GPUKVvFiiu9jGNJUirxH8VXZpFaaJrArlG-PA/s1200/antenna-14.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0puAKk_OobmbjciZkOyaXeykx9iLLmxGN3Ag3XmRFN1JW4DbZ7EG04hRSwuukUcjBftkEjOOcv8dzuW2EJhadBhm1njm2rXWLLFMBYgjebwYfsL4MXWOg9qMSfkPQkyaJfo-71VGay9ryOmwDCLiZ7GPUKVvFiiu9jGNJUirxH8VXZpFaaJrArlG-PA/w640-h480/antenna-14.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rail antenna on the T-35 tank is the only one in all of Russia preserved in its original state. One can see dents in it, caused in part by the behinds of impolite visitors. Originally, the antenna would not have been painted.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The antenna port was another feature that separated Soviet and German rail antennas considerably. The Germans could potentially install a whip antenna, at least there were experiments to do it on the "tractors". This was a difficult procedure. On Soviet tanks, a whip antenna could be installed from the very start. The installation process was simple and reversible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWH42nC48IcD73D3j0_94awpjBbmNNoWxwW1UIQVsVkn-I3EyGlwXoobj62R2_K5kTaaHDRPKXjFyc9T1UgZ4vCVntEYHA4zmxjvvC-bjCpv7Nru40BKUR9r8fY8wDvxsVCETQ3StdzdQhs28BI2Gp81o9tV0AHb71BTqkXcKvi3RIjZIq0oEecRT_pg/s1024/antenna-15.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWH42nC48IcD73D3j0_94awpjBbmNNoWxwW1UIQVsVkn-I3EyGlwXoobj62R2_K5kTaaHDRPKXjFyc9T1UgZ4vCVntEYHA4zmxjvvC-bjCpv7Nru40BKUR9r8fY8wDvxsVCETQ3StdzdQhs28BI2Gp81o9tV0AHb71BTqkXcKvi3RIjZIq0oEecRT_pg/w640-h360/antenna-15.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A variant with spherical holders used on some T-28 tanks as well as the T-29 pilot tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is one interesting caveat when it comes to both Soviet and German rail antennas. It had to do with the paint. Paint, especially paint from that era, was very conductive. As a result, the antenna and its support rods were not painted, only the welded foundations for the rods. This should be observed by museum restorations and scale modellers. A painted antenna would not work.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsv6FM6L_KuI6YS-KFGluFmLRgdoYvrXLgjPyzUy70v6ZS3aqojU6iOYMAKVvDcQgWt9WcC3iXa18S-zrmiTKZVWcWH4daTBOkEQW8-I8K9GaDS-keONjiYzFuZjLSVaqikDzHVGNkw2bJ1xOeGxijXfsCaDl2ZlsF1sqmVZGlJYyiqYtqnWqg0EBng/s1024/antenna-16.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1024" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsv6FM6L_KuI6YS-KFGluFmLRgdoYvrXLgjPyzUy70v6ZS3aqojU6iOYMAKVvDcQgWt9WcC3iXa18S-zrmiTKZVWcWH4daTBOkEQW8-I8K9GaDS-keONjiYzFuZjLSVaqikDzHVGNkw2bJ1xOeGxijXfsCaDl2ZlsF1sqmVZGlJYyiqYtqnWqg0EBng/w640-h380/antenna-16.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A variant used on the T-26.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is another caveat that has to do with conductivity. Just because the antenna is called a rail antenna, doesn't mean that it can be used as a handrail. In addition to the fact that epoxy and copper are far less sturdy than steel, grabbing the antenna can have an unpleasant side effect. It won't kill you, but the shock will hurt. Don't grab the antenna when the radio is in operation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsOPYtQMMqo4DUy6lHOZbQDixjw_FT1kQMcm6jjtjfe8w_rpV_YQi9YddoJUW32EfyFgvJeHcBQu1RJYx4RF9H_mmfAtS6pUvt2606UV3a9dq5OLdco2JHzaAgZ9uVcoxLXxkAfNqn1QErv04LpSLJNhH9g6hoU8OzD00UdRqQfjpkZ8ZQedeiB9sug/s1024/antenna-17.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1024" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsOPYtQMMqo4DUy6lHOZbQDixjw_FT1kQMcm6jjtjfe8w_rpV_YQi9YddoJUW32EfyFgvJeHcBQu1RJYx4RF9H_mmfAtS6pUvt2606UV3a9dq5OLdco2JHzaAgZ9uVcoxLXxkAfNqn1QErv04LpSLJNhH9g6hoU8OzD00UdRqQfjpkZ8ZQedeiB9sug/w640-h496/antenna-17.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A whip antenna could be installed.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There was no major change made to the rail antennas. The biggest change that can be seen was made to the holders for the antenna body. The most common type has two bolts and nuts, but there was also a variant with just one bolt that holds the antenna in place. The T-28 also had a third variant with a spherical holder in addition to the other two. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionKOXIXVnoQtqRU-LjXhzoksKjTFYUibrD9ZmaQJUnhCUdvWFX49wjfF4xuuDAteCAkXYXCgaTrL5k7d5kQTTpz3x6LqiC0YfvLwJ7p1WgpwRjvscCmMpu7VcPbAVFd_lCUK483F4mnt75CgU1fjXLMrSE4tHxsS4oIdM_mDarinE_SBKus44wiyY9A/s1024/antenna-18.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1024" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionKOXIXVnoQtqRU-LjXhzoksKjTFYUibrD9ZmaQJUnhCUdvWFX49wjfF4xuuDAteCAkXYXCgaTrL5k7d5kQTTpz3x6LqiC0YfvLwJ7p1WgpwRjvscCmMpu7VcPbAVFd_lCUK483F4mnt75CgU1fjXLMrSE4tHxsS4oIdM_mDarinE_SBKus44wiyY9A/w640-h420/antenna-18.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holders for BT-5 and BT-7 tanks.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BT-5 and BT-7 had distinct antennas. The system was the same as on the T-26 overall, but the attachment of the antenna body to the rods was different. The holders weren't placed above and below the antenna, but screwed into the upper holders with bolts. There is also a second variant that was preserved at the Stalin Line. The bolts screwed directly into the body of the antenna.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGm49oHMh8YBj8G_AKA-xxZqlsuq9mgGT3038tTRoaddvn0D2AKoQdxgNm2IEb0dUBzMTv-bw6JMlQTrayqvV1VzztINsWjtW5Gp6INoQq1dEjYX7KZwE_Kv4L3K8cX2bFijURevs33pWpcLROR0SCndgRkbfCfcYnT5VY104oDMCbwViq9te_EBKiQ/s1200/antenna-19.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGm49oHMh8YBj8G_AKA-xxZqlsuq9mgGT3038tTRoaddvn0D2AKoQdxgNm2IEb0dUBzMTv-bw6JMlQTrayqvV1VzztINsWjtW5Gp6INoQq1dEjYX7KZwE_Kv4L3K8cX2bFijURevs33pWpcLROR0SCndgRkbfCfcYnT5VY104oDMCbwViq9te_EBKiQ/w640-h480/antenna-19.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank at the Stalin Line. The Pertinax covers are missing.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Further development of Soviet tanks resulted in rail antennas falling out of style by 1939. There were several cases, but the visibility of the tank was a major one. A "horned" tank made for a tempting target, plus the rail antennas weren't very practical. Most tanks had their rail antennas cut off, although you still see some in 1941. Only two tanks are known today with original rail antennas. These are the BT-7 tank at the Stalin Line and T-35 tank in Patriot Park. The Museum of National Military History also had restored rail antennas on the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/10/the-main-soviet-pre-war-tank.html">T-26</a> and BA-6. They were restored using original parts and factory documentation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv1jKes3neRbJaXVVlY_33x7O0CLUannVEwe4bMDyRItp2gP10dI_1806hZFSQupiPAqwpjg--NyDl61UCaohQsWCtDqKpspp5SIroAoKww384GyUjqi9b1S8ryU1r6ScCY_BV8QueZMK6xJchXhEAxtQyw9EeO151r7SXd3YevRghRRT8e0pLwGW_Q/s1024/antenna-20.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv1jKes3neRbJaXVVlY_33x7O0CLUannVEwe4bMDyRItp2gP10dI_1806hZFSQupiPAqwpjg--NyDl61UCaohQsWCtDqKpspp5SIroAoKww384GyUjqi9b1S8ryU1r6ScCY_BV8QueZMK6xJchXhEAxtQyw9EeO151r7SXd3YevRghRRT8e0pLwGW_Q/w640-h428/antenna-20.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanks with rail antennas could still be seen in the summer-fall of 1941.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In conclusion, let us note that the rail antenna was a symbol of changing requirements. At first, a high-reaching whip antenna was considered a poor idea. However, it was clear that the rail antenna was also far from ideal, and a number of nations returned to whip antennas in the early 1930s. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://dzen.ru/a/ZDVCu_-mCX5vVPaa">Original article by Yuri Pasholok.</a></div><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-31232766520326964782023-09-11T09:51:00.002-04:002023-09-11T09:51:17.384-04:00Italian Cruiser Tank<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Italian tank building developed along a fairly usual trajectory. Once a direction was identified, the Italian military tried to stay on course. Under their close guidance, Ansaldo developed a series of combat vehicles: first a tankette, then <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2019/10/the-tankettes-late-successor.html">a light tank</a>, <a href="https://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2019/10/workhorse-of-italian-army.html">a medium one</a>, and a breakthrough tank. In almost all cases, success was based on a foreign idea, primarily the British one. At first the Italians further developed the idea of the Carden-Loyd Mk.VI tankette and then the <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/11/vickers-e-bestselling-export.html">Vickers Mk.E</a> support tank. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszihdxIr1oGgulpPCniVrWRVSTdddsrmD6Ohp8f8XcMkodn_iiBVBUnoAV59IqlofkMI77VprlzYNs9rU6JqE8rrXn-vfDAQvC0QPln7wkkURMJ-D6IU19hiW1R-6GaH4my_pjU48X3oogfmioQsEGqMKzgaraV4uU6cLZ_3MBg5K_mXtDu0k1SdGJQ/s1024/sahariano-1.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1024" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszihdxIr1oGgulpPCniVrWRVSTdddsrmD6Ohp8f8XcMkodn_iiBVBUnoAV59IqlofkMI77VprlzYNs9rU6JqE8rrXn-vfDAQvC0QPln7wkkURMJ-D6IU19hiW1R-6GaH4my_pjU48X3oogfmioQsEGqMKzgaraV4uU6cLZ_3MBg5K_mXtDu0k1SdGJQ/w640-h496/sahariano-1.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captured <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.ca/2016/05/cruiser-iv-bit-more-armour.html">Cruiser Tank Mk.IVA</a> at trials in Nettuno. This tank was the inspiration for a "colonial" tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Combat in North Africa revealed a series of deficiencies, including insufficient characteristics of Italian medium tanks. One of the biggest issues was their low mobility. The increase in engine power was not an accident. British vehicles were studied in parallel. A Cruiser Tank Mk.IVA was among those examined. This was not the most successful tank, but it was fast. A captured tank was tested at Nettuno in May of 1941. The idea of creating an Italian cruiser tank came about around the same tank. This tank was later called Carro M Celere Sahariano.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj7SDyuQBGG8TdZ-OOu0bhbuzxXq8EgNg_YTY_lMZPHLDZ41MjN9CBeXQGODJr5Y6iPJY9drZygEFTr68sMXRJ0_xE_pkD7TWjTr7dWi6x3om13GlWhWJ3jyH3bUL0cR3vqNwg2cAGFazpWhKPea3B7AbQA1mk7aGr9KSr6pEMCynCM22FyltjXclBA/s1024/sahariano-2.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj7SDyuQBGG8TdZ-OOu0bhbuzxXq8EgNg_YTY_lMZPHLDZ41MjN9CBeXQGODJr5Y6iPJY9drZygEFTr68sMXRJ0_xE_pkD7TWjTr7dWi6x3om13GlWhWJ3jyH3bUL0cR3vqNwg2cAGFazpWhKPea3B7AbQA1mk7aGr9KSr6pEMCynCM22FyltjXclBA/w640-h426/sahariano-2.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Model of a turret platform and turret of the Carro Medio Coloniale, June 1941.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Judging by correspondence, Italian commanders began to think about a high speed medium tank in December of 1940. They admired the mobility of the Cruiser Tank Mk.IV. Of course, the tank was not very successful in terms of protection and reliability, but it still caught the attention of the enemy. This was the tank chosen for imitation, and not the <a href="http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2018/05/short-term-queen-of-desert.html">Matilda</a>. The British were also far from giving up on the Cruiser concept, as the Crusader, the successor to the Cruiser Tank Mk.VI, saw battle by the end of 1941. However, it's also hard to call the Crusader a success since it was overloaded and not any more reliable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAaA-oKNRsY3kBYXUngNuxUINNw6DgdwTxpHGv068LWh0iAd1yoAs2xtaaFXvh3jct27DNzet_m-mIpKismoUhreADxQR56xlz3Su47174CEuuQTJ2VY8ZmVglgK0pN6FLeI-Aslp_4V_ttUQkLm4QP05N5j_GvPoWtUwQ4LDIpTVjKjRmwxXYwd_4g/s1024/sahariano-3.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="1024" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAaA-oKNRsY3kBYXUngNuxUINNw6DgdwTxpHGv068LWh0iAd1yoAs2xtaaFXvh3jct27DNzet_m-mIpKismoUhreADxQR56xlz3Su47174CEuuQTJ2VY8ZmVglgK0pN6FLeI-Aslp_4V_ttUQkLm4QP05N5j_GvPoWtUwQ4LDIpTVjKjRmwxXYwd_4g/w640-h306/sahariano-3.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The initial look of the Carro Medio Celere 1942. This blueprint gave rise to the myth that the final design used a Christie spring suspension.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Italians weren't about to copy the Cruiser Tank Mk.IV. They were more interested in the overall concept and individual components. The new tank was first called Carro Medio Coloniale, which hinted at its intended use. The first requirements for the tank were formed on May 24th, 1941. Its mass was estimated at 18 tons. It would be powered by a new hungrier and more powerful gasoline engine. The new tank would have a lower silhouette than the Carro Armato M 13-40. The chassis of the latter was used to carry a full sized model of the new tank. This model demonstrated the layout of the fighting compartment as well as the new 47 mm L/40 gun.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7pFDXkx0Vjv3rnSznbzFmNnbS6n3H9bBbeh0S3qBsc12foxyGt--JKLl6AL8mzr5TwlwgZvl-bvwppd_h0b_Bo9jhtmSQTWcWs7E0i0RJyOYkcQVJ24enYJ7F0WW0yu847b3dfy4FRPTjgU3dzrg1BgPe3BkNPNVrZnUeaf0GFIFL9bWJKC0NQ6bqw/s1024/sahariano-4.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1024" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7pFDXkx0Vjv3rnSznbzFmNnbS6n3H9bBbeh0S3qBsc12foxyGt--JKLl6AL8mzr5TwlwgZvl-bvwppd_h0b_Bo9jhtmSQTWcWs7E0i0RJyOYkcQVJ24enYJ7F0WW0yu847b3dfy4FRPTjgU3dzrg1BgPe3BkNPNVrZnUeaf0GFIFL9bWJKC0NQ6bqw/w640-h478/sahariano-4.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon after, the tank gained a torsion bar suspension.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In August of 1941 the tank was renamed Ansaldo-Fossati Carro Medio Celere 1942. A 1:10 scale model was also built. This model and preliminary drafts created confusion about the final product. At this point, the tank weighed 13,100 tons and had a 250 hp engine that gave it a speed of up to 55 kph. The crew consisted of 4 men, 2 of which sat in the turret. This project remained on paper and further iterations of the design used it as a foundation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4df_T_sPiBpCIpqDX4QEh-eJBAR8wPadl8rxV-Ogs649317fMf1AsuW4V6tQUR5GkfrBFyWnnkdem9ZPRS1tLwWIoAxRxcz88-6IGW9EA2KQVxCCd1qO7Kb7IHaeF_QeUwYCNP4cbqOiGqzjRR-rD9e_ztoqBJ9ntjM5A0Ce4auLw2Ng09-TH0cdSQ/s1024/sahariano-5.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1024" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4df_T_sPiBpCIpqDX4QEh-eJBAR8wPadl8rxV-Ogs649317fMf1AsuW4V6tQUR5GkfrBFyWnnkdem9ZPRS1tLwWIoAxRxcz88-6IGW9EA2KQVxCCd1qO7Kb7IHaeF_QeUwYCNP4cbqOiGqzjRR-rD9e_ztoqBJ9ntjM5A0Ce4auLw2Ng09-TH0cdSQ/w640-h438/sahariano-5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first and only prototype of the Carro M Celere Sahariano built in March of 1942.