Today we will talk about legendary tank Great Patriotic War, which was developed in Kharkov, under the leadership of Koshkin M.I. - T-34. It was produced since 1940, and already in 1944 it became the main medium tank of the USSR. It is also the most massive ST of the Second World War.

T-34

Crew
The crew of the tank consists of 4 people (driver, gunner-radio operator, loader and commander), in a word, the classic layout.


Frame
The hull itself ST - T34, welded and assembled from rolled plates and sheets of homogeneous steel. The thickness reached from 13 to 45 mm. The armor protection of the tank is projectile-proof, equally strong, made with rational angles of inclination, but the frontal part was made of armor plates converging in a wedge 45 mm thick: the upper one, located at an angle of 60 ° to the vertical and the lower one, located at an angle of 53 °.


Tower
The tank turret was double. On the T-34 of the first issues, a welded tower made of rolled plates and sheets was installed. The walls of the tower were made of 45-mm armor plates, located at an angle of 30 °, the forehead of the tower was a 45-mm, curved in the shape of a half cylinder, a plate with cutouts for installing a gun, machine gun and sight. However, starting from 1942, the towers began to be produced in an improved form, which was distinguished by a greater width, a smaller inclination of the sides and stern. (“Hexagonal” or “nut towers”)


Armament
The T-34 was mainly equipped with a 76 mm gun - 30.5 calibers / 2324 mm, starting speed armor-piercing projectile - 612 m / s.


However, in 1941 it was replaced by a 76 mm cannon - 41.5 calibers / 3162 mm, and the muzzle velocity of an armor-piercing projectile - 662 m/s.


Both guns used the same ammunition. The ammunition load of the gun on the T-34 of the 1940-1942 release consisted of 77 shots, placed in suitcases on the floor of the fighting compartment and in stacks on its walls. On the T-34 produced in 1942-1944 with an "improved turret", the ammunition load was increased to 100 rounds. The ammunition could include shots with caliber, sub-caliber armor-piercing, high-explosive fragmentation, shrapnel and grapeshot shells.


Auxiliary armament of the tank consisted of two 7.62 mm DT machine guns.


walkie-talkie
Initially, the T-34 began to install a short-wave telephone radio station 71-TK-3, but a little later it was replaced with a newer 9-P, which could provide a communication range of as much as 15-25 km while standing still, and when moving, the range decreased to 9 -18 km by phone. It is worth noting that since 1943, 9-R was replaced by 9-RM, which worked in an extended frequency range.
71-TK-3


9-R


Engine
The engine was the same - V-shaped 12-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine liquid cooling model B-2-34. The maximum engine power is 500 hp. With. at 1800 rpm, nominal - 450 l. With. at 1750 rpm, operational - 400 l. With. at 1700 rpm. However, due to the shortage of V-2 engines, 1201 of the T-34s produced in 1941-1942 were equipped with M-17T or M-17F carburetor aircraft engines of the same power.


Chassis
For the chassis, they took the Christie suspension, which was taken from the BT series of tanks. It consisted of 5 double road wheels, the diameter of which was 830mm. The caterpillars of this ST were steel, which consisted of alternating ridge and "flat" tracks.


The legendary T-34 tank was recognized best tank World War II, which had a huge impact on the outcome of the war. What is most interesting, the T-34 was released even with a different gun - a flamethrower, which could burn everything up to 100m in its path.



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T-34-85 is a Soviet medium tank times of the Great Patriotic War, the final modification of the T-34.

History of the T-34-85

By the second half of 1943, the most important soviet tank The T-34 was significantly inferior to enemy tanks. Although the Red Army managed to win in Battle of Kursk, but this was done mainly due to numerical superiority and personal courage, but not due to technical advantage. The victory cost Soviet troops very expensive, and it was obvious - you need new tank, more armored and with a more powerful gun.

By that time, the T-43 tank had already been created, surpassing the T-34 in a number of parameters. However, it turned out that to install a more powerful 85-mm cannon on it, which would be ideal for breaking through German tanks, impossible - the tank would become too heavy. So work on the T-43 was stopped, instead providing a new T-34 gun and creating the final modification - T-34-85.

The T-34-85 was distinguished not only by a more powerful gun, but also by enhanced armor, as well as additional fuel tanks. Because of all this, the tank began to weigh 32 tons, but its speed and maneuverability did not change.

In December 1943, the T-34-85 entered mass production, and already at the end of January 1944 it began to be used in battles. The tank was produced until 1958, including for export. In total, more than 35 thousand T-34-85 units were produced.

TTX T-34-85

general information

  • Classification - medium tank;
  • Combat weight - 32.2 tons;
  • The layout scheme is classic;
  • Crew - 5 people;
  • Years of production - 1943-1958;
  • Years of operation - 1944 to 1993 (officially in the USSR and the Russian Federation);
  • The number of issued - more than 35,000 pieces.

Dimensions

  • Case length - 6100 mm;
  • Length with gun forward - 8100 mm;
  • Hull width - 3000 mm;
  • Height - 2700 mm;
  • Clearance - 400 m.

