Sunday 9 February 2014

Proposed Soviet Heavy Tanks, Spring 1941

The USSR was developing tons of heavy tanks before the start of the war, with very many variations on possible designs of the KV-4 and KV-5. The characteristics of the final designs are summarized in this table.


Tank Name

T-44

KV-3

KV-4

KV-5

Mass (tons)

29.5

68

75

90

Armour (mm)

Front

75

120

130

170

Side

60

90

125

150

Top and bottom

30 and 23

40 and 30

50

50

Armament

Gun

1 76 mm or

1 107 mm

1 107 mm

1 107 mm

Gun

1 57 mm










Machineguns

3

2

2

2

Ammunition

Shells

100

50

100

100

Bullets

6000










Engine power (hp)

600

850

1200

1200

Maximum speed (kph)

55-60

30

30

30

Fuel capacity (hours)

10

10

10

10

Crew

4-5

6

6-8

6-8

The T-44 is, of course, not the late-war medium tank, but the pre-war medium/heavy tank, more commonly known as the A-44. 

Eagle-eyed readers may detect some mystery in this table. Take a look at the KV-4 column. One gun, 90 tons, 170 mm of front armour, 35 kph top speed? This isn't Shashmurin's project, the one he claimed won the tender in his memoirs! 

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