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This project had little to do with the Carro M Celere Sahariano that appeared later. The Italians quickly turned on the Christie suspension. It was too complex and took up too much room. And why would they need it, as they already had torsion bars? The first prototypes of Italian armoured vehicles with a torsion bar suspension appeared in the second half of the 1930s. The Italian torsion bar suspension was paired with two road wheels per bogey, with the torsion bar acting like a big volute spring. This was an unintuitive but compact and functional design.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LgQrxiZNtTdBjR5vcbZ_ybyVwTBQ0TukBngsQmKEk5MdDu87MQcJJyFG3g0RLEN94POscecKmdxXpDw2KLYMBu9ybhdeyR9v8m3j6ZF6_Wnu9NwerJ4fFRxcXb162v-8EqifWsV_PXoRRHKOrH-ApqIt5fwlXHFtR2cUs8LT61FhQvGGfD6fHzN5Gw/s1024/sahariano-6.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1024" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LgQrxiZNtTdBjR5vcbZ_ybyVwTBQ0TukBngsQmKEk5MdDu87MQcJJyFG3g0RLEN94POscecKmdxXpDw2KLYMBu9ybhdeyR9v8m3j6ZF6_Wnu9NwerJ4fFRxcXb162v-8EqifWsV_PXoRRHKOrH-ApqIt5fwlXHFtR2cUs8LT61FhQvGGfD6fHzN5Gw/w640-h446/sahariano-6.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tank had a very low silhouette.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This suspension was used instead of Christie springs on the Carro M Celere Sahariano. The mass of the tank also grew. It reached 15 tons by the end of 1941 and kept growing. Little was left of the original tank aside from the overall concept: a fast and low fighting vehicle that could fight in the conditions of North Africa. Italian engineers considered speed as their primary objective, which is why the tank turned out even faster than originally required.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_3RTF2ThPssEq6n_DhhYgWyFgEjOLvjQfLUlcDHn9kV2GaZy9VgXO_9jVMdI5XhEqfUnxHyOxLezW-MhcCNriyZxTGqScnrl3cMuCwrOcVAfu0IDtBk_eQsQZ2f6fCBPKYZafj55_AcDN9MeIAuJ8zBmR3WQiF1nrKjyYVm9_V-I8vzltq63RDcKsA/s1024/sahariano-7.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1024" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_3RTF2ThPssEq6n_DhhYgWyFgEjOLvjQfLUlcDHn9kV2GaZy9VgXO_9jVMdI5XhEqfUnxHyOxLezW-MhcCNriyZxTGqScnrl3cMuCwrOcVAfu0IDtBk_eQsQZ2f6fCBPKYZafj55_AcDN9MeIAuJ8zBmR3WQiF1nrKjyYVm9_V-I8vzltq63RDcKsA/w640-h336/sahariano-7.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tank's tracks were based on the tracks of the T-34 tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were high hopes for the Carro M Celere Sahariano, so high that the development of the Carro Armato M 15-42 was stopped. It wasn't as fast, but could be put into production much faster. The M 15-42 had the same new L/40 gun, thicker armour, and a more powerful gasoline engine. The "colonial" tank was still more interesting, which is why it retained a higher priority. This turned out to be a mistake. The first experimental Carro M Celere Sahariano was finished in March of 1942, whereas the Carro Armato M 15-42 prototype was delivered back in 1941. The Italian military lost precious time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69AYH152ZRS49EuTD-yyAK9BYeNNvBMGEmTUp81DavEy7T6pRFsLN3kNyjHpaMfTYCTmjwKm_Z_fsSv3KLoTWKtUWjmdYMzf04LulVvcIZnrJxsFbbkTNNl0gH5Q2OEZUMqzT-3PsS5WZud2OgTg0PajFTIXtlP5IoRLNf0rnqq9odjVPCXdIdE8Bzg/s1024/sahariano-8.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="1024" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69AYH152ZRS49EuTD-yyAK9BYeNNvBMGEmTUp81DavEy7T6pRFsLN3kNyjHpaMfTYCTmjwKm_Z_fsSv3KLoTWKtUWjmdYMzf04LulVvcIZnrJxsFbbkTNNl0gH5Q2OEZUMqzT-3PsS5WZud2OgTg0PajFTIXtlP5IoRLNf0rnqq9odjVPCXdIdE8Bzg/w640-h386/sahariano-8.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tank had a progressive design, but it was about a year too late.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's hard to call the Carro M Celere Sahariano a bad tank. The 16-ton vehicle accelerated to 60 kph (some sources say 71 kph) and was very low (2 meters to the turret roof). In addition to the progressive suspension, it was also partially assembled with welding (for instance the sides of the turret platform were welded) and had sloped armour. The problem was that this sloped armour was only 30 mm thick. The 47 mm gun was too weak, even at 40 calibers. By the summer of 1942 it was clear that it was too late to put the tank into production.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RcWiR6raJHkK6unp60d2F020p3koSo-vfNRvZPemU3ko5JtYziNmI3J36C2ygluWeqn3Hf3UwGgO5zjKRvEO6qB1oMvrdGpkP7QgSOJENDCndWnRyYRE2M2hqUBO6dDKPU9LH-X0dqx3GkJlzrXzKr4IG-DC7Ja2mNxbH_zh1z3PLFSEuqVqIBrQLg/s1024/sahariano-9.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1024" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RcWiR6raJHkK6unp60d2F020p3koSo-vfNRvZPemU3ko5JtYziNmI3J36C2ygluWeqn3Hf3UwGgO5zjKRvEO6qB1oMvrdGpkP7QgSOJENDCndWnRyYRE2M2hqUBO6dDKPU9LH-X0dqx3GkJlzrXzKr4IG-DC7Ja2mNxbH_zh1z3PLFSEuqVqIBrQLg/w640-h404/sahariano-9.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work on the Carro M Celere Sahariano was stopped in the summer of 1942.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Italians decided not to continue working on the Carro M Celere Sahariano in July of 1942. The Carro Armato M 15-42 was hurriedly put into production instead. It was also outdated, but fine until the Carro Armato P 40 was being worked on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prototype of the "colonial tank" survived until 1944, at which point its trail ends. According to existing information, the design was later used as a reference during heavy tank development. In conclusion, let us say that as an independent design the Carro M Celere Sahariano was a success for Italian tank building. The problem was that it should have been built a year sooner. By the spring of 1942, it had nearly no chances to see production.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://dzen.ru/a/ZB07bzaaGTL9eXWW">Original article by Yuri Pasholok.</a></div><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-22799994784786438672023-08-28T09:51:00.000-04:002023-08-28T09:51:06.942-04:00Alternative Heavy Tank<p style="text-align: justify;">Factory #183 in Kharkov was the center of Soviet heavy tank development in the interwar period. The T-35 powerful (heavy) tank developed in Leningrad by N.V. Barykov was produced here. Production was set up with the participation of I.S. Ber, who was appointed as the head of HPZ (factory #183) Diesel Department design bureau T-35K. Iosif Solomonovich Ber played a key role in the fate of the T-35 tank. It was he who produced the technical documentation for the tank and further development of the design was done under his direction. Work to replace the T-35 moved to Leningrad in 1938 and Ber was promoted to the position of deputy chief of the KB-520 design bureau. Work on heavy tanks in Kharkov ended, but not for long.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqObOz9v60DrXkNUYkRCljcWmn97v3AQNXLEhEOKgoUPnx1HCvBjyDn9GV6Yh1MY-AebLX8UHF5iiErlquGq2h6ZW8Ed2rdHYrYEGcbcq3Yrqh998tHbLTMSMwJCe2Z4fx0ORWlNpdYAaIUW_6-n8f6W83ZxqErwh-HHzuxk8_oEDyeGCbdSQberV7Ng/s1024/1.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="643" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqObOz9v60DrXkNUYkRCljcWmn97v3AQNXLEhEOKgoUPnx1HCvBjyDn9GV6Yh1MY-AebLX8UHF5iiErlquGq2h6ZW8Ed2rdHYrYEGcbcq3Yrqh998tHbLTMSMwJCe2Z4fx0ORWlNpdYAaIUW_6-n8f6W83ZxqErwh-HHzuxk8_oEDyeGCbdSQberV7Ng/s320/1.webp" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I.S. Ber, a key player in the creation of T-35, T-34M, and T-44 tanks.</td></tr></tbody></table><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: justify;">The Kirov factory in Leningrad became the main location for development and production of heavy tanks by the spring of 1941. The KV-1 heavy tank and the KV-2 assault tank were produced there. Work on the KV-3 tank (the improved <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/02/minor-modernization-t-150.html">T-150</a>) was also conducted here. However, after Soviet intelligence reported that Germany was working on 90 ton tanks, these plans went awry. The name KV-3 was attached to <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/02/kv-3-gaining-weight.html">a completely different tank</a>, one that was much heavier and armed with a 107 mm gun. Work on the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/02/kv-4-at-edge-of-insanity.html">KV-4 and KV-5</a> also kicked off. The last heavy tank designed in Kharkov was born in this atmosphere. As a result of a mistake in a report composed at the Mariupol factory it is called A-44 today, but at the time the tank was called T-44.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIF0jHxtBeXiCtfkrYDdD86SJNXrISmH9_YKiQ0Seld7_biSD_tAjLnPsSoiopFXtc-uXa-m6gHFaVf5j4EvJPhLRMhZVHBqQ4VMG-undTNKe8A7fIkWkjz0B9CCRK68m8SnL8gUO0YFaINx7LZMChvlJaIY-uHGb_RdyH0ib9IjecTZETR8-c_YfMg/s1033/2.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIF0jHxtBeXiCtfkrYDdD86SJNXrISmH9_YKiQ0Seld7_biSD_tAjLnPsSoiopFXtc-uXa-m6gHFaVf5j4EvJPhLRMhZVHBqQ4VMG-undTNKe8A7fIkWkjz0B9CCRK68m8SnL8gUO0YFaINx7LZMChvlJaIY-uHGb_RdyH0ib9IjecTZETR8-c_YfMg/w634-h640/2.webp" width="634" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Initial requirements for the T-44 tank, April 1944. </td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Factory #183, the source of almost all available information on the T-44, never called it a heavy tank. However, the purpose of the project that appeared in late March-early April of 1941 was clear. I.S. Ber and KB-520 were aiming for the niche left by the KV-1 and T-150 in addition to their <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/05/pre-war-potential.html">T-34M project</a>. The difference was that Kharkov's candidate had much higher mobility. At a mass of 29-29.5 tons, it had 75 mm thick front armour angled at 60 degrees. This kind of armour would protect from the 88 mm Flak 18 at least at medium distances. The armament was the same as on the T-150: a <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/07/big-gun-for-small-turret.html">76 mm ZIS-5 gun with 3-K ballistics</a>. The top speed on a highway was estimated at 55-60 kph. The tank had the same V-5 engine as the T-150. It worked unreliably on the heavy tank, but the T-44 would be 1.5 times lighter.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSupzaFdep5JHspNEG9SFEi5Bld9b7MN2RR-DSRXkWTYqs1CEEYsSZfW-c_0Sw1ZfO8YGDZx7IGXLCfm80lCUMsjDX4x8a-mPizwhzzsMc4WU-9AXiB6GdvMZVZsleQyxkrhHhD9yfjC1m6BK7_3frZ1ULNOLLw7arFPgOOxs_PlLNfRB5jVhv26p3DQ/s1024/3.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="1024" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSupzaFdep5JHspNEG9SFEi5Bld9b7MN2RR-DSRXkWTYqs1CEEYsSZfW-c_0Sw1ZfO8YGDZx7IGXLCfm80lCUMsjDX4x8a-mPizwhzzsMc4WU-9AXiB6GdvMZVZsleQyxkrhHhD9yfjC1m6BK7_3frZ1ULNOLLw7arFPgOOxs_PlLNfRB5jVhv26p3DQ/w640-h386/3.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This model was shown to Voroshilov.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The situation around the T-150 was the main cause for development of the T-44. The KV-1's replacement was quite unreliable and there were likely concerns that it would never become satisfactory. The constant increase in weight was also impacting its mobility. It seemed that someone up top wanted an alternative that was lighter and more mobile. The issue of building two T-44 prototypes was raised in April of 1941. According to a proposal by the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and VKP(b), two prototypes were due by October 15th, 1941, and results of the trials must be presented by December 1st. As mentioned above, the situation changed drastically in April. The T-223 tank with a 107 mm ZIS-6 gun replaced the T-150 (or rather the T-222, an improved version of the tank). For a time, development of the KV-1 was not considered at all. This change in the situation affected the T-44.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZs-KSoR6mCK_YIfetBcqY-LBb7diJNW2EMew3y76YhZbcydJO5mSL3CqdjaKqIe-hdWk-vI8DNtXukHmMpn3gTsMWfoFTR2mXu59939KvagIzKMfUN0p7HCvXlb9UBXp_WYDcgc9e35njuYfRmhCHKy9AY4_agdtGBrKerU4Qksi9Ri_tmd3sZke-g/s1024/4.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1024" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZs-KSoR6mCK_YIfetBcqY-LBb7diJNW2EMew3y76YhZbcydJO5mSL3CqdjaKqIe-hdWk-vI8DNtXukHmMpn3gTsMWfoFTR2mXu59939KvagIzKMfUN0p7HCvXlb9UBXp_WYDcgc9e35njuYfRmhCHKy9AY4_agdtGBrKerU4Qksi9Ri_tmd3sZke-g/w640-h394/4.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lightest variant with a 57 mm ZIS-4 gun.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The reworked project was presented to K.Ye. Voroshilov in April of 1941. Or rather, projects. The division was caused by an alternative to the 76 mm ZIS-5 that appeared in April of 1941. This was the 57 mm ZIS-4 that had identical penetration and a more promising future. The start of work on the KV-3 also did not go unnoticed. KB-520 presented three variants of the T-44 with different armament, armour, and mass. The initial variant was the lightest. Like before, it had a rear fighting compartment. The first proposal had a crew of 4-5 men, now the number increased to strictly 5. Three, including the commander, sat in the turret, which now had a cupola. The hull gunner/radio operator sat behind the driver and the engine compartment was located to their right. The tank previously had two DT machine guns with the option of replacing the hull gun with a flamethrower, now it had six machine guns. Dual <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/01/the-other-degtyaryev.html">DS machine gun</a> mounts were located in the front of the hull, paired with the gun, and in the turret bustle. The commander also had a pair of PPSh submachine guns in his cupola so he didn't feel left out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHSt1eNGdaOV_OLg44oKTe7DZ2hLRfbY6StIbWFk6HJkiijJLgVoFXy9Sbtm1-NtYPQYgqsj8WSfZzXW4f8xg6d1Tun77-LSFAuS6ocIWTY4voOqa55uI_7t15QcJL16OF4vFTPScBe5lOw-PkugNZZPK2yhs53OSaTpG25mpSEqPKByCozl5tXTIcw/s1024/5.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHSt1eNGdaOV_OLg44oKTe7DZ2hLRfbY6StIbWFk6HJkiijJLgVoFXy9Sbtm1-NtYPQYgqsj8WSfZzXW4f8xg6d1Tun77-LSFAuS6ocIWTY4voOqa55uI_7t15QcJL16OF4vFTPScBe5lOw-PkugNZZPK2yhs53OSaTpG25mpSEqPKByCozl5tXTIcw/w640-h428/5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 36 ton tank had two machine guns in every mount.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Various changes introduced into the project increased the tank's mass to 36 tons. This did not affect mobility. The top speed was still expected to be 59 kph. The second variant was almost the same. While the first variant had the 57 mm ZIS-4 gun, the second had the 76 mm ZIS-5. The thickness of the front armour increased to 90 mm and the mass increased to 40 tons. Mobility only increased, as the second variant would be equipped with the V-6 (V-2SN) engine that the KV-3 used. 850 hp provided a powr to weight ratio of 20 hp/ton. The second variant of the T-44 was expected to accelerate to 65 kph.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNymndG3khVI2nx4-TDhDaEPV7VicTHKcvL_BxzjniqsQi4Z_r7iEVh5XLO9pFSTtev4jG1ESt3rQojMreCdnbURCVprB1XIlDEj1381lWfAcV0JzrXYvTWi1tPLTks3ayXeCIi84hZrOQcZsewMCC-4JLAFA2brNo3Woa0rGgRZ420jBJkL6gusD_sg/s1024/6.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="1024" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNymndG3khVI2nx4-TDhDaEPV7VicTHKcvL_BxzjniqsQi4Z_r7iEVh5XLO9pFSTtev4jG1ESt3rQojMreCdnbURCVprB1XIlDEj1381lWfAcV0JzrXYvTWi1tPLTks3ayXeCIi84hZrOQcZsewMCC-4JLAFA2brNo3Woa0rGgRZ420jBJkL6gusD_sg/w640-h298/6.