Booking

  • Type of armor - steel rolled homogeneous;
  • Forehead of the hull (top and bottom) - 45 / 60 ° mm / hail;
  • Hull board (top) - 45 / 40 ° mm / hail;
  • Hull board (bottom) - 45 / 0 ° mm / hail;
  • Hull feed (top) - 45 / 48 ° mm / hail;
  • Hull feed (bottom) - 45 / 45 ° mm / hail;
  • Bottom - 20 mm;
  • Hull roof - 20 mm;
  • Tower forehead - 90 mm;
  • Gun mask - 40 mm;
  • The side of the tower - 75 / 20 ° mm / hail;
  • Tower feed - 52 / 10 ° mm / hail;
  • Tower roof - 15-20 mm.

Armament

  • The caliber and brand of the gun is 85 mm ZIS-S-53;
  • Gun type - rifled;
  • Barrel length - 54.6 calibers;
  • Gun ammunition - 56-60;
  • Angles VN- 5 ... + 22 degrees;
  • GN angles - 360 degrees. (manual turning mechanism or electromechanical drive);
  • Sights - telescopic articulated TSh-16, periscope PTK-5, side level;
  • Machine guns - 2 × 7.62 mm DT-29.

Mobility

  • Engine type - V-shaped 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel with direct injection;
  • Engine power - 500 hp;
  • Highway speed - 55 km / h;
  • Cross-country speed - 25 km / h;
  • Power reserve on the highway - 250 km;
  • Power reserve over rough terrain - 220 km;
  • Specific power - 15.6 hp / t;
  • Suspension type - Christie suspension;
  • Specific ground pressure - 0.83 kg / cm²;
  • Climbability — 30°;
  • Overcoming wall - 0.75 m;
  • Crossable moat - 3.4 m;
  • Crossable ford - 1.3 m.

Modifications

  • T-34-85 1943. Few serial modification with a new triple turret and 85 mm D-5-T85 gun. It was produced from January to March due to the unsatisfactory placement of the S-53 gun in the original turret;
  • T-34-85. Main serial modification with 85-mm gun ZIS-S-53;
  • OT-34-85. Instead of a course machine gun, he had an ATO-42 piston flamethrower;
  • T-34-85 of 1947 with a new V-2-34M engine, a new radio station and optical instruments;
  • T-34-85 of 1960 with a 520 hp V-54 or V-55 engine, redesigned interior, new electronic equipment, new radio station, increased ammunition load and undercarriage from the T-55;
  • PT-34 is a tank trawl created on the basis of the T-34 of 1943.

Application

T-34-85 began to enter the troops in February 1944. Unfortunately, the first tank battles were not very successful - the crews were not given time for retraining, and very few tanks were provided.

One of the first T-34-85s was received by the 38th Tank Regiment, which also had OT-34s, flamethrower tanks based on the T-34. In March 1944 this regiment became part of 53-1 combined arms army and participated in the liberation of Ukraine, where, in fact, the T-34-85 were first used on a large scale.

When the attack on Belarus began in June 1944, about four hundred T-34-85s took part in it. However, they were used much more massively in 1945, for example, in the battle at Lake Balaton and in the Berlin operation.

By the middle of 1945, Soviet tank divisions on Far East mainly had outdated equipment - light tanks BT-5, BT-7 and T-26. When the war with Japan began, 670 T-34-85s were sent there. Thus, these tanks actively participated in the defeat of the Kwantung Army, acting as the main strike force of tank units.

When even the power of the 85-mm gun was not enough to break through the armor enemy tanks, began work on the T-34-100, as well as on the T-44. As a result, all of them led to the appearance of the T-54 tank, which replaced the T-34-85 in the first years after the war. However, the service of this tank did not end - he actively participated in Korean War, in wars in former Yugoslavia and Arab-Israeli wars. Officially, this tank was in service until 1993, and in some countries it is still in service!

The T-34-85 once took part in an interesting event in the 21st century. When there were anti-government demonstrations in Budapest in October 2006, demonstrators were able to launch museum T-34-85s along with BTR-152s, and used the vehicles in clashes with law enforcement officials.

tank memory

T-34-85 is one of the most popular tanks of the Great Patriotic War. Although most people have only heard of the T-34 tank, many museums have copies of the T-34-85. Also, it is this tank that most often stands on pedestals in many cities of Russia: in Novokuznetsk, Voronezh, Kharkov, Nizhny Novgorod and a number of others.

Tank in culture

The T-34-85 tank was widely reflected in culture, and they were often replaced by earlier T-34s, since it was not possible to find the originals.

Movies

There are quite a few films with the participation of the T-34-85. The most famous of them:

  • Chief designer. A film about the creation of the T-34, in which the T-34-85 was shot instead of this tank;
  • Fall of Berlin;
  • In war as in war;
  • The epic film "Liberation";
  • Hot Snow;
  • Eternal Call;
  • Four tankers and a dog (despite the fact that in the course of the series the crew fights first on the T-34, and then on the T-34-85, the T-35-85 was shot all the time in the film with minor alterations);
  • White tiger;
  • Rescue Private Ryan. There is no mention of the T-34-85 here, however, it was these tanks that were camouflaged under the PzKpfw VI "Tiger" appearing in the plot.

Games

T-34-85 appears in many games about the Second world war, such as Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45, World War II, Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory, and Sudden Strike: The Last Stand", "Call of Duty", "Blitzkrieg" as well as in the games "World of Tanks" and "".

Other

T-34-85 due to its popularity was produced by many different companies in the form of models. also in Soviet time this tank hit the postage stamps.

