Wednesday 20 August 2014

T-34 Bug Report

Since tank engineers aren't going to be riding their creations into battle (well, not usually), they are going to miss small things that are obvious to tankers, especially when this is a new factory that is producing the tanks. Here's one such instance.

"List of suggestions for the T-34 tank composed at the technical conference of the 85th Independent Tank Brigade
  1. Engine compartment
    1. Pay attention to the processing and installation of hoses in the oil system. All new vehicles have leaks that lead to loss of pressure.
    2. Tanks that come from Gorkiy factory do not have steam redirection valves installed in the cooling system. This means that water cannot be drained.
    3. The fuel system distribution valve nut is too small. It is necessary to increase the size of the nut to make it match the supplied wrench.
    4. Gorkiy factory tanks have low quality steam pipes. Over 220 km, 18 have burst.
    5. Gorkiy factory tanks have low quality block head liners. Of the 32 tanks in the brigade, 5 have been punctured.
    6. The assembly quality of tanks coming from the Gorkiy factory is low. Fuses are not fully inserted, engine anchor bolts can be turned with a regular wrench, etc.
    7. The air exhaust valve is too low, this does not let the driver observe the appearance of fuel in it, and leads to fuel leaking into the fighting compartment. Raise the valve 60-80 cm.
  2. Suspension:
    1. The idler teeth are too small, after several readjustments it holds tracks poorly. Make the teeth bigger.
    2. Tanks that came from the Gorkiy factory do not have spikes for driving on ice. These are necessary.
    3. Strikes at the idler crankshaft can bend it. Strengthen the crankshaft.
    4. Tagil factory vehicles have very soft suspension springs, and the tanks shake, this impedes fire.
  3. Fighting compartment:
    1. Tanks don't have an AA machinegun mount. It is necessary to have a mount like the English Matilda tank, using the spare DT machinegun in an AA role.
    2. The hatch springs are weak, reinforce them.
    3. It is necessary to include a key to set the timers on shrapnel shells.
    4. Install a throat microphone in the tank instead of a regular microphone, this will free up the commander's hands and will let him have more clear communication within the tank (without interference from a working engine).
    5. The lower trigger mechanism is inconvenient as it can hit the driver when turning the turret.
    6. The battery wires come in contact with the oil pipes in motion, the insulation rubs off, and the wires spark.
    7.  The commander needs a rangefinder to correct fire. 
  4. Transmission compartment:
    1. TPU wires pass by the friction clutch levers and get in the way in fighting conditions. Move the wires so that they do not get in the way of the driver's arms.
    2. Gorkiy factory tanks have their final drive calibration locked with two bolts. This is inconvenient, as it is hard to get to the bottom one. Alter the design such that there is only one bolt, like on the Stalingrad factory tanks.
  5. Driving compartment:
    1. The tanks used to have periscopes on the side of the driver's compartment to observe terrain. These periscopes are no longer installed, and the driver cannot look to the sides. It is necessary to keep using the periscopes.
    2. During road marches, the driver's hatch is open. In order to protect him from rain, snow, and dust, it is necessary to have a removable plastic shield like on the T-70.
    3. Redesign the antenna, make it extendable like on the KV tank. The shockwave and debris from bombs can knock it off.
    4. Tanks are poorly equipped with instruments, missing pliers, oil cans, wrenches, and some tools are of poor quality. For instance, the track tightening wrench is weak and bends.
Technical Department Chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Vasilyev"

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