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutaway drawing.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Finally, the third variant was clearly aiming to dethrone the KV-3. The fronts of the hull and turret were 120 mm thick. The sides were 100 mm thick. The mass reached 50 tons, which undoubtedly made it a heavy tank. This tank would have the same 107 mm ZIS-6 gun as the KV-3. The turret was altered to accept it and the turret ring diameter increased. Thanks to a rational layout of the fighting compartment, it held 60 fixed rounds for the main gun, 10 more than the KV-3. The tank weighed 18 tons less than its competitor. A top speed of 53 kph was expected, 1.5 times greater than the KV-3. Even if the final product was heavier and slower than planned, it would still be more mobile than the KV-3.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirllAzvWjr0zrfSgo9tGZxBNWBPvW4ohLC_sLxV4xtI7DEfXCeTYJGGW9LzEsqs2P9QqAsGPHCCeAuzSTBsAeeZNZ5m4tJz372LIylc8qpUJIIPybueHkUDJeIl31HWDz6o8CQm5dl1Wj8r5dfimWmX84qp4jHJtzTLrOcAQyZ1KVONpuoxtbmziS6sA/s1024/7.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1024" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirllAzvWjr0zrfSgo9tGZxBNWBPvW4ohLC_sLxV4xtI7DEfXCeTYJGGW9LzEsqs2P9QqAsGPHCCeAuzSTBsAeeZNZ5m4tJz372LIylc8qpUJIIPybueHkUDJeIl31HWDz6o8CQm5dl1Wj8r5dfimWmX84qp4jHJtzTLrOcAQyZ1KVONpuoxtbmziS6sA/w640-h336/7.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The heaviest variant of the tank with a 107 mm ZIS-6 gun.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Voroshilov approved the project, but the final decision was slightly different. NKSM order #193s issued on May 10th, 1941, in many ways returned the project to its initial state. The armour, mass, and mobility remained the same. The rear machine gun mount was removed. The idea of two machine guns per mount remained, but they were now DTs. The order for two tanks (one with a ZIS-4 and one with a ZIS-5 gun) remained, but later that month the requirement for the ZIS-5 gun was dropped because a gun with the ballistics of the 3-K was no longer considered viable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMIq3nbTYK-9c6LakvNRzPeGfBViZYzIlhictTiCGY9nZ4lVISJNXXPtoiTLCAYQguK2jgb06tRft9UCgAWqTLGk2p7GF2xL-nsjWoyiEYWqcrys6YziHkZStsDaP_ztnAkyROb-Zm-7ow_97oSC0Ju96MDf7VN6gGm5X3CVxcAaRUsrkTaDxP6klVg/s1200/8.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="1200" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMIq3nbTYK-9c6LakvNRzPeGfBViZYzIlhictTiCGY9nZ4lVISJNXXPtoiTLCAYQguK2jgb06tRft9UCgAWqTLGk2p7GF2xL-nsjWoyiEYWqcrys6YziHkZStsDaP_ztnAkyROb-Zm-7ow_97oSC0Ju96MDf7VN6gGm5X3CVxcAaRUsrkTaDxP6klVg/w640-h494/8.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: requirements for the T-44 issued in May of 1941, right: requirements dated May 1942</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Many technical solutions used in the T-44 tank were the same as those used in the improved T-34M. The tanks also shared the same fate. After the start of the war, work first paused and then ended altogether. Nevertheless, the T-34M and T-44 were reborn in the summer of 1942. The T-34M evolved into a new tank called <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/05/t-43-take-one.html">T-43</a>, but the T-44 never moved past technical requirements. A fast heavy tank was now being developed in Chelyabinsk. The T-43 was likely even seen as a replacement for the KV-1 or at least a competitor to the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/12/unlucky-kv.html">KV-13</a>. Ber never returned to heavy tanks. At that point, he was the deputy chief designer at factory #112, whose priority was the T-34 tank.<br /><br /><a href="https://dzen.ru/a/ZBQ4SokuNRidYRTP">Original article by Yuri Pasholok.</a></div><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-48550953451498111702023-08-22T09:55:00.000-04:002023-08-22T09:55:48.576-04:00Failed Modernization of the KV-1S<p style="text-align: justify;">Evolutionary development is a common sight in tank development. The fact that engineers do not seek to make work for themselves should not be mistaken for laziness. This is often a necessary requirement set by the customer, especially when it is necessary to keep up the rate of production. For this reason, revolutionary projects were often vetoed from above. This happened with the <a href="http://tankarchives.ca/2017/12/unlucky-kv.html">KV-13</a> and <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/05/t-43-take-one.html">T-34M in 1942</a> when both were put away until better days.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LRu9S-726yEne4Gmd1qxBYGPzQtdooQuySBv5Dh6OL_zPFmu7_s69-Q7UNfMIUFyIka_pvYZ_wCzv7YW6fzEk_Bg3x9ovXOVlSvZ_o1GMTWW9jw31HZEAb8vtqMuJvOclZcn_Y2dq_CBBXYAPshaSeNMn7kTM4ioeBsGJY7pyK7h9KmLkks_m081eA/s1024/1.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1024" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LRu9S-726yEne4Gmd1qxBYGPzQtdooQuySBv5Dh6OL_zPFmu7_s69-Q7UNfMIUFyIka_pvYZ_wCzv7YW6fzEk_Bg3x9ovXOVlSvZ_o1GMTWW9jw31HZEAb8vtqMuJvOclZcn_Y2dq_CBBXYAPshaSeNMn7kTM4ioeBsGJY7pyK7h9KmLkks_m081eA/w640-h448/1.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Object 238 on trials, August 1943.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Stalin signed <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2015/11/upgunning.html">GKO decree #3289ss</a> titled "On the issue of increasing the firepower of tanks and SPGs" on May 5th, 1943. According to the decree, two prototypes of <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/01/second-to-last-step.html">IS</a> and <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/03/kv-1s-from-temporary-to-permanent.html">KV-1S</a> tanks with 85 mm guns were due on July 1st, 1943. Work went in four separate directions. Two different chassis were combined with two different weapons. The Central Artillery Design Bureau decided to make the fewest necessary changes the existing tank. This led to the creation of the Object 238, a simple but unsuccessful variant of rearming the KV-1S.</div><div><br /></div><b>Evolution of experiments from 1942</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is often claimed that the Soviet military was caught with its pants down when the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/03/heavy-trophy.html">Tiger tank</a> arrived on the scene. This was not the case. The appearance of a German heavy tank was an unpleasant surprise, but it's incorrect to say that there was no way to fight it. The issue was that this work was not prioritized because there was no point in it, but there was a steady stream of prospective projects. This includes development of 85 mm tank guns.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenQADn3E2ed0YOjXi80SlExRH633LDkgUidshap2vNZn3myUXZo00lo7E4aDie6WgqNMo-6DnTfTLbM0JTOVFj_nxMMVZCQ4Uhyk5pPaqDgSJAOoWOlkLivWW3JCUNUrrKwkHl9UEIzVxIeejCOEUN96PFDKXIh4MFhODzhuSl58JbtmfDwQTC9U0Yw/s1024/2.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1024" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenQADn3E2ed0YOjXi80SlExRH633LDkgUidshap2vNZn3myUXZo00lo7E4aDie6WgqNMo-6DnTfTLbM0JTOVFj_nxMMVZCQ4Uhyk5pPaqDgSJAOoWOlkLivWW3JCUNUrrKwkHl9UEIzVxIeejCOEUN96PFDKXIh4MFhODzhuSl58JbtmfDwQTC9U0Yw/w640-h328/2.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">85 mm ZIS-25 gun, precursor to the S-31.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">V.G. Grabin's design bureau at factory #92 was the first to develop an 85 mm tank gun. It was meant for the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/01/t-220-prototype-in-combat.html">T-220 heavy tank</a>. The bulky gun needed a new large turret and the army quickly lost interest in it. Factory #92's design bureau returned to the topic of 85 mm guns in October of 1942. The ZIS-25 gun was created under the direction of I.M. Lependin. Lipendin was one of the creators of the ZIS-5 gun prior to this, and so 80% of the new gun's parts came from here. This simplified development and production. Factory #92 missed two things. The first was that creating a gun for the KV-1 in October of 1942 was pointless since the KV-1S had replaced it in production more than two months prior. The gun mount and turret of the KV-1S were different. Second, the GAU found a number of issues with the design, including difficulty in loading.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3huBhMPxD3M4RdrGXcvaK95EEVfzFdg5H6E8JfKXyOclkCwpVPvgMFthN3zoVd0B7z8UXFM8rAwXnjHFxP5ds_CYaXnT0Nsky2Av7FgHgeu1NeWkNmt7uVf_uW-nLCX7YMJnlo7cbKg9ze83TiCFS4sjpXyVqnwD1UgKXrhkklnZfiAsGcFQA78drg/s1024/3.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="755" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3huBhMPxD3M4RdrGXcvaK95EEVfzFdg5H6E8JfKXyOclkCwpVPvgMFthN3zoVd0B7z8UXFM8rAwXnjHFxP5ds_CYaXnT0Nsky2Av7FgHgeu1NeWkNmt7uVf_uW-nLCX7YMJnlo7cbKg9ze83TiCFS4sjpXyVqnwD1UgKXrhkklnZfiAsGcFQA78drg/w472-h640/3.webp" width="472" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ZIS-25 gun moved to the TsAKB in early 1943.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The 85 mm tank gun was put on a high shelf, but not for long. Grabin's Central Artillery Design Bureau picked up the topic shortly after. This began with a transfer of the ZIS-25 project in January of 1943. According to correspondence, Grabin was aware of the issues with the ZIS-25 and prepared to alter the KV's turret for it. To do this, he wanted a KV-1S and one ZIS-5 gun without a barrel or breech. The GBTU didn't hurry to help him. On March 14th, 1943, they replied that the TsAKB already had a KV-2. A KV-1S turret could be allocated for it and the hybrid tank would be used to test the gun. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsVLpnb_BLcT2J1HdQs5aIzeThyQeoZaBUX6vc0KoZeIEbq8BJBc6AcqDI6ScxYWy29weEN_4s_gGX0impWYKL_RP7f75SmzqFXZu-bmeLX3C_P2j9IDkLoqBUJx3F2nQqicGJ2g8FqZ9r2hmDWCFP-Xw-epV0disbdfIwx148GaWRiCCECon-l8nSw/s1200/4.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="1200" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsVLpnb_BLcT2J1HdQs5aIzeThyQeoZaBUX6vc0KoZeIEbq8BJBc6AcqDI6ScxYWy29weEN_4s_gGX0impWYKL_RP7f75SmzqFXZu-bmeLX3C_P2j9IDkLoqBUJx3F2nQqicGJ2g8FqZ9r2hmDWCFP-Xw-epV0disbdfIwx148GaWRiCCECon-l8nSw/w640-h368/4.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A universal turret for the KV-13 and KV-1S equipped with an 85 mm S-31 gun.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Tactical-technical requirements for the design and development of the 85 mm tank gun were signed on March 26th, 1943. The gun would be shorter than the 85 mm 52-K AA gun and ZIS-25 tank gun, since a muzzle velocity of 600 m/s was considered sufficient. The gun could penetrate 90 mm of armour at 500 meters. These requirements vanished soon after. The cause of this was the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2023/04/heavy-trophies-from-leningrad.html">capture of two Tiger tanks</a>. Even before #121 was shot up, it was clear that a more powerful 85 mm gun was needed. On April 12th, 1943, the GAU Artillery Committee developed preliminary requirements for a tank destroyer armed with an 85 mm gun. The required penetration was 120 mm, the estimated thickness of the Tiger's front armour. This was done before the penetration trials, but the trials only confirmed that such a gun was necessary.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cvY6bLdDqB8QBKaCeJ85_EF5i2YlnwitsqnG_8Harshlw08MdtlDQlhiaZf8ag6gWKEAVD0XWD0cK9b1jpQOyCGUggxnTwQaXNQPoWRrNRygh4vpnLzADBedMapTZ68p_CCbY4sbsYlfMAtxu73uWPwK8n_zMM6Q6rqnoViGPsMn9jQDfArDWqkLtg/s1024/5.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cvY6bLdDqB8QBKaCeJ85_EF5i2YlnwitsqnG_8Harshlw08MdtlDQlhiaZf8ag6gWKEAVD0XWD0cK9b1jpQOyCGUggxnTwQaXNQPoWRrNRygh4vpnLzADBedMapTZ68p_CCbY4sbsYlfMAtxu73uWPwK8n_zMM6Q6rqnoViGPsMn9jQDfArDWqkLtg/w640-h426/5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The turret made up for the ZIS-25's drawbacks, but the turret itself was a drawback. The NKTP did not want to build it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">GKO decree #3289ss issued on May 5th, 1943, only approved the existing requirements. This time, there would be a tender. Factory #9 began two work on the D-5 gun that could take 85 mm and 122 mm barrels. The TsAKB continued with their 85 mm gun under the designation S-31. The gun was designed very quickly since they had a head start. A draft and an explanatory memo were finished on May 14th. Work on the gun was headed by the chief of the 17th Department of the TsAKB P.F. Muravyev and chief of the 3rd Department Ye.V. Sinilshikov. The design was reminiscent of the ZIS-25, but not without alterations.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjZRJl-ZsWU1ime7mJDBHnXAU-zqZMM6AWTcU0QPc2gulOKiW3xT-JVVn5I_foXfu6JUG7ltYN1XM-pEMy4nodXQfzB5uqJHNUiDuq0kxBSl2Hrs-BcjrLCthCthHY-CQoSerXRABh2r6WQw8ii0ZsEAViGbK8VFmniMbW9LFenO-ieoLjv0M9WgO-w/s1024/6.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1024" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjZRJl-ZsWU1ime7mJDBHnXAU-zqZMM6AWTcU0QPc2gulOKiW3xT-JVVn5I_foXfu6JUG7ltYN1XM-pEMy4nodXQfzB5uqJHNUiDuq0kxBSl2Hrs-BcjrLCthCthHY-CQoSerXRABh2r6WQw8ii0ZsEAViGbK8VFmniMbW9LFenO-ieoLjv0M9WgO-w/w640-h526/6.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conclusions on the TsAKB's turret, June 7th, 1943. This decision meant that the turret would not enter production.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The biggest change was that there was a new turret. The KV-1S and KV-13's turrets were not a good fit for the TsAKB's gun. The turret ring was preserved, but it was somewhat enlarged. A turret basket and ready rack were added. The turret was made universal, compatible with the KV-1S and KV-13. Therein lay the problem. The turret was developed without input from the factories that would have had to build it, which led to a conflict. In addition, the KV-13/IS-1 (#233) was rejected in May of 1943. The fact that factory #9 worked closely with ChKZ during their design added fuel to the fire. Their D-5T-85 gun was created for the new <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/07/an-is-in-hand.html">Object 237 tank</a> (then called IS-3). </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNixBr1g0tE1MtagdX5z7MDcUrgD76BhbmkTRHFW3RlaLqcvVxVs3Xki2dwU8po1i-IjYdln2T6wl4O-QlrBE2D-ARdtgjoGLlACFtb51mPa4Iu6CHPRGymZ_qZnTySMo1C1HNFZuzsggaKmyAOrNs3Vx-uMtTLYcRX4LSnmquRcc-DNnsCBvkzxR2qg/s1024/7.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1024" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNixBr1g0tE1MtagdX5z7MDcUrgD76BhbmkTRHFW3RlaLqcvVxVs3Xki2dwU8po1i-IjYdln2T6wl4O-QlrBE2D-ARdtgjoGLlACFtb51mPa4Iu6CHPRGymZ_qZnTySMo1C1HNFZuzsggaKmyAOrNs3Vx-uMtTLYcRX4LSnmquRcc-DNnsCBvkzxR2qg/w640-h366/7.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An analogous turret was built anyway in the fall of 1943, by which point it was no longer necessary.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The S-31 project was reviewed on May 22nd, 1943. This was a promising design. Out of 449 parts, 350 came from the ZIS-5. On the other hand, the GAU was also skeptical of the TsAKB's turret. The mass of the tank grew by 2 tons. The turret basket made the turret crew's work easier, but also complicated access to the ammunition racks in the hull. Instead of the required 30 degrees of gun elevation, the S-31 was only capable of 25 degrees. The maximum recoil length was 520 mm instead of the required 350. The turret was finally dead and buried on June 7th. Formally, ChKZ was ordered to produce the turret, but they were reluctant to comply. A turret was finally built and put to trial in late October of 1943, by which point the KV-1S and S-31 were already history. Meanwhile, the TsAKB was feverishly looking for a solution to this unexpected problem.