Chapter Two
COMPOSITION AND DUTIES OF THE TANK CREW

Composition and placement of the crew

23. The crew of the T-34 tank consists of 4 people (Fig. 1): the gun commander, who fits on the seat to the left of the gun, at the instruments and aiming mechanisms; a driver-mechanic located in the department of management; the turret commander, who fits on the seat to the right of the gun, and the radio telegraph operator-machine gunner, who fits in the control compartment, to the right of the driver (in a tank without a radio station, to the right of the machine gunner).

24. The turret commander is the deputy tank commander.

Responsibilities of the crew

tank commander

25. The tank commander reports directly to the platoon commander. He is the head of the tank crew and is responsible for the tank, its weapons and crew in all respects.

26. The tank commander must:

a) maintain strict military discipline among the tank crew; in every possible way to achieve knowledge and performance by the crew of their duties;

b) know and maintain the tank, its armament and equipment in full and constant combat readiness, be able to shoot tank weapons perfectly and use the radio station;

c) be personally present during the disassembly and assembly of the tank mechanisms and supervise it;

d) before each exit of the tank, check the serviceability of the tank, weapons, sighting devices and special communication and control devices;

e) monitor the constant serviceability of fire extinguishers;

f) monitor tank and entrenching tools, camouflage and chemical equipment and spare parts, ensuring their completeness and full serviceability;

g) maintain a tank form.

27. On the march, the tank commander must:

a) study before the start) of the march the route of movement, its features and the most difficult sections;

b) receive and execute signals and commands transmitted by the platoon commander, traffic controllers and tanks in front;

c) manage the work of the driver (change of speed and distance, change of direction, etc.);

d) organize continuous ground surveillance and, at the direction of the platoon commander, air surveillance; be in constant readiness to repulse enemy tank and air attacks;

e) maintain marching discipline;

f) at all stops, stop the tank on the right side of the road, at a distance of at least 15 m from the tank in front, disguise it and report to the platoon commander about the condition of the tank (oil pressure, temperature, presence of fuel and lubricants, etc.);

g) in the event of an accident, move the tank to the right side of the road, give a signal about the accident and take measures to quickly eliminate the malfunctions that caused the accident.

28. Before the battle, the tank commander must:

a) receive a task from the platoon commander, understand it and know your place in order of battle;

b) study the battlefield, combat course and objects of action; if there is time, draw up a tank card with anti-tank obstacles, targets and landmarks;

c) put the crew combat mission on the ground; indicate the combat course of the platoon and the first object of attack on local subjects;

d) establish observation of the signals of the platoon commander before the battle and in the battle;

e) place the tank at the starting position in accordance with the assigned task, dig it in and mask it from ground and air surveillance, ensure its unhindered entry into battle; be in constant readiness to repulse a surprise enemy attack;

f) ensure the timely bringing of the tank to combat readiness, check the availability of ammunition, fuel and lubricants and food and take measures to replenish them;

g) check the combat coherence of the crew and knowledge of communication signals with the platoon commander, with neighboring units; set for the crew (if necessary) special sectors and objects of observation.

29. In battle, the tank commander must:

a) maintain a place in battle order, control the movement of the tank and carry out the assigned task;

b) continuously reconnoiter the battlefield, search for targets, receive observation reports from the crew, apply to the terrain on the move, using shelters for firing and maneuvering; upon detection of difficult terrain and minefields bypass them and warn neighboring tanks about them with signals;

c) to fire from a cannon and a machine gun at the detected targets, as well as at the places of their probable location;

d) observe the tank) of the platoon commander, his signals and signs, help neighboring tanks with fire in case of a direct threat from the enemy;

e) upon detection of OV, order the tank crew to put on gas masks;

f) in the event of failure of other tanks of the platoon, join another platoon of the company and continue the battle without ceasing fire;

g) in case of a forced stop, take measures to restore the tank and report this to the platoon commander;

h) in cases where it is impossible to withdraw an emergency or wrecked tank from the battlefield,

drop it with fire from a place, using the help of neighboring tanks and jointly operating units of other branches of the armed forces; under no circumstances leave the tank and give it to the enemy;

i) withdraw from the battle only on the orders of the senior commander; when exiting under enemy fire, seek to withdraw the tank in reverse to the nearest shelter; upon detection of an emergency or wrecked tank, tow it from the battlefield.

30. After the battle (march), the tank commander must:

a) on the instructions of the platoon commander (if there was no instruction, then independently) to position and camouflage the tank and organize observation;

b) bring the tank and its weapons to full combat readiness; in case of contamination of the OM tank, degas it;

c) report to the platoon commander on their combat operations, on the condition of the tank, crew, weapons and ammunition.

Driver mechanic

31. The driver is subordinate to the tank commander, directly controls the movement of the tank and is responsible for its complete readiness for movement. He is obliged:

a) know the material part of the tank perfectly and be able to drive it in various conditions;

d) fill the tank with fuel and lubricants in a timely manner;

e) keep records of consumable fuels and lubricants and spare parts of the tank;

e) timely inspections, prevent breakdowns and malfunctions, eliminate them and report to the tank commander;

g) personally participate in the repair of the tank;

h) keep records of the operation of the tank engine (in hours).

