T-34-85 tank

T-34 (size thirty-four) is a medium tank from the period of World War II, the first modern (diesel) tank in the world to be mass-produced. It was produced in series from 1940 and was the main tank of the Red Army until the first half of 1944, when it was replaced by the T-34-85 modification.

It is the most mass-produced medium tank of World War II.

It was developed by the design bureau of the tank department of the Kharkiv Plant No. 183 under the leadership of M.I. Koshkin. The success of the project was due to the use of the latest, highly efficient V-2 diesel engine, which allowed the medium armored T-34 to inherit an extremely high specific power (the ratio of engine power to combat weight) from the light armored BT. This provided the T-34 tank with an absolute advantage in cross-country ability, maneuverability, mobility, as well as weight reserve for modernization, taking into account the accumulated combat experience. From 1942 to 1945, the main mass production of the T-34 was deployed at powerful machine-building plants in the Urals and Siberia and continued in the post-war years.

The leading factory for the modification of the T-34 was the Ural Tank Factory No. 183. The last modification (T-34-85) is still in service with some countries.

The T-34 tank had a huge impact on the outcome of the war and the further development of world tank building. Due to its combat qualities, the T-34 was recognized by many experts and military experts as one of the best tanks of World War II. The T-34 tank is the most famous Soviet tank and one of the most recognizable symbols of World War II. To this day, many of these tanks of different modifications have been preserved as monuments and museum exhibits. The order to put the T-34 into mass production was signed by the Defense Committee on March 31, 1940, and the adopted protocolof the order stipulated its immediate production at plants No. 183 and STZ. By June 22, 1941, 1066 T-34 tanks had been produced. On July 1, 1941, by order №1 of the State Defense Committee, the plan for the production of T-34 tanks at Plant №183 and Stalingrad Tractor Factory was significantly increased, and Gorky Factory №112 (“Red Sormovo”) was additionally involved. Further development of the T-34 tank was planned in two directions – “minor” and “major” modernization. The minor modernization involved the elimination of identified shortcomings and was carried out on serial machines. The major modernization referred to scientific research aimed at creating a T-34 tank model with an expanded turret, that has a commander's cupola, reinforced armor, and a new torsion bar suspension (instead of the Christie suspension).

In 1943, due to the massive appearance of new models of German armored vehicles with reinforced armor, the effectiveness of the T-34's 76.2mm tank guns immediately became insufficient. This forced the search for ways to improve the combat qualities of the T-34. After working out several options, the T-34-85, equipped with a new 85mm caliber S-53 gun, was launched into serial production in 1944. The crew increased from 4 to 5 people, and the tank received a new turret with reinforced armor and more convenience for the crew and commander.