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Unlucky quick fix</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It seems that a backup plan was developed by the TsAKB right after the review at the Artillery Committee. The Committee's skepticism caused Grabin to seek an alternative. This time, work was conducted in tight cooperation with factory #100's OKB design bureau. The installation of the S-31 gun into the turret of the KV-1S began to take shape by June of 1943.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYjgSAvCrpXJ8Hwc-tlFVJxCkd9and0o9h-7n3HwoVsw0dkoMNQSQvSyUBrvD9UXfeZf25-9VTwyUZZvAv-I7GTu8dTtDYgo3Ppse-bF5hgQcu_ixZTSpZvtnC5H7bOUifzlrp6WQAYH34f5k2tAEBUGzOCrNKvATy71AIN_VXNgupBU7NRLMnGwCfQ/s1024/8.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1024" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYjgSAvCrpXJ8Hwc-tlFVJxCkd9and0o9h-7n3HwoVsw0dkoMNQSQvSyUBrvD9UXfeZf25-9VTwyUZZvAv-I7GTu8dTtDYgo3Ppse-bF5hgQcu_ixZTSpZvtnC5H7bOUifzlrp6WQAYH34f5k2tAEBUGzOCrNKvATy71AIN_VXNgupBU7NRLMnGwCfQ/w640-h370/8.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Draft of the Object 238, June 1943.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This tank is sometimes called KV-85G, but there was no such index. It was likely invented at the NIBT Proving Grounds or elsewhere much later. This tank was only referred to as Object 238, taking place between the new IS tank (Object 237) and a <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2019/12/kotins-bobtail.html">KV-1S tank converted to take the D-5T-85 gun (Object 239)</a>. N.F. Shashmurin was appointed as the chief engineer on this project. The actual changes done to the tank were minimal.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RcO5n7trLKdNCQatp_CqcdE5C6PUa0cYXiFq_omJ9pWKluqISI68-GTaNj3qx4fhLsaMCCD0pElnFmGGNYfiN8TzkklTwkQNa4RbS-ETmdgTgr-PnfqAvxN3QYSYO0MjSF4LmtHlm4TOFnGvjuplU2dXKEdsZlQzSy_tm5VFX4NvbNfKIMhA8OA3dg/s1024/9.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="1024" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RcO5n7trLKdNCQatp_CqcdE5C6PUa0cYXiFq_omJ9pWKluqISI68-GTaNj3qx4fhLsaMCCD0pElnFmGGNYfiN8TzkklTwkQNa4RbS-ETmdgTgr-PnfqAvxN3QYSYO0MjSF4LmtHlm4TOFnGvjuplU2dXKEdsZlQzSy_tm5VFX4NvbNfKIMhA8OA3dg/w640-h338/9.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gun mount drawing. Note that the gun mantlet was altered.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Object 238 was completed by July 17th, 1943, but the first drafts were dated May 25th. This was because Object 237 had a higher priority. Work on rearming the KV-1S was led by G.N. Moskvin under the supervision of Zh.Ya. Kotin. According to the prepared materials, the mass of the KV-1S grew from 43.4 tons to 44 tons. The extra weight came from the new gun and new ammunition racks.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ0XKgJ-vxwPcERH457B6XqK7NfCe6PwAbdNDgHE5HWV7meOkDubzKyzwv8oqH77e4-NmaYnA9Q7lvrcUPi6V_LuVhojj9WFbM9yA1_lserPRlf0azq5xZabnPRTPfxIjxwLPcD5FjH2q07nYpPEa4CbaSE1AJM-ITdmVOVf718btcW1CwcAOkq48rA/s1024/10.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1024" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ0XKgJ-vxwPcERH457B6XqK7NfCe6PwAbdNDgHE5HWV7meOkDubzKyzwv8oqH77e4-NmaYnA9Q7lvrcUPi6V_LuVhojj9WFbM9yA1_lserPRlf0azq5xZabnPRTPfxIjxwLPcD5FjH2q07nYpPEa4CbaSE1AJM-ITdmVOVf718btcW1CwcAOkq48rA/w640-h454/10.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the two Object 238 prototypes, late July 1943.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Changes to the KV-1S were minimal. Since the S-31 was based on the ZIS-5 gun, it was not difficult to install it. The gun mantlet and ammunition racks were taken from the initial project. The turret held an eight round ready rack. 47 more rounds fir into the hull: 6 on the right side, 11 on the left, and the rest on the floor.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6IBDuYoI80oIVaOznhQkMUr8oWXdPYLLsbBOvuQ87yE49gY90IHtSVtGFbp6FtwbTuS-2_FB7mwlFItL4_NYiKGWVr6wFh8so-v8D5hdSXbIdoMCTKYQ6blbObZjyazwZxsMIQnwh8U1EoI80QoZwSW95Er5ZBHCx-s9Ynnz_wk3MoHlgiK5n-Z20A/s1024/11.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="1024" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6IBDuYoI80oIVaOznhQkMUr8oWXdPYLLsbBOvuQ87yE49gY90IHtSVtGFbp6FtwbTuS-2_FB7mwlFItL4_NYiKGWVr6wFh8so-v8D5hdSXbIdoMCTKYQ6blbObZjyazwZxsMIQnwh8U1EoI80QoZwSW95Er5ZBHCx-s9Ynnz_wk3MoHlgiK5n-Z20A/w640-h396/11.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both tanks were converted production KV-1S tanks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Even though the changes were minor, production of the Object 238 dragged on. It was expected that a prototype would be ready by July 1st, but the documentation was only approved on July 17th, even though factory #100 reported that work on the tank began in early July. The factory also called the S-31 "F-85" since it was built at factory #92. The Object 238 only comes up again in factory #100 correspondence in mid-July. There were two prototypes, both converted from KV-1S tanks produced in July of 1943.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkBi9Ih7ABuT-rsfq6_nZG4Y4BSS7gpdYw4OYns2gJq0pEe5AHP77Ijdhf3R9PaYiNpU5GK1RZBsyhJ_srVzc89jv3B5b-GNZLlsfSHWdw8QBgJOKgKgzzexUBGW2whA78l7cnZWQrFM8QQyAuiaffD0_JqTTpeNlmBZCyjTPhdcL4F__Uzj-7cC0AQ/s1024/12.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1024" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkBi9Ih7ABuT-rsfq6_nZG4Y4BSS7gpdYw4OYns2gJq0pEe5AHP77Ijdhf3R9PaYiNpU5GK1RZBsyhJ_srVzc89jv3B5b-GNZLlsfSHWdw8QBgJOKgKgzzexUBGW2whA78l7cnZWQrFM8QQyAuiaffD0_JqTTpeNlmBZCyjTPhdcL4F__Uzj-7cC0AQ/w640-h398/12.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only difference between the two tanks were the casting numbers on the back of the turret.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The first trials of the tank took place on July 31st, 1943. Mobility trials continued until August 15th with a break for gunnery trials. In this time, the Object 238 only drove for 103 km, less than any other tank. There was no point in driving it for longer since the tank was not mechanically different from the KV-1S. The gunnery trials were more important. The commission decided that the tank could not be accepted into service. It was impossible to work with ammunition while loading and there was almost no space for the commander.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBLLDpYMx0X2mAU_CJN3xtZjqydZhErCNwsQwmlM6BMCsxgeO44qAOqk-XL8SWjdCN7srk9i8WND73SqsB09ECSQ5R79-srh-E43CjzoqU7TxToQFwfE8RZd7N7Ey1Vq2NVfm3trdAbsuujpjg85MnnTdiHlc_osE14kI_GmDWjF242_NUUumqcNoHA/s1024/13.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBLLDpYMx0X2mAU_CJN3xtZjqydZhErCNwsQwmlM6BMCsxgeO44qAOqk-XL8SWjdCN7srk9i8WND73SqsB09ECSQ5R79-srh-E43CjzoqU7TxToQFwfE8RZd7N7Ey1Vq2NVfm3trdAbsuujpjg85MnnTdiHlc_osE14kI_GmDWjF242_NUUumqcNoHA/w640-h428/13.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Object 238 at the Gorohovets Proving Grounds.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Object 238 took part in artillery trials jointly with the Object 239 and two Objects 237 (one with the S-31 gun and the other with the D-5T-85). The first stage took place between August 2nd and August 4th, the second from August 21st to August 24th. The S-31 showed a recoil length of 480-570 mm, more than the D-5T-85. This was not so critical in the Object 237, but a major problem in the KV-1S with a smaller turret ring. Since a counterweight needed to be installed, the real gun elevation of the S-31 was less than 7 degrees. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyNptZwu8P7CdOfr5lmxegKtLPO3QAWqe1LjZvpE6cAfnyw3bkUCiTExs6je67c8HZ-H0lIiMULyQkUoaUOh7tIEDEZoPL1dsZuyzhD0O08a31KpxurCdjRe7ZIbCr-AKoskI3tEd-qgRipXuIEtm7yTRj5BxzxHJw3btZ0Epu99gqHAD7d3lQr3GRg/s1024/14.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1024" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyNptZwu8P7CdOfr5lmxegKtLPO3QAWqe1LjZvpE6cAfnyw3bkUCiTExs6je67c8HZ-H0lIiMULyQkUoaUOh7tIEDEZoPL1dsZuyzhD0O08a31KpxurCdjRe7ZIbCr-AKoskI3tEd-qgRipXuIEtm7yTRj5BxzxHJw3btZ0Epu99gqHAD7d3lQr3GRg/w640-h413/14.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tank had a low priority even before the trials began.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This was not the only problem. The conclusions made at the Gorohovets Proving Grounds about the fighting compartment were not as harsh as those made at ChKZ. Nevertheless, the rate of fire of 3-6 RPM (half as much as the other tanks) says a lot. The fighting compartment of the Object 238 was undoubtedly worse than the Object 237 or 239. Even though this was the simplest solution to improve the KV-1S' firepower, the Object 238 was rejected. The Object 239 was accepted into service with the Red Army as the KV-85 on August 8th, 1943.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsDdlkXo5YmzmdVC_XDltJ83Ziki2sx8ZfMnvfAXHkBiBSEFaTXABv9F65ZfVVgCalAbDTmpV90vBwKwIq4QImiA1_REyFGRjnFC26rq-vlRgu24zfqqKFFfpeA2tTuqyZcOiBU7NZtfE3PkFeHiyfyTbQOetsHae8_1sUlHYArXaRu68z4B5-HAHiQ/s1024/15.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1024" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsDdlkXo5YmzmdVC_XDltJ83Ziki2sx8ZfMnvfAXHkBiBSEFaTXABv9F65ZfVVgCalAbDTmpV90vBwKwIq4QImiA1_REyFGRjnFC26rq-vlRgu24zfqqKFFfpeA2tTuqyZcOiBU7NZtfE3PkFeHiyfyTbQOetsHae8_1sUlHYArXaRu68z4B5-HAHiQ/w640-h446/15.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trials only confirmed the issues that ChKZ raised.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Object 238 got lucky. One prototype was converted to test the aforementioned turret, the other was left as is. It was later sent to the NIBT Proving Grounds. The tank was not used in any more trials, but it was Kubinka's only KV-1S tank, and so it settled down in the proving grounds museum. Until recently, this was the only surviving KV-1S tank.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsStY5hSMWbeWr8jP4bEAimDYdKGXUif0l6FDrgDr65NVj3Apvb_1QDDq7J-TDXp2vPN47R99bxI8a4YmP-GfQW3hFw_0oyynvfuW8pA0neZBO_HbouCeo0fQ8Vu5vG6fK55mKFpif2oRW5EJet8g3S3Cu9pufQMdCGKYSWiRCftYk9SsiWJyBN8yxg/s1149/16.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="916" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsStY5hSMWbeWr8jP4bEAimDYdKGXUif0l6FDrgDr65NVj3Apvb_1QDDq7J-TDXp2vPN47R99bxI8a4YmP-GfQW3hFw_0oyynvfuW8pA0neZBO_HbouCeo0fQ8Vu5vG6fK55mKFpif2oRW5EJet8g3S3Cu9pufQMdCGKYSWiRCftYk9SsiWJyBN8yxg/w510-h640/16.webp" width="510" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Layout of the fighting compartment.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's hard to say that it led a calm life. The tanks at the proving grounds were put into running order in the 1960s "army style": ruthlessly and without purpose. All tanks and SPGs from the KV family had their original engines replaced with the most recent ones available. For some reason, Object 238 was equipped with wheels from the KV-1 and tracks from the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/09/long-living-is.html">IS-2M/IS-3M</a>. The internal components including instrument panels were also "modernized". Various parts were welded onto the exterior, such as the bars on the air intakes.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYFTXfDg0hB2PqNcrQTNe-tn6kcZEz_dqfPczAB_BWSNoSa-25zp1sze7wL4epvCfvHY-dl82nYxMy7D8Ym21yllHvsCkhC7BJak2MwztZ_b22Fr6032CLAQKRpP-s8JMKvpS9JdxQ5BGxXa9rjpzZ7QytQxvTXz6K_soRBi2kxJcFg9JFYua2Oo6OA/s1200/17.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYFTXfDg0hB2PqNcrQTNe-tn6kcZEz_dqfPczAB_BWSNoSa-25zp1sze7wL4epvCfvHY-dl82nYxMy7D8Ym21yllHvsCkhC7BJak2MwztZ_b22Fr6032CLAQKRpP-s8JMKvpS9JdxQ5BGxXa9rjpzZ7QytQxvTXz6K_soRBi2kxJcFg9JFYua2Oo6OA/w640-h426/17.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Object 238 at Patriot Park.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span><div style="text-align: justify;">The tank is still in running order. At the very least, it can move under its own power. Today it's displayed in Patriot Park as a part of the Battle of Kursk exhibit. This is not entirely incorrect, since it's practically a KV-1S, just with a different gun. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The most interesting part of this whole story is that theoretically the KV-1S could have had an 85 mm gun with a normal rate of fire. A KV-1S tank with the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/05/an-opponent-for-tiger.html">S-28 gun</a> entered trials a year later. It showed much better results, but the time of the KV-1S was long over. Nevertheless, the idea of equipping the KV-1S with an 85 mm gun turned out to not be hopeless.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://dzen.ru/a/ZDmHkrlCrwJNlAh_">Original article by Yuri Pasholok. </a></div></span></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-69518243160219892352023-08-19T11:13:00.003-04:002023-08-19T11:13:37.075-04:00Video: Almost an Hour of the T-34-85 at Capel<p>Didn't get enough of the T-34-85 tank shown at Capel? Enjoy almost an hour of glorious 4K footage from the event:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l6ylAa-_ujE" width="640" youtube-src-id="l6ylAa-_ujE"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-2657994002818890752023-08-07T13:23:00.001-04:002023-08-17T16:50:50.181-04:00Shermans in "August Storm"<p style="text-align: justify;">In Soviet historiography, the Soviet-Japanese War of 1945 is overshadowed by grandiose operations against Berlin and Vienna earlier that year. However, Western historians pay close attention to this campaign and debates on whether it was the A-bombs or the Soviet invasion that forced the Japanese to surrender rage on to this day. Famous historian David Glantz even invented a grandiose name for this operation: August Storm. The Red Army's advance was indeed lightning fast, in part thanks to foreign vehicles. This included the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/12/new-legs-for-emcha.html">M4A2(76)W HVSS</a>, the most advanced Sherman variant sent to the USSR.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Clouds gather</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Stalin promised to enter the war against Japan within three months of Germany's defeat at the Yalta conference in February of 1945. Colonel-General Alfred Yodl signed an order for unconditional capitulation of all German forces on May 7th, 1945, coming into effect at 23:01 on May 8th. This kicked off the countdown for a Soviet offensive against Japan. The Red Army had three months to move an enormous force to the other side of an equally enormous country.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_LADThednc7ZNVjBFlsHLi3aKCWfqGKqCasfGPXPO9MYIqNnQVBm9NrQwwR6SFyJ211xJ1HO7cyzeocAtJ5_ML_7859Fg6qzZL1MEzATLHNpZNStHcMW40nT9FmwrvTCCCs8O5XTl8l4QvT4G1Xjcs89LBSTQ9o20Ic0t2rMMKga18AtJL8kmb6bm7wy/s2000/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2000" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_LADThednc7ZNVjBFlsHLi3aKCWfqGKqCasfGPXPO9MYIqNnQVBm9NrQwwR6SFyJ211xJ1HO7cyzeocAtJ5_ML_7859Fg6qzZL1MEzATLHNpZNStHcMW40nT9FmwrvTCCCs8O5XTl8l4QvT4G1Xjcs89LBSTQ9o20Ic0t2rMMKga18AtJL8kmb6bm7wy/w640-h386/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: justify;">Concentration of the 6th Guards Tank Army in the vicinity of Tamsagbulag. The army included the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps that used Sherman tanks.