32. On a hike, the driver must:

a) study the route;

b) drive the tank according to the instructions of the tank commander, taking into account the conditions of the terrain and striving to preserve it as much as possible for combat;

c) monitor the operation of the engine, transmission, running gear and control devices;

d) conduct forward surveillance, receive signals and commands from the tank ahead, report everything seen to the tank commander;

e) observe march discipline, distances and intervals, keep to the right side of the road;

f) leave the tank only at the command of the tank commander;

g) at stops, inspect the material part and check the presence of fuel, oil and water temperature and report the results of the inspection to the tank commander, immediately eliminating all noticed malfunctions.

33. Before the battle, the driver must:

a) know the task of the platoon and company, determine the nature of the impending obstacles and outline ways to overcome them;

b) finally make sure that the tank is fully ready for battle;

c) whenever possible, refuel the tank with fuel and lubricants:

d) study the signals established for communication with the platoon commander and units of other military branches.

34. In combat, the driver must:

a) drive the tank along the indicated combat course, observe distances and intervals, apply to the terrain and ensure best conditions for firing;

b) continuously reconnoiter the battlefield, report to the tank commander about everything noticed, about advantageous places for firing and about its results;

c) carefully observe the terrain ahead in order to timely detect natural and artificial obstacles: swamps, minefields, etc., quickly find ways and means to bypass and overcome them.

d) in the event of a tank accident on the battlefield, take measures to quickly restore it, despite the danger.

35. After the battle, the driver must:

a) inspect the tank, install it technical condition, determine troubleshooting methods, report to the tank commander about all noticed malfunctions and quickly bring the tank to full combat readiness;

b) determine the presence of fuels and lubricants and take measures for the immediate refueling of the tank.

Tower Commander

36. The turret commander reports to the tank commander and is responsible for the condition and constant combat readiness of all weapons. He is obliged:

a) know perfectly all the armament of the tank (cannon, coaxial and spare machine guns, ammunition, optics, fighting compartment equipment, tools)

ment, spare parts for weapons, etc.) and keep it in full combat readiness;

b) be able to shoot perfectly with tank weapons, deftly and quickly prepare ammunition for firing, load cannon and machine guns and eliminate delays in firing;

c) systematically check the condition of weapons, aiming and observation devices and recoil devices;

d) always know the number of available BBG supplies and the procedure for their placement, prepare and stack them; keep records of expended ammunition, replenishing them immediately whenever possible;

e) immediately take measures to eliminate all observed malfunctions of weapons and report this to the tank commander;

g) maintain a weapons log.

37. On a campaign, the tower commander must:

a) conduct surveillance in your sector, immediately reporting to the tank commander about everything noticed;

b) receive and report to the tank commander the commands and signals given by the platoon commander, traffic controllers and tanks in front;

c) together with the rest of the crew, camouflage the tank at halts as directed by the tank commander;

d) leave the tank only at the command of the tank commander. 38. Before the battle, the tower commander must:

b) finally make sure that the cannon, coaxial and spare machine guns and ammunition are ready for battle

tank supplies and report to the tank commander;

c) prepare ammunition in order to provide more convenient loading during the battle;

d) together with the rest of the crew, dig in and disguise the tank from ground and air surveillance;

e) study the signals established for communication with the platoon leader and jointly operating units.

39. In battle, the tower commander must:

a) quickly load the cannon and coaxial machine gun in accordance with the commands of the tank commander and report on readiness;

b) monitor the operation of the cannon and the coaxial machine gun during firing, report to the tank commander about the observed malfunctions, eliminating delays when firing a machine gun, and help the tank commander eliminate delays when firing a cannon;

c) conduct continuous monitoring of the battlefield in their sector, look for targets, monitor the tank, the platoon commander and report to the tank commander about everything noticed;

d) prepare ammunition for firing, first removing them from the most remote places the fighting compartment, free the cannon and machine gun sleeves from the shells;

e) keep records of the consumption of shells and cartridges, report to the tank commander on the consumption of 25, 50 and 75% of the combat set;

e) give signals on the orders of the tank commander.

40. After the battle, the tower commander must:

a) put in order weapons, instruments

aiming, observation, aiming and fighting compartment of the tank;

b) take into account the rest of the ammunition, collect and hand over the shells, replenish the ammunition to the norm;

c) report to the tank commander on the state of weapons and ammunition.

Radiotelegraph operator-machine gunner

41. Radiotelegrapher-machine gunner reports to the tank commander. He is obliged:

a) have a good knowledge of radio equipment and devices intercom tank, keep them in constant readiness;

c) constantly know the communication scheme, be able to quickly enter radio communications and work in radio networks; observe the discipline of radio traffic;

d) know the communication signals with other branches of the military;

e) know the machine gun and be able to fire from it with distinction; keep the machine gun always clean, in good working order and in full combat readiness,

42. On a hike, a radiotelegraph operator-machine gunner must:

a) make sure that the radio station is constantly working "for reception", and continuously be on duty with her headphones on (unless there is a special order);

b) report all received signals and commands to the tank commander;

c) switch "to transmission" only with the permission of the tank commander;

d) monitor the operation of the internal communication, if a malfunction is detected, quickly take corrective measures;

e) get out of the tank at stops only with the permission of the tank commander and after handing over the headphones to one of the tank crew on his order.

43. Before the battle, the radio telegraph operator-machine gunner must:

a) know the task of the platoon and company;

b) finally make sure that the radio station and intercom devices are fully ready;

c) study the scheme and signals of radio communication with active parts, to have a table of signals constantly at the radio station;

d) check the readiness of the front machine gun for firing, the presence and stacking of magazines in the control compartment.

