T-34/85 medium tank

T34/85 (1943-45)

Weigth 32 tons Crew 5 Weapons 85mm L51,5 M43 or M44 gun with 55 rounds, 2 7,62mm DT MG with 2394 rounds Armor hull 20-47mm (nose, sloped plate, sides and rear 47mm, top and bottom 20mm); turret 20-75mm (front, sides and rear 75mm, top 20mm) Engine 500hp diesel V2, 12-cylinders on V, liquid cooled Speed 51Km/h Autonomy 354Km (with extra fuel supplies) Length (max) 8,15m Width 2,98m Height 2,65m

Advantages: armor protection, mobility (autonomy, diesel engine, speed, large tracks), powerful gun (adequate against the Tigers and Panthers)

Disadvantages: none?

In action...

In late 1942 a T-34 with superior armor protection (and same weaponry) was built but for the medium tanks the Russians were searching for a superior fire power rather than more armor protection to counter the new German machines.

T-34/85 armor scheme (Photo by Valera Potapov)

A new turret, similar to that designed for the KV-85, was manufactured to fit on the standard T-34's chassis resulting in a vehicle which had a far superior gun with and shape and armor's thickness improved 3-men turret (with the useful commander's cupola), mobility comparable with that of the other T-34s and the same hull's armor. While first vehicles were equipped with the D-5T gun, the most were built by using the ZIS-S-53 gun capable of piercing a 95mm plate at 30º on a 914m range.

T-34/85 in Heiligenbeil, East Prussia, January 1945

When new T-34/85 came out (late '43) this assault gun was obsolete and, from August 1944, it was replaced by the the more powerful and suitable 31 tons SU-100 (100mm L60 gun and a side commander's cupola on the T-34/85 chassis) in the Red Army's AT battalions: this gun was capable to pierce a vertical 160mm thick plate on a 914m range.

SU-100 armor scheme (Photo by Valera Potapov)

All of them were not equipped with MGs so close combat had to be avoided or supported by strong infantry but because they were used mostly for attacking difficult armored targets such the Tiger heavy tanks or pillboxes this was not seen as a problem: from 1,500 metres, its 34 pounds projectiles was able to pierce Tiger's front plate.

A SU-100 tank destroyer showing its commander's cupola

The limited quantity of ammos carried inside did common experience for the crew to store more ammunitions on the rear deck, a dangerous practice when used in battle zones: this was an usual Russian way because, due to their shortage of trucks (Soviet industry was headed towards heavy mechanical production: trucks and other vehicles were got mainly from the Western Allies) and poor transport and communication ways. Their fighting units used to carry as more supplies as they could with them, to cover up to five days of continous offensive.