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">The 6th Guards Tank Army was one of the units that was destined to transfer to the far east. On June 26th, 1945, the unit was reallocated to the Transbaikal Front. It would have to cover a distance of 9000 km to cross from Czechoslovakia to Choibalsan. 88 trains of 60 cars each were allocated for this journey. The full transfer took 30 days, but the first elements began to form up by July 17th. New tanks awaited them there: 100 <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/07/m4a276w-emcha-with-long-hand.html">M4A2(76)W</a> including the latest tanks with HVSS suspensions. These tanks were described in documents as "M4A2 with wide tracks". The 46th Guards Tank Brigade was fully equipped with these vehicles. One company from each of the tank regiments of the 18th, 30th, and 31st Guards Mechanized Brigades that made up the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps also received new tanks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">From Choibalsan, the tanks would make a 300 km march to Tamsagbulag, where the army would prepare for the upcoming offensive. This march took place in extreme conditions. The temperature reached 45 C during the day, as a result of which marches took place only at night to avoid overheating the engines and running gear. This also helped hide the tanks from air reconnaissance, as there was nowhere to conceal them in the desert. The army's documents describe the M4A2 as less sensitive to hot weather than the T-34-85. The American tanks could cover more ground every day, but at the cost of increased fuel consumption. The Shermans normally burned 40 kg of fuel per hour, but this went up to 60 kg in Mongolia. Each tank could only run 90-100 km before refuelling instead of 150 km. The T-34-85 burned only 26 kg of fuel per hour.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3a95ILNbCa1rhnApHAVFqZ9wtT0sH8EoZrZZjHAYo0qZUDwclzutxWcsu7TQQIOaaOXSZKV90r3_YiztIBYTtrZLIP3CkJlk0rF07BurW1tzUy8GvqzDSFeBzL_bbLxONSlryQoX3guXSfQbHgMIg_F0NLMFbNWXnSgnKd621QRrXNV_OqWGpnCfA_e2/s800/2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3a95ILNbCa1rhnApHAVFqZ9wtT0sH8EoZrZZjHAYo0qZUDwclzutxWcsu7TQQIOaaOXSZKV90r3_YiztIBYTtrZLIP3CkJlk0rF07BurW1tzUy8GvqzDSFeBzL_bbLxONSlryQoX3guXSfQbHgMIg_F0NLMFbNWXnSgnKd621QRrXNV_OqWGpnCfA_e2/w640-h400/2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">M4A2(76)W HVSS, the newest tanks of the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Both Soviet and American tanks broke down during the march. The T-34-85 and SU-100 typically went out of action due to battery failure (180 cases). The T-34-85's tracks also wore quickly. It was estimated that they would have to be changed after 500-600 km of driving. The M4A2's most sensitive part was also its running gear. Tanks with VVSS suspensions had a very high rate of wear on their 4th and 5th wheels, on tanks wit HVSS suspensions only the 5th wheel wore down. This was a widespread issue and just the 46th Gds. TBr. and 84th Gds. TRgt. had to replace 69 wheels. Shermans also needed more water. Instructions required two separate water cisterns on each vehicle: one for the tank and one for the crew. Due to dusty conditions, air filters had to be cleaned every 2-3 hours.<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A technical support group was sent after the tanks, consisting of 3-4 mobile workshops, a welding workshop, and trucks with fuel, oil, and spare parts. The group was tasked with restoring broken vehicles, conduct preventative maintenance during rest stops, and act as consultants for the personnel. At rest stops, the tanks were spread out at a distance of at least 30 meters from one another.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The 6th Guards Tank Army was reinforced with the 36th and 57th Motorized Rifle Divisions, an AA division, the 208th Self Propelled Artillery Brigade, two light artillery brigades, two RGK artillery regiments, and a motorized engineering brigade. At the start of the campaign, it numbered 185 M4A2, 416 T-34-85, 193 <a href="http://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/01/optimal-modernization.html">SU-100</a>, 26 <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/01/the-final-su-76.html">SU-76M</a>, 117 BT-5 and BT-7, 22 <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/10/the-main-soviet-pre-war-tank.html">T-26</a>, 129 AA guns, 201 mortars, 46 Katyushas, and up to 359 cannons and howitzers.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The vehicles were expected to expend 3 loads of fuel and ammunition during the operation. By the start of the offensive, tank and mechanized units were issued 2.1-2.7 loads of fuel and 2-3 loads of ammo.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBvYmJz2V1tTyJSu0YzhXIqoLDjELjMS12JJcpZp1c9nN5rgnmLr3VJJiWtMsHCgGPi1fNt-aQ9mi-sjTDnMYOnx9eyhlGtAmR7LjeLYZ7X2WHGOBu3asn3vp2vWMIyL7L0pUUv6EwXNZe5Zkyyd03KCaYgRaJS1MRCUv9SftK5A2RuwFN6lJfnydGzhQ/s1126/3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1126" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBvYmJz2V1tTyJSu0YzhXIqoLDjELjMS12JJcpZp1c9nN5rgnmLr3VJJiWtMsHCgGPi1fNt-aQ9mi-sjTDnMYOnx9eyhlGtAmR7LjeLYZ7X2WHGOBu3asn3vp2vWMIyL7L0pUUv6EwXNZe5Zkyyd03KCaYgRaJS1MRCUv9SftK5A2RuwFN6lJfnydGzhQ/w640-h400/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Old T-26 tanks mixed with new T-34-85s. Pre-war tanks turned out to be useless in this operation.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The 6th Guards Tank Army had 57,800 American 76 mm rounds (4.4 loads) and 1800 75 mm rounds, although no Shermans with 75 mm guns were listed in its inventory. There were also 493,610 .50 cal rounds (5.6 loads) and 19,635 .30 cal rounds (0.6 loads) for American machine guns. The 9th Guards Mechanized Corps that contained nearly all American tanks was issued 2.7 loads of 76 mm ammunition by August 8th.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lightning strikes</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The USSR declared war on Japan on August 8th, 1945, at 23:00, exactly three months after the German surrender. Soviet troops moved out at midnight. The 6th Guards Tank Army was tasked with crossing the Greater Khingan mountain range as quickly as possible and entering the Central Manchurian Plains. In order to prevent the enemy from pulling up reserves, this had to be achieved by the fifth day of the operation.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdITAiKug9XfS8lgN2HUqSTpWhktEmokAkFK-ckx100TJsWXDBoVFLea3QghMXXrJOoLhj0dE93HL_mQzg6DiKg_rJXdsnZ_Rz9vk1U3QcA3bhbO6NN1-gEY4Ga36qr8yrXujYT2K7cnQu23WjdtLRarD4Pk1n2AmpgGYjNVqO8bAqFvRn_6M4YcP7rbCW/s1365/4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1365" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdITAiKug9XfS8lgN2HUqSTpWhktEmokAkFK-ckx100TJsWXDBoVFLea3QghMXXrJOoLhj0dE93HL_mQzg6DiKg_rJXdsnZ_Rz9vk1U3QcA3bhbO6NN1-gEY4Ga36qr8yrXujYT2K7cnQu23WjdtLRarD4Pk1n2AmpgGYjNVqO8bAqFvRn_6M4YcP7rbCW/w640-h402/4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The advance of the 6th Guards Tank Army was swift, but it was limited by mechanical failure of its tanks and shortages of fuel.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">The 9th Guards Mechanized Corps took a position in the first echelon of the right column. 183 M4A2 tanks were in action: 35 each in the tank regiments of the 18th, 30th, and 31st Guards Motorized Brigades, 65 with the 46th Guards Tank Brigade, and 10 with the 14th Independent Guards Motorcycle Battalion. Three more vehicles were attached to the corps HQ. The 389th Guards SPG Regiment had 23 SU-100.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The corps was reinforced with the 57th Motorized Rifle Division, 208th SPG Brigade, and 1141st Gun Artillery Regiment. This was a gain of 26 SU-76M, 65 SU-100, 11 T-26, and 100 BT-5 and BT-7. The right column had 296 tanks in total.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The 9th Guards Mechanized Corps was supposed to travel 120 km on the first day, 100 on the second and third, 80 on the fourth and fifth. The corps began its offensive at 04:30, after a 65 km long march. It turned out to be necessary to move during the day in order to meet the required rate of advance. By 16:50 the tanks reached Bain-Hoshun-Sume and were at Noroharola by the end of the day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLqvryGj489OQVWQsy-G0DvKb9UCxZ3IyrSJHbEwXnadHqryhWVFQvGOL_Yl4uiCV6V_Ncf2gCyL74AztuOHsLcQPIKw7c660FaBsDSGP9amyF9LAkqztHpJ-TNedKexPY50Bq_9qIF0JYYzBcWA-mqJ-Svpd5zgjJT_xElnLmaiSEiCNoWcxCGdB-sgb/s800/5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="800" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLqvryGj489OQVWQsy-G0DvKb9UCxZ3IyrSJHbEwXnadHqryhWVFQvGOL_Yl4uiCV6V_Ncf2gCyL74AztuOHsLcQPIKw7c660FaBsDSGP9amyF9LAkqztHpJ-TNedKexPY50Bq_9qIF0JYYzBcWA-mqJ-Svpd5zgjJT_xElnLmaiSEiCNoWcxCGdB-sgb/w640-h398/5.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columns of Soviet tanks in Manchuria.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The 9th Guards Mechanized Corps resumed its advance at 06:00 on August 10th. The corps reached the foot of the Greater Khingan mountains, but reconnaissance reported that the chosen route across the Korohon pass was unsuitable for tanks as the rain had washed away the roads. The tankers had to turn into the Horen-Gol river valley, reaching the Tunchakan pass by the end of the day. Movement across swampy terrain consumed extra fuel. This area was also crisscrossed with many mountain streams and slopes up to 20-25 degrees steep, which did not make driving any easier. Some vehicles flipped over in these conditions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44knUevJGk6GB3pJ7HuE9qZKIpb2mDY7NYYD-1yCO0GXoCx7sRHXzzFLrtEq49VEz0_57L4_9MYtouVOZVA1znMcbu1Y3k2Ghj_6uYJxErUq8r1TxMJcW2pi06Czl-mERYuciaoBejmPZsMsH5kvb4HXJTcwOBT3lUc7ys_WS8NySRCnc0--WiN_DD16v/s733/218877096_345073420541567_3864312344223542512_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="732" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44knUevJGk6GB3pJ7HuE9qZKIpb2mDY7NYYD-1yCO0GXoCx7sRHXzzFLrtEq49VEz0_57L4_9MYtouVOZVA1znMcbu1Y3k2Ghj_6uYJxErUq8r1TxMJcW2pi06Czl-mERYuciaoBejmPZsMsH5kvb4HXJTcwOBT3lUc7ys_WS8NySRCnc0--WiN_DD16v/w640-h640/218877096_345073420541567_3864312344223542512_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rains turned what little roads were available into mud, making it difficult for even tracked vehicles to advance.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As fuel began to run out, units had to consolidate their fuel and leave most of their tanks behind. For instance, only 18 tanks of the 48th Guards Tank Brigade and only 7 from the 30th Guards Mechanized Brigade continued on. It started raining again. The speed of tanks on the soggy roads dropped to 4-5 kph. The rate of the offensive dropped considerably, not just because it was difficult for tanks to drive in mud, but also because it was difficult to deliver fuel by air in this weather. It took three days to cross the area where the roads were destroyed by rain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-g7nHBEDVyXH5bGCZpcauLCZmmCp6MZVYLyM2dmYdh3c2H5ZT_vsJ8N0u1GsFWU907XuXX8oTA0juWXeCEJR7PseH8TGG_wGjURsYeQJiDp9olAZZRq7GxLeS9Th3tS8nNMZm2u0zzDBK7lKhCsyJidCrZUCR_cborH5QcAWkUcxr3Df0Hxhkt2jNgtW/s1045/manchuria.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1045" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-g7nHBEDVyXH5bGCZpcauLCZmmCp6MZVYLyM2dmYdh3c2H5ZT_vsJ8N0u1GsFWU907XuXX8oTA0juWXeCEJR7PseH8TGG_wGjURsYeQJiDp9olAZZRq7GxLeS9Th3tS8nNMZm2u0zzDBK7lKhCsyJidCrZUCR_cborH5QcAWkUcxr3Df0Hxhkt2jNgtW/w640-h470/manchuria.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path of the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps (red line). After crossing the Greater Khingan Mountains, the corps was no longer constrained in maneuver and captured Lubei.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Movement became easier after crossing the Greater Khingan Mountains. The city of Lubei was located 150-170 km from the foot of the mountains. The 9th Guards Mechanized Corps covered that distance in a day. By the end of August 11th, the corps settled in the city, awaiting fuel. The plan was completed ahead of schedule. It took three days to cross the required distance rather than five.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After crossing the mountains, the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps regrouped in Lubei. The city had an airstrip and fuel could be easily delivered by air. The corps resumed movement in the second half of August 13th, but fuel ran out again on August 16th and only small groups continued onward.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4HY1C9XZmuuFY42EzDVgsQicR_2aWHCTpTzQjZmiYFiRXymiO8hXjyMjTp_Jrd9KmVBzcBFIpNcd4O41zTGioavJdtjV8NnZjg6845eiM2khK6A_WLLOB6YznuH3TVr7TlisUV7yOsxlBPaNX8yhKFJr0cyU9v2_enTsgAPm30NOWNAPtQYF29253_aD/s800/7.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="800" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4HY1C9XZmuuFY42EzDVgsQicR_2aWHCTpTzQjZmiYFiRXymiO8hXjyMjTp_Jrd9KmVBzcBFIpNcd4O41zTGioavJdtjV8NnZjg6845eiM2khK6A_WLLOB6YznuH3TVr7TlisUV7yOsxlBPaNX8yhKFJr0cyU9v2_enTsgAPm30NOWNAPtQYF29253_aD/w640-h410/7.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tankers of the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps and Chinese civilians. The Sherman tank has the older VVSS suspension.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The 9th Guards Mechanized Corps received a new mission: gather in Tongliao as soon as fuel supplies allow it. The plans had to be amended on August 19th when it became known that the Japanese were ordered to lay down their arms on the previous day. The corps was ordered to occupy Mukden with one brigade and then rejoin the rest of the 6th Guards Tank Army around Gaojiatun, Fuzhou, and Santuanxiang. There was just enough fuel to fill up the 46th Guards Tank Brigade.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 6th Guards Tank Army began to restore its materiel and disarm surrendering Japanese units. Elements of the 9th Mechanized Corps slowly pulled up to Tongliao. The corps reassembled by the end of August, after which any further movement without orders was prohibited.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi0Y1xu4zkqZ8ViEZDMUigO8RmJOq71a7FpP-VZ4HNcAMT_ypCNauQDeKjqwvZ_Pi5p-Wkd74FL4u0mTkkaQ-Mb0CIoZSD5oowxpvtxK9wYKUb4c2NupofldcW0xGoLQdVXiFd0rYYF6CU1HObxadyRqWi_AGb4SCT09jptXZ7VZ-5EJza73e2rhFsZ9-/s1141/8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="726" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi0Y1xu4zkqZ8ViEZDMUigO8RmJOq71a7FpP-VZ4HNcAMT_ypCNauQDeKjqwvZ_Pi5p-Wkd74FL4u0mTkkaQ-Mb0CIoZSD5oowxpvtxK9wYKUb4c2NupofldcW0xGoLQdVXiFd0rYYF6CU1HObxadyRqWi_AGb4SCT09jptXZ7VZ-5EJza73e2rhFsZ9-/w408-h640/8.jpg" width="408" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refueling. Manchuria, 1945. A lack of fuel was the most serious impediment to the Soviet advance.