44. In battle, a radiotelegraph operator-machine gunner must:

a) continuously on duty at the radio station with headphones on; maintain uninterrupted communication with radio stations according to the radio communication scheme;

b) transmit, at the direction of the tank commander, reports and orders and report to him on all reports and orders received;

c) conduct forward surveillance and report everything seen to the tank commander;

d) be constantly ready to open fire from a machine gun on detected targets.

45. After the battle, the radiotelegraph operator-machine gunner must:

a) bring to full order radio equipment, tank intercom devices and a machine gun;

b) report to the tank commander on the state of the radio station, communications equipment and machine gun.

The T-34-85 tank was developed and put into service in December 1943 in connection with the appearance of enemy T-V"Panther" and T-VI "Tiger" with strong anti-ballistic armor and powerful weapons. The T-34-85 was created on the basis of the T-34 tank with the installation of a new cast turret with an 85-mm gun.

On the first production vehicles, an 85-mm D-5T cannon was installed, which was subsequently replaced by a ZIS-S-53 cannon of the same caliber. Its armor-piercing projectile weighing 9.2 kg from a distance of 500 and 1000 meters pierced 111-mm and 102-mm armor, respectively, and a sub-caliber projectile from a distance of 500 meters pierced armor 138 mm thick. (The thickness of the Panther's armor was 80 - 110 mm, and the "Tiger" - 100 mm.) A fixed commander's turret with viewing devices was installed on the roof of the tower. All vehicles were equipped with a 9RS radio station, a TSh-16 sight, and means for setting smoke screens. Although due to the installation of a more powerful gun and increased armor protection, the weight of the tank increased slightly, thanks to the powerful diesel engine, the tank's mobility did not decrease. The tank was widely used in all the battles of the final stage of the war.

Description of the design of the T-34-85 tank

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION.
On the T-34-85 tank, a 12-cylinder four-stroke uncompressed diesel V-2-34 was installed. The rated power of the engine was 450 hp. at 1750 rpm, operational - 400 hp at 1700 rpm, maximum - 500 hp at 1800 rpm. The mass of a dry engine with an electric generator without exhaust manifolds is 750 kg.
Fuel - diesel, brand DT. Fuel tank capacity 545 l. Outside, on the sides of the hull, two fuel tanks of 90 liters each were installed. External fuel tanks were not connected to the engine power system. The fuel supply is forced, using the fuel pump NK-1.

The cooling system is liquid, closed, with forced circulation. Radiators - two, tubular, installed on both sides of the engine with an inclination towards it. Radiator capacity 95 l. To clean the air entering the engine cylinders, two Multicyclone air cleaners were installed. The engine was started by an electric starter or compressed air (two cylinders were installed in the control compartment).

The transmission consisted of a multi-disk main clutch of dry friction (steel on steel), a gearbox, side clutches, brakes and final drives. Gearbox - five-speed.

CHASSIS.
As applied to one side, it consisted of five double rubber-coated road wheels with a diameter of 830 mm. Suspension - individual, spring. The rear drive wheels had six rollers for engagement with the ridges of the caterpillar tracks. The guide wheels are cast, with a crank mechanism for tensioning the tracks. Caterpillars - steel, small-link, with ridge engagement, 72 tracks in each (36 with a ridge and 36 without a ridge). Track width 500 mm, track pitch 172 mm. The mass of one caterpillar is 1150 kg.

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.
Made in single wire. Voltage 24 and 12 V. Consumers: electric starter ST-700, electric motor of the slewing mechanism of the tower, electric motors of fans, control devices, equipment for external and internal lighting, electric signal, radio station umformer and TPU lamps.

MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.
The T-34-85 was equipped with a short-wave transceiver simplex telephone radio station 9-RS and an internal tank intercom TPU-3-bisF.

From the history of the creation (modernization) of the medium tank T-34-85

The production of the T-34 tank armed with an 85-mm cannon began in the fall of 1943 at the plant number 112 "Krasnoe Sormovo". In a cast triple tower new form an 85-mm D-5T gun designed by F.F. Petrov and a DT machine gun coaxial with it were installed. The turret ring diameter was increased from 1420 mm to 1600 mm. On the roof of the tower there was a commander's cupola, the double-leaf cover of which rotated on a ball bearing. A viewing periscope device MK-4 was fixed in the lid, which made it possible to conduct a circular one. For firing from a cannon and a coaxial machine gun, a telescopic articulated sight and a PTK-5 panorama were installed. Ammunition consisted of 56 rounds and 1953 rounds. The radio station was located in the hull, and the output of its antenna was on the starboard side - just like the T-34-76. Power point, transmission and chassis practically did not change.

Crew

Weight

Length

Height

Armor

Engine

Speed

A gun

Caliber

people

mm

hp

km/h

mm

T-34 mod. 1941

26,8

5,95

L-11

T-34 mod. 1943

30,9

6,62

45-52

F-34

T-34-85 mod. 1945

8,10

45-90

ZIS-53

All changes to the design of the T-34 tank could only be made with the consent of two instances - the Office of the Commander of the Armored and Mechanized Troops of the Red Army and the Main Design Bureau (GKB-34) at plant No. 183 in Nizhny Tagil.

The layout of the medium tank T-34-85.

