KV – Soviet Heavy Tank

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nrbhayo

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Nov 23, 2009
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In 1938 designing of a new heavy tank of shellproof armoring that was named MSK began at the Kirov plant. Then one more tank – KV – joined the family of heavy tanks.
 

nrbhayo

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At first the project presupposed the designing of a three-turret machine weighing 55 tons. During the process of working one turret was removed, and the saved weight was spent at the thickening of armor. In October factory tests started. In November the first experimental tank was sent to the front to take part in the war against Finland. On the 19, December, 1939, KV was adopted for the Red Army. The production plan for 1941 presupposed the release of 1200 KV tanks. Though, the war corrected these plans. By the beginning of the war there were only 25 KV-1 produced, and there were no KV-2. The KV-1 body was welded from rolled armored sheets with maximum thickness reached 75 mm.
 

nrbhayo

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The main difference of KV02 consisted in the installation of a new turret huge in size. Overall height was 3240 mm. On the 1st of July there were 504 KV tanks. Crew training for new heavy tanks was conducted on any types of tanks.
 

nrbhayo

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On the 23-24 of June even before the battle many KV tanks, especially KV-2 23-24 were out-of-service during the marching. Though notwithstanding a powerful armor, strong arming and heroism of some crews KV tanks didn’t play any significant role in the battles of 1941. The greatest part of these machines was out-of-service due to technical, non-professional running, absence of repair parts, and means of evacuation.
 

nrbhayo

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Nov 23, 2009
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It should be mentioned that the tank itself had a rather controversial fate. Paradoxical it can be, but in 1941 these tanks were of no need – they had no worthy rivals. It had no obvious battle advantages as compared to medium Т-34, except the more thick armor. Arming was the same, but the maneuverability – worse. Tank men didn’t like the machine very much: it could destroy any road, a rare bridge could stand it except stone ones. But the main drawback is troublesome transmission, which failure was a widespread thing.
 

nrbhayo

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Nov 23, 2009
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The appearance of KV-86 smoothed the impact. But these machines were mastered very late, few of them were released and they couldn’t invest something worthy into the struggle with German tanks. КV-85 is a Soviet heavy tank of the WWII. KV means “Klim Voroshilov” – official name of serial Soviet heavy tanks released during 1940-194. Code 85 means the caliber of the main tank’s arming.
 

nrbhayo

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Nov 23, 2009
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From 1940 to 1943 4775 tanks of all KV modifications were released. They took part in battles all over the front of the WWII. To 1945 just a few tanks were left. After demounting turrets served as evacuation tractors.
 
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