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The main enemy of the tankers was the exhausting heat and lack of fuel, but there was some contact with Japanese forces. Reconnaissance elements of the 30th Guards Mechanized Brigade clashed with enemy cavalry, but after a short skirmish the riders retreated, leaving several men dead and seven captured. There was also a brief battle with cadets of the "Japanese-Manchurian Espionage and Sabotage School". The tankers saw some action. For instance, the crew of Junior Lieutenant V.V. Durakovskiy engaged an enemy blockade, killing 20 enemy soldiers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">In total, the 6th Guards Tank Army lost 99 men during the month of August (20 killed, 11 wounded, 63 sick). 280 enemy soldiers were killed. 125,047 Japanese soldiers and 300 tanks were also captured.</span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9j_jTHSBvV-6XTEILL0r1gAlfIsn-KGntaYjGlP0CVa1pSADTalk2jupTeHzteyPmzKzOg0EBD_6DMsFZYHouGd7b2HE-T4Bn_vBinlROtbdDaoPIHVwJG7eSqsnE3e0iPwx4A46yEhxZsPXCR_uHyCyDlYf49Pqt5vjHgN0FzfIzbA7jLJ29c-JIvLm/s1117/9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="749" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9j_jTHSBvV-6XTEILL0r1gAlfIsn-KGntaYjGlP0CVa1pSADTalk2jupTeHzteyPmzKzOg0EBD_6DMsFZYHouGd7b2HE-T4Bn_vBinlROtbdDaoPIHVwJG7eSqsnE3e0iPwx4A46yEhxZsPXCR_uHyCyDlYf49Pqt5vjHgN0FzfIzbA7jLJ29c-JIvLm/w430-h640/9.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese tanks only showed up as trophies during this campaign.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Across the desert on a steel steed</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 6th Guards Tank Army engaged in almost no combat, allowing one to compare the mechanical qualities of its vehicles in isolation from all other factors.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By August 31st, 1945, the Army had 161 M4A2 tanks remaining out of 185. Nine of them needed light repairs, 14 needed medium repairs, and one needed major repairs. There were no combat losses. 361 T-34-85 tanks out of 416 remained. 8 needed light repairs, 44 needed medium repairs, and one needed major repairs. Two T-34-85 tanks were lost in battle. While arguments about relative merits of T-34 and Sherman tanks continue to this day, they proved equally resilient in this campaign. About 87% of both types of tanks remained in service after driving through the desert for three weeks.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKPXcgE5CpCba5QOGL6nds7EgTl8kp5fozaDQ3h2UGy4T15EWJQPaN7YRN1rcynOXdfXRJY2hmpjHShzFh0tkBddnYlF649spH23nuDq2KtITN1BNHeAYJr-_zdVmjfhInCo3jc10A5mFTwl0c-ejuoP36FWYbp9eIn0VAw5CEJudO3Wg2b39S-_lLqYd/s1112/10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1112" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKPXcgE5CpCba5QOGL6nds7EgTl8kp5fozaDQ3h2UGy4T15EWJQPaN7YRN1rcynOXdfXRJY2hmpjHShzFh0tkBddnYlF649spH23nuDq2KtITN1BNHeAYJr-_zdVmjfhInCo3jc10A5mFTwl0c-ejuoP36FWYbp9eIn0VAw5CEJudO3Wg2b39S-_lLqYd/w640-h410/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BT-7 tanks proved themselves better than the T-26, but still had poorer reliability than more modern tanks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The SU-100 turned out to be more reliable. 183 out of 193 vehicles remained in service, with 10 needing medium repairs. 21 SU-76M remained in service out of 26, with five needing medium repairs. Light tanks performed worst of all. 57 BT-5 and BT-7 tanks remained out of 176. 75 needed medium repairs and 44 needed major repairs. All 11 T-26 tanks needed major repairs. The old worn out tanks began to fall behind on the march almost immediately and had to be left at repair bases. All of the corps' tractors were used to recover these useless tanks, and so broken Shermans had to be evacuated with other tanks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Repair crews noted that the driving conditions were exceptionally difficult. Driving 120-140 km per day across salt flats and dunes with steep climbs and slopes in heat and dust was no easy task. The SU-76M and M4A2 were judged to perform the best in these conditions. The T-34 mainly suffered from battery failure. The batteries were unsuitable for this climate. The M4A2 had its Achilles' heel: road wheels. Over 300 wheels had to be replaced during the operation. Nevertheless, many commanders of companies, platoons, and individual tanks were decorated for completing the 1000-1600 km long march with no breakdowns.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd9Yv7ZtdyP1WXKk-ARW1xTnWypmcooLenHiyUNZoEnTV5eF4xKLXoukxKCsZnrjljOkE-P-X3q3_sG9hmqNUdpvwAMK2aS45TM1kmSSbTHCQs1ieg_b1uvwk6MZHp1gu8L0L7AK4OqH_VzzHTqrVUAYyUKHBGs3Lf12fJecLODgcicb7DM37OJEiZh37/s800/11.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="800" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd9Yv7ZtdyP1WXKk-ARW1xTnWypmcooLenHiyUNZoEnTV5eF4xKLXoukxKCsZnrjljOkE-P-X3q3_sG9hmqNUdpvwAMK2aS45TM1kmSSbTHCQs1ieg_b1uvwk6MZHp1gu8L0L7AK4OqH_VzzHTqrVUAYyUKHBGs3Lf12fJecLODgcicb7DM37OJEiZh37/w640-h412/11.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherman tanks on the offensive. Both VVSS and HVSS suspensions can be seen.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Drivers were also decorated. For instance, the Sherman tank driven by Guards Senior Sergeant A.S. Minibayev ran flawlessly for 156 hours, for which he received the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class. Guards Starshina I.G. Yegorochkin's tank drove for 930 miles (the figure was not translated into kilometers) over the course of 148 hours. Guards Sergeant H.H. Biderdinov's tank worked for 129 hours and Guards Senior Sergeant V.S. Sabanov's tank worked for 153 hours without repairs. Each of them received the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The progress of units was also slowed down due to a lack of fuel and spare parts. Since there were no battles, it was not possible to strip tanks down for spare parts. Tankers of the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps rated the M4A2(76)W HVSS highly, as the wide tracks achieved high mobility in mud, sand, and cross-country. These tanks could tow other Shermans or T-34-85s.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rapid thrust over the course of hundreds of kilometers in exceptionally difficult conditions was a serious trial for both Soviet and American vehicles. The 6th Guards Tank Army was lucky to receive new Sherman tanks in time, as the experience in difficult terrain showed the value of the modernized suspension.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This article was originally published on Warspot.ru.</div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-69842014859428912392023-08-02T09:35:00.003-04:002023-08-02T09:35:11.288-04:00Crewing the T-34-85 at Capel 2023<p style="text-align: justify;">A month ago I joined the Capel Military Show as a T-34-85 tank crewman. With a full crew, hatches shut, and cannons firing outside, it was a great chance to experience what I've only read about. Watch my latest video for my impressions. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DYnKJIQIFWo" width="550" youtube-src-id="DYnKJIQIFWo"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-52930743358094283562023-07-31T00:02:00.001-04:002023-07-31T00:02:39.083-04:00Soviet Armour for the British Valentine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">History knows many tanks that were created from a grassroots initiative and treated with scepticism by the army, but evolved to become some of the most popular tanks. There are at least two such tanks that made their mark in the Second World War. The first was the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/01/pziv-specialist-of-all-trades.html">Pz.Kpfw.IV</a>. Krupp was originally only entrusted with the turret, but the conglomerate successfully pushed for permission to build two prototypes. As a result, the B.W. (Kp) easily demolished the B.W. (Rh) and survived several attempts to take it out of production. The first battles showed that the Pz.Kpfw.IV was the best tank Germany. had. In 1942 it also turned out that the Pz.Kpfw.IV could take on a long 75 mm gun, but the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/11/the-last-of-threes.html">Pz.Kpfw.III</a> could not. As a result, the Pz.Kpfw.IV became Germany's most numerous tank.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The second example is the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/11/infantry-sweet-spot.html">Infantry Tank Mk.III or Valentine</a>. Its creation was entirely opposed by the British army but in the end were forced to order it anyway. It turned out that Leslie Little, Vickers' main tank designer, made the right decisions. He successfully fought off the War Ministry's attempts to "improve" his creation and avoided overloading the chassis. The result was the most numerous British tank of the war. Formally, the British withdrew it from the front lines in the spring of 1943, but in reality it kept fighting until May of 1945, again against the army's best attempts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzvYZRjMVvv0J5NXYcYsXd5ce_jejpr1-K2zL6Gm_bkqZTN-nxHg1_Eg18girQCYZHnGc5R5yyznT9MZ0KrmQ9DskHeypnCmWmtwFSq91iXTWnzQYKr1ypfXGHPo3XBPmQauAECBkh0BZKcQQ1kO_uEK1WRXCjU7G-XjtPw3lvBaxaceICkfrDzyyNg/s1024/1.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1024" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzvYZRjMVvv0J5NXYcYsXd5ce_jejpr1-K2zL6Gm_bkqZTN-nxHg1_Eg18girQCYZHnGc5R5yyznT9MZ0KrmQ9DskHeypnCmWmtwFSq91iXTWnzQYKr1ypfXGHPo3XBPmQauAECBkh0BZKcQQ1kO_uEK1WRXCjU7G-XjtPw3lvBaxaceICkfrDzyyNg/w640-h512/1.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Soviet Valentine lost to a hit from a 75 mm Pak 40. The appearance of this gun was a big contribution to work on improving the tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>The Infantry Tank Mk.III also has a special place in the history of the Red Army. It is overshadowed by the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/12/the-best-of-varangians.html">Medium Tank M4A2</a>, but comparing raw numbers is misleading. The M4A2 was only used in large numbers after 1944. As for the Valentine, also known as the Valentin, MK-III or MK3, the first tanks of this type arrived in October of 1941 and saw their first battles in November, playing a part in the Battle of Moscow. Later the tank remained a workhorse. It would not attain the glory of the KV or T-34, but it became a suitable replacement for the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2022/08/the-unluckiest-next-generation-tank.html">T-50</a>, potentially the best light tank of the Second World War. The Valentine was classified as a medium and quite a bit slower than the T-50, but it could be produced in large numbers successfully. It also had quite a large reserve for development. It first <a href="https://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-turret-for-three.html">gained a 3-man turret</a> and then, by removing the third turret crewman once again, a <a href="https://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2019/01/valentine-with-long-gun.html">6-pounder gun</a>. Most importantly, it could be shipped consistently. This was the only foreign tank received by the Red Army without breaks in deliveries. Over 3000 tanks were received, a large portion of which were built in Canada.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzPXu3kt9wMYO0PyV9yTLN0IIJti71xlG_UgevYjX6ffjkqAcZXiyzlNVbYwFpFouOrAP5EEISE6AhsHw5tBevsDdNVe5cUnfYSL38tc-x_mJa2BSVmOdVH8STN5JXwfXzGPWnxMmsP15GaRjRKFIeKebcjG_6j5fVP2z2Mu4jXGRuT1wjWgOzhglEw/s1024/2.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1024" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzPXu3kt9wMYO0PyV9yTLN0IIJti71xlG_UgevYjX6ffjkqAcZXiyzlNVbYwFpFouOrAP5EEISE6AhsHw5tBevsDdNVe5cUnfYSL38tc-x_mJa2BSVmOdVH8STN5JXwfXzGPWnxMmsP15GaRjRKFIeKebcjG_6j5fVP2z2Mu4jXGRuT1wjWgOzhglEw/w640-h368/2.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valentine II or IV on the Eastern Front, 1943. These tanks have the same applique armour as the tank from Patriot Park.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Valentine tank initially received 60 mm of armour to protect from the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/10/complex-fate-of-doorknocker.html">3.7 cm Pak</a> at all ranges, but more powerful weapons were available by the time the tank went into battle. The Germans first got 50 mm tank and anti-tank guns and then 75 mm KwK 40, StuK 40, and Pak 40 guns starting in the spring of 1942. These guns could handle not just the Valentine, but even the KV-1. The British themselves did not consider thickening the tank's armour, since the chassis had its limits. The Red Army had a different opinion. There were no official projects to improve the armour, but several variants of applique armour were developed independently. One such tank is even displayed in Patriot Park. Let us discuss the history of these solutions.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI9sVhJ3CwxNN5HV0SUAaVXb-9rW3hWvWq0K-I-GrEVGBFxIomdK--s1QuIOo3SIlcYN3IHfkejAOf0pjCdI8mGs50lIzz-hC9xu8D0_uYUfDR9L0iy1Xs_Pf-FaDuZ3ql2t60vl3cIyIImX_C_uRufZ214DZMj74yUR2QzUEbeqHpVAOs-UbYzHMjQ/s1024/3.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1024" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI9sVhJ3CwxNN5HV0SUAaVXb-9rW3hWvWq0K-I-GrEVGBFxIomdK--s1QuIOo3SIlcYN3IHfkejAOf0pjCdI8mGs50lIzz-hC9xu8D0_uYUfDR9L0iy1Xs_Pf-FaDuZ3ql2t60vl3cIyIImX_C_uRufZ214DZMj74yUR2QzUEbeqHpVAOs-UbYzHMjQ/w640-h436/3.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what the tank on display at Patriot Park today looked like in 1943.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Even though there are no documents remaining that recorded the upgrades of Valentine tanks, we can tell when these upgrades took place. The need to improve the tanks' armour arose in the second half of 1942 and the idea was born in several places at the same time. Let us begin with the tank presently displayed in pavillion #1 of Patriot Park. This is one of the few Valentine II tanks to arrive in the USSR. These were the first of the Infantry Tanks Mk.III to be sent. 161 tanks arrived, a tiny percentage of more than 3300 tanks of this type. This specific tank was build for contract T9866 (WD numbers T.27421-T.27720) at Metropolitan-Cammell. There is no exact date but since the name plate still says Infantry Tank Mk.III**, we can assume it was finished before the end of September 1941. It was sent to the USSR with convoy PQ-3 and issued to the 171st Independent Tank Battalion on December 12th, 1941.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyx9F4dCsQJhhUN3MzxHiKmnhl43OGWsCZZ25UZV3XFiCmM4_GathD6WnD-IBaQDweMwcsGMy5K7H46XpHgxME9w1HDFoklofuUe0AW-Ywi-59yf4lgXyzAf6FhlUGV_Ov09V4oBUeXj53CzzM4I8dUaMfGKRUvdItorHKVGCDqLiWIefTuv24qry9g/s1024/4.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1024" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyx9F4dCsQJhhUN3MzxHiKmnhl43OGWsCZZ25UZV3XFiCmM4_GathD6WnD-IBaQDweMwcsGMy5K7H46XpHgxME9w1HDFoklofuUe0AW-Ywi-59yf4lgXyzAf6FhlUGV_Ov09V4oBUeXj53CzzM4I8dUaMfGKRUvdItorHKVGCDqLiWIefTuv24qry9g/w640-h460/4.