1 - gun ZIS-S-53; 2 - armored mask; 3 - telescopic sight TSh-16; 4 - gun lifting mechanism; 5 - observation device MK-4 loader; 6 - fixed gun guard; 7 - observation device MK-4 commander; 8 - glass block; 9 - folding fence (gilzoulavtvatep); 10 - fan armored cap; 11 - rack ammunition in the niche of the tower; 12 - covering tarpaulin; 13 - clamp stowage for two artillery rounds; 14 - engine; 15 - main clutch; 16 - air cleaner "Multicyclone"; 17- starter; 18 - smoke bomb BDSH; 19 - gearbox; 20 - final drive; 21 - batteries; 22 - stacking shots on the floor of the fighting compartment; 23 - gunner's seat; 24 - VKU; 25 - suspension shaft; 26 - driver's seat; 27 - laying machine-gun magazines in the department of management; 28 - clutch lever; 29 - main clutch pedal; 30 - cylinders with compressed air; 31 - driver's hatch cover; 32 - DT machine gun; 33 - collar stacking shots in the control compartment.

The TsAKB (Central Artillery Design Bureau), headed by V. G. Grabin, and the Design Bureau of Plant No. 92 in Gorky offered their versions of the 85-mm tank gun. The first developed the S-53 cannon. V. G. Grabin made an attempt to install the S-53 cannon in the T-34 turret of the 1942 model without widening the turret ring, for which the frontal part of the turret was completely redone: the cannon trunnions had to be pushed forward by 200 mm. Shooting tests at the Gorokhovetsky training ground showed the complete failure of this installation. In addition, the tests revealed design flaws both in the S-53 cannon and in the LB-85. As a result, a synthesized version, the ZIS-C-53 gun, was adopted for service and mass production. Its ballistic characteristics were identical to the D-5T gun. But the latter was already mass-produced and, in addition to the T-34, was installed in the KV-85, IS-1 and in the D-5S variant in the SU-85.

GKO Decree of January 23, 1944 tank The T-34-85 with the ZIS-S-53 cannon was adopted by the Red Army. In March, the first cars began to roll off the assembly line of the 183rd plant. On them, the commander's cupola was moved closer to the rear of the tower, which saved the gunner from having to sit literally in the commander's lap. The electric drive of the turret traverse mechanism with two speeds was replaced by an electric drive with commander's control, which ensures the turret rotation from both the gunner and the crew commander. The radio station was moved from the building to the tower. Viewing devices began to install only a new type - MK-4. The commander's panorama PTK-5 was seized. The rest of the units and systems remained largely unchanged.

Tank turret manufactured by the Krasnoye Sormovo plant.

1 - hatch cover loader; 2 - caps over fans; 3 - hole for installing a tank commander's observation device; 4 - hatch cover of the commander's cupola; 5 - commander's cupola; 6 - viewing slot; 7 - glass antenna input; 8 - handrail; 9 - hole for installing a gunner's observation device; 10 - hole for firing from personal weapons; 11 - eye; 12 - sight embrasure; 13 - visor; 14 - trunnion tide; 15 - machine gun embrasure; 16 - hole for installing the loader's observation device.

The undercarriage of the tank consisted of five rubber-coated road wheels on board, a rear drive wheel with ridge gearing and a guide wheel with a tensioner. The track rollers were suspended individually on cylindrical coil springs. The transmission included: a multi-plate main dry friction clutch, a five-speed gearbox, side clutches and final drives.

In 1945, the double hatch cover of the commander's cupola was replaced with a single-leaf one of two fans. installed in the rear of the tower, moved to its central part, which contributed to better ventilation of the fighting compartment.

The production of the T-34-85 tank was carried out at three plants: No. 183 in Nizhny Tagil No. 112 "Krasnoe Sormovo" and No. 174 in Omsk. In just three quarters of 1945 (that is, until the end of World War II), 21,048 tanks of this type were built, including the T-034-85 flamethrower version. Part of the combat vehicles was equipped with a PT-3 roller mine trawl.

General production of T-34-85 tanks

1944

1945

Total

T-34-85

10499

12110

22609

T-34-85 com.

OT-34-85

Total

10663

12551

23 214

The legendary Soviet medium tank T-34, covered with military glory, has been in service with the Red Army since December 1939. Its design marked a qualitative leap in tank building. It organically combined anti-projectile armor with powerful weapons and a reliable undercarriage. High protective properties were ensured by the use of armored thick rolled sheets and their rational inclination. In terms of armament, this tank corresponded to the best examples. heavy tanks. High mobility was provided by a specially designed powerful diesel engine and wide tracks.

During the Great Patriotic War, along with the increase in the production of tanks for the belligerent army, intensive work was carried out to improve the design of the tank and simplify the technology of its manufacture. The original welded turret was replaced with a more efficient cast hexagonal turret. The service life of the engine has been increased by the use of new air cleaners and lubricants, as well as an all-mode governor. A more advanced main clutch and the introduction of a five-speed gearbox significantly increased the speed of the tank.

The first samples of T-34 tanks, released in 1940, had the following technical characteristics:

  • Complete weight - 26 tons.
  • Crew size - 4 people.
  • Frontal armor - 45 mm, slope - 30o, tower - 52 mm with a slope of 60o, sides and stern, respectively, 45 mm and 45o, roof and bottom - 20 mm.
  • The power unit is a V-2-34 diesel engine, power 500 hp.
  • The number of high-speed gears is 5.
  • Fuel tank capacity - 450 l.
  • Armament - cannon L-11 76.2 mm, two machine guns DT 7.62 mm. Ammunition - 77 rounds and 3906 rounds.
  • Dimensions: length - 5920 mm, width - 3000 mm, height - 2410 mm.
  • Power reserve on rough terrain - 225 km.