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like tanks from the 1943 photo, this tank received armour plates on the hull and a collar around the turret ring.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There are no details about where the tank fought and who crewed it, but dents on the turret prove that it fought somewhere. It was likely damaged in battle and the repair base that it was sent to performed the modernization. The front was augmented with extra 30 mm plates welded to the hull and turret platform. The overall armour grew to 90 mm, close to the KV-1 in effectiveness. The 75 mm Pak 40 could still penetrate this armour, but only at close range. A collar was also added to the turret platform to protect the turret ring from jamming.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOFbYTB_jiCHwft60WkvJCIRM9AiqNmbaigs-ItlTF7sbfDc8vYQ8SivEMoiLxmIO5Gz2ksjXFIcHC-Vpll007Ps0WWyLIVYGNkObzy9PlaNKKFMN3zpXLS3kxlWEeKE1j7pfM555rLuPQkcEfMOdabMEytx_XeAc5reENFRZhslc6T56GPfB-5DQ_A/s1024/5.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOFbYTB_jiCHwft60WkvJCIRM9AiqNmbaigs-ItlTF7sbfDc8vYQ8SivEMoiLxmIO5Gz2ksjXFIcHC-Vpll007Ps0WWyLIVYGNkObzy9PlaNKKFMN3zpXLS3kxlWEeKE1j7pfM555rLuPQkcEfMOdabMEytx_XeAc5reENFRZhslc6T56GPfB-5DQ_A/w640-h456/5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is not yet known what units used these tanks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There is no information on who performed this modernization and when. All we have is a photograph where several such tanks can be seen, so the tank at Patriot Park is not unique. It was most likely that the modernization was applied on the Western Front and the tank arrived in Kubinka with the upgrade. After the war, it just so happened that this was the only tank of its type left at the proving grounds. It was displayed outdoors for some time, but later moved inside the park.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18Zfg1zxem7bO7pj3xz6MBZRkcHA47n31uyVnWmYoZhLhBoDum2Nh0fiYGQv8re3U3HHK42hu_WgakNf-H795RE4zlOra9ebHtDitjO8dn6st0xcVsnm-_sVFlrX-tsA7uQxKOHDhb4X8pw-jgIRAXp9CfnUVg_lzC8zhxSSOdK-y9nCAPjBIA5ijBw/s1200/6.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18Zfg1zxem7bO7pj3xz6MBZRkcHA47n31uyVnWmYoZhLhBoDum2Nh0fiYGQv8re3U3HHK42hu_WgakNf-H795RE4zlOra9ebHtDitjO8dn6st0xcVsnm-_sVFlrX-tsA7uQxKOHDhb4X8pw-jgIRAXp9CfnUVg_lzC8zhxSSOdK-y9nCAPjBIA5ijBw/w640-h426/6.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The same tank today.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The fact that this modernization was not unique is very important. At least one such idea was recorded in documents, and so its time and place is known. It was thought up by Engineer-Major A.G. Aranovich, at the time the technical deputy commander of the 167th Tank Brigade. The 167th Tank Brigade was armed with Valentine tanks (called MK-3 in the documents) from the very beginning. Here they played the role of ersatz medium tanks. The brigade was formed with Valentines and T-60 tanks, later T-70s replaced the T-60s. Aranovich excelled in battle in the summer-fall of 1942. According to his award papers, the engineer-major personally evacuated three Valentine tanks and one T-70 from the battlefield. A day later the tanks were restored and returned to battle. This was in September of 1942 on the Stalingrad Front. Several analogous events took place, earning Aranovich the Order of the Red Star. Later he was awarded the Defense of Stalingrad medal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegxdi8SxrGmnXgXjZPpbj9oOn3D_YTdQ9dG6bNjfvb6sK4cZJs9nJ_O0GEemTspU5wbRdG_l9neZx-x4cr_qqCE6vrPBVUh9OIXSGNSZ0yDdlqEOD2QWaIdcakp68wnspD-HTvtX9dAPYjMnW7OSpBFEfq0bMy0Hn5Af_Df3ZR-AQ90N75BoJppnp4Q/s1200/7.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1200" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegxdi8SxrGmnXgXjZPpbj9oOn3D_YTdQ9dG6bNjfvb6sK4cZJs9nJ_O0GEemTspU5wbRdG_l9neZx-x4cr_qqCE6vrPBVUh9OIXSGNSZ0yDdlqEOD2QWaIdcakp68wnspD-HTvtX9dAPYjMnW7OSpBFEfq0bMy0Hn5Af_Df3ZR-AQ90N75BoJppnp4Q/w640-h484/7.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proposal to protect the turret ring.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was around this time that Aranovich developed his armour upgrade for Valentine tanks. These ideas were recorded by the GABTU Department of Inventions. The department didn't just catalogue death rays and perpetual motion machines, but also useful ideas as well. This was one of those ideas. Aranovich reported that several vehicles were already upgraded according to the engineer-major's personal observations. The problem with the tank was not just that its armour was not sloped. Aranovich also reported that the turret ring jams often.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MSu047OA7NyPQo35d0_eO4dwOZNBxIyCxu5AR_P1NQTBBTF6o3P30v99nTWXiashDU9E5biBuR3hjyHRC8035rkWm7uKQuCpqgeEqtizd37cORjLe3u5ndZBGLaNmrrvRd4Y-WzcTeVQYiNFuAqUN-qH8NXawqHy-aFtZpqqkAgT1TE2KVSekka82g/s1024/8.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="1024" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MSu047OA7NyPQo35d0_eO4dwOZNBxIyCxu5AR_P1NQTBBTF6o3P30v99nTWXiashDU9E5biBuR3hjyHRC8035rkWm7uKQuCpqgeEqtizd37cORjLe3u5ndZBGLaNmrrvRd4Y-WzcTeVQYiNFuAqUN-qH8NXawqHy-aFtZpqqkAgT1TE2KVSekka82g/w640-h396/8.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A more detailed turret ring protection diagram.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the primary tasks in upgrading the Valentine's armour was the protection of the turret. Aranovich took a different route than the tankers of the Western Front. On one hand, the design was more complex. On the other hand, the entire perimeter of the turret ring was protected. Also, in the event that a section of the armour was damaged, it could easily be replaced with a new one. Fragments of rubber tires were used to absorb shock behind the armour. This was an unusual idea, but according to the description it proved itself in battle.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWxYhDHKfROLQjxkXGdqjW155t-wTlbDRcczc1Nz9_Jg5TKU6QsgSQCbGf4UBcfELPxQ1cZfsySf7NZMKzCLt3-_dr2eR4C5reqytFOw3zUQS9ci5LZsBK7HHGcgqgMnWITwlJTrqF3NNtTknckhLxml07EOe8HGOgigNVO8N6oHY6j2zGmX-kcSgPQ/s1024/9.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1024" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWxYhDHKfROLQjxkXGdqjW155t-wTlbDRcczc1Nz9_Jg5TKU6QsgSQCbGf4UBcfELPxQ1cZfsySf7NZMKzCLt3-_dr2eR4C5reqytFOw3zUQS9ci5LZsBK7HHGcgqgMnWITwlJTrqF3NNtTknckhLxml07EOe8HGOgigNVO8N6oHY6j2zGmX-kcSgPQ/w640-h488/9.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thickening of the hull front. The total thickness was 105 mm, plus a little extra from the slope.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Aranovich addressed the question of applique armour thoughtfully. Analysis of damage in battle showed that most tanks were knocked out by hits to the front of the hull. He also installed applique armour, but his was sloped. This was the correct decision, as resilience against shells improved. These tanks could take a hit even from a 75 mm gun and return alive. The applique armour was 45 mm thick, giving a combined thickness of 105 mm.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXyOLl1a18L4OAQt0bDtDOfi9qAGE8sIdjjeclleR7P7CgLPrbaBcIUydkuUl28rA_NP3Xbgfpoz-h4mFZapRO0MS-wSCKM8AZDnVzMPWsrrkWyADG4_U5xXGHm-IylLb19PmRriOmTUTmec63g-dBxiAK8chbRP0vX9t5q_lVZICYWJS5Us6mUGdsQ/s1024/10.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="1024" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXyOLl1a18L4OAQt0bDtDOfi9qAGE8sIdjjeclleR7P7CgLPrbaBcIUydkuUl28rA_NP3Xbgfpoz-h4mFZapRO0MS-wSCKM8AZDnVzMPWsrrkWyADG4_U5xXGHm-IylLb19PmRriOmTUTmec63g-dBxiAK8chbRP0vX9t5q_lVZICYWJS5Us6mUGdsQ/w640-h510/10.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The turret ring was similarly protected.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The GBTU did not take Aranovich's idea well and responded with a stock dismissal. This explains why the proposal ended up with the Department of Inventions even though it was useful. Either way, for the 167th Tank Brigade and Engineer-Major Aranovich the war continued. After the 167th TBr was reformed into the 167th Tank Regiment, Aranovich was reassigned to the 237th Tank Regiment. There, he continued to excel in service with Soviet tanks (T-34s and T-70s) instead of British ones. At Ponyri Aranovich evacuated 8 T-34s and one T-70. This time he earned an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class. He finished the war as a Deputy Chief of Staff of the 3rd Tank Brigade. Here Aranovich also proves himself to be an excellent organizer, which earned him an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zr7ec7bSQ8meYaJGqDO-FQiA4Jf_xCnknj4ow6wKcn-wDgrRS0erGMxTWTjBmes9ltDUBOlYt2dZAQY1HE4p62JBWWwfJnkeyiFTtVv5-dAkewiDKu3zVIwRevK0suv-OfyOc9HD7QanTmAUYvFIJNLctn2vMggjhFYorPJSqtLH5p1lnH2oeHfu_A/s1024/11.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zr7ec7bSQ8meYaJGqDO-FQiA4Jf_xCnknj4ow6wKcn-wDgrRS0erGMxTWTjBmes9ltDUBOlYt2dZAQY1HE4p62JBWWwfJnkeyiFTtVv5-dAkewiDKu3zVIwRevK0suv-OfyOc9HD7QanTmAUYvFIJNLctn2vMggjhFYorPJSqtLH5p1lnH2oeHfu_A/w480-h640/11.webp" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engineer-Colonel Aranovich. The only known inventor of applique armour for Valentine tanks, but not the only such inventor.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This was not the end of the history of up-armouring Valentines. No one performed this work centrally, but these tanks do show up in photographs, particularly in 1944-45. As a rule, the upgrade was quite simple, without a collar. It was more important to protect the front hull from 75 mm shells.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR0cVdzrDjxA7Fybc70f2u6rEyNl_OjuCqb03-CUSpv7P1bH7t70eYWIiaR0oyOSSYg-sofVmTLoVPe9V0sIuqeIp0J6htcxHcIr2UXJR8vCO2iCeCa8rW_1p0PQwxmq2fADySCoPHPfMR1uQJd8wHjKjMRAnlFKgYI35ufYPsOMbK7ovK0GvvGyBhA/s1024/12.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1024" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR0cVdzrDjxA7Fybc70f2u6rEyNl_OjuCqb03-CUSpv7P1bH7t70eYWIiaR0oyOSSYg-sofVmTLoVPe9V0sIuqeIp0J6htcxHcIr2UXJR8vCO2iCeCa8rW_1p0PQwxmq2fADySCoPHPfMR1uQJd8wHjKjMRAnlFKgYI35ufYPsOMbK7ovK0GvvGyBhA/w640-h444/12.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valentine IV tank with applique armour, Vilnius, 1944.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Valentine tanks with improved armament also received extra armour. This happened during refurbishment and clearly on someone's own initiative. There were plenty of people like Aranovich. No one cared that the extra armour loaded the suspension. Tankers wanted to live, and so applique armour pops up here and there. Even the rare Valentine X received this armour. One such tank was photographed in the spring of 1945 near Magdeburg.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jQ_hU9tgSBuj_0NFZF_hfrBru4oPH2bVelwxRHDakiZsTCgqu1nw1v38dVARwVGhRqjCsRGyHWm9JZ5cN0boa7F5qhg4v6vhOoEGFmIex5mDbVP39D5F02opm6VvBkhnnYI6c94ci6NpZUAiqYZF6Ftwn_sEv1AcN1P2jrouVBgvzmIInunK0fTKjw/s1024/13.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1024" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jQ_hU9tgSBuj_0NFZF_hfrBru4oPH2bVelwxRHDakiZsTCgqu1nw1v38dVARwVGhRqjCsRGyHWm9JZ5cN0boa7F5qhg4v6vhOoEGFmIex5mDbVP39D5F02opm6VvBkhnnYI6c94ci6NpZUAiqYZF6Ftwn_sEv1AcN1P2jrouVBgvzmIInunK0fTKjw/w640-h414/13.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valentine IX tank in the same area with the same reinforced armour.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The history of applique armour on Valentine tanks is an example of a grassroots revolution. The idea would have been discussed at the top for months and it's not guaranteed that it would have been approved, if Aranovich's experience is to be considered typical. This is why improvements were done with permission from unit commanders using whatever was on hand. A similar phenomenon took place in American units where extra armour was made from concrete and sand bags with no regard for what anyone thought.<p></p><p><a href="https://dzen.ru/a/YTJiJHHId2dH_llG">Original article by Yuri Pasholok.</a></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-61293676229178852842023-07-24T08:54:00.002-04:002023-07-24T08:54:48.479-04:00Between the Pz.Kpfw.III and the Panther<p> <b>German medium tanks that could not replace the Pz.Kpfw.III or IV</b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">One might think that tank building developed very sluggishly in the interwar years. This is a mistake. Development continued even in the most difficult years when there was no money for tanks. Every 3-4 years tactical-technical requirements were revised and development of new prototypes began. Germany did not differ from the rest of the world in this regard. Since Germany was bound by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, this cycle was concealed, but the mask was dropped in the early 1930s even before the Nazis came to power. This is when the tanks that Germany entered the war with began to form.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9zsrcEEt8xqSted2wDUWnBClWpRfpJU3WTRX94BxjXYSQojLZdnGSPwkVGZwFKGBNjvH7OSzvJixEbpY1IOsqinwTsibxIbdkOzg6JVJ3_F5qLg2r6YA1X3cF-YwsflHj9-LK07iqV7O6fYvSQZ-fbR6qdoqkHnnwlXsWmevcK2nXXWvLzLTgL-HBg/s1024/1.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1024" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9zsrcEEt8xqSted2wDUWnBClWpRfpJU3WTRX94BxjXYSQojLZdnGSPwkVGZwFKGBNjvH7OSzvJixEbpY1IOsqinwTsibxIbdkOzg6JVJ3_F5qLg2r6YA1X3cF-YwsflHj9-LK07iqV7O6fYvSQZ-fbR6qdoqkHnnwlXsWmevcK2nXXWvLzLTgL-HBg/w640-h468/1.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A broken Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.F. Frequent gearbox failures were the reason why production of the Z.W.38 fell behind schedule and the relationship between Daimler-Benz and Heinrich Kniepkamp was ruined.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are many cases in tank building where a nation manages to catch one wave of trends and miss the next. The USSR managed to create a successful series of tanks in the early 1930s but failed to do so in the mid-30s. On the other hand, German tanks developed in the early 30s were failures, but the designers redeemed themselves a few years later. Subsequently, while the USSR got the successful T-40, T-34, and KV-1 at the end of 1939, the Germans entered the new decade with a completely different result. One example is the story of the tanks that was supposed to replace the Pz.Kpfw.III and the Pz.Kpfw.IV: the VK 20.01 and its relatives.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BJywKYRMoKJtkxsAZ3pCF6rZyxq_A9x3tdMN-F1gfVtK_PQGmDFCA0GCurK7Y1msKC1M-Yw_ogp10MJpbnrPs8ElP5cay01bYPt6O9xfLEghesvCoLVnEfM4RbkslTbyR4-jfQSIBt8AqNYUaWlpYmblqxgxDW1mAmoU6kS0IX9Siw446-69zJFazQ/s1024/2.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1024" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BJywKYRMoKJtkxsAZ3pCF6rZyxq_A9x3tdMN-F1gfVtK_PQGmDFCA0GCurK7Y1msKC1M-Yw_ogp10MJpbnrPs8ElP5cay01bYPt6O9xfLEghesvCoLVnEfM4RbkslTbyR4-jfQSIBt8AqNYUaWlpYmblqxgxDW1mAmoU6kS0IX9Siw446-69zJFazQ/w640-h394/2.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VK 20.01 (D). Instead of a torsion bar suspension, it used a clever layout with leaf springs.