In the year of issue of 1941, the cannon was replaced with an F-34 of the same caliber, but much more powerful. In the year of production of 1942, taking into account the shortcomings of previous models, the thickness of the armor of the hull and turret was increased to 60 mm, and additional fuel tanks were installed. Weak spots were taken into account and in the year of issue of 1943 they used a hexagonal turret with 70 mm thick armor and a commander's cupola. In the year of issue of 1944, the name of the tank changed - T-34-85. He had an enlarged tower, which already accommodated 3 people, the armor was brought up to 90 mm thick, new DTM machine guns were installed.

From the very beginning, the tank was designed according to the classical scheme: the device of the front part is the fighting compartment, including the turret, the rear part is the engine compartment and drive wheels.

The main parts of the design of the T-34 tank were:

  • The building is divided into functional areas.
  • Power plant with transmission.
  • Armament complex.
  • Means of observation.
  • Chassis.
  • Electrical equipment.
  • Means of communication.
  • Tank hull.

It was welded from rolled armor plates. The stern upper plate was fastened on two hinges, as well as bolted to the lower stern and side plates. With the bolts unscrewed, it could be folded back, which provided access to the engine. In the upper frontal plate there was a hatch for the driver, on the right - a ball mount for a machine gun. The upper side plates had a slope of 45o, the lower ones were installed vertically. Four holes were provided for the balancing axles of the road wheels.

The bottom of the hull was usually made of two sheets, which were butt-welded with an overlay on the seam. On the right, in front of the bottom, in front of the location of the machine gunner, a hatch was made for an emergency exit. Manholes were also cut through which fuel from the tanks, oil from the gearbox and engine were drained. The painting of the tank ensured its camouflage on the ground.

Inside the hull, the T-34 tank was divided into functional zones. In front was the control room. In it were a driver-mechanic with a machine gunner. Pedals and levers of control drives, sensors, control and measuring instruments. Behind the control compartment was the fighting compartment, including the turret, which housed the crew commander and gunner, and in the T-34-85 also the loader.

Power plant with transmission

This is the next functional area. She was separated from the fighting compartment by a steel removable partition. An engine was installed in the center of the power zone. On the sides are oil tanks, water radiators and batteries. A hatch with an armored cover was cut out in the roof, through which the engine was accessed. On the sides there were oblong slots for air flow. They were covered with armored blinds.

In the aft there was a transmission or power transmission compartment. This is a set of mechanisms that transmit torque on the crankshaft of the engine to the drive wheels. As a result, the speed of the tank and traction forces change over a wider range than the engine allows. When moving from a standstill, the main clutch smoothly transfers the load to the engine, smoothing drastic changes the number of revolutions of the crankshaft and the speed of the tank. Its other function is to disconnect the engine from the gearbox during gear changes.

The gearbox is mechanical, five-speed - four gears for moving forward and one for reverse. Switching - by means of a control drive. In order for the T-34 tank to turn, it was necessary to slow down the caterpillar, in the direction of which the turn is being made. The braking system was based on floating band brakes. They can be actuated from the control department. To do this, on the sides of the driver there are right and left levers, as well as foot drives.

In addition to the main clutch, gearbox, final drives and brakes, the transmission compartment also included an electric starter, fuel tanks and air cleaners. In the roof of the compartment, a rectangular duct hatch was provided, closed with a metal mesh. Under it were adjustable armored blinds. Exhaust caps and two brackets for installing smoke bombs were strengthened in the aft plate.

Armament installed on the medium tank T-43

The main armament of the T-34 tank was originally a semi-automatic 76-mm L-11 cannon of the 1939 issue with a wedge-shaped vertical bolt. In 1941, it was replaced by the F-32 cannon of the same caliber. Later, the T-34-85 tank received the 85 mm D-5T gun, and then the ZIS-S-53. The tower had the ability to rotate, so the cannon and the machine gun coaxial with it could conduct circular fire. The telescopic sight provided a direct firing range of almost 4 km, and from a closed position - up to 13.6 km. The range of destruction by a direct shot with an armor-piercing projectile reached 900 m. The tower rotated using a manual or electric drive. It was mounted on the wall near the gun. Max Speed rotation from the electric motor reached 30 degrees per second. Vertical aiming was done manually by a sectoral lifting mechanism, which was also located on the left side of the gun.

Shooting could be carried out both mechanically and electrically. Ammunition consisted of 77 shots. It was located in the aft area, on racks, as well as in clamps on the starboard side and in boxes at the bottom of the fighting compartment. Machine guns were equipped with 31 magazines with 63 rounds each. In addition to the main ammunition, tankers were provided with boxed cartridges, pistols, machine guns and grenades.

Chassis

The undercarriage of the T-34 tank was a caterpillar with suspension. They also provided high permeability. It has two caterpillar chains, two driving and guiding wheels and 10 rollers. The track chain has 72 tracks with a pitch of 172 mm and a width of 500 mm. The weight of one caterpillar is 1070 kg. Cast drive wheels served to rewind the tracks and tension them.