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The cause for the appearance of these tanks was clear. The <span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/01/pzkpfwiii-ausf-christie-german-style.html">Zugführerwagen (platoon commander's vehicle), also known as the Pz.Kpfw.III,</a> was a very problematic vehicle. Production until the end of the 1930s took place in small batches of 10-15 experimental tanks. This was hardly satisfactory for German commanders. It was already clear that medium tanks will be the main force on the battlefield, but their main medium tank was still very raw. There was also the </span><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/01/pziv-specialist-of-all-trades.html">Begleitwagen (support tank)</a> or Pz.Kpfw.IV, but it was considered a temporary measure. The 6th Department of the Weapons Office tried to ignore the fact that the B.W.(Kp) was an obviously more successful vehicle from the start. Daimler-Benz, the developers of the Z.W., began to suspect something. They built tanks to requirements of the 6th Department, but began to lose patience by 1938. It was clear that the torsion bar suspension they were forced to use could not support the required speed for long. The 10-speed semiautomatic </span><span style="text-align: left;">Maybach Variorex 328 145 gearbox also had a ton of issues.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorcsBn0I9QjQrsIXFCo7jdxufmUI99-ufIpLS3bZAxEbRkDcJJlDqLT04u7c7E-4uSc6fCoxDJAgbLTmtPK9Jc_nAGCyq0yIqStDjjovgqz29y7G-0ifG-vXGlUiQsF0Ag8j8VWc57h2ytC5KahHw3cEPMOVMAB3D3sAuID3YIH59hTb7WHVI51bAVQ/s1024/3.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1024" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorcsBn0I9QjQrsIXFCo7jdxufmUI99-ufIpLS3bZAxEbRkDcJJlDqLT04u7c7E-4uSc6fCoxDJAgbLTmtPK9Jc_nAGCyq0yIqStDjjovgqz29y7G-0ifG-vXGlUiQsF0Ag8j8VWc57h2ytC5KahHw3cEPMOVMAB3D3sAuID3YIH59hTb7WHVI51bAVQ/w640-h362/3.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VK 20.01 (D) on trials.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite all this, no one thought of cancelling the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/11/pzkpfwiii-ausfe-through-f-first-mass.html">Z.W.38 or Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.E</a>. Preparations for production at Daimler-Benz and MAN were already underway. However, the issues with the suspension led to the 6th Department (or rather Heinrich Kniepkamp, who took charge of almost all tank development) starting work on a new tank designated VK 20.01 (III). Daimler-Benz developed the chassis and Krupp developed the turret. Initially, the turret was supposed to be the same as on the Z.W.38. The chassis was much more interesting. Kniepkamp clearly transplanted the same solutions that were used on the D.W., the unsuccessful heavy tank that evolved into the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/01/the-tigers-predecessors.html">VK 30.01 (H)</a>. The technical specifics of the VK 20.01 (III) are almost unknown, but it was going to have new running gear with large interleaved road wheels and a torsion bar suspension. Return rollers were omitted. The draft of the VK 20.01 (III) dated December 15th, 1938, used the 16 L Maybach HL 116 engine that put out 300 hp at 3000 RPM. The same engine was used on the VK 30.01 (H). Judging by similar projects, the transmission would have also come from the VK 30.01 (H). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztSkCdoDSPr47QYZPHPS8DuVzb7TSL0Oq2r2rjipR2Nm0_nQve7byvYBNVZrBoQ4bq1hinivZG4JEhf2_y_uDfiRQYhoDjXbQvFCkRmcVuBIXQQcALNWhLnaf1dXcAJ8h9LolAxupJTVPmy4S9t8ze5x5eyRFt9lYR1kVMmHbMhxACAHsfBVzXRHi5g/s1024/4.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1024" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztSkCdoDSPr47QYZPHPS8DuVzb7TSL0Oq2r2rjipR2Nm0_nQve7byvYBNVZrBoQ4bq1hinivZG4JEhf2_y_uDfiRQYhoDjXbQvFCkRmcVuBIXQQcALNWhLnaf1dXcAJ8h9LolAxupJTVPmy4S9t8ze5x5eyRFt9lYR1kVMmHbMhxACAHsfBVzXRHi5g/w640-h380/4.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the first German tank with a diesel engine.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kniepkamp's plan may have worked, but the Z.W.38 was the last straw for Daimler-Benz. Issues with the <span style="text-align: left;">Maybach Variorex 328 145 led to an outright failure of Z.W.38 production. The start of the war was accompanied with loud complaints from the army. The industrial giant's patience wore thin and in October of 1939 Daimler-Benz received permission to begin developing tanks independently. The Tank Commission led by Ferdinand Porsche also did not come into being out of nothing. Kniepkamp held on to his position, but Daimler-Benz wriggled out of his grasp. On November 15th, 1939, DB presented a project called </span><span style="text-align: left;">GBK (Kampfwagen des Generalbevollmächtigten). Instead of a semiautomatic gearbox, it used a Praga-Wilson type planetary gearbox copied from the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/05/pzkpfw38t-prize-from-bohemia.html">LT vz.38</a>. Another alternative was the same ZF SSG 77 gearbox used on the "corrected" Pz.Kpfw.III. The engine was no less interesting. Instead of the Maybach HL 116 engine, the GBK used a 315 L water cooled MB 809 diesel. Finally, a complex system of leaf springs replaced the torsion bar suspension.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLN1qQX6hAdDhSuiMGCk5B0idatEy5DnMRDXpXICJENrTO2l-ufiotGjBnNeNW0QgwKr3Nif69XXhEPWxgxeQpw5P6SEb235DPTCtx_eVSQUnxWcZXFqGlfcGPdh4uuyLm1FcRK5YUeHtvFHyGDkZgtgLRT7FPzqa-4tGJvlWb4h_TSVW4yBO2xGIRw/s1024/5.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1024" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLN1qQX6hAdDhSuiMGCk5B0idatEy5DnMRDXpXICJENrTO2l-ufiotGjBnNeNW0QgwKr3Nif69XXhEPWxgxeQpw5P6SEb235DPTCtx_eVSQUnxWcZXFqGlfcGPdh4uuyLm1FcRK5YUeHtvFHyGDkZgtgLRT7FPzqa-4tGJvlWb4h_TSVW4yBO2xGIRw/w640-h350/5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first tank designated B.W.40.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">It would appear that the complaints began much earlier than that, since a chassis to potentially replace the Pz.Kpfw.IV tank was discussed at the 6th Department on September 15th, 1939. This was quite an odd discussion, since a few years earlier Kniepkamp fought to destroy the B.W. entirely. The engine and likely transmission would have come from the VK 20.01 (III), but the running gear was typical for Krupp: bogeys with leaf springs, quite similar to those used on the <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/03/pzsflivb-halfway-to-hummel.html">Pz.Sfl.IVb</a>, but with 630 mm road wheels. The speed was limited to 42 kph. The tank was initially indexed VK 20.01 (IV), but in November of 1939 it changed to VK 20.01 (BW) and then in December to the better known B.W.40. The front of the hull was also thickened from 30 to 50 mm. As for the Z.W.38's replacement, Krupp found someone to take over for Daimler-Benz. This was MAN, a company that managed to steal light tank production from Krupp without a lot of noise.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6ftTQ4YlsPW7qd3JHEXKtiAzHw8m_hTEvyaXsyFZM8Pvg9qvVvX-WYCeq2dN1HM0wZBh7wpEaKANlHdjDJWrmvVwtJkCQ1OWAo2M9cT5uPlzMkGEVII1q0SsS3URNkfoAIFsN67R1Z8G8z55Ws12RXIVjc1WzG0Z9wa5981W4T8lpy0JBwjD5w7qWg/s1024/6.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="1024" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6ftTQ4YlsPW7qd3JHEXKtiAzHw8m_hTEvyaXsyFZM8Pvg9qvVvX-WYCeq2dN1HM0wZBh7wpEaKANlHdjDJWrmvVwtJkCQ1OWAo2M9cT5uPlzMkGEVII1q0SsS3URNkfoAIFsN67R1Z8G8z55Ws12RXIVjc1WzG0Z9wa5981W4T8lpy0JBwjD5w7qWg/w640-h382/6.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VK 20.01 (K). Krupp was pressured to develop this tank by the 6th Department of the Weapons Office.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">MAN's design bureau headed by Paul </span><span style="text-align: left;">Wiebicke began working on its own tank named VK 20.01 (M). The tank was clearly designed using prior experience of the 6th Department in mind. Kniepkamp continued to revive questionable parts of the VK 30.01 (H). For example, the 8-speed ZF SMG 91 semiautomatic gearbox was recommended for the VK 20.01 (M). The VK 30.01 (H) used the SMG 90 gearbox. The torsion bar suspension with interleaved road wheels was a given, except for one curious exception: there was no room for the front and rearmost torsion bars, so those suspension arms had a coil spring. The first designs were finished by October 10th, 1940. The development was coloured by another event. On May 16th, 1940, Krupp was informed by the 6th Department that the B.W.40 was cancelled. The explanation given was "difficult situation on the front lines". In reality, the tank was cancelled because it deviated too far from Kniepkamp's ideas. This kind of mandatory compliance is also why the VK 20.01 (K) was designed with a torsion bar suspension.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3DlpfKuA06z5VS4gFVSLBCWQeQfrNh2OoqYwWE0Xlf7J-qIgKrx5UGTyO9OFw9q1LzpBCClBv1z7CT4Y04lcZeuyTuppB7l2EDzU2c4AYHYFPXMCbwlF04UtQwr7s7Lwy0I-0_6U7ysuBQZFIs5VyT4BhU8bIX1Ra67JxFiChnMM4aTQagtccX4DOA/s1024/7.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="1024" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3DlpfKuA06z5VS4gFVSLBCWQeQfrNh2OoqYwWE0Xlf7J-qIgKrx5UGTyO9OFw9q1LzpBCClBv1z7CT4Y04lcZeuyTuppB7l2EDzU2c4AYHYFPXMCbwlF04UtQwr7s7Lwy0I-0_6U7ysuBQZFIs5VyT4BhU8bIX1Ra67JxFiChnMM4aTQagtccX4DOA/w640-h346/7.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VK 20.01 (M), the favoured design of the 6th Department.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">There were three pretenders to the throne of the Z.W.38 by the start of 1941: two "legitimate" ones from MAN and Krupp and an outsider from Daimler-Benz. It seemed that MAN and Krupp's tanks would have a higher chance of success, but it was not so simple. Daimler-Benz had their own very powerful engine supply chain as well as significant tank building experience. Of course, their suspension was outright poor, since it took up a lot of space and service would have been a headache. Nevertheless, the first MB 809 engine was started in February of 1941 and a month later it was installed in a VK 20.01 (D) prototype with serial number 30009. The serial number should not be surprising, as it was only one of a series of experimental vehicles. It is often said that only one chassis was built, but photos from 1945 show two.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhga--k7GAUqF_ghrM0WlKobqQgtUkM5HLOc7EOG7ZaBmw7vZI08g6ss6YmoCcNAW55DClDxVqbSc63zuXVTAxwZsxZzg9oYaq6MDDJmT4n6C7lUrNWMFcrYoTD638cPTP5aUw1OiPExClO9syCi-RMxJgTYbDLKBoEvPvW7W-WkWi6g0Lvy3YyRb7TVg/s1024/8.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhga--k7GAUqF_ghrM0WlKobqQgtUkM5HLOc7EOG7ZaBmw7vZI08g6ss6YmoCcNAW55DClDxVqbSc63zuXVTAxwZsxZzg9oYaq6MDDJmT4n6C7lUrNWMFcrYoTD638cPTP5aUw1OiPExClO9syCi-RMxJgTYbDLKBoEvPvW7W-WkWi6g0Lvy3YyRb7TVg/w640-h426/8.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final configuration of the VK 20 tanks would have had a 50 mm KwK 39 L/60 gun.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Work on the tanks continued at a rapid pace. Krupp received an order for a turret in late 1940, initially with the requirement to fit the 50 mm KwK 38 L/42 gun. The turret had 50 mm of front armour and 30 mm of side armour. There is no detailed information on this turret, but it's shown in the VK 20.01 (M) diagram. Krupp and MAN also received an order for 12 pilot tanks in addition to prototypes. The 50 mm KwK 39 L/60 appeared in March of 1941, although its arrival changed little. The VK 20.01 (K) also evolved into the heavier VK 23.01 (K). All this development never left paper. As for the VK 20.01 (D), it continued to rack up mileage. The 22.25 ton tank reached a speed of 50 kph. Despite the poor suspension, the chassis was quite good and had a reserve of weight. The VK 20.01 (D) had 440 mm wide tracks and a decent ground pressure. This came in handy during winter trials.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p1s3MJPcnR8PZQG1wS2_YlmNLYUqmWIz6IaJkFIgunojr0xylh5TnKnKCA7_-VHndJa8Qpdk1PVMtmLs-vdL4xRqNkU1Vdg30IZFnnNjFLhEWc8kH-j8Q5p2zB2hr2Rw1I-JqHS_4QDtuumcNcyiQbEZ2997lMPGglog6ML5Y7MPnLtBtZE2j1JrzQ/s1024/9.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1024" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p1s3MJPcnR8PZQG1wS2_YlmNLYUqmWIz6IaJkFIgunojr0xylh5TnKnKCA7_-VHndJa8Qpdk1PVMtmLs-vdL4xRqNkU1Vdg30IZFnnNjFLhEWc8kH-j8Q5p2zB2hr2Rw1I-JqHS_4QDtuumcNcyiQbEZ2997lMPGglog6ML5Y7MPnLtBtZE2j1JrzQ/w640-h404/9.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VK 24.01 (M), the last attempt at saving the 20 ton tank.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The situation did not change much by the fall of 1941 MAN reported that the chassis is ready, but is awaiting transmission elements. Their designers continued to polish the VK 23.01 (K) and other variants of the tank, pessimistically pointing to one or another reason for delays. The VK 20.01 (D) was a clear leader, despite Kniepkamp's protests. Ironically, production of the Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J began in the spring of 1941. It had the same armour and received the 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 by the end of the year. Compared to this tank, the 20 ton series did not look like a step forward. Finally, the Tank Commission along with Ferdinand Porsche visited Mtsensk on November 18th, 1941. <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/06/germany-and-t-34.html">A review of the KV-1 and T-34</a> resulted in a pessimistic evaluation: even Germany's prospective tanks were obsolete.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5SgK2bM1EvwG5UyqYsI5j2HRQg7LcpuU9ME9lkPYLomfEYF-oZinDJEu9lxf7yCLaXdQXA9MqjoHV2dJWy5EEE-xkaxiiKI2wHE-WaXbCqhb-g6DmNI0DHK-9P7Mc9gGUjGEa-dsyqYSoBCuMuU4Gustj9XlXscRje1iwYr4DgRknyadzvg_9-qMBg/s1024/10.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1024" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5SgK2bM1EvwG5UyqYsI5j2HRQg7LcpuU9ME9lkPYLomfEYF-oZinDJEu9lxf7yCLaXdQXA9MqjoHV2dJWy5EEE-xkaxiiKI2wHE-WaXbCqhb-g6DmNI0DHK-9P7Mc9gGUjGEa-dsyqYSoBCuMuU4Gustj9XlXscRje1iwYr4DgRknyadzvg_9-qMBg/w640-h444/10.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two VK 20.01 (D) test chassis (indicated by arrows) and a VK 30.01 (D), 1945.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The VK 24.01 (M) was the last attempt to rescue the VK 20. This name was given to a 24 ton tank with sloped armour presented by MAN on November 25th, 1941. This variant did not live for long. The 20 ton tank class vanished by the end of December. In this time, the first German tank chassis to carry a tank engine had travelled for 6163 km. This story with 20 ton tanks is infrequently remembered, which is a shame. These tanks were a part of the same wave as the T-34 or Medium Tank M4, but some of the projects were successful and some not. The next wave was the opposite. The <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/06/an-intermediate-step.html">T-43</a> and <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2021/04/on-way-to-pershing.html">Medium Tanks T20/T22/23</a> were not successful while the German <a href="https://www.tankarchives.ca/2020/08/panthers-ancestors.html">Panther</a> did a lot better.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://dzen.ru/a/Ysr95f-zezUEV0aQ">Original article by Yuri Pasholok.</a></div><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.com0