The suspension in the T-34 tank was with helical coil springs. The front roller has a double spring. It was located vertically in the bow and was protected by shields. For the rest of the rollers, the suspension was placed obliquely in the shafts of the tank hull. The track rollers were mounted on axles with bearings pressed into the balancers. All rollers are double with rubber tyres.

Electrical equipment

The electrical equipment of the T-34 tank included both sources and consumers of electricity, including:

  • Electric starter.
  • Electric motor for turning the turret.
  • Cooling fans.
  • Electric descent of the gun, as well as a coaxial machine gun.
  • Electric motors for the heater (it was installed in post-war tank models) and the oil pump.
  • Signaling and lighting devices.
  • Aim heater.
  • Radio station.
  • Intercom.
  • The sources of electricity included a generator and 4 batteries in pairs on both sides of the engine. The voltage in the system is 24 V, the generator power is 1 kW.

Means of communication

The telephone and telegraph radio station provided two-way communication between the tank and other objects. The range of action depended on the time of year and day. It was the largest on a telephone with a four-meter whip antenna in winter. In summer, especially at night, the level of interference increased, which reduced the communication range.

The transceiver and its power supply were attached with brackets to the rear and left sheets of the tower behind the tank commander's seat. In 1952, a radio station was installed that operated by telegraph for both reception and transmission. The intercom in the tank has been updated. Now it consisted of several devices - for the commander, gunner and driver. The device provided communication between the crew members among themselves, and for the gunner and commander - also with external respondents.

Organization of the work of the tank crew

The best option, what should be the composition of the crew of the T-34-85 tank - five people:

  • Tank commander.
  • Driver mechanic.
  • Shooter-gunner.
  • Gunner.
  • Charging.

The tank commander is seated behind the gunner, to the left of the gun. For convenience, he is served by a commander's cupola with observation devices. Tasks of the commander: review and control of the battlefield, instructions to the gunner, work with the radio station, general management of the crew.

The driver sits on a seat that can be adjusted in height. In the front sheet in front of it there is a hatch with an armored cover. Two periscopes are permanently installed in it. Their prisms are closed from below with protective glasses that protect the driver's eyes from fragments. Soft forehead pads are placed above the periscopes to protect the driver's head from possible bruises. Devices and mechanisms for the driver:

  • Control levers.
  • The rocker from the gearbox.
  • Manual fuel supply.
  • Brake.
  • Main clutch pedal.
  • Guard-indicator of control devices.
  • Two cylinders of compressed air used in air launch engine.
  • Shield of electrical appliances.
  • Tachometer.
  • Starter button.
  • Speedometer.
  • Fire extinguisher.

The machine gunner is on the right side of the driver. Its task is to fire from a machine gun inserted into the ball of the upper frontal hull plate. A special telescopic sight is used for aiming at the target. Shooting is carried out by pressing the trigger for several shots in bursts from a distance of up to 800 m. The machine gun is equipped with automatic equipment powered by powder gases.

The gunner is located in the tower, on the left side. At the direction of the commander or by choosing a target on his own, he directs the cannon and coaxial machine gun at the target. Then fires a trigger or using an electric trigger. At the disposal of the gunner there is a periscope sight that provides a fourfold increase. A cannon with a coaxial machine gun is aimed at the target by the turret traverse mechanism, as well as by raising the cannon.

The loader is located on the right side of the gun. At the direction of the commander, he chooses the type of shot, how to load the cannon, reload the coaxial machine gun, and monitors the course of the battle. His seat is suspended by three straps - two from the shoulder strap of the tower, the third - from the cradle of the gun. By changing the position of the belts, the seat is height adjustable.

To ensure urgent repairs and the necessary security measures, two cylinders of carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are installed inside the tank. Sets of spare parts, accessories and tools are placed not only inside the tank, but also outside. These include, but are not limited to: towing rope, canvas, gun spare parts, reserve tracks, with and without ridges, track pins, entrenching tools. Smoke bombs are installed on the stern.

The service of the T-34 tank after the Second World War

After the Second World War, foreign-made tanks were used in Yugoslavia, including the Russian T-34, transferred by our country in 1945. They were divided into two tank brigades. The Yugoslav leadership made attempts to master the production of T-34-85 tanks. The goal was to increase the service life of the machine. Many design changes were planned. For example, they suggested installing a different diesel engine with an improved transmission, adjusting the hull and turret. This made it possible to reduce the area of ​​the frontal surface of the tank and reduce the risk of hitting it from the front.

In the 40s, Poland, followed by Czechoslovakia, also decided to organize the production of T-34 tanks. We received technical documentation, detailed technology and specialists from manufacturers. First production tanks arrived here in 1951. They were the same size, but the shape of the tower was changed, the engine was adapted for different kinds fuel, had an easier start in winter. Additional fuel tanks increased the cruising range to 650 km. Installed devices with night vision for the driver. New radio stations, intercoms TPU-47, special observation devices for the commander were used. Increased the speed at which the tower rotates.

The production of T-34 tanks in these countries continued for five years. From here they entered the armies of many states, including the Warsaw Pact, the DPRK and the PRC. To one degree or another, they participated in many military conflicts that took place in the second half of the 20th century. Successfully fought in Korea, Pakistan and Vietnam. The traditions laid down by the first designers and creators of the T-34 medium tank are being developed in new generations of combat vehicles.

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